Chapter 517

Esther stayed awake the entire night, her mind filled with thoughts of her future. She had diligently jotted down her plans in a notebook. Now that she had custody of Felix, she was determined to provide a good upbringing for him alongside his adorable sisters, Sunshine and Twinkle.

People on the Internet often claimed that children were financial burdens. Esther was about to embark on raising three children-no, four. She absently caressed her abdomen, where a new life had taken residence.

She picked up the test report Jasper had given her, her eyes fixed on the HCG value. She took a deep breath, deciding to wait until her divorce from Bradley was officially processed before seeking prenatal care.

Her phone rang on the table, and she glanced at the caller ID before cheerfully answering Tanya’s call.

“Good morning, Ms. Hill.”

Tanya remained silent momentarily and then spoke with a serious tone. “Esther, I’ve just received word that Mr. Warner’s legal team is preparing to file an appeal.”

Esther fell silent. She had anticipated Bradley’s reluctance to agree to the divorce. Surprisingly, learning of his intention to appeal actually eased her mind.

“If he appeals, do we have a strong chance of winning?”

Tanya sounded confident. “Considering the evidence we have, even if he appeals, our chances of winning are very high…” Tanya was Esther’s divorce lawyer, but Esther was uncertain whether Bradley’s legal team would resort to any means necessary to secure victory. She also dreaded her pregnancy being revealed during the trial.

Gathering her courage, she asked directly, “What if I’m pregnant?”

Tanya was taken aback. “What? What did you say?”

She stood up, closed her office door, and lowered the blinds. Then she asked again, “Are you certain?”

Esther clutched the test report and said solemnly, “I had planned to wait until I obtained the divorce certificate before undergoing further tests.”

“Esther, if you’re indeed pregnant now, it will completely change the dynamics of this divorce case.

Legally, women can’t proceed with a divorce while pregnant.

“Typically, if the woman initiates the divorce, it’s likely to succeed. But you know we’re up against Mr.

Warner’s formidable legal team. They lost the previous divorce case and will probably go to great lengths to win this one. Your pregnancy is highly likely to become their central point of contention.”

Tanya was not as relaxed as she had been earlier. If Esther was pregnant, the entire case would become even more complex. The custody issue, in particular, might undergo significant changes.

“I know.” Esther remained silent for a while and then confessed, “I only found out about my pregnancy after the divorce ruling.”

“Let me think.” Tanya paced back and forth in her office, visibly worried.

About a minute later, she asked a sobering question, “Esther, do you want this chil-”

Before she finished speaking, Esther decisively answered, “I do.”

“Are you sure?”

Esther replied, “Yes. Bradley treated me poorly, but his genes are good. Also, getting pregnant is fateful. I don’t want to cruelly deny this child the right to come into this world.”

Tanya did not quite understand Esther’s sentiment. Despite Bradley treating her inhumanely, why would she still want to have his child?

“Even if you lose the divorce case against Bradley because of this child? Are you sure you still want to keep it?”

Esther gazed out the window at the lonely street. Unlike the vibrant greenery of southern cities, Capitus, located in the north, seemed especially empty and bleak during autumn.