Chapter 1986

Mavis covered her belly with the blanket, looking at Nathaniel warily. Nathaniel sighed. For once, he refrained from getting angry as he remembered the doctor's and Sheena's advice. He picked up the soup again, stirring it gently as his tone softened. "I can overlook the issues regarding this child. Just stop being so difficult. Come back to the Nicholls residence with me and rest." His expression darkened slightly, but Mavis could not see his emotions as he had his head lowered. After a few minutes, he continued, "I'll raise this child as my own, providing him with the best education and the most privileged life. No one will ever know his true origins." Mavis found his words deeply ironic. If he had bothered to investigate, he would have discovered how long she had been pregnant, the child's real origins, and that she had lied out of spite. The only reason her belly seemed smaller than usual was her poor nutrition, which made her look thinner. However, Nathaniel did not care about her at all and was convinced the child was not his. The realization disappointed her. Despite knowing better than to hope for anything, Mavis still felt a pang of sadness. "Nathaniel, do you think you're amazing just because you said that? Accepting a child you dislike just to keep me… Does that make you feel like a saint?" Nathaniel stared at her in silence. She smiled bitterly and continued, "The best thing you could do is agree to the divorce and cut all ties with me. That way, this child and I will have no connection to you, and you won't feel so bothered." Nathaniel's eyes grew colder, and he immediately replied, "That's not going to happen." Then, he stood up to leave. Mavis quickly grabbed his wrist, pleading, "What will it take for you to let me go? It's all my fault. I shouldn't have come after you. Let's pretend those five years were a waste, and I regret it deeply. Can you just let it go?" He frowned, feeling a sharp pang of annoyance. "You're too emotional right now. The doctor said this could harm the baby. Calm down." He freed his wrist from her grasp and walked away without looking back. "Nathaniel, I really am growing to hate you more and more." The man paused at the door, but he quickly pushed it open and left without a word. His cold indifference made all her anger seem futile and powerless. Mavis took a deep breath, trying not to let her frustration affect the baby. She focused on calming herself and not dwelling on Nathaniel's behavior. The morning sun was soft, and the UV rays were not too strong. Remembering that walking was good during pregnancy, Mavis decided to go for a stroll in the hospital garden. However, when she opened the door, she found two tall men standing in the hallway. She recognized them as the Nicholls family's bodyguards. The bodyguards approached her as soon as they saw her. "Mrs. Nicholls, Mr. Nicholls said you need to rest and avoid too much movement. Please return to your room." Their tone was polite, but Mavis could not help but sneer. "Is this protection or surveillance?" The bodyguards lowered their heads, looking uncomfortable. "We're just following Mr. Nicholls's orders. He's handling some matters and should be back before noon. You should really go back and rest." Mavis scrutinized them, clearly seeing their intention to block her from leaving. She changed tactics and asked, "Nathaniel seems to have taken my phone. Can you let me use yours? I need to call Sheena and Ella." The two bodyguards exchanged glances. "Mrs. Nicholls, please don't make things difficult for us. We don't have the authority to make such decisions." Mavis's frustration grew. "What does he mean by this? Is he planning to imprison me in this room? Am I not allowed to even make a phone call?"