Chapter 69 Pregnant

My father's expression was very unpleasant. He rarely smoked, but now a cigarette was constantly in his hand. He didn't answer me, just looked at my mother. My mother wiped away her tears and spoke resentfully, "He's having an affair with that seductive secretary of his!" Seductive secretary?

I picked up one of the photos and examined it closely. I did recognize that woman, and then I remembered seeing her once when Jane and I happened to encounter my father at a restaurant. That secretary was there too. At that time, I wondered why my father's male secretary had suddenly been changed to a female secretary.

But I trusted my father wholeheartedly and knew he wasn't a promiscuous person, so I didn't mention it to my mother. "Mom, don't get angry right away. You know Dad's character. It's been almost thirty years, and surely someone has tried to seduce him, but he has never indulged himself. Maybe this time it's just a misunderstanding," I said, sitting beside my mother, patting her back to calm her down.

"Yes, I've been framed!" My father finally spoke, with some excitement. "I was completely drunk and incapable. How could anything happen between us?" My father's position was not an easy one. He had been cautious all his life and couldn't afford to ruin everything when he was close to retirement. My mother leaned against me, crying, and I felt heavy-hearted, my brows furrowed the whole time without relaxation.

"Dad, send someone to investigate about this woman, find out who she is," I spoke again, addressing my father. "I've already looked into it. I have her personnel file. Her name is Madeline, from Chicago. She's married and has a child, but she's not with them," my father took another drag of his cigarette, looking a few years older, "There's no useful leads, not even one."

"Suo."

Madeline... I will remember this name.

Although my dad has a problem, Madeline hasn't exposed it yet, so he has to continue working, leaving only my mom and me at home.

I think I should meet Madeline and see what she wants. If it's just money, I can give it to her temporarily to buy some time and find a solution.

Suddenly, fragments from my previous life exploded in my mind, leaving me frozen in place, unable to move.

During this time in my previous life, I was probably still revolving around Charlie, not really paying attention to what was happening at home. I only remember my parents having a cold war for a while, and eventually, when Charlie completely destroyed my family, one crucial weapon he had was some scandalous material he had obtained about my dad, involving improper relationships and such. He even leaked the photos to the media.

Because I was a bit obsessed at that time, my only focus was to break Charlie and Lauren apart. So, I didn't pay much attention to those news articles, but the photos in them seemed... somewhat similar to what I see now?

It seems that many things are being reshuffled in mysterious ways.

I picked up all those photos and put them in my bag. Madeline must have more negatives, and I must find a way to get them all and completely resolve this matter. Otherwise, if someone else gets hold of these materials, it will be a potential threat to my family.

Even without Charlie, there will always be someone watching my dad.

"Mom, do you have Madeline's contact information? Give it to me, I'm going to see her," I calmly said to my mom.

"Yes, I'll go with you!" My mom wiped away her tears, her face filled with deep sorrow and anger.

"You stay at home and rest. I'll go alone." I didn't want my mom to go. That kind of woman is absolutely despicable, and my mom will probably get even angrier if she confronts her.

But my mom insisted on going. After all, this is regarding her thirty-year marriage, and she won't be at peace if she doesn't meet that vixen in person.

It seems... maybe this trait is inherited from my mom? In my previous life, I also did everything I could to find Lauren, but unfortunately, Charlie had too many tricks, and I couldn't outsmart him at all.

I nodded, "Alright, let's go together."

My mom gave me a number. She tried calling, but Madeline intentionally didn't answer, so I called from my own number.

After a few rings, someone picked up the phone, and a woman's voice sounded, "Hello, who is this?"

"I'm Ivan's daughter. Come out, let's meet and talk." I wasn't in the mood for small talk.

"...Alright." Surprisingly, Madeline agreed.

After arranging the time and location, I hung up the phone and said to my mom, "Mom, take a good rest today. Let's meet her tomorrow. She might be trying to extort some money, deliberately blackmailing Dad."

A layer of sadness clouded my mom's face as she nodded heavily.

I didn't go anywhere that day. I stayed at home with my mom, talking and trying to cheer her up. When my dad came back in the evening, we silently had dinner as a family and went to bed to rest.

My mom didn't want to sleep with my dad tonight.

I fell asleep after talking with my mother for most of the night. In my drowsiness, I heard her sigh multiple times. I knew she hadn't slept a wink during the second half of the night.

The next morning, my mother and I arrived at a predetermined location, a restaurant. Madeline actually had a decent temperament; she had a good figure and looked a bit younger than my mother. When she saw us, she didn't say anything, she just wore a smug smile on her face.

"Let's not beat around the bush. I know those photos are fake. What do you want?" I had a strong aversion to this woman and spoke directly.

"Mrs. Harrison, if you think those photos are fake, you can have them authenticated and checked for any Photoshop alterations," Madeline calmly replied.

My mother had been holding back. She valued her image and manners, but she couldn't contain her frustrations anymore. She suddenly stood up and slapped Madeline across the face over the narrow table we were seated at.

Madeline's head turned from the force of the slap, and immediately she covered her face, staring back at my mother with a malicious and sinister gaze.

"What do you want by getting my husband drunk and taking those photos?" My mother pointed at Madeline; her presence undeterred.

Deep down, my mother knew that my father hadn't done anything wrong, otherwise, she wouldn't be accusing Madeline of intentionally getting him drunk and taking photos. She just couldn't accept the fact that after trusting her husband for thirty years, he would give another woman the opportunity to drive a wedge between them.

Madeline moved her hand from her cheek, leaving a clear handprint on her face visible for all to see. There was a look of ambition in her eyes, and I could see it clearly.

She stood up, holding her bag, completely ignoring her swollen cheek. She looked triumphant and said, "What do I want? I want the two of you to divorce. After all, I have your husband's child in my belly."

After speaking, she took out a medical report from her bag, threw it on the table, and left without hesitation.

I could sense that my mother became stiff all over as she stared fixedly at the paper on the table without any reaction.