Mrs. Morgan pulled Miranda Jenkins into a comforting embrace, patting her back gently while venting her frustration about Adalee. "Adalee acted like a complete fool and made Miranda the laughingstock of the whole ceremony. How could she do something like that to her own sister? And she doesn't even show a trace of remorse!"

Adalee had been evasive about her child's father from the start, only breaking down and confessing at Miranda's wedding—clearly stirring up a storm.

Mrs. Morgan felt heartbroken—what kind of daughter had she raised, anyway?

Mr. Morgan's face darkened. "When she comes home, she owes you a sincere apology. What's done is done; we can't undo it. And since she's Mrs. Nichols now, there's no point dwelling on it. I'll help you find someone better than Cruz."

Miranda was deeply displeased. The difference in treatment between a biological and an adopted child was as clear as day.

Adalee had stolen her fiancé and humiliated her in front of everyone. Yet all the Morgans demanded was an apology, refusing to impose anything harsher.

Find her someone better than Cruz Nichols? Who on earth could possibly top him?!

She'd been this close to becoming Cruz Nichols' wife! And now he was with Adalee—that insufferable woman—it was unbearable!

She swore she'd take Cruz back from Adalee!

Cruz Nichols only married Adalee because she was pregnant. If that problem went away, then maybe...

Miranda smirked, determined to get rid of Adalee's unborn child!

Adalee woke to a change in her surroundings. Gone were the luxurious tones of the hotel suite, replaced by a dimly lit, spacious bedroom—every corner stark and subdued, save for a floral wreath hanging above the bed.

A fog clouded her mind, and she had no memory of how she'd gotten here. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep and a troubling dream.

In that dream, Miranda Jenkins was trying to snatch her newborn daughter away. Adalee fought back and reclaimed her baby, tears of joy streaming down her face as her little one reached out to embrace her, creating a beautifully tender moment.

Just then, the door swung open, and two young maids stepped in.

"Good morning, ma'am. I'm Avery Larson, assigned by Mr. Nichols to be at your service."

"Hi, ma'am. I'm Gia Shaw."

Adalee still felt groggy from her deep sleep, rubbing her temples as she squinted at the two nervous maids, her voice thick with drowsiness. "Where am I?"

Avery beamed. "This is Mr. Nichols' private mansion, ma'am. You're the first woman he's ever brought here!"

Gia nodded like a bobblehead. "Yes, yes! Mr. Nichols carried you in himself! You were like a soft little kitten in his arms, swept off your feet by the handsome Mr. Nichols. It was straight out of a romance novel!"

Adalee smirked. The vivid imagery conjured a scene in her mind. These two were clearly lost in their own romantic fantasies.

She let out a light chuckle. "The mighty CEO, carrying his beloved—sounds like you've read one too many romance novels."

Avery and Gia giggled, scratching their heads.

They couldn't help it. The allure of a powerful CEO was irresistible—and Mr. Nichols embodied it perfectly. How could they not daydream?

Looking at the two starry-eyed maids, Adalee felt a pang of nostalgia. Once upon a time, she'd harbored romantic dreams just like theirs.

But now...

Adalee gently touched her belly. "Where's your master? Where did he go?"

Avery answered, "Mr. Nichols went back to the family estate alone."

Back to the estate? Adalee recalled the fiasco at the wedding. The Nichols family would undoubtedly find her actions outrageous—they were probably wishing she'd never crossed their path.

Thankfully, Cruz hadn't dragged her straight to the estate, sparing her the full onslaught of their questioning.

Adalee was grateful she'd slept through the whole commotion, dodging a heap of trouble.

Suddenly, a thought struck her. "Where's my phone?"

She'd left it on the nightstand in the hotel bridal suite. Hopefully, Cruz had thought to bring it.

Avery spoke up. "Mr. Nichols handed me your phone, ma'am, but he instructed us to make sure you don't use it too much. Too much screen time isn't good for your baby."

Adalee was taken aback by Cruz's attentiveness. He'd even arranged two maids to keep her from burying her face in her phone.

She agreed easily. "Understood. Please give it to me."

Avery handed it over.

Adalee turned it on and was immediately greeted by a headline and a video of her scandalous interruption at the wedding, along with a flood of comments.

"How did someone like Adalee end up with a billionaire like Cruz Nichols? She doesn't deserve him!"

"Yes! Adalee came out of nowhere, no class at all. How can she possibly match the sophisticated Mr. Nichols?"

"I was fine with Cruz marrying Miranda. Miranda's an Ivy League grad, accomplished in the arts—a world above that nobody Adalee."

"Our Mr. Nichols with Adalee? Like a rose in a weed patch. What a shame!"

"Once Adalee pops out the kid, she'll be kicked to the curb!"

"No way a man with Mr. Nichols' standards would truly choose someone like Adalee!"

Adalee replied lazily, "Sour grapes, that's all," and closed the app.

Let them chatter—she was merely an observer.

Then she dialed Mr. Morgan's number.

The call got disconnected.

Frowning, she tried her mother. Same result.

Clearly, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were conspiring, refusing her calls.

Who knew what poison Miranda was feeding them to make them ignore her altogether?

Determined, she turned to Avery and Gia. "Can one of you lend me a phone for a call?"

Gia immediately offered hers. "Ma'am, use mine."

"Thanks."

Adalee's eyes twinkled as she took the phone and expertly dialed Mr. Morgan's number.

Sure enough, he answered promptly, mistaking the call for a legitimate one.

"Hello, who is this? If you're trying to scam me, I'll report you!"

Adalee's lips twisted into a wry line. "…Dad, it's me."

Hearing his daughter's voice only made Palmer Morgan's blood boil. "You—you stubborn child! Do you have any idea how ridiculous you made us look today at that wedding? Not only did you turn your sister Miranda into a laughingstock across the whole city, but you embarrassed the Nichols family too. They're furious, and they're demanding answers from us. You caused this disaster, so you can explain it to them. Your mother and I are staying out of it."

Adalee frowned. "Dad, Miranda was the one who tried to take my place and marry Cruz Nichols. Why aren't you calling her out on that?"

Palmer snapped back, "Miranda told me everything. It was just a misunderstanding with Cruz—she had nothing to do with it. Besides, if you'd told us from the start that the baby you're carrying is Cruz's, none of this would've happened. This mess is yours to fix, and you will fix it. Once that's settled, come back and apologize to your sister. Miranda has a good heart—she'll forgive you, I'm sure."

Adalee felt the words land like a slap. The injustice of being told to apologize to Miranda settled deep in her chest, heavy and bitter. She wanted to confront her sister right then and there. But she knew her parents were completely under Miranda's spell—and it would take time to peel back the mask and show them who their precious daughter really was.

She touched her belly gently, her voice calm but firm. "Dad, I'll give you a satisfactory explanation."

She couldn't tell them yet that the child was Cruz's—she'd only learned that truth at the end of her previous life. But when the time was right, she'd expose Miranda's lies.

Palmer thought she was finally listening, and his tone softened a notch. "Tonight's your wedding night, and I don't want to argue with you. Try to get along with Cruz, and stop acting so reckless. Remember you're a married woman now. Understand?"

Despite everything, warmth flickered inside her. "I understand, Dad."

He hung up, and Adalee took a deep breath, the sting of unshed tears burning behind her eyes. Even though her father was wrapped around Miranda's finger, deep down she believed he truly did care.

In her previous life, her parents had left everything to her in their will before their tragic deaths—Miranda got nothing but an empty shell of a company. Maybe, in the end, they'd finally seen her sister's true colors. Or maybe they'd suspected their deaths weren't just accidents…

Adalee lowered her lashes, her gaze cooling into something sharp and determined. No matter what, she'd already changed the course of her past life. She would protect her parents with everything she had—and make sure they never walked that path again.

Meanwhile, back at the Nichols estate, Cruz Nichols had barely stepped through the door when his mother, Madeleine Nichols, summoned him into the study for a lecture.

"What were you thinking, marrying like that on a whim? How could you choose to bind yourself to such an unworthy woman?" Madeleine, still elegant in her Victorian-style wedding dress, looked barely a day over forty at fifty—outshining women half her age.

She tossed a file onto the desk in front of him. Cruz picked it up and flipped through it—rumors about Adalee, scandals, claims that she was uneducated, quick to fight, tied to the wrong crowd.

Cruz set the file down, unshaken. "Mom, these are just rumors. There's no real evidence tying her to any of it. They could easily be false."

Madeleine let out a cold laugh. "Rumors don't just appear out of thin air. Who knows what she's actually been up to? I'm telling you now—make sure you get a paternity test. If that girl has deceived us, I'll deal with her myself."

Cruz's brow tightened. His voice dropped. "I understand. I'll handle it."

Madeleine pressed on. "Even if the child is ours, given all her baggage, we can't keep her in this family. Wait until she gives birth, then find a way to divorce her. Offer her compensation for the child, if we must."

Cruz said nothing, turning to walk out.

"Did you hear me, Cruz?" she called after him.

But her son's cool, commanding silhouette had already disappeared through the study door.

She let out a frustrated sigh.

Elsewhere, Adalee had barely woken up when her stomach let out a low growl.

A warm smile curved her lips. Her baby was hungry, demanding to be fed. Memories from her past life crept back—locked away by Miranda, starving and desperate, yet she'd held on for her child's sake. She'd survived on pure willpower, managed to give birth… only for Miranda to snatch her baby away.

Adalee's fists clenched. She swallowed the ache of that memory. This time, she would feed her child well, raise it strong and healthy, and protect its birth with everything she had.

She turned to Avery and Gia. "Is the meal ready?"

Avery answered cheerfully, "Yes, ma'am. We had dinner prepared for you."

Adalee nodded and got out of bed.

A pair of pink cotton slippers sat waiting for her—shaped like bunnies, complete with fluffy little tails and ears. Cute. Girlish. So soft they almost made her heart melt.

The sight cracked through the armor Adalee had built around her heart, and her eyes lit up with a rare, genuine sparkle.

Noticing her pleasure, Gia smiled and explained, "Mr. Nichols arranged everything for you—the clothes, the food, the maternity gear. He even had the housekeeper put together a whole shopping list."

"Oh." Adalee nodded coolly, sliding her bare feet into the cozy slippers.

They were plush and warm. She couldn't help but like them.

Maybe she'd been too harsh on Cruz.

Adalee followed the maids down to the dining room on the ground floor. The moment she stepped inside, dozens of eyes landed on her.

Freshly rested, her flawless skin had a healthy glow—like a flower blooming, impossibly sweet. There was no denying it: she was stunning.

More than a few servants couldn't help but wonder about her beauty.

But even with that face, the rumors about her past—running with different men, causing trouble—cast a long shadow. They said she'd sullied Cruz Nichols' name. And now, for the sake of her child, this powerful man had to put up with it all, sheltering her, providing for her, while whispers followed him everywhere.

Avery broke the silence. "What are you standing around for? Serve the lady her meal!"

Suddenly, a cold voice cut through the room. "And she's supposed to be our lady of the house?"

Adalee Morgan heard a voice and glanced over, spotting a young woman in her twenties with delicate features—but her eyes burned with raw jealousy. Adalee raised an eyebrow, instantly suspecting this woman had a thing for Cruz Nichols.

"Who are you gawking at?" Jade Hill snapped, shooting Adalee a look of pure disdain. "If it weren't for the baby you're carrying, do you honestly think Mr. Nichols would lower himself to marry someone like you?"

Jade had seen the online gossip painting Adalee as some country bumpkin dragged out of obscurity, always hanging around shady places. She couldn't wrap her head around how a woman like that ended up pregnant with Mr. Nichols' child. Determined to make Adalee's life miserable, she wasn't about to let up.

Avery Larson, one of the household staff, couldn't help but chime in. "Jade, Mr. Nichols brought Mrs. Nichols here himself. We all saw it. He even had everything set up for her—that means he acknowledges her."

Jade turned her icy stare on Avery. "Be quiet!"

Avery flinched and clamped her mouth shut. She knew better than to cross Jade, the housekeeper's daughter, who had way too much influence around here.

Unfazed by Jade's hostility, Adalee simply asked, "And who might you be?"

Jade let out a haughty laugh. "I'm the head maid here. Everyone answers to me!"

Adalee chuckled, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Ah, so just a servant? Then you should be following the orders of the lady of the house, shouldn't you?"

"You—" Jade stammered, her face reddening with fury. "You're just a passing fling. Once you pop out that baby, Mr. Nichols will kick you to the curb, and you'll be worse off than a servant!"

"We'll see about that," Adalee said coolly, taking a seat at the dining table as if Jade didn't exist.

Jade fumed, feeling like she'd just punched a pillow—no satisfaction at all. Just as she opened her mouth to fire back, someone announced, "Mr. Nichols is back!"

Jade's demeanor did a complete 180, her face instantly sweet and servile, while she subtly signaled the staff to keep quiet about the earlier spat.

Adalee caught Jade's two-faced act and rolled her eyes discreetly.

Cruz Nichols strode into the dining room, his steps deliberate, commanding, carrying an aura that felt almost suffocating. The room's lively chatter died in an instant, and even Adalee tensed up.

He shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over a chair, his gaze locking onto his petite wife. Seeing her slightly nervous expression, his eyes darkened. "Have you eaten?"

Adalee shook her head honestly, a hint of pout in her voice. "Not yet. The baby's already complaining."

Cruz's chiseled features tightened as he shot a cold glare at the staff, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "Didn't I tell you all to have dinner ready?"

Jade went pale, caught off guard by his sudden fury. "It's ready! It's ready! We'll serve it right away!"

She frantically signaled the kitchen staff, and within moments the table was loaded with dishes that looked incredible, the smell making anyone's mouth water.

Cruz settled into the seat next to Adalee and rolled up his sleeves, revealing a muscular forearm and an expensive watch. "I didn't know what you'd like, so I had them make a bit of everything. Eat up—don't let the baby starve."

Adalee blinked, surprised by the effort. "Thanks, but you didn't have to go all out. I'm not picky."

His unexpected thoughtfulness nudged her opinion of him up a notch.

But then he opened his mouth again, and whatever goodwill had started to bloom shriveled up.

Cruz fixed her with a penetrating look. "Don't get the wrong idea. This is all for the child."

Adalee forced a laugh that came out awkward. She dropped her gaze back to her plate, toes curling from the embarrassment of thinking he could ever care for her.

Jade, having overheard Cruz's cold words, smirked with quiet satisfaction. She knew it—the Cruz Nichols she worshipped would never lower himself to love a simpleton like Adalee. The thought was absurd.

Dinner flew by, and to everyone's shock, Adalee devoured her food like she hadn't eaten in days. Completely unbothered by the stares, she even asked to have the leftovers wrapped up for a midnight snack.

Jade scoffed at Adalee's clear lack of class. Cruz had been about to offer her some pulled pork, but at her request, he paused, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, and put it back on his own plate.

When Adalee finally set down her fork, Cruz let out a mildly exasperated sigh. "I'm not short on food. Not now, not ever."

Adalee blinked at him, confused. Was he implying they had a future together? She quickly shook off that crazy thought and explained, "I just don't like wasting food."

Cruz's expression softened a fraction, the ice in his voice thawing a little. "Leftovers aren't good for a pregnant woman. They'll go to the local strays."

"Oh." Adalee nodded, relieved. She stole a glance at Cruz's perfect profile, a faint smile tugging at her lips. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't help but find his soft spot for animals endearing.

Meanwhile, across town, Miranda Jenkins burned with jealousy, dead set on dragging Cruz back into her life—by any means necessary.

Back at the villa after lunch, Cruz drove Adalee home. Madeleine Nichols was there, sitting in front of the TV with a distinctly sour look on her face.

Adalee felt a pang of guilt, avoiding her mother-in-law's gaze. She knew she shouldn't have left her earlier. But Cruz seemed unfazed, greeting her with a cool, "Still here, Mom?"

Madeleine let out a small huff. "I have something to discuss with Adalee. Why are you in such a rush?"

Cruz shrugged. "Then say whatever you need to say."

Madeleine shot him a sharp look. How dare her son talk to her like that? She turned a warmer expression toward Adalee and beckoned her over. "Come here, darling. I have something important to tell you."

Adalee hesitated, but Madeleine's sudden change in demeanor left her no room to refuse. Earlier, she'd been standoffish, and it had put Adalee on edge.

But now Madeleine's tone was inviting. "Come on, it's good news!"

Adalee shuffled forward, looking at her mother-in-law with curious eyes, ready to listen.

Madeleine gently patted Adalee's head. "Your piano skills are outstanding. I've had a room set up with a brand-new piano, so you can practice whenever you want."

Surprised and touched, Adalee nodded. "Thank you, Mom."

Madeleine beamed. "You have real talent, and you should cultivate it. Who knows—maybe you'll become a national treasure one day, even surpassing Beethoven himself!"

Adalee's cheeks flushed at the high praise. She felt a little shy.

"Oh, and I've taken care of your education. You'll be attending the top university in the country. Since you're pregnant, there's no rush—you can start once the baby's born."

Adalee was blown away. That university was elite, nearly impossible to get into without exceptional grades. She'd always assumed it was out of her reach. But with Cruz's backing and the school's support, it suddenly seemed possible.

And wouldn't you know it—Miranda Jenkins went to that same university. The thought of running into Miranda there, exposing all her lies, was way more appealing than staying cooped up at home.

Adalee made up her mind in a heartbeat. "Mom, I don't need to wait until after the baby. I can enroll when the new term starts!"