The Final Heir

The child-free decision was a mistake. Moms getting old; theres no more time to wait.

How many months? I looked up at my husband, Eason Reed.

What?

Your bastard child.

Easons Adams apple bobbed. I was planning to find someone to have a baby. If you mind, once the child is a little older, I can bring them home for you to raise.

Pfft I scoffed. What a coincidence! A bastard child, our dad has one already. Why not just bring that one home?

1.

What did you say? Easons pupils constricted. What do you mean, our dad has one?

I didnt rush to answer. Instead, I slowly pulled a stack of photos from the drawer. Each one showed a mother and child.

This woman originally planned to cause a scene with Mom, but Mom just had heart bypass surgery last month and cant handle stress. I stopped her.

Easons face turned ashen. He snatched the photos. Nonsense! Dad, at his age, how could he be so foolish! We absolutely cannot let Mom find out about this!

I looked at him, feigning innocence. Our dad has a child in his later years. Arent you happy for him? Thats your biological brother, after all. Hell inherit the company someday too.

Brother? Easons mouth twitched. Do you hear yourself? Thats an illegitimate child! A shameful bastard! What right does he have to be on equal footing with me?

I met his gaze, a smile in my eyes. Honey, are you perhaps a little too nervous? Having a brother could help you share the burden. You should be happy.

This way, we wont have to go through all the trouble of finding a surrogate.

Eason froze abruptly. Observing his expression, I could more or less guess what had happened. When a child cant hold it, theyve already made a mess. When a man confesses, hes already been to bed with someone else. So, he wasnt asking for my opinion; he was telling me his decision.

Three seconds later, he grabbed his jacket. Ill look into this. If its true, then we have a huge problem!

The door slammed shut with a heavy thud. Rapid footsteps echoed in the hallway. I slowly pulled out my phone. Follow him. Once you have clear photos, send them to me.

Hanging up, I leaned back into the sofa, gazing out at the night sky. The decision to be child-free had been a mutual agreement eighteen years ago. Back then, hed said children were a burden, an encumbrance. He didnt want to be tied down for life by a ball and chain. We were to be an ideal couple, traveling the world, seeing every mountain and river.

I believed him. And I poured all my energy into the family business. Eighteen years later. I had long since lost the ability to become a mother. But men were different. They could change their minds at any time. Now, the matriarch of the family was ill and suddenly remembered the important duty of continuing the family line. And Eason, in a burst of filial piety, also felt that a life without children was incomplete. How utterly absurd.

Back then, everyone criticized me, saying that having children was the lowest form of poverty alleviation. Women shouldnt dream of getting something for nothing by just using their womb. I thought that by holding the steering wheel of my life, I could avoid a mutual defeat. But no one ever told me. In lifes multiple-choice questions, no matter which path you take, its a dead end.

My time was running out. I needed more help and more evidence. Otherwise, my fate would be terrible. The next second, I grabbed my car keys and headed to the hospital. Since Easons mother was so fond of children, how could I let her down?

The woman in the bed wasnt particularly pleased to see me. What are you doing here? Wheres Eason?

I offered a slight smile, pulling up a chair. Him? He seems to be meeting someone. Oh, by the way, wheres Dad?

The old woman impatiently turned her head. He left on a business trip yesterday. She stretched lazily. You dont need to come anymore. The company is at a critical stage right now. Use this time to help out more. Lin here is enough to take care of me.

Lin? I looked at the caregiver standing nearby.

2.

The young woman had always worn a mask, so I hadnt paid much attention to her appearance. Now, looking closely, she seemed a bit heavy-set.

Lin, I addressed her. Go get some hot water and wash my mothers feet.

What? The girl froze, standing rooted to the spot, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes.

Whats wrong? I observed her movements. Youve been serving my mother for a week, and youve never washed her feet?

What exactly do you do during your shifts?

I I She stammered, instinctively glancing at my mother-in-law on the bed.

Oh, for heavens sake! The old woman slapped the bed frame. Whether I want my feet washed is up to me, it has nothing to do with you! Theres nothing for you here, just leave!

In that moment, I felt like I was watching a dramatic family play unfold. This Lin, she was definitely not just an ordinary caregiver.

The next second, my phone vibrated. The photos had arrived. On the screen, Eason sat in a corner of a coffee shop, glaring furiously at the woman opposite him. In the womans arms was a child, two or three years old. I stared at the photos, a scoff escaping my lips.

Both women looked at me simultaneously. What are you laughing at?

I looked up at the old woman on the bed. Mom, our men are not being faithful. Easons gone and gotten himself a bastard child.

In my peripheral vision, Lins shoulders gave a tiny jerk, but she quickly regained her composure.

The old woman sneered. Elara, are you mistaken? A woman in her forties who cant even bear a child, and you expect me to fight your battles for you?

A bastard child? That status isnt for you to decide, its for me to decide. Dont be ungrateful. If I were you, I would have signed the papers and cleared out a long time ago!

As her words fell, Lin visibly relaxed. Indeed. With such strong backing from her mother-in-law, she could practically walk all over this family.

But what if there were several women walking all over the family? A crab convention?

Pfft I couldnt help it; I laughed again. Mom, I think youve misunderstood. The bastard child Im talking about isnt Easons; its Arthur Reeds.

What did you say? Both women gasped simultaneously.

But you dont need to panic. I handed my phone to my mother-in-law. Eason has already gone to deal with that mother and child. Im sure hell handle it cleanly. I paused, my finger gently zooming in on the photo on the screen. Speaking of which, that boy he really looks like Dad.

The old woman trembled as she took the phone, her face ashen, one hand repeatedly clutching her chest. How could this be how could this be

Lin frantically rushed forward, snatching the phone. Madam, deep breaths! Please dont get agitated. Its not that bad yet! When Eason gets back, we can

Eason? I interrupted her with a smile. You might be mistaken. The one actually transferring assets isnt Eason; its Arthur Reed.

I leaned in closer to my mother-in-law. Mom, please take care of yourself. Were counting on you to get back to the company and investigate this thoroughly. You absolutely cannot collapse at this point, or it will truly benefit that mother and child.

As my words fell, the old womans mouth opened, but no sound came out. She slumped backward. Lin was completely panicked. She frantically lunged for the call button by the bed. Quick! Someone! Bed 601 is in distress!

I rushed forward to help support her. Mom, dont get so agitated. Dont you like children? Theyre all Reed family blood, no matter whose offspring they are, you should treat them equally

You shut your mouth! Lin spun around furiously, swinging a hand at me. My eyes narrowed. I raised my hand, caught her wrist, and squeezed hard.

What do you think you are? A caregiver, daring to lay a hand on me?

The next second, I shoved her. She stumbled backward, crashing straight into the nearby medical cabinet. But as she fell, her hands desperately shielded her abdomen.

Help! My baby! A piercing scream cut through the entire hospital room. I gasped.

A baby?

3.

Just then, the doctor, along with several nurses, rushed in. And the old woman on the bed had already rolled her eyes back, convulsing.

Patient is in cardiac arrest! Quick, prepare the defibrillator! Epinephrine stat!

The hospital room instantly erupted into chaos. My gaze coldly swept past the busy medical staff, landing on the woman on the floor. There was a baby in her belly. I closed my eyes, taking a deep, slow breath. One against four. I seemed to already see my own ending. This was a war I couldnt possibly win.

Eason would soon discover that the woman wasnt Arthur Reeds mistress. He would also realize that all of this was just a trap I had set. And then? He would be furious, he would retaliate, and he would throw me out. And this woman, clutching her abdomen, would move into my home with her illegitimate child, rightfully so.

I opened my eyes, looking at the deep night outside the window. But to suffer in silence has never been my style. I was alone, with no attachments. No children to raise, no parents to look after, and no weakness for anyone to exploit. So, I wasnt afraid.

The next second, I pulled out my phone and dialed Eason. Honey, Moms in the ICU.

That caregiver fell, and shes actually pregnant! Now shes extorting us, saying it happened on our watch and were responsible!

Twenty minutes later, Eason rushed breathlessly into the hospital building. He only saw me sitting alone on a bench outside the ICU, hands clasped, praying devoutly.

Elara! He hurried over, looking around. Vivian I mean wheres Lin?

I looked up, my eyes slightly red. This woman is a liar! Shes five months pregnant! She didnt say anything when we hired her as a caregiver, and now shes screaming after falling. Isnt this just a scam?

Easons face changed. Then then where is she? Where did she go?

Why are you panicking? I looked up at him, a hint of inquiry in my eyes. Regardless of whether the child lives or dies, Ill bear all responsibility. I wont let the Reed family get involved.

Eason didnt reply. He grabbed a passing nurse. Wheres Lin? The girl who was with my mom?

The nurse glanced at me. Ms. Vance arranged for her transfer. This is a cardiovascular hospital; we dont have an obstetrics department. She needs to go to a maternity hospital for prenatal care.

Easons face was ashen. He pulled out his phone and made a call. Soon, the call connected.

Where are you?

Lins tearful voice came from the other end. Eason, it was Elara! Elara pushed me! The babys fine, but I need to be on bed rest I was so scared, I almost didnt protect your baby Mom getting into the ICU was also because Elara provoked her. She knows everything!

Eason hung up the phone and slowly turned to face me. His eyes had changed. Elara, you shouldnt have done this.

He took a step closer, his voice resolute. I originally thought that once the child was born, I would let you raise them. After all, you cant have children, and I cant let the Reed family line end. He paused, shaking his head. But now I see, youre simply not fit to be a mother. So, I dont want to deceive myself anymore.

With that, he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. It was a printed divorce agreement.

Sign it.

I took the agreement and scanned it. The asset division section read: Marital assets split 50/50. I smiled. From my bag, I pulled out another agreement.

Sign this one.

It stated that due to the husband having an improper relationship with another person and causing pregnancy during the marriage, he was the primary at-fault party, and 70% of the joint marital assets would belong to the wife.

70%? Eason laughed as if hed heard a joke. Elara, youre dreaming!

Winning a lawsuit isnt about empty words; its about evidence. And you have none. With that, he turned and strode away.

I sat there, watching his back disappear down the hallway. It was true, I had no evidence. I had no right to demand a paternity test between someone elses child and my husband. Even if I knew that child was his, even if the whole world knew that child was his. As long as he denied it, the court would be powerless. I slowly gathered the two agreements, stuffing them back into my bag. But one thing he said was wrong.

Evidence would come soon enough. The next second, my phone rang.

He went to the maternity hospital.

Good.