"Really?" Chloe Preston asked. Connor Sutton smiled. "I have no reason to lie to you." "If you don’t believe me, I’ll call the doctor in and let you ask him yourself." Hearing him say that, Chloe Preston finally breathed a sigh of relief. She lowered her eyes and gently caressed her flat, warm abdomen, her touch full of tenderness. Then, she asked, "By the way, what were you doing at the casino? Do you like to gamble, too?" Connor Sutton coughed. "Ahem... my family owns this casino." Chloe Preston was speechless. Connor Sutton pressed his lips together and asked, "Is the child Donovan Xavier’s?" Chloe Preston nodded. Connor Sutton’s lips twisted into a faint, bitter smile. "Of course. Whose else could it be?" "It seems I don’t have a chance after all." Chloe Preston looked at him and said slowly, "President Sutton, you’ll definitely find someone much better than me." Connor Sutton met her gaze but said nothing. No matter how good anyone else was, he only wanted her. Connor Sutton averted his gaze and tucked the blanket around her. "Donovan must be thrilled to know you’re pregnant, right?" "He doesn’t know yet," Chloe Preston replied. "I haven’t told him." Connor Sutton frowned. "Why not?" Chloe Preston lowered her eyes, lightly biting her lip. "It just doesn’t feel like the right time. It wouldn’t be appropriate to tell him now." "President Sutton, I hope you can keep this a secret for me as well." Connor Sutton smiled. "Of course." The hospital room door was suddenly thrown open. Wyatt Quinn came in carrying a water kettle. Seeing that she was awake, he asked, "How are you feeling?" "I’m okay," Chloe Preston said. Wyatt Quinn poured a cup of hot water, handed it to her, and asked bluntly, "Chloe, who is the father of that child?" "Why didn’t you tell me about something so important?" "You’re pregnant out of wedlock. Do you have any idea how serious the consequences are?" Chloe Preston replied softly, "I can handle it myself." Wyatt Quinn’s brow shot up in anger. "What’s that supposed to mean? I’m your father! How dare you hide your pregnancy from me? This is outrageous!" "I’m asking you, where is the child’s father?" "What’s his name? What does he do? What’s his family situation like?" "Chloe, be honest with me. Did you go and find yourself some poor kid?" Chloe Preston remained silent. Wyatt Quinn slammed his hand on the table. "Chloe, answer me!" Sensing the tense atmosphere, Connor Sutton immediately stood up. "Uncle, Chloe is still very weak. Please, let her rest. You can talk about this later!" Only then did Wyatt Quinn fall silent. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room. Twenty minutes later, Chloe Preston fell asleep. Worried that something might happen, Connor Sutton stayed by her bedside, not leaving her for a single moment. A phone on the table began to ring sharply. It was hers. Seeing that she was fast asleep, Connor Sutton didn’t wake her. He picked up the phone and glanced at the screen. The caller ID read: Husband. He didn’t need to guess. It could only be that man. A sharp pang of pain flashed through Connor Sutton’s eyes. The phone rang for a while before going silent, but a few seconds later, it started ringing again. Connor Sutton stood up, walked over to the window, and answered the call. From the phone, Donovan Xavier’s deep voice came through, laced with a barely perceptible panic. "Chloe, where did you go? I woke up and you were gone." Connor Sutton coughed. "Uh, it’s me." Donovan Xavier’s tone instantly turned cold. "Why is it you? Where’s Chloe?" "She’s in the hospital," Connor Sutton said. Sunlight poured into the room, warm and pleasant. When Chloe Preston opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a man slumped over the side of her bed, fast asleep while holding her hand. Chloe Preston watched him quietly, her gaze soft, and her heart stirred. Just then, Donovan Xavier’s eyes fluttered open, meeting hers directly. He reached out to stroke her head, his voice gentle and filled with deep affection. Chloe Preston sat up, leaning lightly into his warm embrace. "How did you get here?" Donovan Xavier wrapped his arms around her. "Last night, I woke up and you were gone. I searched everywhere for you." "I panicked when I couldn’t find you." "I thought you’d left, that you’d abandoned The Xavier Residence and me." "I called your phone, and Connor Sutton answered. He told me you were in the hospital, that someone had hit you. I panicked all over again." "I was so angry with myself for not being by your side, for letting you get hurt." A smile touched Chloe Preston’s eyes. "I’m fine. You don’t need to panic." Donovan Xavier looked down, his thumb gently caressing her cheek, his eyes filled with heartache. "Does it hurt?" Chloe Preston nodded. "A little. But if you kiss it, it won’t hurt anymore." Donovan Xavier’s expression softened. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of her lips. A sweet feeling blossomed in Chloe Preston’s heart. However, Donovan Xavier then tapped her lightly on the head, a hint of displeasure in his voice. "Honestly, you... Your father got into trouble, so why didn’t you call me when you went to the casino?" Chloe Preston rubbed her head. "I saw you were sleeping, and I couldn’t bear to wake you." Then, she glanced around the room. "Um, where’s President Sutton?" Donovan Xavier’s eyes narrowed. "Why are you looking for him?" Chloe Preston met his intense gaze and explained, "Don’t get the wrong idea. He saved me yesterday, and I haven’t even had a chance to thank him!" Donovan Xavier’s tone was domineering. "I’ll thank him on your behalf. You are not to mention him, and you certainly are not to care about him." As he spoke, he threw back the covers and draped his jacket over her shoulders. Then, he swept her up into his arms, carrying her bridal-style. Chloe Preston grew anxious and struggled to get down. "You can’t! Your back is still injured. You’ll hurt yourself!" Donovan Xavier’s voice was low and tinged with a smile. "It’s nothing. Even injured, I can still carry you just fine." "Baby, wrap your arms around my neck. I’m taking you home." Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open. Wyatt Quinn walked in and froze, taking in the scene before him. Donovan Xavier looked at the woman in his arms. "This is..." Original content can be found at novel~fire~net "My dad," Chloe Preston said. Donovan Xavier immediately set her down, walked over, and spoke politely, "Hello, Uncle." Wyatt Quinn didn’t respond. His eyes, filled with scrutiny, raked over Donovan from head to toe. He looks quite wealthy and carries himself with a dignified air. Wyatt Quinn asked, "Are you Chloe’s..." "Boyfriend," Donovan Xavier interjected smoothly. Wyatt Quinn eyed him for another moment before questioning coldly, "Let me ask you, about what’s in my daughter’s stomach..." He had barely gotten the words out when Chloe Preston’s pupils shrank. She cut him off urgently, "Dad!" Wyatt Quinn grumbled, "What is it? What’s all the fuss about?" Chloe Preston forced a smile. "We have something urgent to do, so we’ll be leaving now." As she spoke, she grabbed the man’s arm and tried to pull him out the door. Wyatt Quinn called after her, "Wait!" "You can go, but I still have some questions for him." Chloe Preston coughed lightly. "What is there to ask? We’re both very busy and need to get going!" But Donovan Xavier nodded. "Please, feel free to ask." Wyatt Quinn crossed his arms. "Alright, then. Do you know that my daughter is already..." Suddenly, a phone began to ring. Donovan Xavier pulled out his phone. He was about to decline the call, but after seeing the caller ID, he answered. "Hello." An urgent voice came from the other end of the line. "Mr. Xavier, your mother’s emotions are very unstable right now! She’s causing a scene and demanding to see you!" Donovan Xavier’s brows knitted together. "Understood." Seeing that he had urgent business, Wyatt Quinn didn’t press him with more questions. Chloe Preston immediately seized the opportunity to drag the man out the door, terrified that her dad would spill the beans about her pregnancy. In the hallway, Donovan Xavier said, "Chloe, I need to make a trip to Portdrey."