CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 086: BETTING ON WHETHER IT’S A SON OR A DAUGHTER

Sienna Johnson looked into this man’s eyes. They were deep, like a bottomless pool, and she felt she would eventually lose herself in them.

She was the eldest young lady of the Johnson family. Although not favored at home, she held considerable prestige outside. Possessing a beautiful face, countless men fawned over her. For years, she had guarded her heart well, only for it to fall into this man’s hands.

"Mai, can we just get along and not fight?"

He held her hand, rubbing it against his cheek. His skin was a healthy wheat color, unlike the men she usually saw, who often had oily hair and powdered faces, a sight she found quite repellent.

In her bones, she still preferred powerful men like Adrian Desmond.

Seeing her staring at him for a long time without saying anything, Adrian curiously asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Sixth Master is very handsome."

"Call me Adrian!"

Adrian pulled her to sit beside him. The hot pot steamed, and soon the rising heat flushed their faces. Sienna served Adrian from the hot pot. He wasn’t a picky eater; he ate whatever she gave him.

"I plan to renovate the room next door into a nursery. The designer will come tomorrow. Tell the designer whatever style you like, and have our staff procure whatever you need..."

Sienna showed little interest. The renovation would be useless anyway; her child wouldn’t be born here. "There’s no need, the baby is still small."

"After the renovation, it needs to air out for a while."

"Alright then."

"The hot pot tastes great. Have some more." Adrian added some meat to Sienna’s bowl.

"...Do you remember that stranger I saved at Maxwell Bradford’s place?" Sienna had no news from Lucas Robertson, so she hoped to glean some information from Adrian; perhaps he knew something.

"Why are you asking about him?" Adrian put down his chopsticks and looked at her intently. Sienna cooked some lotus root for him, pretending to be casual as she replied, "...I just suddenly remembered him... Was that woman his girlfriend?"

"I don’t know." Adrian didn’t care about such minor individuals. "Focus on your pregnancy and don’t worry about other things."

"Understood." Realizing she couldn’t get any information from Adrian, Sienna said no more.

Lucas Robertson had promised to help Sienna escape, but a month had passed, and he seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth.

Her belly grew larger each day. She was determined to take her child with her when she left. How could she run if her belly got too big?

Adrian took a sip of tea. Seeing Sienna touching her belly, seemingly lost in thought, he asked, "What’s wrong? What are you thinking about?" He waved his hand in front of her face, bringing Sienna back to the present.

"...How is Maxwell Bradford doing?"

"Very smug," Adrian sneered.

"Can you get the Verita Group back?"

"Of course! What belongs to Adrian Desmond can only be mine!" After speaking, Adrian cast a meaningful glance at Sienna. In his eyes, Sienna also belonged to him.

"Mai is so beautiful. My son will definitely be the most beautiful child in the world."

"Son, son, son... I said it’s a daughter!" she retorted, annoyed by his constant insistence that the baby in her belly was a son.

"Want to bet?"

"Bet on whether the baby in your belly is a son or a daughter!"

Sienna remained silent.

"I bet it’s a son!" Adrian declared.

Sienna had no intention of betting with Adrian. "If your gambling itch is acting up, go to the casino and play by yourself. Don’t use my unborn child as a bargaining chip. I won’t play along with you."

"You woman, what’s wrong with you now? Can’t you take a joke?"

"I want to go shopping tomorrow." Going out would increase her chances of meeting Lucas Robertson.

Adrian pursed his lips, not immediately agreeing. "If you want to buy something, let Mr. Lucas go." He didn’t feel safe letting her go out alone.

"I don’t want to buy anything; I just want to look around."

"I’ll go with you tomorrow."

"Alright."

After the hot pot, Adrian, having eaten a bit more, took Sienna for a walk in the garden. The housekeeper, Mr. Lucas, approached them.

"Sixth Master, I just received news. The Wang family’s second wife has given birth to a son, and Old Master Harris has a new great-grandson. I came to ask what gifts we should send them tomorrow?"

These matters were usually handled by Melanie Carpenter. Now that Melanie was not around, Mr. Lucas could only ask Adrian.

Adrian glanced at Sienna, somewhat inclined to pass these trivial matters to her. However, seeing she was pregnant, he hesitated, feeling reluctant to burden her. Sienna, however, misunderstood his glance.

"What’s the issue? There are established protocols for these social exchanges. Consult the records of past gifts, ascertain the preferences of both families, select appropriate presents, and have them sent."

"These things are usually handled by Miss Carpenter, but now..." Mr. Lucas looked up at Adrian.

"Since you find it boring at home, this matter is yours to handle. Choose the gifts, and let Mr. Lucas take care of the rest," Adrian said to Sienna.

Sienna glanced at him, inwardly displeased. "I’m pregnant. Mrs. Desmond should handle such matters."

"Aren’t you my Mrs. Desmond?"

She certainly wasn’t!

Before her belly grew too large and her movements became restricted, Sienna just wanted to see Lucas Robertson as soon as possible. She had no time to help Adrian manage these social obligations.

"I’m tired. Sixth Master can continue his walk alone."

Adrian had no interest in strolling through the garden by himself. Seeing Sienna leave, he said to Mr. Lucas, "Leave this matter to Madam to handle."

"Yes, sir."

Adrian followed Sienna as she walked away. Mr. Lucas watched Adrian’s retreating figure and sighed inwardly. The role of mistress of the Desmond family would eventually fall to that woman. Melanie Carpenter, however virtuous and capable, did not possess his heart.

「Later that night」

The intermittent chirping of unknown insects drifted in from outside the window. A cool breeze wafted through, lifting a corner of the curtain. Inside, two entwined figures seemed to merge into one.

"Call me Brother Adrian..."

"..."

"Hmm? Will you call me or not? If you don’t, I’ll make you scream..."

"Adrian, that’s enough!"

"Call me brother..."

"Bastard!"

SLAP! The crisp sound of a palm meeting flesh echoed loudly in the night. Sienna’s whole body felt like a cooked shrimp, her eyes hazy and intoxicated.

"Don’t clench so tight... Are you trying to take my life?"

All of Adrian’s blood seemed to rush to one point. His body, drenched in sweat, gleamed, exuding a primal energy.

"Mai, I’ll die because of you one day..." He gripped her waist, just as he was about to send them both soaring to the heavens, the door to the room was knocked upon.

Neither of them paid any attention. KNOCK, KNOCK... But the knocking persisted. Adrian, caught at a critical moment and interrupted so abruptly, roared, "Who is it? Are you looking for death?!"

"Sixth Master, something’s wrong..."