Chapter 2

"You're right," I said with a calm voice as I forced down the storm of emotions I had. "Suzie did save you."

Joy appeared on Shawn's face instantly.

"But…" I continued, "I should at least see what condition your brother is in first. Otherwise, I can't explain this to my parents."

Shawn froze, as if he had not expected that request.

His eyes shifted, but he quickly nodded. "Of course. I'll take you to the hospital to see my brother now. Shall we?"

"Sure," I said with a nod.

On the way there, I looked silently out of the car window. Shawn tried to make conversation, but I brushed him off every time.

My heart was pounding, full of expectation and fear.

When we reached the executive suite on the hospital's top floor, everything was exactly as the voice had said. Two tall, muscular bodyguards stood at the entrance to the corridor, and they looked nothing like ordinary hospital security.

"I'm his brother. I came to see him," Shawn said, stepping forward.

One of the bodyguards stopped us, his voice flat, and his face expressionless. "Sorry. Mr. Fletcher has given us orders that there be no visitors without his permission."

Shawn's face darkened, but he suppressed his anger and explained, "Nina, see? These people were sent by my brother's uncle. They're even wary of us, his own family, as if they're afraid we won't take care of him."

His voice carried obvious resentment and a faint edge of jealousy.

'Mom, see? I wasn't lying to you.' The child's voice rang out again with a hint of smugness.

'Would an ordinary family have security like this? They're not letting anyone in because my dad isn't inside at all. Hurry up and agree to Shawn's suggestion so we can move on to the next step."

On the way home from the hospital, the last of my hesitation vanished.

The little voice was probably telling the truth.

Marrying the richest man in the country was much better than staying with an idiotic, illegitimate son.

As soon as the car stopped outside my home, Shawn turned to me impatiently with his voice laced with barely concealed nervousness. "Nina, you've seen him now. Suzie really can't wait any longer. You..."

"Sure," I said with a smile, agreeing without hesitation. "I'll marry him."

Shawn clearly had not expected me to agree so easily. He froze, then looked relieved. "Nina, I know you're always the sensible one..."

"But," I cut him off. "How are you going to make me your brother's wife in a legitimate way? Even if your father agrees, will the Fletchers agree? After all, you're only a son a stepmother brought into the Gibson family. I doubt Hugh's businesses will pay you even a cent in dividends."

Shawn choked, and his face turned dark. He looked like he wanted to lose his temper, but when he saw that I did not seem to be mocking him on purpose, he could only swallow it in.

He then said, "I've already thought it through. We'll explain that you were secretly dating my brother earlier, and you're already carrying his child. His uncle doesn't have any children either, right? We'll hurry up and have one. Once our child is born, we'll say the baby is my brother's child. Then, the child can inherit everything from his uncle's side openly, and we..."

His scheming made me sick.

"No need for that." I interrupted his fantasy and forced down the urge to throw up. "I already have a child."

Shawn's eyes widened, and he looked at me in disbelief. "Really? Are you carrying my child? When did this happen? This is great!"

He came over excitedly, wanting to hug me, but I turned aside and avoided him.

He did not mind it, however. He rubbed his hands together and paced around the room, his smugness completely undisguised. "Now that there's a child already on the way, everything will fall into place easily. Just give me some time. I'll make the arrangements right away. Wait for my good news."

I watched him leave and raised an eyebrow.

I never said the child was yours.

Shawn moved faster than I had imagined.

To my surprise, the Fletcher family did not even verify it.