A day later, after Silva finally opened her eyes, news of her pregnancy reached her. She smirked, immediately suspecting this was part of June's scheme.
"June couldn't find anyone better to hire than this fool?"
Silva thought, eyeing Michael, who was seated in front of her.
"I'll play along with this fool for now."
She smirked, picking up her teacup.
"I need to take another pregnancy test," Silva began, noticing Michael's briefly shocked expression.
"After all, I'll need confirmation for myself. Besides, you of all people should know I don't rely on secondhand news."
Silva smiled, locking eyes with Michael.
"Of course," Michael replied smoothly. "That's exactly what I love about you."
"I'll play with you as well, Silva."
Michael thought, viewing this as an opportunity too good to miss — he'd been obsessed with Silva since high school.
"Well then, please wait until then, won't you?" Silva added with a smile.
Michael, who had been masking his flustered state since he sat down, kept his eyes fixed on Silva. Her extraordinary beauty seemed magnetic, pulling his gaze despite his efforts to stay composed.
Lowering his head slightly, Michael blushed — not wanting Silva to see this weakness he'd been desperately concealing.
"Control yourself... this game will end soon, and she'll finally be yours."
Michael thought, his head still bowed.
"What a fool... but having him might be a useful wild card."
Silva thought, smiling warmly — a carefully crafted expression to mask her true intentions.
She knew Michael had secretly harbored a crush on her since high school, just like many other students back then.
"Mr. Michael Walter," Silva began with a polite smile, "Once the pregnancy test confirms the result, I'll inform you as soon as possible."
Rising gracefully from her seat, she prepared to leave.
"Of course," Michael replied, his gaze lingering on her. "I'll be waiting... and I hope the result remains as it is."
He watched her walk away, resisting the urge to stop her.
"After all, which man wouldn't be happy for his incoming heir?"
Those words stung Silva, igniting a wave of disgust. The mere thought of being tied to Michael — let alone having a relationship with him — felt like an impossible and repulsive reality.
Moment later, Silva entered the living room, her eyes immediately landing on her family members, Lucius, Gina, June, Gabby, who were sitting, waiting to hear what she and Michael had discussed. Just then, Lucius smiled and spoke first.
"I hope things worked out between you two?"
"Of course he'll be the first."
Silva thought.
"Father, I'm very confident I'm not pregnant," Silva replied, her gaze sharp as she glared at June. "I don't even know him, let alone be acquainted with him. And I'm sure this whole situation smells very suspicious."
"Shut up, Silva!" Lucius roared, rising to his feet in a fit of rage. "You better be damn happy he's even considering taking that illegitimate child of yours!"
"Father, please calm down. That idiot still has her hopes up about marrying Christian." June added, walking toward her father.
" Delusional? Yes but true."
She added smirking.
"That's out of the question, because…"
Lucius began, but his words were interrupted.
"But is it though?!" A cold, and familiar voice cut through the Lucius ears.
Everyone turned toward the doorway, where a polished designer suit man stood, flanked by security. He strode toward them with a cold, measured expression.
"What's he doing here?" Lucius thought in shock, staring at this unexpected visitor.
"Silva, right?" The man glanced at her briefly before stopping beside her. "I'm Christian. Nice to meet you."
***************
Moment later.
Christian sat across from Lucius in his private home office.
"I didn't know you were coming, but it's good that you're here," Lucius began, masking his annoyance.
"Lucius," Christian called out coldly, unfazed. "Let's cut straight to the point. I'm willing to marry her regardless of her current situation."
"What?!" Lucius thought in disbelief.
"Are you sure about that?" Lucius asked, smirking. "I mean, the man responsible for the pregnancy is already committed to her, and I have given my allegiance to him, my dear son," he concluded, crossing his legs confidently.
"She still has to consent to it, right? After all, we both know the laws of this nation," Christian stated firmly.
"Absolutely, and I'm sure she will. After all, I know my daughter best," Lucius said arrogantly, flashing a smirk.
"Then have her come here and say it herself," Christian's tone carried a hint of command.
"This brat! Did he just try to command me?" Lucius thought, his patience wearing thin as a vein pulsed angrily on his forehead." Calm down, Lucius…"
"Anyway, I hope she doesn't blow this off course," he mused darkly. "Or else, she and that pregnancy are as good as dead."
With that, Lucius sent a guard to fetch Silva.
************
A few minutes after Silva entered, Christian cut off Lucius, posing the question directly.
"Oh, this is going to be intriguing." Silva lowered her head in false humility before her father, but inwardly, she was smirking.
"I'm willing to marry you, Mister Christian!" Silva said confidently, looking straight at him.
Lucius felt like he was being played. "Are you sure about what you just said?"
"Yes, Father. After all, I've already said I'm not pregnant, nor do I even know that Michael guy." Silva felt a new wave of confidence rising from nowhere.
"Well, now that you've accepted my proposal, don't worry, Mister Lucius. I'll take care of the child. And of course, I won't deprive that man of his rights as a father," Christian said, extending his hand to Silva.
Lucius watched in disbelief—a sight he never imagined witnessing, let alone in his own presence. Silva actually took Christian's hand as they headed out.
"Now that you're my father-in-law, I suppose I can accept your contract," Christian said coldly, glancing at Lucius, whose expression furrowed.
"What?!" Lucius looked genuinely surprised by the statement.
"You heard me right, Lucius."
"Oh, I see… Well, I suppose we can work something out given our situation," Lucius said, clearly swayed.
Meanwhile, Silva observed her father closely—she knew him all too well.
"A real definition of slave to money, fame, and status."
Then, she smirked. "Dear Father, I'm just getting started."
This new confidence—she couldn't quite define it.
As she stepped out with Christian, she stole a quick glance at him.
"I guess this confidence came from his power over my father."
Yet, something about Christian's energy unsettled her.