Chapter 5 Why Are You Here

Ryann bowed her head, gently touching her stomach. She decided to go with the flow.

Ryann pondered that she hadn't showered in two days and her luggage had been stolen. After a moment, she decided to get up and walk to the wardrobe.

As she swung open the wardrobe door, astonishment washed over her.

The wardrobe held a complete collection of women's attire, showcasing prestigious international brands, and some were so special that they counted as rare global limited editions.

Yet, a common thread ran through all these garments-the loose lower hem. It was obvious that they had been thoughtfully chosen and tailor-made for her as a pregnant woman.

Terry appeared confident that she'd accept his terms, having all the preparations ahead of time.

He had a habit of being in charge of everything. Before laying eyes on her, he'd thoroughly investigated her and pinpointed her vulnerabilities.

Once she regained her composure, Ryann selected a nightgown from the wardrobe and went to the bathroom.

Meanwhile, in the living room.

Santino's eyes widened in surprise as a tall, striking man entered through the door. When he snapped back to reality, he hurriedly approached the man and greeted him, saying, "Sir, what brings you back?"

Giving him a quick once-over, Shawn curled his lip and quipped, "Do I need to apply just to return here?"

When he grasped that he had asked the wrong question, Santino swiftly apologized, saying, "I apologize, sir. That was my mistake. The Edwards Manor is your home. Feel free to return anytime."

Shawn snorted and strode towards the room at the end of the corridor, not uttering another word.

Santino felt a twinge of anxiety. That room was now Ryann's!

He found himself compelled to trail behind Shawn, attempting to intercept him. "Sir, your return is quite uncommon. Would you like to pay your respects to your father first?"

"No."

"It's getting pretty late. How about heading back to your room for some rest? Your room gets a daily cleaning. It's kept nice and neat."

"No, I just need to grab something, and then I'll leave."

Santino realized that he had slipped up.

At the far end of the corridor sat the room that had once belonged to Shawn during his childhood. Even though all his belongings had been relocated from it, there was still a chance that Shawn had left something behind!

He shouldn't have placed Ryann in that room, just because it was well-lit and spacious.

"Sir..."

Shawn halted abruptly, his eyes narrowing. "What is this? Seems like you are hesitant about me entering this room."

Santino's face froze in an expression of embarrassment. "How...how is that even possible?"

"Good."

With a snort, Shawn pushed the door open.

Slam-

Santino watched as Shawn entered and quickly closed the door.

Oh God! Was he going to lose his temper?

The longer Santino dwelled on it, the more his anxiety grew. It would be wise to inform Terry about this!

Once Shawn stepped into the room, he went straight to a painting and lifted it off the wall.

Removing the painting revealed a small hole in the white wall.

Inside the hole, a small jewelry box in a shade of blue could be seen.

He retrieved the jewelry box from the wall and opened it.

Within the box, a simple silver ring rested.

This had once belonged to his mother when she was alive. As a child, he had secretly carved a hole in the wall behind the painting and stashed the jewelry box inside.

After all those years, the existence of this ring had slipped from his memory.

It didn't come back to him until today.

Shawn slipped the jewelry box into his pocket and returned the painting to its place on the wall.

As he was about to exit the room, he suddenly heard running water from the bathroom.

Who could have left the tap running?

Frowning, Shawn moved towards the bathroom.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom.

Ryann filled the bathtub, shed her clothes, and stepped into the water.

Just as she was about to sit down, her ears perked up at the sound of the bathroom doorknob turning!

Startled, she slipped and fell into the water.

A dull ache throbbed in her belly. She sat in the bathtub, holding her abdomen, yet she couldn't muster the courage to stand and assess her condition.

Just then, the bathroom door swung open from outside!

She was shocked that someone would barge in while she was bathing!

When Shawn swung the door open, he was greeted by two startled and captivating almond-shaped eyes. It appeared she was in a state of panic as her wide, luminous eyes remained wide open.

Almost instinctively, he closed the door, but within a heartbeat, he pushed it open again.

"Why are you here?" His frigid voice cut through the air like the howl of a blizzard.

He remembered who she was!

Shawn had encountered many beautiful women, but only one had approached him seeking money for a pregnancy!

Her face was etched into his memory, impossible to forget!

Ryann was taken aback at the sight of Shawn!

Wasn't it said that his return was a rare occurrence?

His angry inquiry sent shivers down her exposed, vulnerable form. Instinctively, she sought refuge in the warm water, revealing only her rounded head above the surface.

"It was... It was your father who invited me here." With a guilty tone, she tried to explain, her voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

"Humph," Shawn huffed, his gaze turning stormy. "I never imagined you'd not only approach me for money but also my father. I underestimated you."

Ryann parted her lips, eager to explain, but there was no denying the truth of his words.

Even though it was not intentional, she did accept the money.

"So, the abortion has not happened yet?"

Ryann nibbled on her lower lip and cast her gaze downward.

"I'm sorry."

"Humph." Shawn scoffed at the absurdity. With a slam of the door, he left the room.

Strolling down the corridor, he coincidentally encountered Terry, seated in his wheelchair.

"Shawn, you're back." Seated in his wheelchair, Terry welcomed his son with a warm smile.

Shawn regarded him with an icy glare, questioning, "Why did you bring her here?"

"After all, the little ones in her womb are your flesh and blood. I can't abandon them, knowing they're there."

"How can you be sure they are mine? Her belly is still flat. We can't even be sure if she is expecting or not! Why would you place your faith in someone who is a money-hungry liar?"

"I did my research on her before tracking her down," Terry said deliberately. "Whether you accept it or not, Shawn, those children are yours."

Shawn's lips tightened as he responded coolly, "I do not need kids!"

"You might not have planned for children, but now that they are here, you must take responsibility."

"And you think you're in a position to lecture me on that?"

Terry seemed to overlook his sarcasm, continuing, "Besides, you can't afford to have illegitimate children. Since you made her pregnant, it's only right to marry her..."

Before he could even complete his sentence, Ryann hastily bolted out of the room.

She was dressed in just a thin nightgown, and her wet hair remained untouched by a towel. It tumbled freely over her shoulders, a bit of a mess, with water droplets still trickling from the ends.

In the soft glow of the corridor, her petite visage appeared pale, and her captivating almond-shaped eyes gleamed with allure. A few glistening droplets adorned her slightly parted lips, tempting one to reach out and gently wipe them away.

Shawn averted his gaze, his eyes narrowing.

Breaking the silence, Terry was the first to speak up, inquiring, "What's the matter?"

Ryann, clutching her stomach, her eyelashes fluttering with fear, stammered, "I...I'm bleeding..."