The silence in the Rolls-Royce was heavy, but not with anger. It was heavy with the echo of Julian's audacious lie.
Aria stared at the passing streetlights, her cheeks still burning. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She turned to the man sitting calmly beside her, scrolling through stock prices on his phone as if he hadn't just dropped a bomb on his family.
"Julian," Aria hissed. "Are you crazy? 'Working on it day and night'? 'Might already be successful'?"
Julian didn't look up. "It was the most efficient way to shut them up. Did you want to stay there and listen to Isabella lecture you on Viennese etiquette for another hour?"
"No, but—" Aria stammered. "Grandmother will expect a great-grandchild! When I don't produce a baby in nine months, she'll accuse me of lying. She'll use it as an excuse to force a divorce!"
Julian finally locked his phone screen. He turned to her, the darkness of the car making his eyes look deeper, more intense. He leaned in, invading her personal space until she was pressed against the leather door.
"Then we have two options," Julian murmured, his voice low and husky. "Option one: We tell her you had a miscarriage due to her stress, making her feel guilty forever."
Aria blinked. That was... ruthlessly efficient. "And option two?"
Julian's gaze dropped to her lips, then back to her eyes. A small, dangerous smile played on his lips.
"Option two: We make the lie true."
Aria's breath hitched. Her heart hammered against her ribs. The air in the car suddenly felt very thin.
"You... you said this was a contract marriage," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
"Contracts can be amended," Julian replied softly. He lingered for a second longer, letting the tension coil tight, before pulling back and straightening his tie. "But for now, relax. Grandmother won't move against you as long as she thinks there is an heir. I bought you time."
[The Next Morning - Qin Private Hospital]
The "time" Julian bought lasted exactly twelve hours.
At 9:00 AM, a convoy of cars arrived at Dragon Bay. It wasn't the police; it was worse. It was Old Madam Qin's personal assistant, accompanied by two stern-looking nurses.
"Madam Aria," the assistant said, bowing stiffly. " The Old Madam was overjoyed by Master Julian's news last night. She has ordered an immediate prenatal checkup to ensure the 'Golden Great-Grandson' is healthy."
Aria stood in the doorway, holding her coffee cup, her blood running cold.
She wasn't pregnant. A checkup would reveal the truth instantly. And Julian had left for the office an hour ago.
"I... I'm feeling a bit nauseous," Aria lied, clutching her stomach. "Maybe tomorrow..."
"Nausea is a good sign!" the assistant beamed. "The car is waiting. We are going to the Qin Family Private Hospital. The best obstetrician, Dr. Wu, is ready for you."
Aria had no choice. If she refused, it would look suspicious. She had to go and find a way to stall until she could text Julian.
[Qin Private Hospital - VIP Wing]
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and expensive lilies. The VIP wing was empty, cleared out specifically for this appointment.
Aria was ushered into an examination room. The assistant and nurses waited outside, guarding the door like sentries.
"Please change into this gown," a nurse said, handing her a pink robe. "Dr. Wu will be in shortly for the ultrasound."
Aria went behind the curtain. Her hands shook as she pulled out her phone. No signal. The VIP wing had signal jammers for "privacy."
Damn it.
She changed into the gown, her mind racing. Could she fake a faint? Pull the fire alarm?
The door opened.
A doctor walked in. He was wearing a mask, but his eyes were shifty. He locked the door behind him.
"Mrs. Qin," the doctor said. "Please lie down."
Aria sat on the edge of the bed. "Dr. Wu? I'd like to wait for my husband."
"CEO Qin is busy. The Old Madam wants the results now."
The doctor reached for the ultrasound gel. But before he could touch her, the side door of the examination room—the one connecting to the adjacent office—clicked open.
A woman walked in.
It wasn't a nurse. It was Isabella Gu.
She was wearing a white doctor's coat over her designer dress, looking like a predator who had cornered its prey.
"Isabella?" Aria narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm on the board of directors for this hospital," Isabella smiled, walking over to the ultrasound machine. "I wanted to personally congratulate you. And... verify the news."
Isabella turned to Dr. Wu. "Proceed, Doctor. If the uterus is empty, I want a high-resolution image of it to send to Grandmother immediately."
"You planned this," Aria said, her voice cold. "You knew Julian lied."
"Of course I knew," Isabella scoffed. "Julian is possessive, but he's not stupid. He wouldn't impregnate a woman like you so quickly. You trapped him with a lie, and today, I'm going to expose you."
She nodded to the doctor. "Hold her down if you have to."
Dr. Wu stepped forward. "Mrs. Qin, please cooperate. It will only take a minute."
"Don't touch me!" Aria shouted, sliding off the bed and backing away. "This is a medical violation! I have the right to refuse!"
"Not in this hospital," Isabella laughed. "Here, the Qin family rules are law. And Grandmother's order is absolute."
Dr. Wu grabbed Aria's arm.
"Let go!" Aria struggled, but the man was stronger. He tried to force her back onto the bed.
Bang!
The main door of the examination room didn't just open—it flew off its hinges.
A loud crash echoed as the heavy door slammed against the wall.
Dr. Wu jumped back, dropping Aria's arm. Isabella spun around, her face losing all color.
Standing in the doorway was Julian Qin.
He wasn't wearing his suit jacket. His sleeves were rolled up, his tie was loosened, and his chest was heaving slightly, as if he had run all the way from the lobby.
But it was his face that was terrifying.
Usually, Julian was cold—a glacier. Now, he was a volcano. His eyes were burning with a rage so palpable it felt like the air temperature in the room had spiked to a boiling point.
Behind him were four of his personal bodyguards.
"Julian!" Isabella gasped. "I... I was just helping—"
Julian didn't look at her. He walked straight to Aria. He didn't ask if she was okay; he grabbed her face in his hands, scanning her for injuries.
"Did they touch you?" he demanded, his voice a low growl.
Aria was shaking, the adrenaline crash hitting her. "Dr. Wu... he tried to force me onto the bed."
Julian slowly turned his head to look at the doctor.
Dr. Wu was trembling so hard his knees knocked together. "C-CEO Qin... I... Old Madam... Miss Isabella said..."
Julian walked over to the doctor. He didn't yell. He simply reached out, grabbed the expensive ultrasound machine by its monitor, and shoved it.
CRASH.
The machine toppled over, smashing into pieces on the floor. Sparks flew.
"You are fired," Julian said, his voice deadly calm. "And you will never practice medicine in this country again. If I see your face in this city by sundown, I will break your hands."
The doctor shrieked and scrambled out of the room, tripping over his own feet.
Then, Julian turned to Isabella.
Isabella was pressed against the wall, pale as a ghost. "Julian, listen to me! She's lying! She's not pregnant! I was just trying to protect the family lineage from a fraud!"
Julian walked up to her until he was looming over her.
"Isabella," he said. "Do you think I care about the lineage right now?"
"But... but she lied..."
"I lied!" Julian roared, his voice finally breaking its calm facade. "I told the lie! And if I say she is pregnant, then she is pregnant! If I say the sky is green, then it is green! Since when did you have the authority to question me?"
"I... I'm your childhood friend..." Isabella whispered, tears streaming down her face.
"You were," Julian said coldly. "Now, you are a liability."
He turned to his bodyguards. "Remove Miss Gu from the board of directors. Cancel all contracts with the Gu family hospital supply chain. And throw her out."
"Julian! You can't! My father—"
"Get her out of my sight," Julian ordered.
The bodyguards grabbed Isabella by the arms and dragged her out, her expensive heels scraping against the floor as she sobbed.
The room fell silent.
Aria stood by the bed, clutching her robe. She looked at Julian. He ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath to compose himself.
"Are you hurt?" he asked again, his voice softer now.
"No," Aria whispered. "But... Julian... the ultrasound. They didn't get an image, but Grandmother will still want to know."
Julian walked over to her. He took off his own vest and wrapped it around her shoulders, covering the hospital gown.
"Let her want," Julian said. "I'll handle Grandmother."
He picked Aria up in his arms, bridal style.
"Julian! I can walk!"
"Shut up," he said, carrying her out of the wrecked room. "You're 'pregnant', remember? Pregnant women don't walk when their husbands are around."
As he carried her down the hallway, past the terrified nurses, Aria rested her head against his chest. She could hear his heart beating fast—thumping with a rhythm that felt strangely like fear. Fear of losing her.
For the first time, she wondered: Was this really just a contract for him?