CHAPTER 101: CHAPTER 101: CHLOE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT

Jane Zane sat beside her, her eyes full of doting tenderness as she gently stroked her hair. "Alright, Mom will definitely find a way."

Rosalind Rowan reached out and removed her face mask, her gaze cold. "Mom, I want Chloe Preston dead, and the child in her belly can’t stay either. Otherwise, Donovan will always be thinking about her!"

Jane Zane picked up the fruit tray and fed her a strawberry, coaxing her, "Alright, alright. Mom definitely won’t let her get in your way. I’ll make sure she dies!"

"My precious daughter will definitely become Mrs. Xavier!"

Rosalind Rowan smiled contentedly, hugging Jane Zane’s arm and snuggling coquettishly in her embrace. "Mom is the best. So, Mom, how do you plan to deal with her?"

"Mom has her own ways," Jane Zane said. "You don’t need to worry about it."

As she spoke, she picked up her phone, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and slid her finger across the screen to make a call. The contact’s name was—Zachary Walden.

Outside, the downpour continued. The strong wind made the leaves of the plane trees rustle, and rain-soaked leaves littered the ground.

A few seconds later, the call connected. "Hello, Jane."

Jane Zane smiled. "Julian, I won’t waste time with pleasantries. I want to borrow someone from you."

The man paused for a moment, his voice warm and tinged with a laugh. "Of course. I’ll send you my most capable subordinate. He won’t disappoint you."

"Tell me, who do you want to kill?"

Jane Zane’s eyes glinted coldly, and she smiled faintly. "A bothersome woman."

...

「Two months passed.」

Chloe Preston was already over five months pregnant.

Donovan Xavier was still the same. He hadn’t regained his memory, but occasionally, his mind would flash with scattered fragments of the past. He was still very good to her, accompanying her wherever she went. The servants were also extra cautious around her, terrified that some accident might befall her.

「At The Xavier Residence.」

Morning light was breaking, and all was calm and peaceful.

Ivy Lane drove in and got out of the car. Her pretty, playful face was graced with a smile. She wore a coffee-colored, spaghetti-strap long dress and carried a thermos. She hadn’t seen her Chloe in a few days and missed her, so she’d come to visit.

A servant guided her upstairs.

Outside the room, Ivy Lane was about to reach out and knock when voices came from inside.

"Donovan Xavier, be gentle! It hurts..."

"Bear with it, sweetheart. It’ll be over in a moment."

"You hurt me again! Stop! You’re so bad at this. Are you even capable?"

"I’m capable, darling. Be good and don’t move."

Holding the thermos, Ivy Lane froze in place, her eyes blinking as her mouth formed a large "O".

Is it what she thought? So passionate? Isn’t she pregnant?

When the sounds from inside stopped, Ivy Lane leaned her ear closer, trying to hear more.

Housekeeper Wallace passed by and, seeing her not going in, came over. "Miss Lane, why aren’t you going in?"

"It’s... not a good time," Ivy Lane said.

"What do you mean? Madam will be delighted to see you." As she spoke, Housekeeper Wallace stepped forward and knocked on the door on Ivy’s behalf.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Come in," Donovan Xavier’s deep, powerful voice called out.

Housekeeper Wallace stepped back and looked at the woman. "Miss Lane, please go in."

Ivy Lane glanced at the door, hesitating. "Maybe I should come back in a little while."

It’s so heated in there. How could she have the nerve to interrupt?

"Why?" Housekeeper Wallace asked. Before Ivy could answer, she stepped forward again, gripped the doorknob, and opened the door. "Sir, Madam, Miss Lane is here."

Chloe Preston heard the voice and turned her head in happy surprise from her seat on the sofa. "Ivy, you’re here!"

A sharp pain tugged at her scalp.

Chloe winced, her face stiffening as she slapped the arm of the man beside her. "You hurt me again."

"Who told you to move?" Donovan Xavier sat next to her, a hairpin in hand as he tried to arrange her hair.

He didn’t know what got into him this morning, insisting on styling her hair. His hands were so clumsy that he couldn’t get it right after trying for ages, and he kept tugging her scalp painfully.

Chloe Preston reached for the hairpin, her pretty face puffed in a pout. She gently pushed him. "Go play somewhere else! If you keep this up, you’ll pull all my hair out!"

Donovan Xavier leaned in and caressed her noticeable baby bump, softly admitting his fault. "Alright, it’s my mistake. I hurt you. Don’t be angry; it’s not good for the baby."

Chloe Preston grew upset again, with a hint of grievance. "You only care about the baby now. You don’t care about me anymore."

Donovan Xavier’s head ached. "That’s not true. Our Chloe is the most important. No one compares."

With that, he leaned over and pressed a kiss onto her forehead.

Perhaps due to the pregnancy, her emotions had been extremely volatile lately. He did his best to go along with her, coaxing and indulging her.

Chloe Preston’s mood brightened again. Her eyes shimmering, she stood up and reached out to adjust his tie.

Donovan Xavier’s lips curved into a faint smile. Afraid she’d tire from standing on her tiptoes, he bent down so she could easily reach him.

"It’s getting late," Chloe Preston said. "Are you heading to the old family residence?"

Donovan Xavier nodded. "Yes."

This morning, Ian Xavier had called to say that Caleb Xavier was raising hell to see him, threatening to hang himself at the old residence if Donovan didn’t come back today.

Chloe Preston pursed her lips and advised him, "When you get there, please don’t clash with them. Your grandfather is old and can’t take any more stress."

"Just try to accommodate them. If they curse me, let them. No matter how awful it is, don’t say a word."

She was really scared, afraid he would argue with them again and be punished by being forced to kneel in the ancestral hall and be whipped harshly. The way he was whipped last time was shocking. The memory was still unforgettable.

Donovan Xavier’s brows furrowed.

She’s so well-behaved. She didn’t have to be this considerate...

Then he spoke firmly, "I know what to do. Your friend is here. You two can chat. I’m leaving."

Chloe Preston nodded, watching him leave.

After the man left, Ivy Lane lazily leaned against the table, watching her with leisurely amusement. "Tsk, you and Mr. Xavier are quite the loving couple now."

Chloe Preston did not deny it, just smiled. "We’re doing alright."

She hadn’t expected this either. After Donovan Xavier’s amnesia, he hadn’t grown cold toward her; instead, he had become even more doting and protective.

Ivy Lane walked over, put down the thermos, and gently touched her belly. "How have you been these past couple of days? Is the baby behaving?"

Chloe Preston smiled gently. "Everything’s fine."

"It’s just that I’ve been feeling uneasy lately. My eyelids keep twitching, and I have a feeling something bad is going to happen."

"With Mr. Xavier protecting you, what could happen? You’re pregnant; you’re just overthinking things," Ivy Lane said. She paused, then added, "By the way, Chloe, Evan’s been sick lately. Do you want to go see him?"

Chloe Preston looked up. "Hmm?"