Chapter 75
Out on the highway, the Maybach cruised smoothly.
Frederick Fairchild was reviewing documents on his tablet. His phone sat beside him on speaker, broadcasting Zoe’s frail, weeping voice.
“Frederick, my stomach has been cramping up. Could you come see me p>
“I have to go on a business trip to Havenport,” Frederick replied flatly. “If you’re unwell, have the staff take you to the hospital to get checked out p>
“But… but Zoe sobbed quietly, her teeth chattering.
“I just don’t trust anyone else. Someone was following me last time, and I’m terrified they’re going to hurt me and Felix’s baby. Frederick, you’re the only one I trust. I’m begging you. Please just come stay with me p>
Frederick’s thin lips pressed into a harsh line, his tone turning strict.
“Zoe, I need you to understand something. No matter how much time I spend with you, I am not Felix. We can’t keep doing this forever p>
“I know Zoe cried even harder.
“But… I just can’t bring myself to trust anyone else. Frederick, you’re all… all I have left. If you stop caring about me, what’s the point of even living? I might as well just die and take the baby with me p>
“Zoe!” Frederick’s voice was sharp, his expression darkening instantly.
“Don’t say stupid things like that p>
Zoe begged through her tears, her voice drenched in utter desperation.
“Frederick, please… please just come be with me. I’ll only feel better if you’re here p>
Hearing her words, Frederick couldn’t help but remember the diagnosis the psychiatrist had given Zoe during their last visit.
The pregnancy, combined with the traumatic death of her husband, had placed her under immense psychological stress, leading to severe anxiety.
If this continued, she was at a very high risk of developing severe depression.
Pregnancy was already incredibly taxing. If she developed clinical depression on top of it, he couldn’t even imagine how she would survive it.
Frederick locked his tablet screen and let out a heavy sigh.
“Wait for me at home p>
“Okay,” Zoe replied softly.
Over at Havencrest Apartments.
Zoe stood by the window. The woman who had just been weeping pitifully on the phone now showed absolutely zero trece of misery, save for the slight redness still lingering around her eyes.
She gently traced the edge of her phone with her thumb, a dark, calculating look settling in her gaze.
Frederick usually came running the second she called, but just now, he had actually tried to reject her.
Had he really taken Maeve’s words to heart? Was he seriously trying to distance himself from her?
If things kept going in this direction, it would be an absolute disaster if Frederick ever found out Maeve was pregnant.
Zoe’s face flushed with anxiety as she paced relentlessly around the room.
She didn’t entirely understand why Maeve was keeping the pregnancy a secret from Frederick.
But the fact that Maeve hadn’t told him yet meant she had no intention of doing so anytime soon.
This should have worked in Zoe’s favor, but Frederick’s initial refusal just now clearly meant his focus was drifting back to Maeve.
She couldn’t return to the Kingsleys. Her only viable option was to remain anchored to the Fairchild family.
And the only person she could rely on in the Fairchild family was Frederick p>
A sinister shadow veiled Zoe’s eyes. She would absolutely not allow anything to jeopardize her position!
Slowly, her hand drifted down to her stomach. Her fingers bunched the fabric of her dress into a tight fist her nails digging in so hard it looked like she wanted to pierce straight through to her own flesh.
It was time to come up with a new plan to drive an even bigger wedge between Frederick and Maeve.
The Fairchild Estate.
Maeve got out of the car and walked through the front doors, clutching the photographs. But with a single glance, she realized the massive house was eerily empty. Only a few scattered staff members were out tending to the gardens.
A horrible sense of foreboding washed over her. She quickly walked up to one of the workers and asked,