Chapter 74:
It didn’t matter if I got beaten, but I couldn’t let them hurt my baby!
I took a few steps back, but Connie and Emma charged at me. One of them tried to grab my hair while the other aimed a slap. I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact, and covered my belly with my hands.
But instead of the pain I expected, I heard screams from both of them.
When I opened my eyes, I saw that both Connie and Emma had collapsed to the ground. Standing beside me was Herbert.
I stood there, stunned, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. I clutched his arm for support, my body still in shock and pain.
Herbert’s voice broke through my daze.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes… I’m fine,” I managed to reply, my emotions settling slightly.
Why did he intervene himself? Wasn’t he afraid of exposing our relationship? The agreement between us clearly stated that we were secretly engaged.
Before I could fully process the situation, my mother suddenly walked over, smiling brightly at Herbert.
“Herbert, you’re back from your business trip?”
Herbert seemed momentarily stunned. I pulled at his sleeve, whispering, “Mom saw our marriage certificate.”
Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming sense of unease. What should he do now? I was trying to make my mom happy, but what if Herbert denied our relationship in front of her? My mom would know that I had lied to her.
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I wouldn’t feel too sad, but her mother definitely would.
As I struggled with my complicated emotions, I suddenly heard Herbert say, “Mom, I’m back.”
How could he…?
I couldn’t believe my ears.
I turned to him in shock, but his expression was calm and gentle.
At that moment, Ryan stepped forward and asked, “Mr. Wharton, why did you just call her… Mom? Did I hear that wrong?”
Herbert looked directly at Ryan and answered firmly, “Uncle, you didn’t mishear. She is Bella’s mother, which makes her my mother as well. Or rather, my mother-in-law.”
“What… what did you just say?” Ryan’s voice turned sharp, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. He was utterly speechless.
My own shock was no less than his.
I never expected Herbert to acknowledge our relationship so openly.
After the initial surprise, warmth spread through my heart. I knew he was stepping in to help me. If it weren’t for him, I might have been attacked by those two crazed women and suffered a miscarriage today.
The most anxious one now was Emma. She immediately rushed up to Herbert, her voice trembling.
“Herbert, you just said she was your mother-in-law. Then you and Bella are…”
Without a trace of emotion, Herbert looked at her and said, “Miss Briden, I told you last time that we aren’t close enough for you to call me by my first name. We are just business partners. There is no personal connection between us. From now on, please refer to me as ‘Wharton’ or ‘Mr. Wharton.’”
“I…“ Emma suddenly looked utterly humiliated.
