Chapter 10

Stella tightened her fists and hesitated before finally deciding not to open the door. Instead, she turned around and headed for the washroom.

'Whoever he marries will be the same. I wasn't chosen because I was special, but because anyone is fine for him since they're not her,' she thought to herself.

Stella stood outside for more than ten minutes until she regained her composure. Only then did she return to the room where all the dishes had been served. Keegan glanced at her but remained silent.

Dahlia motioned for her to take a seat. "What took you so long?" she inquired.

Stella responded, "Sorry, my stomach wasn't feeling too good."

Dahlia paused, observing Stella's pale face and slightly faded lip color. Concerned, she asked, "Why is your stomach feeling bad? Have you gotten it checked at the hospital?"

"No, it's nothing serious. It's probably something minor," Stella replied.

Dahlia insisted, "You should still get it checked at the hospital just to be safe. What if you're pregnant and confuse it with something else, leading to complications?"

'Earlier, I thought Dahlia genuinely cared about my health. Turns out, she was only worried about me not realizing I'm pregnant and not being able to keep the Kane family's child,' Stella thought.

Putting on a faint smile, she said, "Alright."

Dahlia stopped pressing the issue and they continued with the family luncheon. However, Stella felt like an outsider, intruding upon their private gathering.

Unexpectedly, a piece of pork rib appeared on Stella's plate. She looked at Keegan, who avoided eye contact and casually said, "Take whatever you want."

'Keegan and I are merely acting at this family luncheon. We're just exchanging favors. He wants me to put on a show. Fine, I'll put on a show! ' Stella thought.

She picked up a spicy chicken slice and offered it to Keegan, knowing he disliked spicy food. "Darling, try this." She wanted to see how he would react.

Keegan froze and gave her a weird look.

'If he rejects me, he'll ruin the show. Then, he won't be able to put the blame on me,' Stella thought.

Keegan suddenly leaned over. He teasingly brushed the fork's tip against his lips before finally taking a bite of the chicken slice. Turning to Stella's stunned expression, he remarked, "Not bad."

Stella was left speechless.

'You scoundrel! I hope you suffer from the spiciness!' she thought.

Dahlia glanced at the two of them before lowering her gaze thoughtfully.

After a few glasses of wine, Keegan's phone rang. He excused himself to answer it, and as he left, Dahlia set down her cutlery and turned to Stella. Concerned, she asked, "Stella, how long have you been feeling unwell in your stomach? Did you vomit?"

'Please don't tell me she's assuming I'm pregnant,' thought Stella.

Trying to clear up the misunderstanding, she replied, "I'm not pregnant. I just had my period last week."

However, Dahlia didn't seem convinced. She persisted, "Did you take the fertility drink I gave you earlier as instructed?"

The mention of the fertility drink made Stella's stomach churn.

Dahlia had been fixated on the idea of Stella being the reason behind their inability to conceive. Over the years, she had tried various doctors and medicines, even making Stella drink a so-called "fertility drink."

'Keegan has no interest in intimacy, and I can count the times we've been intimate on one hand. I can't conceive asexually like an insect. If Keegan doesn't cooperate, how can I get pregnant?' thought Stella.

"I did take it," Stella said. She knew Dahlia didn't believe her, so she added, "Maya saw me drink it."

Aurora snorted sarcastically, "See, Mom? She's infertile. What's the use of giving her all those expensive medicines?"

Dahlia gave her daughter a stern look. "Don't interrupt."

Aurora pouted and rolled her eyes.

Dahlia asked again, "Did you and Keegan use contraceptives?"

Stella was speechless.

'Couldn't she have asked it in a more indirect manner rather than being so blunt?' she wondered. She took a deep breath and answered honestly, "No."

Stella was telling the truth. Keegan had a clear picture of her menstrual cycle; he always avoided her ovulating days. That was why it was impossible for her to get pregnant even when they don't use protection.

Dahlia sighed, "I was too impatient."

Just when Stella thought the conversation might end, she noticed Dahlia asking Aurora to pick up and open a box from the floor. Inside were neatly lined bottles filled with a dark liquid.

Dahlia unscrewed a bottle and pushed it toward Stella. A strange herbal scent filled the air.

Fear of the "fertility drink" surged within Stella, making her stomach churn once more.

She felt like throwing up.

Dahlia shared, "One of my friends introduced me to an expert in Hong Kong. Her daughter had a hard time conceiving, just like you. After consulting the doctor for six months, she successfully conceived twins. Coincidentally, Aurora went to Hong Kong this time, so I asked her to see the expert on my behalf. She explained your situation to him, and he adjusted the ingredients, creating a new concoction with better effects than before. I've arranged for someone to prepare it for you. Remember to take it daily and finish this batch before I send you more."

Stella was left speechless.

"Dahlia, I don't think it is effective. I've been taking it for over a year now. During my last checkup, the doctor said my body is in great condition."

'I wish I could tell her to give the medicine to her son instead. He's the one with the problem,' she thought.

Aurora said scornfully, "If your body's fine, why can't you conceive? With my brother's physique, someone else would have had two babies in three years. I really don't understand why my brother married you. You're a freeloader who can't even bear a single child!"

Stella's expression darkened upon hearing those harsh words. She shot a cold glance at Aurora.

Aurora wore a mocking expression, convinced that Stella wouldn't dare to retaliate.

But to her surprise, Stella responded sharply, "Not being able to conceive is still better than conceiving and having an abortion."

Aurora turned pale, asking, "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," Stella shrugged. "I went to the hospital for a checkup once, and I saw some young girls getting abortions. It made me think, that's all."

Aurora stared at Stella, her eyes filled with shock, terror, and a hint of doubt.