Chapter 5 A Child Unwanted

The following morning, Margaret knocked on the door. "Ma’am, breakfast is ready. Mr. Adams is already downstairs. Would you like to join him and have a conversation? After all, you are both still husband and wife." Margaret's goodwill was not lost on Elinor. However, judging by the atmosphere yesterday, she doubted Jaxson had any desire to have a civil conversation. "Ma’am, this situation isn't entirely your fault, and Madam Stella is quite fond of you. Who knows, Mr. Adams might be willing to talk things through." After all, Stella could perhaps ease the tension and facilitate communication. Elinor had initially planned to decline, but she quickly realized that she would continue to live in this manor for the foreseeable future. If she avoided him today, could she be sure to avoid him forever? With a forced smile, Elinor nodded. "I understand. I'll go down." Jaxson's health seemed good, considering he had just woken up. He was already in a wheelchair, joining the household for breakfast. However, after a year-long coma, he looked somewhat frail. Catching a glimpse of his sharply defined profile, Elinor felt a sudden surge of anxiety. Despite her apprehension, she took her usual seat at the table. Jaxson sat directly across from her, and she barely dared to lift her gaze. Yet, he scrutinized her unabashedly. Elinor's heart pounded in her chest. She was both fearful and compelled to look up. When their eyes met, she felt as if her breath had stopped. His eyes were cold as if nothing in the world mattered to him. "I'm Elinor..." They might be married on paper, but they were strangers in life. Jaxson lifted his hand, cutting her off. "I know who you are. All your details were given to me this morning. What I heard, though, is that you're carrying my child?" Between yesterday's panic and today's apprehension, Elinor had forgotten about the in vitro fertilization procedure. Caught off guard, she tensed up and set her utensils down. "Yes..." "I am giving you two choices, either you take care of it yourself, or I will. I don't need this child." Jaxson was incredibly impatient. The realization that he had acquired a wife while in a coma was making him increasingly irritated. Especially upon hearing that Elinor might be carrying his child, Jaxson was even less pleased. For Elinor, neither of the options appealed to her. She was not even certain that she was pregnant. Jaxson was visibly displeased. Being manipulated by others did not sit well with him. His furrowed eyebrows and the impatience visible in his eyes left little room for interpretation. Elinor lowered her head, choosing not to say anything further. "Actually, I am not pregnant. The doctor said it wasn't a certainty. I got my period this morning, and Margaret can confirm this.". Jaxson replied, "That's good to know. I hope you understand why you're even here in the first place. Have your papers ready. You have three days." Jaxson was not the type of man to let anyone control him. He would not go along with it even if the person making the decisions was his own mother. Stella had been hospitalized yesterday due to excessive excitement. Although Jaxson did not want to create any additional issues for the time being, he was absolutely unwilling to let anyone control his marriage. As far as he was concerned, this marriage had to end. Elinor stood up, her appetite lost. With a forced smile, she muttered an apology and returned to her room. When she came downstairs again, she heard a wailing noise from the living room. Elinor's heart skipped a beat, recognizing the voice as Kenneth's. Torn, she decided not to go down, only to be spotted by Kenneth. "Mrs. Adams, come quickly! Please help me persuade my uncle that I just came to visit!" Jaxson signaled a nod to his bodyguard, who sent Kenneth sprawling with a kick and then crushed his hand underfoot. Kenneth screamed. Standing at the top of the stairs, Elinor's face went pale. What could Kenneth have possibly done to provoke Jaxson's wrath to such an extent? Kenneth was his nephew. That was a little excessive. "Kenneth, I told you before. You must be capable enough to get what you want," Jaxson spoke, his voice calm yet making Kenneth quiver as he lay on the floor. "Even if I die, my possessions will never go to you, my dear nephew. You may carry the Adams family blood in you, but let me tell you, a fool like you is not worth my time." The bodyguard crushed Kenneth's hand again, eliciting another scream. "No, Uncle! I swear! I was praying for your recovery this past year," Kenneth stammered. "Stop pretending to care in front of me. Listen, I'll only say this once. If you ever try to deceive me again, not even my mother will be able to save you. You know what happens to people who cross me, don't you?" Jaxson sat in his wheelchair, but his demeanor was that of a king, looking down on Kenneth with a gaze both pitying and cruel. Haunted by memories of being intimidated by Jaxson since childhood, Kenneth nodded frantically. The moment the bodyguard released his grip, Kenneth scurried away from the manor. Elinor had seen it all. She had always known that Jaxson was not a good person, but today she realized she knew too little about him. He was a madman, a beast. Anyone who dared to provoke him would not meet a good end. Elinor was terrified. She needed to get away from this dangerous man as soon as possible. Taking a deep breath, she clenched her bag tightly and ran out, pretending she had seen nothing.