Donovan Xavier chuckled. "Tsk, I didn’t expect a few blows would make you so obedient." "Hmph. This pain wasn’t for nothing, then." "Another kiss, Chloe?" Chloe Preston didn’t say a word. With her eyes ringed in red, she leaned in and kissed his cheek again. "Does it still hurt?" she asked again, her voice thick with a sob. Donovan Xavier’s gaze was gentle. He didn’t lie to her, replying in a deep voice, "It hurts, but my heart is sweet because you’re here." Chloe Preston’s eyelashes trembled, and a mist of tears welled in her eyes as if she was about to cry. Donovan Xavier couldn’t stand to see her cry. He frowned. "Chloe Preston, hold them back. No crying allowed." Chloe Preston forcefully blinked her tears away. She reached out, instinctively touching her flat stomach. There’s a little life inside me... our child. Should I tell him? Is now the right time? The Xavier Family doesn’t like me. What would happen if they found out I was pregnant with Donovan’s child? Would they accept it? "Chloe?" Donovan Xavier called out softly, noticing she was lost in thought. Chloe Preston snapped out of it and gave a slight smile. "I was just spacing out." Donovan Xavier let out an exasperated chuckle. "Chloe Preston, I’m in this state, and you can still space out?" "Tell me, what scoundrel were you thinking about?" Chloe Preston smiled. "I was thinking about you." "That’s more like it," Donovan Xavier replied. "Donovan," she called him. Donovan Xavier’s dark eyes flickered. He loved it when she called him that. Chloe Preston looked at him and pursed her lips. "Do you... do you like children?" Donovan Xavier paused. "Why the sudden question?" Chloe Preston touched her stomach again, feigning a casual air. "Just asking. Think of it as small talk." "I don’t," Donovan Xavier stated. "They’re noisy and a nuisance." Chloe Preston’s heart sank. He doesn’t like them. Donovan Xavier glanced at her and reached out to pinch her cheek. "What’s with that expression? Are you not feeling well?" "I’m fine," Chloe Preston replied softly. Donovan Xavier didn’t think much of it. He raised his hand and ruffled her hair. "Good girl. Go to sleep." Chloe Preston looked at him, her mouth opening as if to say something, but in the end, she held her tongue. She simply nodded. "Okay." "If you start to feel unwell, remember to call me." "Alright," Donovan Xavier replied. 「In the deep of night.」 Chloe Preston leaned against the headboard, unable to fall asleep. The man beside her still had a fever, and she didn’t dare to rest. She would periodically check his forehead and apply a cool, damp towel, praying for his fever to break soon. Chloe Preston lowered her gaze, her hand resting on her stomach as a wave of conflicting emotions washed over her. Donovan doesn’t like children. If he found out I was pregnant, would he make me get an abortion? Besides, he said a long time ago that he has no intention of having children for now. A moment later, Chloe Preston reached out and felt his forehead again. It was no longer hot. She breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, her phone screen lit up. Chloe Preston picked up her phone, unlocked it, and glanced at the screen. It was a message from Caleb Xavier. [How is my grandson?] Chloe Preston replied, [He’s okay.] The other end went silent. Just as Chloe Preston was about to put her phone down, a new message arrived. [Miss Quinn, I am begging you as an old man, please leave my grandson.] [He deserves better. You two are not of the same standing. You are not worthy of him.] For a moment, Chloe Preston’s lips thinned as she gripped her phone tightly. She turned her head and glanced at the sleeping man beside her. His brows were tightly furrowed, perhaps from the pain in his back. He’s always been a favored son of fortune. If it weren’t for me, how could the Xavier Family have been ruthless enough to strike him? Without me, he would definitely have a better life, and so many people would love him. Should I leave him? The thought caused a dull ache in Chloe Preston’s heart. I can’t bear the thought of it. Just then, her phone rang with a crisp tone. It was a call from Wyatt Quinn. He’s calling so late... a sudden call from him can’t be good news. Afraid of waking Donovan, Chloe Preston got up and tiptoed into the bathroom. Closing the bathroom door behind her, she answered the phone. From the other end of the line, Wyatt Quinn’s frantic cry came through. "My sweet girl, you have to come save me!" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel fire.net Her expression was numb as she calmly asked, "You lost at gambling again, didn’t you?" "I just had a streak of bad luck, don’t worry, I’ll pay you back later for sure—" Chloe Preston cut him off. "Just tell me. How much do you owe?" "Seven million! Seven million!" Wyatt Quinn sobbed. "Chloe, Dad’s being held at the casino! If the money isn’t here within the hour, they’re going to kill me! "Sweet girl, Dad was wrong! I promise I’ll never gamble again! You can’t just abandon me this time! "You have to remember, if Dad hadn’t picked you up off the street when you were little, you wouldn’t even be here today! "Chloe, you can’t be so unfilial!" Chloe Preston clenched her fist and took a shaky breath. There were so many things she wanted to say, but in the end, only two words came out. "I know." She hung up and leaned against the cold wall, her head bowed and her expression unreadable. After a long moment, Chloe Preston left the bathroom and went to the walk-in closet to change. Before she left, she made a point to cast one last glance at the man on the bed. Chloe Preston drove alone, following the address Wyatt Quinn had given her, until she arrived at the casino. A thunderstorm raged outside, and the cold wind howled, making the air feel frigid. Holding an umbrella, she walked inside. 「Inside the private room.」 Wyatt Quinn was tied to a chair, surrounded by a group of burly, fierce-looking men with heavily tattooed arms. One of them, a cigarette dangling from his lips, pressed an axe against Wyatt’s neck. "Hey," he sneered, "what time is it? Is that daughter of yours even coming?" Wyatt Quinn shivered. "She’s coming! My daughter will definitely come, don’t worry!" The brawny man scoffed. "I’m telling you, if that money doesn’t show up soon, we’re taking your life as payment!" The door to the private room was pushed open. The moment Chloe Preston stepped inside, a foul stench of smoke assailed her, making her frown and cough. Wyatt Quinn’s eyes lit up. "Chloe! You’re finally here! The money... did you bring the money?" Without even glancing at him, Chloe Preston walked forward, pulled a check from her purse, and handed it to the men. "Seven million." The brawny man took it and laughed. "Well, look at that. Straight to business." He turned to Wyatt. "Mr. Quinn, what kind of sugar daddy did your daughter latch onto? She’s loaded!" Chloe Preston wasted no more words. "You have your money. Can my father leave now?" The brawny man nodded and promptly untied Wyatt. "You should’ve told us your daughter was so rich!" he laughed. "Come back and play anytime! If you lose, just have your daughter foot the bill!" When Wyatt Quinn met Chloe Preston’s gaze, he trembled and said nothing. Wyatt Quinn followed beside her, glancing at her cautiously. "Chloe, thank you. Dad is so grateful. If you hadn’t come, I definitely wouldn’t have made it out of there alive tonight. "I promise you, after this, I’ll turn over a new leaf. I’ll never gamble again." Chloe Preston merely scoffed. Just then, someone called out from behind her. "You, stop right there!"