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Chapter 409
Chapter 409:
With a trembling hand, she reached out, picked up her spoon, and scooped a small amount of the black caviar. She brought it to her lips and swallowed.
Exactly two seconds later, her eyes flew wide in exaggerated horror.
Her face twisted into a mask of absolute agony. She slapped her hand violently over her mouth.
Her chair screeched against the hardwood floor as her body convulsed.
The screech of Alycia’s chair echoed like a gunshot through the silent room.
She did not excuse herself. She shoved violently away from the table, one hand clamped over her mouth, and stumbled backward, her heels catching on the thick carpet.
“Alycia?” Julian gasped, half-rising from his chair. “Are you alright p>
She did not answer. She shook her head frantically, her eyes wide and panicked, then spun around and practically sprinted out of the private dining room, leaving the heavy wooden door cracked open behind her.
Five seconds later, the sound carried down the quiet marble hallway.
𝗗о𝗐𝗇𝘭𝘰а𝗱 р𝘋F𝗌 𝘧𝗋е𝗲 𝗈ո ѕ.𝖼𝘰𝘮
It was loud, wet, and grotesquely exaggerated — the unmistakable sound of violent retching — and it bled directly into the private room. It was impossible to ignore.
Julian stood frozen at the head of the table, jaw hanging open. He stared at the door, then slowly turned to look at Cole.
Crawford Love set his mother-of-pearl spoon down on his plate, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms over his chest. A wide, cruel smile broke across his face.
Cole sat completely paralyzed.
The blood drained from his face, leaving his skin a sickly, ashen grey. Then a dark flush of pure humiliation crawled up his neck, staining his face a deep, bruised purple.
He knew she was faking it. He knew it was a pathetic, desperate performance designed to trap him.
But he couldn’t say so.
Julian’s eyes darted between the door and Cole, his mind slowly assembling the pieces. The caviar. The sudden nausea.
“Oh my god,” Julian breathed, his voice filled with genuine, innocent shock. “Cole… is she… is she pregnant p>
The word hung in the air like a live grenade.
Crawford let out a loud, barking laugh — a sound of pure, unfiltered mockery. He reached out, picked up his heavy crystal whiskey glass, and raised it in the air, pointing it directly at Cole’s purple face.
“Congratulations, Cole,” Crawford said, his voice dripping with venom. “A true blessing for the Compton family p>
The sarcasm landed like a physical blow. It was Crawford publicly declaring that Cole was a fool, trapped by a cheap trick.
Cole’s chest heaved. His lungs felt packed with broken glass.
He did not answer Julian. He did not look at Crawford. His silence was the ultimate, damning confirmation.
“Man, that’s… that’s insane,” Julian stammered, his eyes wide with confusion as he completely misread the toxic atmosphere in the room. He took a hesitant step toward Cole. “Cole? Is this for real, man? What’s going on p>
Every word out of Julian’s mouth was another nail hammered into Cole’s coffin. He was being publicly chained to a woman he despised, for a child he did not want.
Alycia walked back into the room.