At the banquet, John wore a triumphant smile. His entire demeanor radiated joy.

Guests flocked to his side, eager to flatter him. With a child on the way, his status would soon rival Henry's. It was the perfect time to gain his favor.

As I ate quietly, Alice strutted over with her chin held high.

The moment she sat down, she gently caressed her belly.

"Eleanor, I'm pregnant," she declared boldly.

I didn't spare her a glance and continued eating.

She stared at me with a mocking smirk. Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. "You've been married some time now, yet there's still no sign of a pregnancy.

"Perhaps it's time to consult a doctor and find out what's going on. Remember, the McKellens won't favor an empty cradle forever."

I shot her a cold glance and replied calmly, "There's no need for you to worry about me."

With a trace of doubt, I continued, "Are you certain you're really pregnant?"

Unless John had arranged artificial insemination in advance, I found it hard to believe he could have gotten her pregnant so quickly.

Alice smiled proudly and squared her shoulders. "Of course. Just you wait! The birth of my child will be the moment of your total defeat."

I returned a faint smile. Though Alice masked it well, I still caught a flicker of guilt in her eyes.

Something about this supposed pregnancy didn't seem right.

I got to my feet, deciding to keep her lies under wraps for now.

"Very well. Here's hoping for a smooth delivery and a healthy baby."

Noticing I was leaving, Xavier stood and walked beside me.

He stayed silent, never bringing up the subject of having a child.

Unable to hold back my curiosity, I asked, "Xavier, are you truly not interested in leading the family?"

"Not really," he answered without hesitation. "I believe in letting things take their course. What's destined will come to pass."

His words brought me comfort. At the very least, he gave me understanding and acceptance.

Throughout our marriage, he was always kind and respectful toward me.

Though we remained childless, everyone saw us as the perfect couple.

Over time, our feelings grew stronger, and we started to truly open up to one another.

Time passed quickly. Before I knew it, Alice was ready to give birth.

Despite her impending delivery, my doubts about her pregnancy refused to fade.

But before I could look into it, rumors began swirling about the child's true parentage.

Curious, I decided to drop by the hospital.

As I approached the ward, I saw my mother hurrying ahead. Her face was shadowed with worry.

John's furious voice thundered from within. "Whose child is this? Speak up!"

I followed closely as my mother stumbled into the room.

Inside, Alice was cradling the baby tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You're the father! I swear it's the truth!" she shouted.

John, however, refused to believe her. His face twisted in rage as he pointed accusingly at the child.

"That's nonsense! He has six fingers, and his features don't resemble mine at all! Besides, he was born with a congenital heart defect. There's no such illness in my family!"

Alice flinched. She quickly regained her composure and raised her voice defiantly. "His features just haven't fully formed yet! I've already talked to the doctor. His extra finger and heart defect are side effects of the medicine I took during pregnancy!"

Startled, I leaned in to get a better look at the baby.

Though the child's face didn't resemble John's, that alone wasn't enough to draw any conclusions. The real cause for worry was the baby's finger deformity and heart defect.

Everyone had greeted this child's birth with hope and expectation. His disabilities, however, came as an unforeseen disappointment. With such a condition, he could never carry on the family name.

John's long-held hopes were shattered, and his anger boiled over. In an instant, he snatched the baby from Alice's arms. His face darkened like a brewing tempest.

"There's no way in hell this baby is mine!" he bellowed.