That single glance was all it took for Emily Blair to regain her composure.

Andrew Lane's gaze was full of suspicion, curiosity, and that particular brand of doubt Emily had always despised.

Keeping her face calm, Emily looked away and said coolly, "I was just congratulating you both on starting a family, and look, the family's already on its way."

The whole scene was so dramatic that even the assistant in the front seat could hardly hide his excitement. He stole glances in the rearview mirror, eyes practically sparkling with gossip.

He happened to catch Isabella Austin with her head bowed, cheeks flushed pink, her expression unreadable.

"We're not certain about anything just yet," Andrew replied.

The assistant couldn't help himself. "Mr. Lane, that was fast."

Isabella had only just come back from out of town, and now she was already two months pregnant.

Which meant, the moment Isabella returned, she and Andrew must have wasted no time, sparks flying, barely able to keep their hands off each other.

The more the assistant thought about it, the brighter his eyes grew.

But then, suddenly, he remembered that Emily Blair—the Lane family's adopted daughter-was still sitting beside him.

Everyone knew about Emily's feelings for Andrew.

And now Isabella was pregnant with Andrew's child. What would this mean for Emily?

The assistant tried to keep his gaze as discreet as possible.

But it didn't work. Andrew caught him.

"Watch your mouth and your eyes," Andrew said in a low, warning voice.

The assistant snapped his mouth shut and looked away, driving the rest of the way

in silence until they reached the hospital entrance.

Emily got out of the car without a word, waiting as Andrew helped Isabella out.

She said, "I'll handle my own checkup. Mr. Lane, you should stay with your girlfriend for her prenatal appointment."

The hospital's gynecology and general checkup departments were in separate buildings, a ten-minute walk apart.

As soon as Emily finished speaking, Andrew put his hand on Isabella's shoulder and told the assistant, "I'll go with Isabella. You go with her."

Emily didn't bother waiting around; she strode off without looking back.

The assistant's eyes still glittered with the thrill of gossip, but he reluctantly tore his

gaze from Andrew and Isabella's retreating figures and hurried after Emily.

Emily's examination went smoothly-just a few scrapes and bruises, nothing serious.

As for Isabella, her results confirmed what Emily had already suspected: she was indeed two months pregnant.

Oddly enough, neither Andrew nor Isabella looked particularly happy about it.

Andrew's face was tense. He held Isabella by the shoulders, her test results in his other hand, and spoke quietly.

"Since you're pregnant, don't move out. Stay at the house, so I can make sure someone's looking after you."

Isabella bit her lip and looked down, her words hesitant. “Okay, but... what about your grandfather? And your family?"

Andrew clearly didn't care much for her worries. "I'll handle my grandfather. You just focus on your health."

Tears welled in Isabella's eyes. She wrapped her arms around Andrew's waist, burying her face in his shoulder, her voice muffled.

"Alright. I trust you, Andrew. I always have."

Emily sat in the passenger seat, watching the couple in the back with a bitter, mocking smile.

Perhaps it was the shame of an unplanned pregnancy, the sense that something was fundamentally wrong.

She closed her eyes.

In that moment, Emily could only feel grateful that she'd never let Daisy be born, never become Daisy's mother.

After five years of playing that role, she now hoped Daisy might one day find a home in a truly happy family, not be dragged through hardship and instability with her, ending up with nothing-not even a place to be buried.