Chapter 528 Pregnant with Twins
"Darling, why did you ask me to keep this meeting a secret from Owen?" Lila asked with confusion after meeting up with Victoria.
Victoria sighed softly. "Your husband and mine are definitely in the same camp."
If Owen knew she was meeting Lila, Alexander would undoubtedly find out within a minute.
"Are you and Alexander fighting?" Lila still didn't quite understand.
Victoria decided to tell her everything that had happened over the past two weeks.
After listening, Lila remained silent for a moment.
"So you're essentially sneaking out to escape the Howard family's nutritional meals, and using me as your cover?" Lila raised an eyebrow. "You're clearly dragging me into trouble with you."
"Through thick and thin, standing together always—isn't that what you always say?" Victoria replied with a smile.
"Lila, you don't understand. Just looking at pregnancy meals makes me nauseous now. You wouldn't want me and my baby to suffer, would you?" Victoria pouted, batting her eyelashes with a look of pure innocence.
Lila reluctantly agreed. "Fine, but are you sure eating this won't affect you and my future godchild?"
Victoria shook her head. "It won't. It's not like I'm eating this every day. Just once in a while is perfectly fine. He just doesn't let me indulge at all."
Lila gave in. "Alright, I'll humor you today."
The two headed off for their flavor-packed lunch.
Lila, still cautious, ordered something relatively mild for Victoria.
While they were enthusiastically ordering and enjoying their meal, back at Serenity Grove Manor, Sawyer looked confused when Alexander returned home alone.
"Sawyer, where's Victoria?" Alexander asked immediately upon entering.
"Mrs. Howard said she was meeting you for lunch at Howard Villa," Sawyer replied. "She left to find you at your office."
Alexander was perplexed.
He never mentioned having lunch at Howard Villa.
And he certainly hadn't seen Victoria at the office.
Had she gone back on her own?
He called Howard Villa, only to be told Victoria hadn't returned there either.
Alexander's brow furrowed with concern.
He tried calling Victoria's phone, but it was switched off.
"Did she go out alone?" Alexander asked Sawyer.
"I believe Kimberly went with her," Sawyer replied.
He immediately called Kimberly. Victoria rarely went out without someone, but Kimberly was her exception.
When Kimberly answered, she felt a wave of anxiety. "Mr. Howard."
A deep, cool voice came through the phone, "Where is Victoria?"
Kimberly hesitated, watching Victoria across the table frantically shaking her head.
Victoria clearly wanted her to make up some excuse.
She'd forgotten to tell Kimberly to turn off her phone too.
"Mr. Howard, Mrs. Howard had a business meeting at the research institute," Kimberly lied.
Victoria smiled and gave her a silent thumbs-up.
Unfortunately, at that very moment, a group of people walked by carrying birthday banners, with cheerful birthday music playing in the background.
Kimberly tried to cover the phone's microphone, but it was too late.
On the other end, Alexander's expression darkened as he hung up.
Kimberly grimaced at Victoria. "Mrs. Howard, I think Mr. Howard will be here soon."
Victoria fell silent.
Lila looked at her friend. "Honey, shall we make a run for it?"
Victoria glanced at the delicious food still on the table. "Let's finish eating first. He won't get here that quickly."
About forty minutes later, the three women had barely stepped out of the restaurant when Alexander appeared, walking toward them with purpose.
Caught red-handed.
Lila took one look at his intimidating presence and said, "Sweetie, I just remembered I need to use the restroom. Don't wait for me—you go ahead home!"
Before Victoria could respond, Lila had made her escape.
So much for sharing the pain.
Kimberly wanted to run too, but she couldn't.
"Darling, what a coincidence! Are you here for lunch?" Victoria decided to pretend it was all a chance meeting.
Alexander looked at her beautiful face, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Enjoying your meal, darling?"
That one sentence made it clear—he knew everything.
But how had he found them so quickly?
Then again, this was Alexander. He had his ways.
Besides, trying to fool those sharp eyes of his was nearly impossible.
"Yes, I did enjoy it," she admitted frankly. "It's already in my stomach—you can't exactly make me throw it up, can you?"
Alexander watched as she pouted with a 'what-are-you-going-to-do-about-it' expression.
In the car, Victoria remained silent, staring out the window.
Alexander sighed softly and gently pulled her into his arms.
Victoria didn't resist, letting herself be held.
"Why did you sneak out to eat these things behind my back?" Alexander asked, his voice gentle.
He could never truly be angry with her.
Victoria nestled against his chest and said in a small, petulant voice, "Because you won't let me."
Alexander remained silent.
"Ever since you found out I was pregnant, you've banned me from eating so many things," she continued. "I'm sick of nutritional meals every day—I can't stomach them anymore."
"It's not that I don't appreciate Molly's cooking, but I'm just tired of the same things. I wanted something different."
"I knew you wouldn't let me eat what I just had, so I snuck out. At home, Molly wouldn't serve me anything like that—no one dares disobey your orders."
"I know you're looking out for me and the baby, but can't I have an exception once in a while? It makes me happy, and being unhappy isn't good for me either."
Alexander listened quietly as she spoke with a hint of a pout, his hand gently stroking her hair.
"Alright," he said.
Victoria paused mid-sentence when she heard his response.
She rested her chin on his chest, looking up at him. "What?"
Alexander's handsome face softened with a smile as he playfully tapped her nose. "I said, darling, you can have whatever you want to eat from now on."
"Really?" Victoria's eyes immediately lit up.
Alexander nodded with an indulgent smile. "Happy now?"
Victoria beamed. "Yes!"
She quickly pecked his lips. "Thank you, darling."
In the front seats, Dylan and Kimberly pretended to be blind and deaf to the entire exchange.
Dylan was exasperated by Alexander's lack of resolve.
He had been so determined to teach Victoria a lesson before they arrived.
Now look at him—one little pout and a few complaints, and he'd completely caved.
Alexander had no principles whatsoever.
At six weeks, Victoria went for her first prenatal checkup.
Blood tests for HCG levels, ultrasound examinations—the works.
Alexander accompanied her throughout, having cleared his entire day of work and meetings just to be with her.
During the ultrasound, the doctor smiled at the couple. "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Howard. Mrs. Howard is carrying twins."
For a moment, neither of them reacted.
Alexander processed the news first. Though his expression remained composed, he was excited internally, even as his concerns doubled.
He didn't show any of this, however.
Victoria, on the other hand, broke into a wide smile when she heard "twins." "Darling, twins! You're quite impressive, aren't you?"
Alexander remained silent.
She wasn't embarrassed to say such things?
Right in front of the doctor, no less.
The doctor simply smiled, saying nothing.
The news of Victoria's twin pregnancy quickly reached Nathan.
He was absolutely delighted.
Watching his grandfather's unbridled joy, Landon could only shake his head with a fond smile.
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