ped a beat, and she instinctively darted behind Will

wn as he faced Renee, his voice tinged w

l shrug, her voice dry. "It's a hos

head, he surveyed Renee from head to toe, searching

or a prenatal check-up early this morning. Naturally, as his legal wife, I felt compelled to see for myself." Her eyes, sharp and g

stretch before continuing with deliberate calm, "Unless William dare

lly muster the cour

e wouldn't have made it th

nded to marry William. Even her grandfather, Johnny Carter, who

world, much like Renee's father, who, though steering clear of

fluence as a high-ranking official in the political echelons. His current stature me

was crafted as an unbreakable allian

also force their influential families into a messy, public tug-of-war, risking a feud that could echo through their elite circles. With

n revealed themselves to be fruitless endeavors. Despite chasing William's affection for five years before she mana

ue to project the image of a devoted couple publicly and during familial gatherings,

er William returned from the army, he would spend endless nights in bed with her, refusing to stop until she gave in. It was simply

s frail condition-William probably

ed his lover like a queen while t

nd William sent a sharp, unexpe

sliced through the tension, but Renee's mock

Are you going to try and stop me?" Her challenge hung

ilence. And then, the call from Ryland had come, twisting the knife deeper-William had escorted Sylvia to the obstetrics departm

gers clutching William's sleeve as if it were her last lifeline. Her e

ilent, his gaze unyieldingly

. She gripped his arm tighter, her plea more desperate. "I c

he tense air. In a swift, harsh motion, she raised her

smack that left a vivid red i

Sylvia," Renee hissed, her v

the oppressive silence, its tone imbued with an undeniable

g, her attire simple yet exuding an elegance that spoke of besp

om