Chapter 505
No.1
Her disbelieving gaze dropped to her stomach.
Mrs. Ashford's words struck Evelyn like a thunderbolt, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.
"The Ashfords aren't unreasonable people." Mrs. Ashford smiled warmly. "You lost Julian's child before. Now that you're pregnant again, we won't deny responsibility."
Evelyn's throat tightened.
She recalled her recent symptoms—unexplained fatigue, nausea, mood swings...
Her fingers drifted unconsciously to her abdomen.
"How did you know?" Her voice was feather-light.
No.2
Mrs. Ashford's smile faltered. "A mother always keeps tabs on her future daughter-in-law."
Understanding dawned on Evelyn.
Julian had ordered blood tests during her last checkup but never shared the results.
He'd known all along...
"So," Evelyn stood abruptly, "you sent the Wells family to harass me, hoping I'd miscarry?"
No wonder old Mrs. Wells kept lunging at her stomach.
Mrs. Ashford's face darkened. "How dare you! That's my grandchild!"
No.3
"Your grandchild?" Evelyn laughed coldly. "Melissa Lee is your ideal daughter-in-law. You're only here because I'm about to become a Kingsley."
Caught in her lie, Mrs. Ashford's expression twisted.
"Julian and I are over. This child won't be an Ashford." Evelyn turned on her heel.
At home, she immediately called Evan Wells.
"Little brother, I need a favor."
Thirty minutes later, Evelyn retrieved a pregnancy test from her mailbox.
In the bathroom, two stark red lines burned her vision.
No.4
It must have happened at the Patriarch's birthday banquet...
She caressed her stomach with a bitter smile. "You picked quite the timing, little one."
Three months earlier, she might have stayed with Alexander for the baby's sake.
But now...
Curling up in bed, Evelyn cradled her abdomen.
"Mommy will protect you."
No one would harm her child.
No.5
At the Kingsley gala, whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Did you hear? They're adopting some orphan girl."
"Lucky thing..."
Eleanor Kingsley anxiously instructed security: "Keep Alexander away. Don't let him cause a scene."
In the shadows, William West watched everything with icy detachment.
Isabella's voice echoed in his mind: "I won't let her have this moment..."
His fingers brushed the U盘 in his pocket as a smirk curled his lips.
No.6
Suddenly, murmurs erupted across the ballroom.
Alexander Kingsley strode in with two unexpected guests.
Eleanor's face drained of color.
"Mr. Sullivan?" Eleanor Kingsley's eyes flickered, her lips curving into a practiced smile.
She discreetly studied the uninvited couple before her.
Madam Zade clung to her husband's arm, her fingertips trembling slightly.
"Mrs. Kingsley," Madam Zade's soft voice carried unexpected weight, "we're here to stop the Kingsleys from adopting Evelyn."
No.7
The banquet hall fell silent.
William West straightened from the shadows, amusement glinting in his eyes.
"This..." Eleanor's smile froze, "Evelyn and you..."
"She already calls me mother." Madam Zade's eyes reddened. "If Alexander hadn't forcibly taken her thirteen years ago, she would have been our daughter."
Eleanor whirled toward Alexander Kingsley.
"I did it." Alexander stepped forward, his voice terrifyingly calm. "I hid her in the trunk when I brought her back."
Eleanor gasped.