A Love Without Anchor

Elizabeth froze for a moment. When the hospital called, she was still having dinner with Connor's parents. A wave of fear swept over her, and she left them behind, rushing straight to the hospital.

Fortunately, Xavier wasn't seriously injured.

"I was having dinner with a client, working on closing a big deal. Then the hospital called about your accident, so I came right away."

Xavier's gaze darkened. His deep eyes locked onto hers.

"You came straight from the client's place?"

"Yes. Xavier, I'm exhausted." Elizabeth pressed her fingers against her temple, frowning slightly.

Xavier slowly closed his eyes and said nothing more.

Elizabeth sat by his side, keeping him company. Before long, her phone rang. She hung up immediately, but the caller was persistent. The phone vibrated again and again.

Switching it to silent mode, she lowered her head and sent a message. A minute later, her expression shifted. She muttered an excuse and hurried out of the hospital.

Not long after she left, Vincent arrived. His face was clouded with something between irritation and amusement.

"Guess who I ran into on my way up?"

Xavier propped himself up slightly. He thought for a few seconds before answering, "Elizabeth?"

Vincent scoffed. "The third floor of this hospital? It's the andrology department. I took the elevator up, the doors opened, and there she was—with Connor."

He paused for effect, then continued. "It felt off, so I followed the crowd out of the elevator. That's when I saw Connor holding Elizabeth's prenatal check-up report, grinning like an idiot, telling her she was going to be a mother."

Xavier's expression barely changed. He lowered his eyes, lost in thought, but there wasn't a hint of anger on his face.

"She's pregnant."

Vincent stared at him, feeling something was off but unable to put his finger on it. He moved closer, pressing a hand to Xavier's forehead.

"You're not mad? No fever either. You haven't lost your mind, have you?"

Xavier gave a faint smile, lips pale. "You don't understand. Elizabeth has a medical condition. The doctors said she could never have children."

Three years ago, they had tried for a child for over a year, but nothing happened. Thinking the issue might be his, Xavier made an appointment for a check-up. Elizabeth, worried about his stress, accompanied him.

The results came back. Elizabeth was infertile.

That night, he lay awake until morning, forcing himself to accept a childless future as long as Elizabeth loved him. He even asked Dr. Peel to keep the diagnosis a secret, telling everyone the problem lay with him—that he just needed time to recover before Elizabeth could conceive.

And now, she was thrilled to become a mother. The three years he had spent carefully hiding the truth now seemed like a cruel joke.

"Holy shit! This is huge!" Vincent nearly jumped up, rubbing his hands together. His eyes gleamed with mischief. "I have an idea. Xavier, you're leaving for Neirway in five days. Let's just act like we don't know anything."

He smirked. "There's no way Connor isn't scamming her. Let's see how he explains himself when the time comes. And when the moment's right, we'll send Elizabeth her medical report. I'd love to see her face when she finds out the truth."

The next morning, Elizabeth didn't come to the hospital.

That afternoon, Xavier's secretary arrived to update him on the wedding preparations. After her report, she hesitated, stealing a glance at him.

"Just say it." Xavier frowned slightly.

The secretary hesitated before whispering, "At noon, Ms. Eaton asked me to deliver some documents to the villa. When I arrived, Connor was sitting in your living room… in his pajamas."

She took a cautious breath. "Sir, you've always treated me well. I just couldn't stay quiet about it."

A chill spread through Xavier's body. His face turned cold. He was still in the hospital, and Connor had already moved into their home?

No wonder Elizabeth had insisted last night that he let her know before he was discharged—she wanted to be the one to pick him up.

"I see. Thank you."

Xavier picked up his phone and checked the surveillance footage. The screen was pitch black.

Elizabeth had disabled the cameras in advance.

He frowned, then turned to his secretary, who was still standing there.

"Tonight, I'll make sure Elizabeth and Connor are occupied. Get someone to reinstall the cameras. Keep it discreet."

"Yes, sir."

That night, at ten o'clock, Elizabeth walked into the hospital room. She looked at Xavier lying on the bed, her eyes filled with guilt.

"Honey, you called me over. Did you miss me? I'm sorry, I was so busy today…"

Xavier interrupted her smoothly, giving her an easy way out. "I know. You've been planning my birthday party. That's why you're visiting so late."

Elizabeth froze for a second before smiling, squeezing his hand. "You know me so well."

Xavier met her gaze and spoke calmly. "Yes. I know you. I know everything you've done."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Xavier…"

She opened her mouth to say more, but at that moment, a nurse entered with a cart, changing his IV.

The next day, Xavier checked the surveillance footage.

In the villa, Connor and Elizabeth were having lunch together. Connor sat in Xavier's usual seat.

Elizabeth pouted, saying she was pregnant and didn't feel like eating. Connor patiently fed her spoonfuls of food.

"Come on. You have to stay healthy for the sake of our baby."

Elizabeth smiled, her eyes filled with happiness.

After lunch, Connor went upstairs. Elizabeth called the house staff together and spoke in a serious tone.

"Connor doesn't have an official status here. If he loses his temper sometimes, be patient with him. And listen, no one tells Xavier about him moving in. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Xavier watched the footage in silence, then looked away. He picked up his phone and instructed his secretary to start preparing the wedding invitations. By the end of the day, he would finalize the guest list.