The phone on the nightstand begins to buzz, and Gabrielle freezes terrified that the noise will wake Jackson. She holds her breath and waits for the buzzing to stop. When it does, she grabs the phone and checks the na on the screenit's Jessica. She unlocks the phone and types a quick text: I have a surprise for you. Co here quickly.
Gabrielle sends another ssage with the address, puts the phone back, and tiptoes out of the bedroom. She wishes she could do more to punish Jackson, but the text will have to do. At least for now.
There's a loud banging sound, and it takes Jackson several minutes to realize that it's coming from outside his head. He opens his eyes and groanshe's alone in the bed and his headaches. The knocking on the door continues. He groans and gets out of bed, wrapping a towel around his waist.
Shreds of fabric from Gabrielle's gown cover the floor, but Gabrielle is gone. He smiles to himself. She may look dumb, but she's quite feisty, he thinks. I look forward to taming her.
He opens the door and finds Sivan standing at the door with a team of bodyguards. Sivan's eyebrows shoot up his forehead, and he smirks as he looks at Jackson.
"Well, look at you, Jackson," Sivan says, waving his hand up and down. "I was told there was so sort of surprise here, but I definitely wasn't expecting this. This new style works for you, though. Am I guessing it's the work of so lady friend? Maybe, you want to change your looks before Jessica cos?"
Jackson turns around and walks toward the bathroom. He stares at himself in the mirror and feels blood rush to his face. His hair has been bound into two small braids on either side of his head. White stripes of fabric are tied into huge bows at the end of each braid.
Jackson yanks the fabric from his hair and undoes the braids as quickly as he can. Then he splashes hot water on his face to clean away the dried blood and wine. He towels his face dry and scowls at his own reflection. He can't believe Gabrielle was so bold.
I swear, I'm really going to teach her a lesson, he thinks. She may think she's gotten away from , but I'll get her back soon enough.
The maternity wing at morial Husband is swarming with bodyguards wearing Evan's family insignia. By the ti Avery arrives, there's a man at every door and window. She sighs and tries to avoid looking at them. The atmosphere at the hospital is tense, and she can't help but feel like a prisoner on the way to her own execution.
She's worried about the test results. If soone tampers with the test, Evan might let her leave. However, if the results show that he's the father, it'll be almost impossible to escape.
She follows him down the long hallway. He walks quickly and confidently, without bothering to see if she's following him. Even his back seems to radiate coldness. A team of doctors in white coats waits at the end of the hall.
"The equipnt is ready, Mr. Howel," the lead doctor says.
"If there are any irregularities or issues with the results, the chair of the hospital should worry about his position," Evan says. "Have I made myself understood?"
The lead doctor goes pale, but he swallows hard and nods. Two nurses step forward, each taking one of Avery's arms. They seem more like correctional officers than nurses. Avery pulls her hand away.
"I want to go to the bathroom first," she says.
Evan grabs her arm and turns her to face him, "What kind of trick do you want to play? There are so many bodyguards here. Do you think you can escape?"
His face is so close to hers; she can sll his minty breath and distinct shampoo. A sudden look of disgust crosses his face and pushes her away. She stumbles backward and bumps into the wall. She places a hand over her stomach and glares at him.
"You picked the hospital and filled it with your n," she says. "I'd be stupid if I thought I could escape. You're pushing around as if you've forgotten I'm pregnant, but I am. And pregnant won frequently need to use the bathroom."
As much as she wishes she could escape, she knows it's impossible. Instead, she's waiting for Leonie to co. Once Leonie is in the hospital, there's a much higher chance that soone will manage to tamper with Avery's test results. Before she can go to the bathroom, the click-clack of high heeled shoes echoes down the hallway.
Leonie walks down the hall wearing her trademark pink dress with a pair of four-inch heels. She smiles sweetly at Evan, and her cheeks dimple. She tosses her hair over her shoulder and shoots a sideways glance at Avery.
"What a coincidence is running into you two here," Leonie says. "Is Avery getting a neonatal examination too?"
"Who let you in?" Evan asks, frowning.
"I did," shouts a regal voice.
Florence Howel walks down the hall like an old queen surveying her kingdom. She sneers at Avery and walks to stand by Leonie's side, taking Leonie's hand in her own.
"Leonie is also here for a neonatal examination," Florence says. "The bodyguards at the door tried to stop us from entering, though. Evan, you get more and more controlling every day. You want to stop other won from having the exam just because you and your mistress are here?"
"It's okay, Mrs. Howel," Leonie stage whispers. "Avery is having an important test done todayI'm sure Evan is just worried about the results."
Evan barely glances at Leonie before turning to his bodyguard and saying, "Take Leonie to the nearest hospital for her examination."
"Evan, how can you ask a pregnant woman to run around from hospital to hospital?" Florence says. "Besides, the baby in Leonie's belly is yours."
"It's alright, Mrs. Howel," Leonie says, wiping a fake tear from her eye. "I can go to another hospital. I'm exhausted, of course, but I'll do what Evan says."
"No, I insist that you do it here," Florence shouts.
Avery looks down at her feet to hide her smile. Leonie: Mrs. Howel always makes everything into a dramatic scene, she thinks. They're so ridiculous, but they're doing what I want them to do. They're clearly here to tamper with my test results; otherwise, they wouldn't be so determined to stay.
"What are you laughing at?" Florence snaps at Avery. "You should be worrying about the bastard in your bellynot about us."
"You don't know that my baby is a bastard," Avery says calmly. "Besides, I've heard the rumors about Leonie. I've heard that her child is a bastard, too. But it's not even Evan's."
Leonie grinds her teeth and says, "How dare you!"
Evan sighs loudly and snaps his fingers, "Robert, take both of them to have the paternity test. I want this bickering to end forever. Once we have the results, I never want to hear another word on this topic."
"Very wise, dear," Florence says, smiling coolly. "But you know, if Leonie's child is yours, you have to stop oppressing her."
Evan nods and turns to look out the window. A team of nurses surround Avery and Leonie and lead them to the sa waiting room. A nurse in a white surgical mask nods politely at both of them and reaches for sothing on a tal tray.
"Isn't this exciting, Avery?" Leonie asks with a wicked glint in her eye. "We've always shared this weird connection, and now our children might too. Do you think we'll get the results at the sa ti?"
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