Chapter 6

On the day of the Larson family dinner, Cody took Whitney back to the Larson residence. Just like old times, he had prepared gifts ahead of time so she could give them to the family elders. On the way there, he gently reminded her of things. But Whitney's expression stayed distant the entire time. Since Cody loved her so much that he wouldn't let her bear the risks of pregnancy, she had become someone the entire Larson family quietly resented. However, none of them had ever stopped to think that maybe Whitney wanted to be a mother too. It had always been Cody's decision to stay childfree, never hers. Whitney loved children. Yet because she loved Cody more, she gave up becoming a mother and tolerated all the cold, cutting remarks from the Larsons. But what did she get in the end? A man who had fallen in love with two women. Fortunately, Cody wouldn't have to struggle to choose anymore. The Larson family wouldn't make things hard for him either. Whitney would walk away completely and let him have his future with Yvette. So when she stepped into the house and saw Yvette sitting on the couch, her expression remained calm. But Cody stiffened the moment he saw her. He cast a quick glance at Whitney before his brows drew together. "What are you doing here?" His voice was cold. "Who invited you?" Yvette flinched, clearly startled. She got up hesitantly, only to be gently guided back to her seat by Cody's stepmother, Serena Fletcher. "Cody, don't be so harsh. I invited Yvvy. She's about to carry on the Larson bloodline. It's only right that she joins us for the family dinner." Cody immediately glanced at Whitney. Worried those words might upset her, he quickly denied it. "What do you mean she'll carry on the bloodline? Even if the baby is born, they will stay with me and Whit. The child will call Whit 'Mom.' Don't go making decisions on your own. Get her out of here." Yvette's eyes turned red in an instant. She bit her lip and stood up. "I-I should probably go…" "Where are you going?" Serena yanked her back down and turned to Whitney with an annoyed expression. "Cody, your child with Yvvy isn't supposed to call someone else 'Mom.' The baby will be a Larson. Their birth mother should be the one raising them." Whitney dug her nails hard into her palm so deep that they pierced her skin. The sharp pain was the only thing that kept her from breaking down right then and there. "Enough!" Cody snapped. "She's not even pregnant yet. What are you all stressing about? I've already made the biggest concession by agreeing to give the Larson family an heir. Everything else is my personal business, and I don't need any of you interfering!" Yvette, who had been holding back tears for a while now, finally broke down. "Mr. Larson… actually… I'm already three months pregnant…" The words hit like thunder, leaving Whitney cold to the bone. She saw Cody whip around. His expression was a twisted mess of shock and disbelief. "When did this happen?" His voice was tight. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" "I-I just found out yesterday," Yvette said quietly. Suddenly, Whitney found it laughable, and the weight on her chest dropped like a stone. Oddly, she felt lighter. "Well, if you're already pregnant, you should have the baby." She heard her steady voice. "I won't take the child from you. Cody, let's get a divorce." "Divorce?" Cody cut her off, panic flashing in his eyes. "Whit, what are you talking about?" He grabbed her hand and said, "I told you from the start that she's just a tool. The only one I love is you. Once the baby's born, I'll send her away. I swear I won't develop feelings for her. How could I possibly divorce you over her?" That heartfelt declaration finally broke Yvette. She burst into tears and ran out of the house, disappearing into the rain. Cody's expression darkened, and he instinctively chased after her. Whitney paused for a moment, then quietly picked up an umbrella and followed. Through the downpour, she saw Yvette struggling and sobbing in Cody's arms. "I kept telling myself not to fall for you, but I couldn't help it. No one's ever treated me like you have. You fulfilled my every wish and made me feel like a princess. "I won't ask for much. All I hope is that, for the sake of the year we spent together, you won't send me overseas. I won't interfere with you and Ms. Scott. Just being able to see you and the child from afar would be enough for me." Seeing her beg like that, Cody couldn't keep up the indifferent act anymore. He gently wiped her tears away. "Who said I was sending you overseas? I only said that to calm Whit down. Haven't you learned to read between the lines after being with me for so long? I told you—once you give birth, I'll keep you in a nice place, hidden away like a precious gem. You'll get to see me every day. "Silly, you're pregnant now, yet you're still not taking care of yourself? How could you run out in the rain like that? Do you want to scare me to death?"