Chapter 338 Are You Pregnant?
Stella had been tearing through Jasper's hotel room for an hour, checking every document in his briefcase, but the divorce papers were nowhere. It was like they vanished.
Just as she was about to lose it, there was a knock at the door, followed by Ryan's deep voice.
"Mr. Foster, it's time for the meeting with the Phoebe Group."
Silence.
"Mr. Foster?"
Frowning, Ryan pulled out a master key, ready to unlock the door.
The sound of the key in the lock jolted Stella into action.
"Don't come in!" she called out, panicked. "I'm with Jasper!"
Ryan paused, hand hovering over the doorknob.
"Ma'am, Mr. Foster has a meeting. The Phoebe Group is expecting him."
Stella scrambled to put everything back. "Right, of course!"
She rushed to Jasper, who was still slumped over the table, and shook him gently. "Jasper, wake up."
"Jasper, what happened? Why are you asleep?"
Jasper slowly opened his eyes, looking dazed. "What's going on?"
Stella kept her sweet act. "You have a meeting with the Phoebe Group."
"Ryan's been waiting outside forever."
Jasper stifled a yawn, stood up, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the door, looking like his usual self.
Stella sighed in relief, sinking onto the sofa as the door clicked shut behind him.
Outside, Jasper strode into the elevator, his face hardening as the doors closed.
"Ryan, get me something."
"Something, sir?"
"Stella drugged me."
Ryan's eyebrows shot up. "Drugged you, sir? Why would she...?"
"I don't know yet." Jasper's gaze was cold. "Judging by the effects, it's a sedative. I need the antidote."
He wanted to know what game she was playing, following him to Neon City and drugging him. What was she after?
As the elevator descended, a thought hit him.
"And Ryan," he said, frowning.
"Look into women in Neon City who are Linda's age and used to play 'Shadowgate: Echoes of Destiny' with her."
Back at the hotel, Adeline had slept through the afternoon, waking up as dusk settled over the city.
A knock on the door woke her up.
"Who is it?" she mumbled, still groggy.
"It's me," came Linda's hesitant reply. "Adeline, are you still upset with me?"
"Can I come in?"
Confused, Adeline stumbled out of bed and opened the door.
Linda was in her wheelchair, Benjamin standing behind her.
"Adeline," Linda began, her face flushed, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I thought you wouldn't want to see me again."
Adeline stifled a yawn, ushering Linda inside.
As she closed the door, she turned towards the bathroom. "Why would I be mad at you?" she asked, splashing water on her face.
"I called you so many times this afternoon," Linda said, her voice small. "I sent you messages, but you didn't answer."
"I had to ask David to have Benjamin bring me here."
Adeline paused, hand freezing mid-wipe. She fumbled for her phone on the nightstand.
Dozens of missed calls and unread messages.
"Oh," she said sheepishly, returning to the bathroom to hang up the towel. "I must have slept through all of them."
Linda sighed. "So you're not mad about today?"
She'd always known about Zavier and Zoe's wedding. But she had loved Zavier for so long; Only by witnessing his union with Zoe could she finally let go.
David, however, had forbidden her from going, refusing to let her subject herself to that humiliation.
So she had orchestrated this elaborate plan, sending Adeline in her place.
Adeline shrugged. "It's not a big deal."
Linda looked down at her lap. "Adeline, sometimes I envy you."
"You've moved on so completely. Even being around him every day doesn't faze you anymore." She sighed, then looked up at Adeline. "When you look at Jasper now, don't you ever wish things were different?"
Adeline shrugged again. "Why would I want to get back together with him?"
The memory of Jasper trying to kill her was still vivid, the pain still raw.
Linda, who had never experienced such a betrayal, couldn't possibly understand why Adeline had shut Jasper out completely.
"But..." Linda began, biting her lip. "Sometimes, when you look at him, I see... love in your eyes."
"You're mistaken." Adeline's voice was sharp, cutting her off. "The only thing I feel when I see Jasper is nausea."
As if to prove her point, a wave of nausea washed over her, leaving her lightheaded.
She barely made it to the bathroom before she was hunched over the toilet, retching violently.
She hadn't eaten all day, so her stomach was empty, but that didn't stop the dry heaves from wracking her body.
Linda wheeled herself to the bathroom door, her brow furrowed with concern.
"Adeline," she asked hesitantly, "are you... pregnant?"
'Pregnant?'
The word echoed in Adeline's mind.
Her hands tightened around the edge of the toilet bowl. "Am I?"
She had always wanted to have Jasper's child, to bring their child into the world and use its umbilical cord blood to save Blake.
And now, her body was exhibiting all the classic symptoms of pregnancy.
Linda's question sent a jolt of electricity through her.
Just that morning, she had been worried about getting too close to Jasper.
And now...
This was all happening so fast.
"You're definitely experiencing morning sickness," Linda said, her eyes widening with excitement. "Do you want to go to the hospital with me? We can get you checked out."
She paused, her gaze intent on Adeline.
"It is Jasper's, isn't it?"
Adeline bit her lip, nodding silently.
She couldn't be sure if she was pregnant yet, but if she was, there was only one possible father.
"This is wonderful!" Linda exclaimed, her face beaming. "Come on, let's go to the hospital. We can't waste any time."
"If you're really pregnant, then Blake can be saved!"
A surge of hope coursed through Adeline.
She quickly got dressed and wheeled Linda out of the room.
As they waited for the elevator, the doors slid open, revealing Jasper.
"Heading out?" he asked, his gaze flickering between Adeline and Linda. "It seems I've come at a bad time."
He handed Adeline a document, then turned to Linda, taking hold of her wheelchair. "Where are you going? I'll take you."
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