[6]

“You... what?” Kara demanded, her voice rising before she could hide it.

Adrian could only let out a slow breath. “Come on, why are you making such a fuss over something so small?”

“Small?” Kara stared at him in disbelief. “Giving Tara a luxury apartment at Golden Palace, and you call that small?”

Adrian immediately moved to soothe the woman he loved. He rubbed her shoulder gently, apologized more than once, then said, “Think of it as a final gift, and a token of gratitude for all her help. At least I know how to repay a debt.”

“How amusing,” Kara said, folding her arms across her chest. Her eyes sharpened as she looked at Adrian, who was still trying to calm her down. “So now you’ve started being generous with her?”

“That’s not it, my love,” Adrian said, trying to coax her.

“Then what is it?” Kara still could not accept it so easily. “If you’re giving Tara an apartment, then what about me?”

In truth, Adrian had already transferred far more of his wealth to Kara. If Tara received a ring worth ten thousand dollars, Kara would receive something far more expensive, far more lavish, often many times the value of what Tara got. It wasn’t only jewelry. Bags, designer clothing, luxury cars, nothing escaped Adrian’s attention when it came to Kara.

“Mm... Thorne Palace is holding an auction a week before our wedding celebration,” Adrian offered, gently brushing a strand of Kara’s hair away from her cheek. “How about you choose something from their collection?”

“Yes, I want that!” The sadness and disappointment that had clouded Kara’s face vanished instantly.

Who didn’t know Thorne Palace? It was where elite socialites held prestigious auctions. Every item in their collection was rare, difficult to obtain, and outrageously expensive.

“In that case, arrange the timing carefully so it doesn’t raise suspicion,” Adrian said. He smiled with satisfaction as he watched Kara’s happiness return.

“Of course.” Kara leaned in and placed a sweet kiss on Adrian’s cheek. “Can we bring Liora?”

“Do whatever you want, my Kara.” Adrian kissed her forehead softly. “Besides, our daughter hasn’t gone on a vacation in a long time, has she?”

Kara laughed quietly. “You’re right. Then I’ll start arranging a trip for the three of us.”

They never knew the entire conversation was being overheard and recorded by Tara.

Though her legs trembled, though her breathing came in shallow bursts, though the nausea rising inside her grew stronger by the second, Tara endured it all. She forced herself to stay still, gathering one piece of evidence after another to bring them down.

No.

Not just bring them down.

She would make them feel what she was feeling now.

And the thing that hurt her most was Liora. Tara had loved that child with all the sincerity in her heart. From the moment Adrian brought her into the house, presenting her as someone who could comfort Tara in her condition, she had embraced the girl with joy.

But the truth was far crueler.

They had conspired from the very beginning, using Tara so Liora could be raised in this house without anyone ever growing suspicious.

“What a miserable life I have,” Tara muttered under her breath.

“Mrs. Tara? What are you doing here? Aren’t you having breakfast?”

The voice of one of the household staff startled her so badly that she flinched.

“Ah... nothing,” Tara replied, quickly composing herself. “Of course I’m having breakfast. You all worked hard to prepare it for us.”

She stepped into the dining room with her emotions in complete turmoil. Nausea, disappointment, heartbreak, and the overwhelming urge to curse the two people who had suddenly put distance between themselves the moment she approached.

“Good morning, my sweet little sister,” Kara greeted in a tone so sugary it sounded rehearsed. “How are you feeling? Are you better now?”

Tara forced a smile. “Yes. I hope so. Yesterday’s incident really frightened me,” she complained softly to Kara.

“What exactly happened to you yesterday?” Kara asked, confused. She studied Tara carefully, but Tara only answered with a small shake of her head, pretending she didn’t want her sister to worry.

Then Tara turned to her husband with a pleading look. “Would it be alright if I rest today? I’m feeling a bit...”

“Did you forget something, Tara?” Adrian cut in, his expression clearly displeased. “You’re meeting the representatives from Ceso Group today. I have other matters to attend to, so you’ll handle them.”

Tara lowered her gaze slightly. “Alright.”

“In that case, Kara and I will head out first. Hurry and...”

“Tara!” Kara suddenly cried out in alarm.

The world spun.

Tara nearly collapsed, managing to catch the back of a dining chair just in time. Her vision darkened. A violent wave of nausea hit her so hard her knees almost gave out.

“Tara!” This time Adrian had already risen from his seat.

She couldn’t answer. One hand flew to cover her mouth as her body trembled. A maid standing nearby rushed forward in panic.

“Ma’am!”

“Water! Get water now!” Adrian barked.

Tara shook her head weakly. “No... don’t...”

She pushed away the glass being offered to her, then bent forward, clutching her stomach. The nausea was overpowering, frightening in its intensity.

Tara was terrified.

The baby.

The thought of the pregnancy she was desperately trying to hide surged through her mind, making her heart pound violently.

Please don’t let anything happen, she begged silently.

“I’ll call Bone right now,” Adrian said, grabbing his phone. He stepped aside, made the call quickly, then his expression hardened. “He’s out of town. He won’t be back until tonight.”

“Oh God.” Kara moved closer and crouched beside Tara. “You’re so pale. What really happened yesterday, Tara? You don’t want to tell me? Your own twin sister?”

Tara brushed Kara’s hand away gently. “I... please take me to the hospital,” she said in short, strained breaths. “Now.”

Adrian turned sharply. “It’s just nausea. Wait until Bone’s replacement gets here.”

“No.” Tara lifted her face, her eyes glossy with tears that were not entirely an act. “I really don’t feel well, Adrian. Please take me now.”

There was something in Tara’s tone that made Adrian hesitate to argue. He looked at her face, growing paler by the second, at her lips drained of color, and at the hand that kept pressing against her lower abdomen.

“Fine,” he said through clenched teeth. “Get the car ready,” he ordered one of the servants.

“I’m coming too,” Kara said quickly.

Tara wanted to refuse, but another wave of dizziness hit harder than before. She didn’t have the strength to argue.

The hospital was crowded, yet orderly. Tara was pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse even though she was still able to walk. Adrian stayed on her right side, Kara on her left, both of them visibly tense.

Tara kept her head lowered, one hand resting protectively over her stomach. She no longer cared whether her pregnancy would be exposed. She only wanted to know that the baby was safe.

After an initial examination and several rapid tests, a female doctor in her forties entered the room carrying a tablet with patient data.

“Mrs... Tara Valmont?” she asked while glancing at the screen.

“Yes,” Tara answered softly.

The doctor nodded. “Your condition is stable. The nausea was most likely triggered by fatigue, stress, and hormonal changes.”

Adrian let out a short breath. “Thank God.”

But the doctor was not finished. She looked at the screen again, then frowned slightly.

“I’m sorry, I need to confirm some information.”

“Of course,” Adrian replied.

The doctor looked from Tara to Adrian. “Which immediate family member came with you today?”

“I’m her husband,” Adrian answered firmly.

“I’m her sister,” Kara added.

The doctor tapped the tablet screen several times, and her expression grew more puzzled.

“I’m sorry... are you certain the patient’s marital status has been officially registered?”

The room went silent.

Adrian stared at the doctor coldly. “What do you mean?”

“Our system is connected to the civil registry for administrative verification. Under the name Tara Valmont, there is no record of a spouse or any active marital status.”

Slowly, Tara lifted her face. She already knew. But hearing those words spoken in front of Adrian and Kara still felt like a second slap across the face. And more than that, she waited to see how Adrian would respond.

The doctor continued in a professional tone, unaware she had just dropped a bomb in the room.

“The patient is currently pregnant, and we need the legal spouse’s information to complete the records. So I need to confirm... is it possible the documents were never updated? Or is the patient, administratively speaking, unmarried?”