Chapter 6

I was carrying my husband's baby!

How could it suddenly be Quill's?!

The next second, a suspicion formed in my mind.

I immediately looked at Sherry and Camilla.

They were staring at each other, their mouths twisted into matching smirks.

What else was there to figure out?

So that was Luca's plan for Camilla: make the baby in my belly appear to be Quill's.

He wanted to use the falsified results to force Quill into dealing with me.

Sure enough, the moment Quill saw the results, he was visibly shaken.

He seized my wrist, his brow furrowed tight.

"Claire, the proof is right here. How are you going to talk your way out of this?!

"It's mine and you said it wasn't. Why?"

His expression was a tangle of emotions.

Indignation. Hurt. Fury. And even a trace of... sorrow?

I clenched my fists and spoke, slow and deliberate.

"Because it was never yours."

Quill's shoulders began to tremble, and even his breathing grew strained.

"Claire, be honest with me! The old you would never have lied to me."

Just then, Camilla walked to Quill's side and patted his shoulder.

"Enough, Quill. There's nothing left to say to her.

"She went behind your back and got pregnant with a bastard. According to the Moretti Family rules, you know what has to be done."

As Camilla goaded Quill, she glared at me with venom.

As if wishing I would vanish from her son's sight that instant.

Sherry immediately piled on.

"Quill, as your wife, I absolutely refuse to tolerate the existence of a bastard!

"So now, do what a husband should do!"

Just then, Luca arrived, Raul trailing behind him.

"Quill, for the future of the Moretti Family, don't hesitate!" Luca walked to Quill's side and handed him a dagger. "Pull yourself together, Quill. Take care of that bastard!"

Quill gripped the dagger, his hand shaking violently. Tears seemed to brim in his eyes as he looked at me. His lips moved, trying to form words, but nothing came out.

"Quill, don't do anything rash!

"The paternity report is fake!"

Dean, the hospital director, came running over, gasping for breath.

I knew Dean was Quill's closest friend and confidant, the only person whose advice Quill would take.

Back when my first baby had been killed by their scheme, Dean had come to find me.

"Claire, I'm sorry.

"I never wanted to be part of that plan.

"But on Luca's orders, Raul kidnapped my parents and used them to blackmail me.

"I had no choice but to cooperate and provide the poison.

"And there's something else I want you to know. Quill does love you. He just doesn't know how to love someone."

I knew Dean meant well by telling me that.

But I never believed that Quill's possessiveness and control amounted to love.

"Dean, do you have any idea what you're saying?!"

Luca was livid, screaming at Dean.

"If we don't deal with this woman, Quill's future will be..."

"The paternity report was falsified! I'm one hundred percent certain!"

Dean raised his voice, his expression resolute.

At that moment, Quill finally snapped out of it and grabbed Dean by the collar.

"This had better be true, or I'll..."

Dean looked at him with the air of someone who could see right through him, the corner of his mouth quirking.

"Quill, admit it. You can't actually bring yourself to kill Claire.

"Can you?"

As if terrified of having his true feelings exposed, Quill instantly turned his back to Dean.

"What the hell are you talking about!"

Dean laughed, then pulled out his phone and opened one video after another.