The Breeding Deal: Brother-in-law's Forbidden Offer - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Examination

Christine was startled when Marcus, Victor Blackwood’s eldest son, showed up at her doorstep at dawn. He claimed he had just given his kid a ride to school and could take her to the hospital on his way.

It was far too early for any school to be open – this was clearly Marcus’s scheme to catch her unprepared.

A perfect, foolproof plot.

Now Christine truly understood why Ethan had called his family “utterly fake.”

With no time to call Rachel, Christine grabbed her purse and rushed out. Sophie, her nutritionist, worried about her going alone and offered to accompany her. Christine gave her a quick look, silently telling her to stay home – it was just a checkup, nothing major, she’d be back soon.

She got into Marcus’s car and sat quietly in the back, avoiding any conversation with him.

The Blackwoods were blessed with attractive genes, and Marcus was no exception. He was tall and fair-skinned, wearing gold-rimmed glasses that gave him the appearance of a sophisticated intellectual.

Christine had barely interacted with him before. Their only exchanges had been at family dinners, always with Ethan present. This was their first time alone together.

After driving silently for two minutes, Marcus stopped at a red light and studied Christine through the rearview mirror.

“You seem tired lately… those dark circles under your pretty eyes. It must be hard, after what happened to a young woman like you… well, these lonely nights can be quite challenging, can’t they?”

In the mirror, Christine caught his reflection and noticed the suggestive smirk playing on his lips.

His words were inappropriately forward.

They weren’t even close – without the family connection, they were practically strangers. How dare he speak to her so intimately?

Besides, Marcus was married with children of his own. How could he be so shameless, trying to flirt with another woman?

Bound by family obligations and unsure of Marcus’s character – not to mention being trapped in his car – Christine could only look away, responding with a soft “Mm” to his comments.

Marcus wasn’t deterred by her cool response. He continued smoothly, “Ethan’s condition… well, it’s complicated. But trust in the doctors. And you…” His voice grew softer. “You need to take care of yourself too. Life goes on, doesn’t it? If you ever need someone to talk to… well, I’ve been told I’m quite good at making people feel better.” He finished with a low chuckle.

Without waiting for her response, he pressed on, “Here, let me give you my number. I know some excellent hospitals and care centers. When it comes to pregnancy, I’ve got quite the expertise. From conception to postpartum care, I personally arranged everything for my wife. Follow my recommendations, and you’ll have the smoothest experience possible. Don’t hesitate to invest in yourself – a beautiful woman like you deserves nothing but the best care. I couldn’t bear to see you suffer.”

He reached back to hand Christine his business card.

With each word, Christine’s unease grew.

Despite all his grand talk and seemingly helpful advice, she could read between the lines – he was flirting with her.

Whether or not he was bold enough to pursue an affair, one thing was clear: he had inappropriate intentions.

Maybe she was overthinking it, but either way, her impression of Marcus and the entire Victor family was sinking lower by the minute.

Marcus drove them to the hospital, picking up Rebecca on the way before arriving at his recommended private clinic.

The facility was exactly what Christine had expected from the Victor family – impressively luxurious. Marcus was clearly a regular; the cute receptionists all greeted him with bright smiles and “Welcome, Mr. Blackwood.”

They went up to the tenth floor for examinations. Marcus made a quick call, and a male doctor in a white coat appeared. Marcus patted the doctor’s shoulder, explaining that Christine was his cousin’s wife, newly pregnant, and needed a thorough, detailed, in-depth examination since her last one had been rushed.

Following Marcus’s demands, the doctor recommended their most comprehensive prenatal package. After Rebecca paid the fees, Marcus suggested they wait outside together for Christine.

He smiled at Christine, telling her not to be nervous, his expression a little too warm.

Christine pushed down her unease, ignoring the loaded look in Marcus’s eyes, and followed the doctor into the examination area.

She felt completely uncertain. Yesterday, Adrian had only said “I’ll handle it” before hanging up – she had no idea how he planned to help her from the other side of the world… or if he would help at all.

What if he chose not to help?

After all, this wasn’t his responsibility… everything had happened because of her.

Christine’s steps felt heavy as she prepared herself for the worst.

Just as she reached the blood collection area, out of Marcus’s sight, the doctor suddenly patted her shoulder and said softly, “Mrs Christine, please relax and focus on your check-up. Leave everything else to me.”

Christine looked at him in surprise, and the doctor gave her a knowing wink.

She realized then – this doctor was on their side.

A wave of relief washed over her. Christine thanked the doctor gratefully, then took out her phone to send identical messages to both Adrian and James: Thank you.

The examination took two full hours – lengthy but smooth. When Christine emerged, the doctor had already received some of the results. Marcus immediately approached with his perpetual smile, asking about the outcome.

“Everything looks good. She’s about a month pregnant, and her health indicators are normal across the board. The usual advice applies – rest well, maintain a positive mood, avoid strenuous housework or activities. Focus on folic acid and protein intake, and avoid excessive eating. As we approach the later stages of pregnancy, I’d recommend check-ups every two weeks to monitor the baby’s development.”

Rebecca beamed with joy, studying the detailed indicators on the report. She thanked the doctor and then Marcus, praising his choice of clinic.

Marcus, however, was stunned. He had expected to hear that Christine wasn’t pregnant at all. Instead, she had not only confidently undergone the examination but was genuinely pregnant. Quickly masking his surprise, he offered lukewarm congratulations to both women before excusing himself, claiming he had business at a nearby factory.

“No need to worry about us. The driver will take us to the hospital,” Christine replied politely. “Thank you for all your help today.” She left with Rebecca.

As soon as they were out of sight, Marcus pulled out his phone and called his father. “Dad, I just took her for the examination. Christine is actually pregnant.”

On the other end, Victor Blackwood repeatedly questioned the test details in disbelief. After confirming everything was legitimate, he fell into contemplation. “Tell me, what kind of person is this Christine?”

“She seems… uncalculating,” Marcus lowered his voice. “Honestly, even without the pregnancy, Ethan probably would have left her a substantial sum anyway.”

When the news of Christine’s pregnancy first broke, Victor had been convinced it was fake.

The timing was too perfect, too convenient.

The motive seemed obvious to him – money. She must be refusing divorce to bind herself to the Blackwood family through this child. If Ethan lived, she’d remain the precious daughter-in-law; if Ethan died… which seemed likely, she and the child would inherit a fortune. Rebecca, doting on her grandchild, would surely transfer Ethan’s shares to Christine.

Victor had counted on this, knowing Rebecca held little power in the family and had a strained relationship with Adrian. He’d planned to gain Rebecca’s trust, expose Christine’s scheme, and redirect that fortune elsewhere.

At the very least, he’d hoped to use Rebecca’s influence to secure positions for his sons in Adrian’s company.

But in all his calculations, he hadn’t expected one simple truth: Christine was genuinely pregnant.