Chapter 176:

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Kelly’s POV
“What about this one?” Pierce asked, holding up two baby dresses.

I chuckled as I looked at him. “Pierce, we don’t know the gender yet.”

He frowned. “It’s fine. We can just get both.”

“But then the baby can’t even wear the other one,” I pointed out.

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. We can always have another baby.”

I laughed again and playfully pinched his side. “Whatever you want. Let’s move on to the next store.”

We already had plenty of baby dresses—some unisex, others not. He insisted on shopping for our baby, so I just let him. Although it would be a while before the baby could actually wear any of them.

Pierce smirked as he followed me, then lined up at the counter to pay. I waited for him by the door. We’d been at his house, doing nothing, when he suddenly suggested we go shopping. I knew he wanted to buy clothes for our kids, and as a father, he deserved to enjoy the experience.

We were about to enter another shop when someone appeared in front of us, blocking our path.

My forehead creased, and my blood immediately began to boil when I saw the familiar face I despised most.

I laughed without humor and looked her up and down. “Been a long time, Lexi. You look… miserable.”

She gasped and turned to Pierce. “We need to talk, Pierce!”

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I smiled sarcastically. “Unfortunately, I won’t let you borrow my man again.”

Her eyes sharpened, and she turned back to me. “I’m pregnant with his child, Kelly!”

“But I don’t care,” I replied nonchalantly.

She gasped again. “You’ll be selfish even to a child?”

I let out another sarcastic laugh. “Come on, Lexi! I’m being selfish because of a child? My child with Pierce. I couldn’t care less about yours. Or are you even really pregnant?”

“I am pregnant!” she snapped, defensive.

I gritted my teeth as I stared at her. I’d discovered something while investigating my father’s death, and it made it hard for me to believe anything Lexi said. She was connected to Amanda—her aunt, in fact. How small could the world be? The two people I despised shared the same blood, which honestly didn’t surprise me much.

“I am pregnant, Kelly! My child needs a father—”

“Amanda Gilbert is your aunt, right?” I interrupted.

Her lips parted as she looked at me with a shocked expression. I tilted my head, not wanting to disclose her secret in public, but she was forcing me to.

“W-What are you talking about? I don’t know her.”

“Amanda Gilbert was my dead father’s third wife, Lexi. She’s infertile, and I heard that in every generation of her family, there’s someone who’s infertile.”

Pierce, standing beside me, looked at me in shock. He didn’t know. Of course, he didn’t. Lexi had been planning to lure and lie to him from the very beginning.

Lexi shook her head. “I’m not infertile, Kelly! I’m carrying Pierce’s child inside me—”

“Don’t push yourself further into the pit of embarrassment, Lexi. Have some shame!”

She glanced around, realizing that people were watching. She gasped and took a step back, shaking her head in disbelief. Her eyes were sharp, full of hatred.

Shaming her, or whatever she thought I was doing, wasn’t my intention. As much as possible, I didn’t want to reveal something so personal about her, especially since it was such a heartbreaking issue. But if she was going to ruin my family, I wouldn’t let her. Hell be damned! I was going to put a stop to it myself. My eyes never left Lexi until she was completely out of sight.

My phone suddenly rang, interrupting the tense moment. I looked at Pierce before answering Emily’s call.

“Hello? Emily?”

[Kelly, are you with Matt?]

My forehead creased. “I’m with Pierce, not Matt. Why?”

[Kelly, he’s missing!]

“Huh?” I was shocked by her words.

[Kelly, he told me he was going to spy on his father again last night, and now he’s not showing up or calling. It’s unusual for him not to disturb me like this.]

I pressed my lips together. “He might just be busy, Em.”

[Mason Foster confronted me. He’s furious, asking me where his brother is. He’s missing, Kelly, and I have a huge hunch about who took him.]

I gritted my teeth. “Go to Pierce’s house, Emily. We’ll meet you there.”

[I’m on my way. Kelly…] Her voice slowed. “I’m going to send you the voice recording Matt gave to me, just in case.”

“Nothing will happen to you, Emily. Don’t send it to me. I want you to show it to me in person. Drive and don’t stop until you reach Anderson’s mansion.”

[I’ll… be there.]

I nodded and let out a deep sigh. I was scared for her. I kept thinking about what happened to Luke. When he discovered something, he was killed. Now, Matt must have discovered something too, and he’s missing. I can’t lose Emily. She’s my good friend.

I looked at Pierce after ending the call. “We need to go back home, Pierce.”

He nodded and intertwined his fingers with mine. “We’re going home now, Kelly. She’ll be there. She’ll be safe.”

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