Chapter 280 So Many Problems at Home

“Our family has always treated Luna well since she was a kid. Grandpa even sent her abroad to study. But she had a guilty conscience and cheated on Alden. Have you forgotten that?”

Joanne’s words were sharp, and she paused to let the usation linger. “I heard her trial just wrapped up. The verdict will probably be out soon.”

Joanne looked even worse than before. Being talked back to by someone younger made her feel awkward, unsettled.

“Yeah.” Joanne quickly regrouped, trying to shift the conversation. “But Alden still doesn’t have any shares.”

With a casual tone, Alyssa responded, “Aunt Joanne, but Uncle Zane is still in good health, isn’t he?”

Joanne froze, momentarily speechless. Her mind raced.

What idoes /ishe mean? Is ishe /icursing Zanei? /i

Joanne didn’t get what she wanted from Alyssa. She’d left home, thinking Zane woulde and coax her, but instead, she’d lost 10% of the shares.

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She’d already had a huge row with Zane.

When Kaia returned to the Graves Manorter that evening, she found Joanne sitting at the dinner table.

At first, Kaia considered ignoring her, but for Allen’s sake, she decided to acknowledge her with a casual, “Joanne.”

Joanne responded with the same coldness.

She was visibly frustrated, her jealousy boiling beneath the surface. The sense of injustice was almost suffocating.

“Kaia, I heard you’re pregnant. That was fast,” Joanne said, her toneced with something Kaia couldn’t quite ce.

Kaia didn’t respond immediately, keeping her answer brief.

iLess /iitalking/ii, /iiless /iitrouble/ii. /i

Joanne’s eyes wandered to the table, noticing the special meals. prepared for Kaia. Small tes were being ced in front of her, one by one–each dish carefully tailored for pregnant

women.

A bitter wave of envy washed over Joanne.

“Kaja, Lucien really dotes on you,” she said, her voice edged5:39 with resentment. “I didn’t get this kind of treatment when I

Chapter 280 So Many Problems at Ho…

was pregnant with Alden.”

17 min left

Kaia, unbothered, took a bite of her food before responding lightly, “Joanne, I know a 48–year–old woman who had a baby. If you try, you could still give Alden a sibling. Then you can ask the kitchen to make you a special meal like this. No regrets, right?”

Joanne’s expression darkened even further. Kaia’s words had cut deeper than she expected.

Allen, who had been watching the exchange, snorted. “Joanne, does Zane starve you?”

Joanne forced a smile, clearly irritated. “Allen, that’s not what I meant.”

Allen wasn’t having it. “If that’s not what you meant, then keep your mouth shut!” he snapped, fed up with her constant provocations.

Sensing that another big fight was about to erupt, Lucien said gently, “Pregnant women can’t handle all this noise. Zane, if you’re going to argue, take it upstairs.”

Zane mmed his fork down and shot Joanne a re. “Upstairs. Now.”

Joanne followed him without another word.

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Chapter 280 So Many Problems at Ho…

17 min left

Kaia shook her head. Joanne was being ridiculously petty. If she kept this up, she was going to tear the whole family apart.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before something happened upstairs.

*****

“Oh no! Zane’s copsed!”

Allen shot to his feet. “Call 911! And where’s the family doctor? Go get him, now!”

Kaia rushed upstairs with the others.

In the bedroom, Zaney motionless, his face ghostly pale.

Fortunately, the doctor arrived quickly and began emergency CPR. After ten tense minutes, Zane’s breathing finally

stabilized.

The entire household was thrown into chaos.

Kaia’s heart was racingb. /bMomentster, the ambnce pulled into the driveway. Lucien jumped in with the stretcher, and Joanne followed close behind.

“Honey, you and Dad stay home,” Lucien said as they loaded

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Chapter 280 So Many Problems at Ho…

Zane into the vehicle.

17 min left

But Allen wasn’t having it. “I’m going to the hospital. Kaia, you’re in early pregnancy–stay here and rest.”

In the end, Dn, the butler, apanied Allen to the hospital while Lucien and Joanne rode in the ambnce.

Kaia didn’t insist on going; she knew her condition made things moreplicated. She’d visit tomorrow instead.

Before anything else, she made sure to remind everyone, “Keep this quiet for now. No one outside the family needs to know.”

Everyone nodded and returned to their tasks, though the tension lingered thick in the air.

Kaia sat down, appetite gone. She sent Lucien a message: [How’s Zane, honey?]

It was half an hour before he replied: [Still in the ER. I may not be home tonight. Dad will be back soon–he’s in a bad mood, so just bear with him.]

Kaia gave a small smile despite herself,

Allen would never take his frustration out on her.

15:39

She curled up on the sofa and waited. It was nearly ten when

Chapter 280 So Many Problems at Ho…

Allen finally returned.

“Allen, how is Zane?” she asked gently.

b17 /bmin left

Allen looked like he’d aged ten years in a day. “Still in the ER. The doctors say it’s his heart. We’ve had nothing but trouble at hometely… it’s one thing after another.”

Kaia ced aforting hand on his arm. “Don’t worry. He’ll pull through. When he’s better, we’ll go to church and say a prayer together.”

Kaia also wanted to visit the church—to light a candle and pick out a small cross for the baby growing inside her.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Allen replied with a weary sigh. “You should get some rest too. It’s definitely time to pray.”

After Dn helped Allen settle into bed, Kaia finally breathed a little easier.

Still, she quietly pulled Dn aside. “Please check on him every two hours, just in case.”

Allen was getting older, and Kaia couldn’t shake the unease in her chest.

She tossed and turned in bed, but no matter how hard she tried, sleep wouldn’te.