Color washed off Alanaâs face.
Abel did sleep with her. Why was he not admitting to that fact?
âA-Abel, I donât get what youâre saying.â
âI said I never touched you.â Abel narrowed his eyes and smirked.
âNo⦠Abel.â
Alana broke out in cold sweat. Surely, Abel did not want to own up to it in Emmelineâs presenee.
âI know you donât like to be put in the spot. I donât blame you since weâre heading toward a shotgun wedding. Your mother said so.â
âYouâre stubborn, arenât you?â Abelâs eyes were chilly. âHow many times does it take for you to understand the consequences?â
Alana uttered in angst, âI know your heart belongs to Emmeline, but Iâm the mother of your children. Let me keep this child. Weâre a family together!â
Abel.â Unable to stand it anymore, Emmeline sternly said, âYouâve gone too far. I canât believe youâd deny the things you do. Youâre a filthy man!â
âEmmeline, donât you trust me?â Abelâs grimacing gaze fell on Emmeline.
They had spent time together for more than a month. Was the spark and chemistry between them a lie?
âWhy should I?â Emmeline pointed at Alana. âSheâs carrying your child. Why are you still keeping up with the act? Donât you think it makes you a filthy animal?â
âYeah, Abel.â Adrien jumped in. âA man has to pull his weight, especially the boy of the Rykers. Iâll tell Grandad if youâre going to shy away from your responsibility. You can forget about taking over the Ryker household. Adam can be the next in line.â
âI said this has nothing to do with me!â Abel blew up.
âCanât you be a man?â Adrien sneered.
âAbel, we were together the other night. Why wonât you admit to it? Is it because of Emmeline?â Alana cried.
It gave the onlookers something to talk about. They whispered among themselves, unable to believe the heir of Ryker Group was an irresponsible sc*mbag!
Tension ran along Abelâs facial line. Locking his jaw, he gnashed his teeth in rage.
Oh, if only he could have his hands around Alanaâs neck. Alas, this was not the time or place.
There was no way he could convince everybody otherwise at this point. People would only take his further defense as a denial.
Besides, the matter would put the Ryker Group in a negative light.
He had to let it go for now.
Abel could only prove his innocence when Alana gave birth to the child.
âAbel, did I do something wrong? Shouldnât I have come here?â Alana held onto Abelâs arm.
âHa.â Abelâs eyes were icy. âGood timing. The child came at the right time too. You can keep the child if thatâs what you want, but donât be sorry.â
Thank you, Abel.â Although feeling unsettled, Alana reflected the joy across her face.
Abel owned up to engaging in an act of intimacy with her at last.
He banged her, and she got pregnant. Everything was falling into place.
As for Mr. X, Alana had him sent abroad.
While nestling against Abelâs arm, Alana peered at Emmeline smugly and caressed her belly.
With a discolored complexion, Emmeline turned on her heel and went upstairs.
It did not take long for her to return with two gift boxes.
âYou can have your Italian brands back, Abel!â
âThud! Thud!â
Everybody in the café was stunned as the two gift boxes crashed into Abel.
The woman was tempting fate.
She just dumped the stuff on Abel, the heir of Ryker Group and the mover and shaker in the capital.
Adrien freaked out.
Scowling menacingly, Abel marched toward Emmeline.
âAbel, can you⦠for my sakeâ¦â
Abel pushed him aside.
Just when everybody waited for Abel to slap Emmeline in the face, Alana Tet out a gleeful chuckle.
Nevertheless, Abel merely stared long and hard into Emmelineâs eyes before finding the words.
âEmma, give me nine months. Iâll prove to you Iâve done nothing.â
âProve, my *ss.â
Emmeline held him at armâs length. âWho am I to you? Why should I give you nine months? Why should I trust you?â
âThe only thing you need to know is that this has nothing to do with me.â
Emmelineâfrowned. The manâs windows to his soul left her nothing to go on.
He impregnated the woman. Yet, Abel had the nerve to say that he was uninvolved.
Why would Alana pin it on him if Abel was as innocent as he claimed?
Out of all the choices, Alana could latch onto Adrien.