The man’s chuckle betrayed little emotion, yet it carried an intoxicating allure.
Riley Lancaster’s confidence surged. At the very least, Sean Sheffield hadn’t rejected her outright. Didn’t that mean there was room for negotiation?
She walked toward him. "To be honest, my family background isn’t bad. I come from a respectable lineage. We’re great together in bed, and if I marry you in the future, I can even support your career."
Sean flicked his cigarette ash, asking with keen interest, "And then?"
Her heart leapt. She went over to sit beside him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Actually... I’m pregnant with your child. It’s been five weeks. Feel it."
She took his hand and placed it against her lower abdomen.
Sean raised an eyebrow and, to her surprise, gently stroked her stomach. "Really?"
Riley felt victory within her grasp. "Of course. Besides, I’ve heard that your grandmother has been rushing you to get married. Isn’t this the perfect timing? With a child, the old madam will definitely push for us to be together, right?
"Sheffield, you have no choice but to marry me now."
Though her voice was soft, her words carried an undeniable threat. Sean’s grandmother had always longed for him to settle down. If she found out Riley was carrying his child, how could she possibly disagree?
Sean suddenly laughed.
It was a light, breezy sound. He reached up and gently caressed Riley’s face. The woman obediently tilted her head to nuzzle against his palm. His smile never wavered. "It seems my temper has improved a lot over the years. People must think I’ve turned over a new leaf."
Riley didn’t quite understand what he meant. But the very next second, her jaw was seized in a vicious grip. The pressure was so intense her bones felt like they might shatter. The man still wore that same smile. "Do any nobodies think they can negotiate with me now?"
He leaned in close, his other hand still holding the cigarette. "What gives you the right?"
Sean’s gaze drifted downward, sweeping over her stomach. "This embryo inside you?"
Staring at his expression, a sudden chill washed over Riley from head to toe. She instinctively began to struggle. "Sean! I’m carrying your child! A living, breathing child!"
Sean smirked, crushed out his cigarette, and tossed her to the floor like a piece of garbage. "A child? It’s just an unformed lump of flesh."
As his words fell, he clapped his hands. The door abruptly swung open. Several burly men in black suits marched in and pinned Riley down without a word.
Riley’s face drained of color in sheer terror. She could hardly believe her eyes. "Sean, what are you doing?!"
Sean retrieved a dagger from a drawer. He tested the sharpness on his finger, then walked toward her with a satisfied look. Crouching in front of her, his lips curled into that same intoxicating smile. "Anyway, it’s just an unformed embryo. Taking it out won’t kill you. There won’t be any anesthesia, but just bear with it and it’ll be over."
The tip of his blade rested against her bare stomach, as if he were measuring the best angle to cut. That casual, negligent gesture almost made Riley lose control of her bladder.
She let out a bloodcurdling scream. "Sheffield! Sheffield, please! I was wrong! Don’t... don’t do this to me..."
She never could have imagined that Sean was such a ruthless, two-faced monster, capable of something so utterly barbaric. Cold sweat poured down her body. Her makeup was ruined by her tears, turning her pretty face into a tragic, pitiful mess as she shook her head in desperate pleading.
Sean looked at her with faux pity. "What were you thinking earlier? You spent all that time threatening me, so shouldn’t I get to vent a little? Miss Lancaster, you’re so petty."
He mused that he really had been too gentle lately, giving these women the massive delusion that he was a pushover. To think she actually had the audacity to threaten him.
Riley cried until her voice grew hoarse, begging for mercy over and over again.
Watching her hair stick to her tear-streaked face, Sean frowned in disgust. "Tsk. You look so ugly right now. And dirty."
He tossed the dagger aside and sat back on the sofa, popping a grape into his mouth. "Forget it. Grandmother’s been on my case lately, and cleaning up the mess would be a real hassle." He paused, tilting his head with a smirk. "Let’s do this the legal way."
***
Riley was nowhere to be found, and Wendy Lawrence was making a scene again.
Zoe Lancaster frowned, her mind racing. Riley and Wendy had seemed so fiercely determined today, parading around with such high-profile arrogance. They hadn’t acted like they were just having a random manic episode; it was as if they held some powerful trump card. Suddenly, she recalled bumping into Riley at the obstetrics and gynecology department a few days ago. Could it be that Riley really had a relationship with Sean? Or rather, did she possess leverage for negotiation, and that leverage was a child?
Zoe’s frown deepened. She knew a bit about Sean’s reputation—he operated without any regard for rules or boundaries. If Riley was trying to use a pregnancy to force a marriage, was the probability of success higher, or was she more likely to provoke his wrath?
Martin Lancaster had always treasured his stepdaughter. Besides, they were at an auction; if anything happened, it would be a nightmare to explain. If Sean was genuinely enraged, the Lancaster Family would be dragged down by association. Furthermore, Martin still had to pay for her mother’s medical bills. A single misstep could trigger a disastrous chain reaction.
After weighing her options, Zoe walked up to Simon Hawthorne. "Call Sean. Make sure nothing goes wrong."
The man slowly raised his eyelashes, his gaze aloof and arrogant. "You’re still defending her?"
Zoe’s expression remained unchanged. "I’m only defending my own interests."
Simon stared at her for a long time before finally making the call. Sean didn’t bother hiding anything, giving him the room number outright. "Eighth floor, 8817."
Through the phone, the faint sound of a woman crying could be heard. Something was glaringly wrong.
Wendy suddenly lunged forward out of nowhere. "What happened to my daughter?! I’m going to find her!"
Zoe turned and hurried after her, leaving the chaotic venue behind. Miles Yates glanced at the phone Zoe had left on the table, picked it up, and followed.
Simon frowned as he watched the two of them leave one after another. A storm brewed in his dark eyes, refusing to settle. He set down his teacup and stood up.
"Simon?" Peyton Joyce bit her lip, a growing sense of unease pooling in her chest as she quickly chased after him.
They took the elevator to the eighth floor and found the lounge Sean had mentioned. The moment the door was pushed open, Wendy let out a piercing scream, her legs giving out as she collapsed to the floor.
Zoe arrived right behind her. Taking in the scene inside, she was utterly stunned.
Riley was slumped on the floor in a daze. On the table lay a bloody lump of tissue. Two figures dressed in sterile scrubs stood in the room—highly qualified private doctors. Sean sat with his legs crossed, watching the situation unfold without a flicker of emotion. Riley seemed to have completely shattered.
Unbothered by the sudden audience, Sean glanced at the small lump of flesh. "Take a good look. Your child is about to be taken away and disposed of."
Riley was trembling uncontrollably. Consumed by shock and terror, the devastating blow left her crying endlessly.
Zoe couldn’t believe her eyes either. She never expected Sean to be this insane. It was impossible not to be deeply disturbed by such a scene, let alone for Riley, who had lived it.
Noticing something was terribly wrong, Miles immediately took a step back. This was a private matter, and it wasn’t appropriate for him to pry. He simply looked at Zoe. "If you’re scared, then..."
Before he could finish, a hand clamped down on Zoe’s wrist. Simon stepped up from behind, beating Miles to the punch, and pulled her toward him. "There’s nothing to see here. Come with me."
Zoe was dragged out into the corridor. Arriving just in time to see the two of them standing closely together, Peyton’s expression shifted slightly.
Inside, Riley slowly snapped out of her daze. To her horror, she realized that so many people had witnessed her humiliating, wretched state—her pride trampled into the mud. Worst of all, her most despised rival, Zoe, had watched her be degraded and mocked for daring to marry out of her league, only to end up in such a tragic predicament. This catastrophic turn of events ignited a volatile inferno of madness within her chest.
She seethed with frustration. Zoe was supposed to be crushed beneath her heel! She had been just one step away. She had competed with Zoe her entire life, desperate to best her in every possible way. Her pride was fiercely strong. Why did Zoe have to witness her looking like this? She couldn’t take it!
Tears cascaded down her face, her eyes rimmed with raw, furious red. With trembling legs, she forced herself to stand up, her venomous gaze locking onto Zoe. Then, she noticed Miles standing beside Zoe, looking at her with genuine concern.
She wondered what gave Zoe the right to constantly make these outstanding men stop and fuss over her. Was it just because she was pretty enough?
Riley dragged herself step by step toward the door, her eyes tainted with sheer lunacy. Watching her approach, Zoe sensed that something was deeply unhinged about Riley and immediately tried to step back.
"I’ve lost so much, Zoe...
"And I won’t let you live in peace either!" Riley abruptly raised her hand. Hidden in her sleeve was the very dagger Sean had previously used to threaten her. With terrifying precision, she slashed the blade straight toward Zoe’s face.