Chapter 550

Oliver's lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"Harrison, what's this little performance about? Trying to put on a show for Mr. Falcon?"

Harrison lifted her head slowly from Oliver's chest, meeting his gaze with a wry smile. "You always see right through me, don't you?"

"So, what's the game between you two?"

"Isabella is Mr. Lancaster's daughter. The Falcon and Lancaster families have an arranged marriage. Nathaniel is supposed to marry Isabella, and his mother, Mrs. Victoria, is arriving in Willowbrook tomorrow. I assume she's here to push them together."

Oliver arched a brow. "So you're trying to make Mr. Falcon give up on you by cozying up to me?"

"Nathaniel and I are over. He doesn't need me complicating his life, and I don’t want to be dragged into this mess."

Oliver nodded thoughtfully. "I hope you truly mean that."

"Of course I do."

As she spoke, Harrison's fingers drifted to her abdomen, her touch feather-light.

Oliver's gaze lingered on her stomach. "So you're not planning to tell him about the baby? He still thinks it's mine. Seeing us together earlier, he probably assumed we were the perfect little family."

Harrison's lashes fluttered as she looked down. "He doesn’t need to know. This is better."

Oliver's lips twitched. "You used to insist he had the right to know—that the child deserved to know its father. But now, you're resolute. You don’t want to tell him. You're afraid it’ll tear him apart, aren’t you? Deep down, you still care."

Harrison shook her head. "I don’t—"

Oliver ruffled her hair affectionately. "It's fine, Harrison. Whether you admit it or not, you know the truth." Silence settled between them.

"So, what’s your next move? Isabella being the Lancaster heiress has thrown everything off course. And your belly’s starting to show."

Harrison considered it. No one had expected Isabella to be the wealthiest heiress in the world. Right now, she couldn’t touch her.

And with her pregnancy, things were too unstable. Her priority had to be herself and the baby.

"Let’s go back to Florentia. I’ll have the baby first. My revenge against the Whitmore family and Isabella can wait."

Relief washed over Oliver. He’d worried her anger would cloud her judgment, but she’d chosen the most rational path. The baby came first.

He nodded. "Good. Isabella’s returning to Metropolia, and I suspect Mr. Falcon will follow."

Harrison stroked her stomach, a faint smile playing on her lips. "That’s fine. I’ll find them in Metropolia later."

The next day...

Victoria arrived in Willowbrook as planned. Her private jet touched down smoothly. With Beatrice pushing her wheelchair, she entered the airport lobby.

Nathaniel stood waiting. He stepped forward. "Mother."

Victoria sat poised in her wheelchair, every inch the refined aristocrat. Her hair was immaculate, the pearls at her ears catching the light—remnants of the beauty she’d once been.

Yet life’s hardships had carved deep lines into her face. Her expression was stern, her eyes shadowed with severity, making her appear far older than her years.