10#10

10

Christina penned a message, stating, "Eric's in the shower. For the next few days, I'll ensure both the man and the child remain with me. You're destined to fail at the upcoming public hearing."

Her confidence in making such assertions was evident.

The subsequent days validated her claim. Eric and Ben never once returned to the hospital, yet Wanda appeared unfazed.

Christina, however, was certain this was merely a front. She made it a point to send Wanda provocative messages daily, like clockwork.

Eric lavished Christina with every luxury money could afford. He purchased multiple properties, orchestrated numerous firework displays, and gifted her countless pieces of exquisite jewelry. He even cleared an entire shopping center to ensure her comfort during pregnancy.

The news of Eric's extravagant sponsorship quickly spread online, with Christina's name trending at the top.

A swift PR response followed: "Indeed, we are expecting a child together."

This simple statement once again threw the entertainment industry into disarray.

Christina, however, paid little attention to the media frenzy. She took a cab to the Gordon residence, feeling obligated to bid farewell to her adoptive parents before her departure. Despite being an orphan, the Gordons had always treated her as their own daughter over the years.

After her marriage, they had even suggested that she and Eric move out to avoid the constraints of traditional household rules.

As she approached the villa's entrance, the sound of laughter and cheerful conversation stopped her in her tracks.

"Don't worry, Mom. I promise to give you two grandchildren within three years to continue the Gordon lineage."

Stella Gordon, Eric's mother, beamed with joy at these words. "Wonderful! That's all I've been hoping for. I can't wait for this house to be filled with life again."

She then added, "Poor Wanda. She's a good person, but it's unfortunate she damaged her body while giving birth to Ben. Thankfully, we still have you. Once you deliver this child, you'll be the Gordon family's savior."

The gift bag in Wanda's hands suddenly felt unbearably heavy. It contained farewell presents she had carefully chosen.

Stella enjoyed playing cards but often felt fatigued due to her age. Wanda had consulted a renowned physician and personally prepared health supplements for her.

Wesley Gordon, Ben's father, had taken up fishing in retirement. Wanda had pulled strings to acquire a rare, limited-edition fishing rod for him.

Now, it seemed unnecessary to present these thoughtful gifts in person. Wanda handed the supplements and fishing rod to a nearby housekeeper, struggling to hold back tears.

She recalled the day after her wedding when Stella had grasped her hands, saying, "If Eric ever misbehaves or strays in the future, don't hesitate to come to me. I'll set him straight for you."

Wesley had also solemnly vowed to recognize only her as his daughter-in-law.

Yet today, she had witnessed them warmly welcoming another woman and affectionately calling her "daughter-in-law."

However, Eric was their biological son. At best, she was an adopted daughter and a daughter-in-law without blood ties. She was, after all, an outsider.

Wanda stumbled back to her room in a daze. Late at night, when no one could hear, she curled up in her closet to muffle her sobs.

This time, Eric wouldn't be there to pull her from the darkness and reassure her that she still had him.

She didn't recall falling asleep, but when she awoke, she found herself on the soft bed.

To her surprise, Eric, whom she hadn't seen in days, was sitting beside her. He was holding her phone with an unreadable expression.

"Wanda, someone just messaged you saying, 'Everything is proceeding as planned.' What are you plotting?" he inquired.

Wanda's groggy mind instantly cleared. She hurriedly tried to reclaim her phone, relieved to see it was still locked.

"It's a surprise," she said hastily. "You promised me a surprise today, so I wanted to reciprocate."

"Silly girl," Eric chided. "It's only natural for me to treat you well. After all, you're my wife."