Chapter 17 Don't Tell Me You're Pregnant
"That's enough!" Lloyd yelled. His face turned pale with fury as he glared at Emma. "You ruined a wonderful meal! If you don't know what to say, just shut up and eat!"
"Come on, darling. Don't be so worked up." Seeing that Lloyd was infuriated, Emma quickly stood by his side and tried to ease his frustration. "It's just how the conversation unfolded. Besides, weren't you always hoping for a grandchild? If Alicia had married Christopher, they'd probably have kids by now."
Just as her words fell, Amy came over holding a dish. "The last dish is Mr. Leonard's favorite, honey garlic spare ribs."
As she walked away, she instinctively stole a glance at Adeline.
The white plate held ribs with a vibrant red hue, dripping with a glossy layer of oil. The savory smell of the ribs was irresistible as steam curled up from the dish.
Adeline's eyes locked on the honey garlic spare ribs, and she felt as if all the blood in her body had frozen. Her entire body stiffened to the point where she couldn't even move a finger.
She could barely catch her breath. Her face instantly turned pale, devoid of color.
"Adeline, when you come back from school, I'll make your favorite honey garlic spare ribs, okay?"
"Adeline, when you come back from school, I'll make your favorite honey garlic spare ribs, okay?"
"Adeline, when you come back from school, I'll make your favorite honey garlic spare ribs, okay?"
Giselle's tender voice suddenly rang in her ears repeatedly.
Adeline's mind was flooded with images of Giselle's serene, smiling face, followed by a bloody scene that made her feel suffocated.
Just then, a tingling sensation spread throughout her body. As her gaze fixed firmly on the plate of spare ribs, her chest started to heave violently.
Christopher frowned, sensing something was off. He pulled her waist to him with a firm grip. "What's wrong?"
Adeline didn't answer him and abruptly shook off his hand. As her face turned deathly pale, she grabbed the edge of the dining table to steady herself. The next moment, she covered her mouth and staggered toward the bathroom.
Christopher followed close behind. As soon as he reached the bathroom door, he heard the sound of retching from inside.
...
In the dining room, Alicia and Emma exchanged a quick, knowing smile.
Emma then adopted a look of concern. "What's wrong with Adeline? She doesn't look very well."
Lloyd sighed heavily. His face was grim, and he stayed silent.
Gordon entered and was about to say something when he saw the plate of spare ribs on the table. Looking around and not seeing Adeline, he hurriedly said to Lloyd, "Mr. Keller, have you forgotten that Ms. Keller doesn't eat honey garlic spare ribs? Why did the kitchen make this dish today?"
Lloyd's heart sank as he suddenly recalled that ever since Giselle passed away, Adeline had refused to eat this dish. In fact, just the sight of it would cause her to vomit reflexively.
Back then, it was Olivia Campbell who took care of her, ensuring her daily life was meticulously attended to. Later, when new maids arrived, he made sure to inform the kitchen as well. However, over the past few years, since Adeline rarely came back, he hadn't mentioned it again.
He shot an angry look at Emma and asked sharply, "Didn't you inform the kitchen?"
Emma gasped in surprise and lightly tapped her forehead. With an apologetic look, she said, "Oh dear, I forgot. It's Leonard's birthday today, and he loves this dish, so I had it added to the menu. I completely forgot Adeline doesn't like it."
Using Leonard as an excuse, Lloyd couldn't bring himself to scold her further.
Upon hearing that, Leonard merely glanced up at Emma. He tightly pressed his lips together and said nothing, continuing to quietly fiddle with the blocks in his hands.
...
The bathroom was lit by a single dim light, creating a gloomy atmosphere.
Christopher pushed the door open and saw Adeline facing away from him, leaning over the sink and retching repeatedly.
Her arms trembled slightly as they supported her body, and her hands clutched the marble edge of the sink tightly. Her face was as pale as paper, and she looked utterly miserable. It was as if she were about to vomit out every part of her insides.
Christopher leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. Watching her delicate figure, he asked, "Are you alright?"
Adeline didn't respond. After a moment, she turned on the tap and splashed cold water onto her face. The coolness helped her regain a bit of composure. She didn't answer Christopher's question, and he simply waited patiently for her to speak.
The water gushed out like a pillar, and the surrounding silence was broken only by the sound of flowing water.
Through the wide mirror, Christopher could see Adeline's delicate yet pale face. Even her once rosy lips had lost their color.
Adeline kept her head lowered. After a long while, she slowly regained her strength. She wiped her face dry with a tissue. As she turned around, Christopher leaned in and drew closer to her with each step until she was cornered between his body and the sink.
"Does your stomach hurt?" he asked. His voice was low and clear, and his gaze flickered in the dim lighting.
Adeline felt exhausted, both physically and mentally. She faintly shook her head in response. Her refined face still bore traces of water, with a few stray strands of hair stuck to her forehead.
Christopher raised his hand and tenderly brushed the hair from her forehead with his fingertips.
Adeline blinked slightly as she felt the warmth of his touch. She wondered if he was concerned about her.
Christopher leaned in a little closer. His tall nose brushed against hers as he said in a low voice, "Don't tell me you're pregnant." His tone didn't sound like he was happy about it.
Adeline's heart sank abruptly. She couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Looking up to meet his piercing gaze, she asked, "Are you really that afraid of me getting pregnant?" Her voice was full of arrogance and laced with a hint of provocation.
Christopher said nothing. He gazed at her deeply for a moment before leaning in and kissing her passionately on the lips.
Adeline instinctively turned her head, but he pressed her head firmly with his strong hand, leaving her unable to move. She tried to push him away, but the little strength she had was useless against his broad shoulders.
The kiss grew deeper with each passing moment, full of aggression and dominance.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
Adeline paused her breath and stopped struggling.
Christopher was pleased with her submissive attitude at that moment. She hid in his embrace like a startled kitten.
"Mr. Lambert, Ms. Keller. Is everything alright?" It was Gordon's voice.
Christopher's lips moved away from Adeline's, and he let out a soft hum.
Hearing that, Gordon felt reassured and left.
Christopher then shifted his indifferent gaze to Adeline's lovely face. "Adeline, I've said it before." In a deep voice, he uttered slowly, word by word, "I won't have kids with you."
Adeline fixed her gaze on his eyes for a long moment. He had a face that could captivate anyone, yet his words were always harsh and indifferent.
It turned out that the more attractive the man, the more disgusting and vile they were!
"Well, thank you then," she said, forcing a smile as she looked at Christopher. "Do you think I want to have kids with you?"
With that, she shoved Christopher aside before opening the door and walking out of the bathroom.