The Breeding Deal: Brother-in-law's Forbidden Offer - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Outsider

For a whole hour, Christine kept checking and rechecking the pregnancy test, afraid it might be giving her false hope.

She took the test stick to her bedroom, picking it up again and again, comparing the lines until both turned the same deep red.

Restless and unable to sleep, she pulled out her phone in the early hours. Opening her private Instagram account, she lost herself in the memories there.

The account held all her photos with Ethan from the past five years, since they first started dating. There were graduation group photos, pictures of Ethan doing housework after their marriage, portraits he’d taken of her during their travels, and candid shots of her sleeping.

The profile picture was their first selfie as a couple, taken in a quiet corner of their college campus. In the sunlight, Ethan’s face still held that boyish innocence as he turned slightly to kiss her cheek. In the photo, her smile was shy but sweet, and the breeze had caught strands of her hair on that perfect day.

Through the phone screen, Christine gently kissed Ethan’s profile.

She barely slept that night. Around 5 AM, just as dawn was breaking, she texted Rebecca saying she had caught a slight cold and would visit Ethan at the hospital later. Then she headed to the private clinic Marcus had recommended to confirm her test results.

Not only was the clinic more professional, but the doctor was also discrete – if Victor’s family asked questions, she could honestly say she was there for a pregnancy checkup.

Since she was less than two weeks pregnant, it was too early for an ultrasound or fetal heartbeat monitoring. The doctor took her blood to check her hCG levels. Marcus wasn’t there this time, and during the 20-minute wait for results, the doctor introduced himself as Dr. Wong. Christine thanked him sincerely for his help last time.

When the results came back, Dr. Wong pointed at the report with a warm smile. “See? It’s positive. Congratulations, you’re going to have a baby!”

Christine covered her mouth, trembling slightly. She looked at the report, then at her stomach, then back at the doctor, repeatedly confirming if the results were accurate.

Dr. Wong had seen many expectant mothers react this way. Getting pregnant wasn’t easy – many couples tried for years without success. Quick pregnancies like Christine’s were rare.

He nodded reassuringly, telling Christine that the baby’s father must have very good genes for conception to happen so easily, and that the baby would surely be healthy.

After leaving the clinic, Christine sat in the waiting area for half an hour, slowly processing everything.

Finally, she decided to thank Adrian – for agreeing to her outrageous request. Despite his roughness in bed, he had helped fulfill her dream of giving Ethan a child. Without him, she wouldn’t have known what to do.

She initially thought about texting, not wanting to disturb his work, but after some hesitation, she decided a phone call would be more proper. This was her first time calling Adrian since marrying Ethan.

“Adrian, it’s Christine.”

The other end remained silent, just listening.

Her voice trembled with barely contained joy: “Thank you! I… I just got tested at the hospital. I’m pregnant. Thank you so much. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.”

His response was cool – just a simple “Mm.”

But Christine didn’t mind.

“Well, I won’t keep you. Good luck with work, and thank you again.”

After hanging up, her hands instinctively moved to her stomach as she smiled with relief.

Ethan’s chemotherapy had just started, and the doctors said his young age gave him good chances of recovery. Plus, the baby could be a potential bone marrow donor. They would surely become a happy family of three. No matter what happened, she would take care of Ethan, and their child would always be by his side, giving him a happy life.

As for the baby’s true parentage – that secret would be hers alone to bear.

She believed Adrian loved his brother enough to keep this secret forever.

Her connection with Adrian would end here.

Christine carefully folded the test results and tucked them into her bag’s inner pocket. As she left the clinic, her steps felt light, and the sky seemed especially blue.

Meanwhile, Adrian was at his private estate, watching rehearsals for next month’s auction.

The group’s planning department had invited a top classical ensemble to perform before the auction. Workers were moving unopened exhibits while downstairs in the grand hall, the orchestra was rehearsing Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,” a cheerful piece.

A dozen musicians were tuning their instruments – violins, cellos, piano, and harp. They practiced individually and together, notes floating up and suddenly stopping.

Adrian sat in a corner of the second-floor viewing platform, with James behind him.

After ending the call, James handed him a tablet showing four potential auction poster designs, each featuring one of the premium auction items.

Adrian scrolled through them, then tapped the fourth poster. It showed a 1920s Dior vintage brooch with peach blossoms.

James nodded and took back the tablet. Seeing Adrian about to leave, he followed: “Boss, you have a video conference in five minutes.”

Adrian nodded, standing still, watching the orchestra below.

The lively performance below contrasted sharply with the cold atmosphere upstairs. The tall man stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, completely detached from everything.

The scene split in two, and he seemed like an outsider.

He was indeed – Christine was pregnant now, and their deal was officially over.

He tilted his head slightly, and James immediately understood. He took out a cigarette, lit it, and held it to Adrian’s lips.

Adrian took a drag, and through the swirling smoke, his sharp features became blurred. His expression was unreadable, but his emotionless eyes stared heavily at some non-existent point in the distance.

After finishing the cigarette, he spoke coldly to James: “Call Kiko for tonight.”

At the Tokyo summit last time, Kiko, a special guest, had met Adrian twice. This was James’s first time seeing Kiko in person, and she was indeed stunningly beautiful, every gesture filled with charm. She had been bold – after the summit, she walked right up to Adrian, seductively brushing back her hair, asking if he could take her home.

To her surprise, Adrian had just given her a cold look and walked away.

She hadn’t given up, later cornering James to say she knew Adrian wasn’t gay, and asking if he had any girlfriend.

As a perfect package of beauty, figure, and family background, Kiko couldn’t understand why Adrian had rejected her advances.

Truthfully, James couldn’t answer Kiko’s question.

Because Adrian had never shown interest in anyone.

James nodded and asked, “The Presidential Suite at the Ritz-Carlton?”

Adrian stubbed out his cigarette, tossed it in the trash, and just before turning away, gave a cold “Mm.” His usual tone was already detached, but today it was even colder.

James didn’t know what Christine had said on the phone, but he could tell Adrian’s mood had somehow gotten even worse.

After a week of dark moods, he hadn’t thought it possible for things to get even darker.