Wait, isn't that Shane Robinson?! What on earth is he doing here?! Callie felt like she had seen a ghost.
She quickly pulled her hand back, rolled up the car window, and armed herself with sunglasses, a hat, and a mask.
She was convinced that her escape plan was foolproof and that Shane hadn't yet realized she had run away.
Shane being here had to be a coincidence. He must have other business to attend to. With that thought, Callie felt slightly less anxious.
She hunched down, burying her face in the steering wheel, praying he hadn't seen her.
Knock, knock—
The car window was suddenly tapped.
Callie, like a quail, refused to open the window no matter what.
Meanwhile, the car in front of her wasn't moving either.
Growing anxious, Callie honked the horn a few times.
Shane stood beside the car, his gaze cold and menacing. At this point, she was still stubbornly resisting? Not getting out of the car?
Fine. Very well.
He wanted to see just how long Callie could stay inside the car.
With a chilling voice, he commanded, "Secretary, call a tow truck."
Callie sat in her car with the windows up, unable to hear the outside noise. She had no idea what Shane Robinson was saying. All she could see through the rear-view mirror was the car behind her moving, slowly reversing.
Soon, a space cleared up.
A tow truck arrived.
Before she could figure out why a tow truck had appeared, her car was hooked from behind and started to be towed away!
She watched helplessly as she got further and further away from the line of cars.
Further from the toll booth. Further from Shane.
Shane stood there, his face dark and frightening.
Callie's heart tightened. Had Shane discovered her?
How could he have figured it out so quickly?
He didn't have wings to fly.
How could he have set a trap before she even got there?
No, if Shane caught her, he wouldn't let her go. She tried pressing the gas pedal.
The tires spun, creating thick black smoke on the ground, but the car didn't move forward at all. Instead, it continued to be dragged backward.
She could even smell the burnt rubber from the tires inside the car.
The smell was so awful, she almost threw up.
Shane watched coldly. "Still struggling? Secretary, go puncture her tires."
"Look at her, still stepping on the gas!"
The secretary immediately walked over and had professionals use tools to deflate all four of Callie's tires.
Callie was speechless. "..." How did that damn man find her? And using such twisted methods? Slashing tires? Such a low-level trick. Is he even a man?!
Her car was then towed onto a flatbed truck.
And driven back.
Callie watched the familiar scenery pass by through the car window, feeling utterly lost.
...
She was 'towed' back.
The tow truck stopped by the roadside outside the villa.
Shane wasn't in a hurry to let her out.
Didn't she want to run away? Then let her stay in the car. Let's see how she plans to escape now!
"Secretary, have someone keep watch," Shane's eyes were as cold as ice. His anger wasn't directed at the secretary but at Callie.
The secretary responded, "Yes, sir."
The secretary was efficient and quickly had people surround the tow truck, making it nearly impossible for even a fly to escape.
The oxygen inside the car was running low, and the windows were fogged up with thick condensation.
Callie removed her mask and hat, but she still couldn't catch her breath. She rolled down the car window. Fresh air rushed in. She finally felt alive again.
Time ticked by slowly. Shane hadn't come out to see her. It was as if he had forgotten about her.
From inside the villa, the aroma of Mrs. Ford's cooking wafted out.
The smell made her stomach growl. She could endure it, but her child couldn't go hungry. Fine, she gave in.
She had to admit, Shane had incredible influence.
She got out of the car.
The guards stopped her.
"What are you doing?" Callie asked.
"We're here to watch you. If you run, we'll be in trouble. So, you can't get out," one of the guards said.
Callie was speechless.
Was she supposed to stay in the car forever? "I need to see Shane," she said.
The guards exchanged looks and sent one of them to inform the secretary.
The secretary received the message and immediately went to Shane. "President Robinson, Miss. Norris wants to see you."
Shane slowly lifted his gaze, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.
Had she finally given in? "giving up so quickly?" He found it rather boring now. He had thought this woman had more backbone. But it turned out, not so much!
He stood up. "Let's go outside and take a look."
His secretary followed closely behind him, head lowered.
Shane walked over to the car.
Callie saw him and immediately put on a smile. "I just thought I'd go out for a walk. didn't expect to alarm you."
"You went for a walk and packed up all your belongings from the house, even took your clothes. Do you need that many clothes for a walk?" Shane mocked, "Or do you wet your pants and need constant changes?"
Callie's lips twitched. She really wanted to say, "Are you even a man? So mean! Aren't you afraid of bad karma?"
But she didn't dare to say it. She could only swallow her anger.
"You must be joking. I'm an adult," Callie replied through gritted teeth, struggling to hold back her anger.
"Can I get out now?" she asked, forcing a smile.
Shane stood with his hands behind his back, coldly saying, "No. Didn't you want to run away? Keep running!"
Callie was speechless.
Was he planning to keep her in the car forever?
She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her teeth clenched in frustration.
Callie hated Shane with all her heart.
This man was truly ruthless. He showed no mercy whatsoever.
She wasn't just pleading for herself; she had to beg for forgiveness for the sake of the child in her belly.
Besides, she wasn't feeling well.
With a heavy heart, Callie said, "I was wrong."
"Wrong about what?" Shane saw her pale face, and his thoughts wavered slightly. However, his expression remained emotionless.
He was as calm as a robot without feelings.
"I shouldn't have tried to run away," she said, her bright eyes filled with a pitiful look. "Please, let me out of the car."
Seeing her admit her mistake, Shane decided to let her out for now.
"Come with me. Secretary, take care of this," he said before turning away.
The secretary glanced at Callie and then instructed the others, "Everyone, clear out."
Dragging her exhausted body, Callie followed Shane into the house.
Once inside, she headed straight to the bathroom and washed her face.
She couldn't escape and had been caught by Shane. He certainly wouldn't let her off easily, so she had to figure out a way to deal with him.
She thought Shane would definitely make things difficult for her, but to her surprise, he said nothing at all. She managed to have a decent meal.
Her heart was filled with anxiety. Knowing Shane's personality, he wouldn't just let things slide, would he?
After finishing her meal, she hurried back to her room, hoping to get some rest. She was utterly exhausted.
Just as she lay down on the bed, the door was pushed open.
Startled, she sat up. Shane walked step by step towards the bed.
Callie instinctively wanted to hide.
As expected.
Shane Robinson was here to settle the score.
He quickly grabbed her shoulder, pinning her down; his long, bony fingers wrapped around her neck.
His pupils were pitch black, brewing a storm, fierce and intense!
Hadn't he made himself clear enough?
He had tried, in front of her, to put aside his pride and accept her despite her flaws, but she still wasn't willing.
All she wanted was to escape from him by any means necessary! This made him feel degraded! without any dignity!
He was actually trying to please a woman whose heart was filled with another man!
When had he, Shane Robinson, ever fallen to such a low point?
"Tell me, where do you think you're going? to meet your lover?"
Callie struggled to breathe, her face turning bright red from the lack of air, her hands clutched the bedsheets beneath her.
She knew it all too well.
If she wanted to keep the baby she had fought so hard to carry, she had to leave Shane. For her child's sake.
Feigning boldness, she said, "Yes, I'm going to find the man who gave me joy in bed... mmm..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Shane's grip tightened around her neck! At that moment, Shane truly wanted to strangle her! This woman only disgusted him! She wasn't worth his affection! She didn't deserve it!!
Callie felt an intense pain. She couldn't breathe. Her chest heaved with difficulty.
She had said such shameless words just to make Shane hate her, to loathe her, and then let her go. But when she met Shane's wounded gaze, she couldn't bear to face it.
She slowly closed her eyes. Her mind was clear.
Shane had been kind to her only because she had lost her child.
If he knew she was still carrying another child, he would never accept it. Or worse, he might force her to get rid of it.
After all, when she lost the previous baby, Shane had said that even if there hadn't been an accident, he wouldn't have allowed her to keep it.
She couldn't give up her own flesh and blood for a man as unpredictable as Shane Robinson.
She wouldn't let herself be swayed by the small kindness he showed.
"Just... strangle me... to death," she managed to choke out.
She felt the breath of death.
Shane's fingers tightened around her neck, his eyes bloodshot, like a web of red threads converging at the center.
His anger was beyond words. At this moment, he was determined to kill her. A flicker of fear crossed Callie's face as she faced death. Shane's thoughts snapped back to reality.
Suddenly, he released his grip. His hand trembled slightly. Had he just lost control and almost strangled her?
Inside, he was panicking, but he tried his best to maintain his composure.
Feigning ferocity, he said, "Killing you would dirty my hands and my place."
Able to breathe again, Callie gasped for air, taking in large gulps of oxygen.
As fresh air filled her lungs, she felt like she was coming back to life. Her eyelashes were slightly damp.
From shock to fear. Her heart was still pounding wildly. Callie couldn't understand how Shane had discovered her plan. She thought she had executed it perfectly.
"How... how did you know I was planning to leave?" she asked, trying hard to calm herself.
Shane's gaze was deep and cold as he stared at her, saying nothing.
He had sensed something was off from Callie's overly obedient behavior. This woman had claws.
When something unusual happens, there's always a reason. So, when he left, he specifically instructed the driver to keep an eye on her.
Callie Norris thought she was being sneaky, but in reality, the driver was secretly watching her! Sure enough, this woman had a heart of stone. She couldn't see his changes. All she thought about was her lover!
Fine.
Very well.
"Callie, don't even think about escaping from my grasp in this lifetime! Want to go find your lover?! Dream on!"
He would never let her have her way.
Even if he had to seal away his feelings for her, he wouldn't set her free! He was determined to make her life a living hell! "Callie Norris, you will pay the price."
With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
The door shook with a loud bang, and even the windows seemed to rattle.
Callie was left trembling, her body shaking even more violently. She clutched her lower abdomen with her hands. She stared at the door for a long time.
So, it was her excessive attempts to please him that had made him suspicious.
She had thought that by doing so, she could make him lower his guard. Unexpectedly, it had backfired. It seemed that escaping would be even harder now.
She leaned against the headboard, turning her head to look out the window. She was exhausted and weary.
Her eyes were slightly red, and there was a hint of moisture in her eyes.
She gently caressed her belly and said in a raspy voice, "Baby, Mommy loves you. Even though you were a surprise, you're a part of me. I will protect you and make sure you come into this world safely."
...
Skyreach Corporation.
Shane Robinson sat behind a desk piled high with stacks of documents.
After leaving the villa, he drove straight to the office, hoping to drown himself in work.
Hoping to forget about Callie Norris! but he couldn't focus. His mood was inexplicably irritable, thinking about her.
The more he thought, the angrier he got. He felt like Callie was going to shorten his lifespan. That woman knew exactly how to push his buttons! He had never been this unsettled before.
Never had a woman thrown him so off balance.
Knock, knock—
The office door suddenly sounded with a knock.
He took a moment to regain his usual calm demeanor before saying, "Come in."
The secretary walked in holding a file.
"President Robinson, I found out what you asked me to investigate," the secretary said.
"Callie Norris has resigned from her internship at the Second Military District General Hospital. The clothes she took were sent to the laundry by Mrs. Ford ahead of time. It's clear she planned to run away," the secretary reported, keeping her eyes lowered. Shane wasn't surprised at all by the answer.
So, her obedient demeanor was just an act! "Hmm." His voice was cold.
That was his usual tone.
The secretary continued to report, "Assistant Henry's injury has improved significantly. He should be discharged soon."
Shane Robinson replied, "I see."
The secretary looked at him, hesitating to speak.
"Is there anything else?" he asked.
The secretary actually wanted to say that Callie Norris was forced into the marriage contract by Old Master Robinson, and if she wanted to leave, they should just let her go, but she knew she couldn't say that.
"This afternoon, you have two engagements. At three o'clock, there's a tea meeting with the bank president at Yu Ming Garden, and at eight o'clock, there's a meeting with President Jenkins," the secretary said.
Shane Robinson gave a slight nod, "Remind me when the time comes."
The secretary responded, "Yes, sir."
"If there's nothing else, you can leave." he waved his hand dismissively.
The secretary exited the office and carefully closed the door behind her.
She stood at the door for a moment, not leaving, but instead gazing longingly at it, as if she could see the person inside through the solid wood. "What are you looking at?"
A mocking female voice came from behind.
The secretary turned around to see Belinda, and her expression immediately turned cold. "What are you doing here? President Robinson won't see you."
Belinda smiled. "Whether Shane Robinson will see me or not is not for you to decide. Were you just standing at the door daydreaming?"
Perhaps women understand women best.
The secretary's earlier behavior was enough to make anyone suspicious.
The secretary replied icily, "Not everyone is like you, willing to do anything to achieve your goals. Faking a pregnancy, really? President Robinson only feels disgust towards you now. You should stop embarrassing yourself and leave."
Belinda's face twisted with anger at the jab.
Her words were sharp. "You're just a secretary. What right do you have to challenge me? Even if Shane despises me now, I was once his woman. What are you compared to that?"
The secretary's hand, hanging by her side, clenched into a fist. She wanted to retort but ultimately held back. She reminded herself internally.
She couldn't let a woman like Belinda ruin her image. Shane seemed to hear a noise outside the door. With a cold expression, he opened it.
Seeing Belinda standing there, his gaze grew even colder. "Who gave you permission to come up here?"
He then instructed his secretary, "Inform the front desk and security downstairs that she is not allowed in anymore." Turning away, he added, "Make sure of it."
The secretary glanced at Belinda and replied, "Yes, I'll take care of it right away." Belinda glared at the secretary.
She quickly called out to him, "Shane..."
Shane Robinson hated when she addressed him that way.
He turned back, his eyes icy and piercing, sharp enough to cut.
Belinda felt wounded by his merciless gaze and bit her lip in frustration. "I'm sorry, I called your name out of urgency..." she quickly explained. "I came because I have something important to tell you."
Shane's face remained indifferent. "There's nothing left to say between us Miss Ayers."
""It's about that embryo tissue. It has a genetic link to you, doesn't it?" Belinda came prepared.
Shane's expression noticeably faltered. Yes.
The test results are indeed related to him. "What are you trying to say?" "I want to tell you about the child."
Shane narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Belinda. "About the child?"
Belinda tried to maintain her composure. "Yes, the embryo tissue I gave you is indeed mine. The blood you saw was from my miscarriage, not my period as that doctor claimed. How many women have you been with? How many of them could possibly carry your child? You should know the answer. I could lie, but can the embryo tissue lie?"
Shane Robinson's face remained impassive.
But inside, he was already contemplating. He had only been with one woman. The only one who could have conceived his child was the woman from that night.
Belinda could lie. but the DNA test on the embryo couldn't.
He hadn't pursued the matter further because he didn't want any more entanglements with Belinda.
Belinda continued, "That doctor lied. He was bribed to falsely accuse me."
"Is that so?" Shane Robinson raised an eyebrow, his gaze icy.
"The doctor is downstairs. You can question him anytime," Belinda said confidently, having come prepared.
She wasn't afraid of Shane asking questions; she was afraid of him not asking any.
"I couldn't possibly fake something like this, nor would I want to. The only explanation is that someone is framing me," Belinda continued, her eyes brimming with tears, looking pitiful. This time, she was smarter; she didn't mention the past, only the present. "Lying to you like this does me no good at all. Once you find out the truth, you'll hate me. It's all harm and no benefit for me. Do I have any reason to do this?"
Shane let out a cold snort. "Whether you have a reason or not, you know that yourself."
He no longer believed Belinda, but the one thing that didn't add up was the embryo.
If she was lying, then where did that embryo come from?
There was only one explanation. There really was a woman who had carried his child. That's the only way such an embryo could exist.
Belinda moved her lips but didn't get discouraged. She continued, "If you think I'm lying, then go investigate."
She spoke with such confidence, looking so honest and innocent.
She had disguised herself perfectly as the victim.
"Even if that embryo is your, even if you did carry my child, so what?" Shane Robinson's voice softened slightly, no longer as cold and hard as before.
Although Shane didn't like Belinda very much, he couldn't completely ignore the fact that they had once been intimate. There was a slight sense of pity in him.
"How much do you want?" he asked, hoping to end this unexpected relationship with money.
Belinda looked at him and said, "If I were really after your money, I would have asked for it when you asked me what I wanted. If I were after you, I would have demanded something when you offered marriage. But I didn't, because I know there's no love between us. I don't want to use that one night to bind you or hold you back..."
Shane grew more and more irritated. He tugged at his collar and let out a cold laugh. "What, am I supposed to thank you?"
"No, I thought we could develop feelings..."
"I can't develop feelings for you," Shane interrupted, disgusted by the memory of her actions with that man in the private room.
"As for why, I think you already know," Shane reminded her.
If Belinda had confessed at that moment, Shane might have seen her as someone who could own up to her actions, but Belinda couldn't let Shane know about Corey. She remained silent.
"If you don't want money, then what is your purpose for coming here?" Shane Robinson asked.
"I just don't want you to misunderstand me. I came to clear things up, that's all," Belinda said, not daring to ask for anything. She was here only to win Shane Robinson back.
"In that case, I understand. You can leave now." With that, Shane closed the door, showing no trace of kindness.
Belinda stood there, speechless.
This was not how she had imagined it. At this moment, shouldn't Shane be interrogating that doctor?
She had already bribed that doctor. As long as Shane asked, the doctor would say that it was Callie who had paid him to frame her.
It was a plan that killed two birds with one stone. On one hand, it would frame Callie, and on the other, it would prove to Shane that she hadn't faked her pregnancy, thus restoring her image in his eyes.
But why wasn't Shane asking? Belinda couldn't understand.
She had hoped to use this situation to turn things around.
However, Shane did not follow her plan.
Unwilling to give up, she raised her hand to knock on the door, but the secretary reminded her, "Being this persistent will only make people dislike you more."
Belinda paused and fell into deep thought.
The secretary's words seemed to make some sense. Does Shane Robinson need time to process everything? Pushing too hard might backfire.
Belinda turned around, noticing the secretary giving her a sidelong glance before walking away briskly.
Shane stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. From this height and position, he could overlook the most bustling parts of the city.
Lowering his gaze, he could vaguely see the doctor standing by the car.
After a while, Belinda walked out. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but soon they both got into the car.
The office door opened, and the secretary stood at the entrance, whispering, "Miss Ayers has left."
Shane responded with a faint "Hmm."
The secretary hesitated for a moment before asking, "Should we investigate that doctor? Maybe he was really bribed and lied..."
Shane replied, "No need." Doctors can lie, but that embryo can't.
He had only been with one woman, Belinda, that night. That's why she dared to come here so confidently.
Maybe Belinda really had been pregnant. But now, it didn't matter to him anymore. The child was gone.
He had taken responsibility where it was due.
In truth, he wanted to avoid facing the fact that Belinda had been pregnant once more. What was done was done.
The secretary, unaware of her boss' thoughts and not daring to speculate, she quietly exited the office.
At the villa.
Callie found herself unable to open the door.
It was locked.
She banged on the door forcefully. "Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Ford..."
Thud, thud...
Mrs. Ford hurried up the stairs.
"Young Madam, please stop knocking. The door was locked on Mr. Robinson's orders..."
Callie was speechless.
What did Shane mean by locking her up? was he afraid she would run away again? or was he planning to imprison her?
"Mrs. Ford, I'm hungry. Could you unlock the door for a bit so I can get something to eat?"
Mrs. Ford looked troubled. "Mr. Robinson ordered that you are not to be given any food."
"What?" Callie stared at the door in front of her. Was Shane trying to starve her to death? That man, he was truly cruel!
"Miss Norris, you should stay calm and conserve your energy..."
Callie gave up knocking on the door and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. She forced herself to stay calm.
Shane had said she would pay the price, is this the price she had to pay that came so quickly? That man really meant what he said!
But right now, the most urgent thing was to find a way out. She couldn't really starve to death here. Taking a deep breath, she gently placed a hand on her stomach. "Baby, Mommy won't let you go hungry."
If she had nothing to eat, it meant her baby wouldn't get any nutrients.
She absolutely couldn't just sit here and wait!
Suddenly, an idea flashed in her mind!