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Novel Catalog
Chapter 19
Gale’s heart pounded wildly in her chest, as if it would leap out of her throat. Her hand trembled as she snatched the pregnancy test result, crumpling it into a tight ball and clutching it desperately.
Shawn’s lips brushed her shoulder, but when he saw her sudden movement, he grew suspicious. He lifted his head and fixed his cold gaze on the paper ball in her hand. “What’s that in your hand? Give it to me!” he demanded.
“No…” Gale whispered, her heart racing.
“Give it to me!” Shawn’s voice hardened, and before she could protest, he began prying her fingers open, one by one. “Do you want me to break your bones? Let go!” His threat was cold and menacing.
But Gale couldn’t let go. If Shawn discovered she was pregnant, both she and the child would be in grave danger. This scrap of paper held their fate in its folds.
Shawn’s fingers were almost there, about to pry the paper from her grip, when in a moment of desperation, Gale suddenly sat up, looping her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his.
“Let go, Gale!” Shawn growled, but there was no time for words. In a panic, Gale twisted behind him, stuffing the crumpled paper into her mouth. She intended to swallow it, to erase any trace of it.
Shawn reacted too late. Gale chewed quickly, forcing the paper down her throat.
His eyes turned red with fury. “You have so many tricks up your sleeve! Spit it out!”
“I can’t,” Gale shook her head weakly. “It’s already in my stomach.”
His fury deepened. “What did that paper say? Why is it so shameful?”
Gale said nothing.
“You’ve pushed me too far, Gale. I swear, I want to strangle you!” Shawn’s voice was filled with dark rage.
Gale tilted her head back, closing her eyes. “Go ahead, then. I’ll die in your hands sooner or later. Strangle me if you must.”
She waited in silence, trembling slightly from fear, but his hands never landed on her neck. Instead, she heard his footsteps retreating, and she opened her eyes, only to see him disappearing down the stairs.
A wave of relief washed over her, though her throat burned, and the nausea from eating paper mixed with the morning sickness, making her stomach churn violently.
“Ugh…” Gale groaned, collapsing onto the sofa. The bitter taste lingered in her mouth, and the reality of almost being caught by Shawn sent a chill through her.
Just then, Susan walked into the room. Her eyes flashed with jealousy when she saw Gale vomiting. She couldn’t believe Gale had spent the night with Shawn. If only the child were in her womb—then all the wealth, honor, and glory would be hers for the taking.
“Yo, Gale,” Susan sneered, walking toward her. “What’s wrong with you?”
Gale ignored her and rinsed her mouth with water. But Susan didn’t let up. She squatted down next to her, her tone dripping with malice. “Could it be… that you’re pregnant?”
“That’s absurd!” Gale’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly retorted, but Susan just smirked.
“I was just joking. Why are you so nervous?” Susan taunted, her eyes gleaming.
Gale’s anxiety spiked, but she forced herself to stay calm. “Mr. Wood is in the master bedroom,” she replied, hoping Susan would leave.
But Susan wasn’t done. As Gale stood up to head to the bathroom, she suddenly had an idea. With a vicious gleam in her eyes, she leaned closer to Gale and, as they passed each other, deliberately stuck out her foot, aiming to trip Gale.
Gale, more aware than ever of her every movement, skillfully avoided the trap, stepping over the foot and, with a quick maneuver, hooked Susan’s heel with hers.
“What!” Susan yelped, losing her balance and crashing to the floor with a loud thud.
Gale sighed with feigned indifference. “You should be more careful when you walk. How can you still fall with your size?”
“You’re asking for it!” Susan seethed, her face contorted with fury. “You did that on purpose!”
“It’s called shooting yourself in the foot,” Gale shrugged, then turned away with a flick of her wrist, walking gracefully toward the stairs.
But as soon as she looked up, she froze. Shawn was standing at the top of the staircase, watching her with a piercing gaze. His eyes could kill.
“Mr. Wood!” Susan cried, immediately rushing to him. “Gale… she bullied me! I was just walking toward you, and she stuck out her foot, causing me to fall!”
Gale wanted to argue, but she knew it would be pointless. Shawn wouldn’t believe her, not when she wasn’t the woman he cared about. With bitterness settling in her heart, she lowered her head, choosing silence.
Shawn walked down the stairs and bent to help Susan up. She immediately clung to him, acting fragile. “Mr. Wood, it hurts…” she whimpered, nestling into his arms.
Shawn, however, only turned to Gale with cold eyes. “Gale, come here.”
Reluctantly, Gale stepped forward.
“You have some nerve,” he said icily. “How dare you trip her? Do you even know how much you weigh?”
“I wouldn’t have done it if she hadn’t provoked me,” Gale muttered quietly.
“Shut up!” Shawn’s voice was sharp. “Apologize! Beg her to forgive you!”
Before she could respond, Susan, who had been playing the innocent victim, suddenly softened her tone. “No, no… I fell because of my own clumsiness.”
Gale’s guard went up instantly. There was no way Susan was acting out of kindness—this was another one of her schemes.
Susan stepped closer, pretending to be friendly. She reached for Gale’s hand with a sweet smile, but the moment she was near enough, she pushed Gale hard. Gale stumbled, unable to keep her balance, and fell stomach-first onto the sharp corner of a coffee table.
Pain shot through Gale’s body as she cried out, clutching her stomach. The world blurred in agony.
Susan gasped with exaggerated concern. “Oh no, how careless! Gale, are you alright?”
She feigned worry, but her satisfaction was clear as she pointed at the red stain spreading on the floor. “Mr. Wood, look! Gale is bleeding!”
Shawn’s eyes narrowed. “What happened?”
Gale curled into a ball, pain radiating through her body, but she clenched her teeth, refusing to pass out. She had to stay awake. Her hands trembled as she pressed against her stomach, the blood slowly staining her pants.
Her child… her child!