I went to the hospital for my stomach issues, but the doctor held my B-ultrasound report with trembling hands: "Sir, you are pregnant." I slammed my hand on the desk. "Bullshit! I'm a Beta! How the hell could I be pregnant?!" The doctor swallowed hard. "It's highly likely... the father of the child is a top-tier Enigma, who forced your reproductive cavity to undergo a secondary development." My vision went completely dark. The only Enigma in the entire city... Other than that bastard I took advantage of and slept with after he was drugged, who else could it be?! 1 The boldest thing I had ever done in my entire life was sleeping with Arthur Sterling. Afterward, I threw a fifty-dollar bill at his face and threw out a parting remark: "Mediocre technique. Take this money, buy some supplements, and try to last a bit longer next time." That was Arthur Sterling. The untouchable heir to the city's elite. A man whose influence reached the heavens and whose methods were notoriously ruthless. I figured if I was going to die, it was a worthy way to go. If you asked me now whether I regretted it, I could only tell you that my guts were green with regret. Especially right now. I pinched the lab report, hiding in a stall in the hospital bathroom, not even daring to breathe too loudly. And the report in my hand clearly stated two glaring words: [Early Pregnancy]. Below that was a line of small print: [Gestational age: 5 weeks. Fetus: Visible.] Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I'm a Beta! Sure, I might be a little bit more delicate-looking and have a slightly slighter build than average, but I am a bona fide Beta! I don't even have pheromones! How the hell did I get pregnant? Asexual reproduction?! I tried to lie to myself and say it was a misdiagnosis. But my body's recent reactions were far too honest. Lethargy, nausea, and the inability to stand even the slightest smell of greasy food. And the most fatal symptom of all: I had started craving the scent of Arthur Sterling like a madman. 2 Five weeks ago. It was a dark and windy night. My trouble-making, illegitimate half-brother, Oliver Vance, decided to drug Arthur in a desperate attempt to climb the social ladder. But the idiot lost his nerve and didn't dare deliver himself to Arthur's door. Terrified Arthur would kill him, he cried and begged me to go "save the day." I was the unfavored, marginalized son of the Vance family, and I usually served as the designated scapegoat. I figured I'd just go drag the idiot out and bring him home. That would be it. Who knew that when I walked in, Arthur would already be on the verge of a total rampage? As a Beta, I logically shouldn't have felt anything. But for some reason that night, my legs went weak the second I stepped inside. Arthur's eyes were bloodshot. He looked at me like a starving wolf looking at a piece of meat. He called my name with a hoarse voice: "Silas?" At the time, I foolishly mocked him, oblivious to the danger. "Wow, Mr. Sterling, you sure know how to play hard. Need me to dial 911 for you?" The very next second. I was pinned to the carpet. I had practiced MMA for a few years, but in the face of absolute power, I was like a helpless little chick. "Let go of me! Arthur, are you crazy?! I'm a Beta! I don't even have the right equipment for this!" I struggled desperately, kicking and punching. Arthur couldn't hear a word. He bit down hard on the back of my neck—right on the flesh where a gland wasn't even supposed to exist. It hurt so much I wanted to curse his mother. And then... Then came an entire night of nightmares. I couldn't even remember how I managed to escape in the end. I only remembered that right before I left, to maintain my last shred of dignity, I pulled a fifty-dollar bill from my pocket with a shaking hand and tossed it onto his nightstand. Looking back now... That fifty bucks might just end up being the price I paid for my own life. 3 Footsteps echoed outside the bathroom. "Is the young Mr. Vance still inside?" It was Arthur. I held my breath, clamping a hand tightly over my mouth. Why the hell was this bastard here? Did he know I was pregnant with his... whatever this was? Impossible. I registered at the hospital under a fake name. The voice of a bodyguard came from outside. "Mr. Sterling, we saw Mr. Silas go into this room just now." "Take the door down." Me: "???" Hey, buddy, this is a hospital bathroom! Seeing that they were actually about to break it down, I braced myself, hit the flush button, and casually opened the stall door, pretending nothing was wrong. "What's going on? What's going on?" I bluffed while adjusting my belt. "What kind of fetish is this, Mr. Sterling? You like watching people in the bathroom?" Arthur stood in front of the sinks. He was dressed in a sleek black suit. Broad shoulders, narrow waist. That face of his was infuriatingly handsome, but so cold it made people shiver. He was absentmindedly playing with a lighter in his hand. When he saw me come out, he didn't even blink. "Silas, what are you hiding from?" I felt guilty, but I forced myself to act tough. "Who's hiding? Can't a guy have a weak bladder?" Arthur's gaze swept over my flat stomach. "A weak bladder?" He gave a half-smile. "In the gastroenterology department?" I froze. How did this guy even know which department I was in? "Uh... I ate something bad. Puking and the runs." I let out an awkward laugh, just wanting to slip away. "Well, you look busy, Mr. Sterling. I'll be going now." I had barely taken a step. A large hand shot out in front of me. He slammed me directly against the tiled wall. Arthur leaned in. That familiar scent of cedar washed over me like a tidal wave. Damn it. My legs went weak again. I even felt a shameful urge to... rub myself against him. Was this the instinct of pregnancy?! This was way too humiliating! "Haven't seen you in a month." Arthur looked down at me, his tone deliberate. "Avoiding me on purpose?" My entire body tensed instantly. "Of course not! Hilarious. Why would I purposely avoid you?!" After we finished that night, I had run away immediately. Later, Oliver had gone into the room to take my place. So there was no way Arthur could know it was me. "Silas." He asked suddenly, "Were you actually at that hotel that night too?" Was he trying to trick me? I shoved him away, reacting like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Are you sick, Arthur?! We're sworn enemies! Why the hell would I go to a hotel you were at? Am I some kind of pervert stalking you?" Arthur lowered his eyes, hiding the flash of disappointment in them. "I see..." His gaze landed on the crumpled lab report clutched in my fist. "What's in your hand?" My reflexes kicked in, and I hid my hand behind my back. "Toilet paper to wipe my ass!" Arthur: "..." He frowned in disgust and finally took a half-step back. "You'd better be on time for the Vance family banquet tonight." "Your brother Oliver caused trouble. If you don't show up, I don't mind going directly to the Vance family for answers." With that, he turned and walked away. At the door, he stopped. "Also," he glanced back at me, "eat less cold food. It's bad for your stomach." "Get lost!" I leaned against the wall and let out a long breath. My legs were still shaking. I couldn't live like this. 4 The cab pulled up to the entrance of the narrow alley in the inner-city slums. The meter read twenty-five dollars. Wincing at the cost, I scanned the QR code to pay and pushed the door open. The cold wind, carrying the stench of years-old garbage from the alleyway, hit me in the face. My stomach instantly turned upside down. I leaned against a telephone pole and dry-heaved twice, but nothing came up. To save money for that damn specialist consultation, I hadn't even drank a sip of water since morning. I climbed six flights of stairs, pulled out my keys, and opened my door. Once inside, I collapsed onto the bed. Honestly, after that night, I was terrified too. Terrified that Arthur would actually trace it back to me. After all, before Oliver went into the room, I had leveraged my status as the Vance family's young master to mess with Arthur quite a few times. So, I had played along with the narrative. When Richard, my father, pointed at my nose and called me "shameless" and accused me of "instructing my brother," not only did I refuse to kneel and admit fault, but I also laughed out loud. In front of the whole family, I smashed everything in sight. I even pointed at Richard's trophy wife and said, "Keep your son on a tighter leash. Next time you use those dirty drugs, remember to save some for yourself. Who knows, if you manage to get knocked up, you might sell for a good price!" It was highly effective. I didn't even have to pack a bag. I was thrown out the front door by the bodyguards that very night. Richard threatened to disown me and froze all my cards. It was exactly what I wanted. As long as I left that circle, I was just an ordinary, poor Beta. No one would care if a stray dog got a little fatter, or... if it got pregnant. This was the freedom I wanted. Even if the price was living in poverty. But despite all my calculations, I never factored in Arthur Sterling as a variable. Who would have thought? I'm a freaking Beta. Not only did I get screwed. I actually got knocked up. 5 My phone suddenly buzzed. It yanked my thoughts back from my memories. A transfer notification popped up on the screen, followed by a text from an unknown number. 【A thousand dollars. Go buy a decent suit. 7 PM, my car will be waiting at the end of your alley.】 It was that same deadpan tone. Like typing an extra word would kill him. I stared at the thousand dollars, a whirlwind of emotions in my chest. Do I go? Or do I stay? If I don't go, that maniac Arthur might actually expose what Oliver did. Then Richard, to save his own skin, would definitely throw me under the bus to take the fall. But if I go, my stomach... I looked down at my still-flat abdomen. It had only been five weeks. It shouldn't be visible. As long as I don't throw up, as long as I don't faint, as long as I stay far away from that Enigma and his damn intoxicating scent... It should be fine. I gritted my teeth and accepted the money. Since I couldn't hide, I might as well go. I also wanted to see exactly what Arthur was planning. Why did he insist on dragging me into this? I struggled out of bed, rummaged through my closet, and found the old suit I was wearing the day I was kicked out. It was a bit wrinkled. While ironing it, I declared war on my reflection in the mirror: "Hold the line, Silas. You are a Beta. You don't have pheromones. You just have a bad stomach." "As long as you deny it to the grave, what's Arthur going to do? Cut you open?" At 7 PM sharp. The black Maybach parked punctually at the entrance of the grimy alley. The window rolled down a crack, revealing Arthur's cold, sharp profile. "Get in." 6 The car stopped smoothly at the gates of the Vance estate. The moment the doors unlocked, I heard the sound of hurried footsteps. A figure in a pristine white suit came practically flying out. It was Oliver. You had to hand it to Arthur's prestige. The car hadn't even fully parked before the main character rushed out to welcome him. Oliver wore a practiced, shy, yet thrilled smile, making a beeline for the rear door: "Arthur, you're finally here. I've been waiting for you for so long..." The door swung open. But the person who stepped out was me. I gripped the car door, fighting the urge to gag, and forced a smile at his frozen face: "Good evening, little brother." Oliver looked like he had swallowed a fly. One second he was a delicate, blooming white flower, and the next, his features practically contorted out of place. His eyes widened, his shrill voice spiking instantly: "Silas?! Why is it you? Why are you in Arthur's car?!" "Didn't Dad kick you out? You have the nerve to come back?" Before I could answer, the door on the other side opened. Arthur stepped out with his long legs. The temperature in the air instantly dropped a few degrees. Oliver's face-changing skills activated once again. He immediately reeled in his vitriol, shifting into the image of a startled, innocent deer. With red-rimmed eyes, he leaned closer: "Arthur... I thought you were coming alone. My brother was kicked out of the house, after all. He's dressed like this to a banquet... I was just worried he'd embarrass you..." As he spoke, he released a subtle, almost imperceptible trace of pheromones. It was a sickeningly sweet gardenia scent. Gag. The acid in my stomach instantly surged to my throat. In the past, I just thought his scent was tacky. But now that I was pregnant, this smell was a literal biological weapon. I covered my mouth, my face turning deathly pale as I stumbled two steps back, leaning against the car and gasping for air. It was too strong. Arthur cast a cold glance at Oliver, ignoring his fawning entirely, and turned to look at me: "Feeling sick again?" I waved my hand, unable to speak, terrified that if I opened my mouth, I'd throw up. Seeing Arthur looking at me, Oliver's face twisted with jealousy. He said sarcastically: "Arthur, ignore him. He's just faking it. He used to pretend to be sick at home to get sympathy all the time. His body is actually stronger than a bull's. He's just a thick-skinned Beta..." "Shut up." Arthur cut him off coldly. Oliver choked, stunned. He bit his lower lip pitifully. "Arthur, why are you being so mean to me... That morning, you clearly..." That morning? My eyelid twitched as I caught the keyword. Oliver really did go into the room? Arthur narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over Oliver, his tone heavy with implication: "We definitely need to settle the score for what happened that night." Oliver's face paled. His eyes darted around nervously, but he stubbornly stood his ground: "Arthur, I know what I did was wrong. I shouldn't have... shouldn't have taken advantage of you while you were drunk... but I just liked you too much..." I listened, completely dumbfounded. Wow. This guy really had the guts to claim it. He didn't even have a single bite mark on his body, and he dared to take the credit? "Liked me?" Arthur let out a soft laugh, though his eyes held zero amusement. "Liked me enough to drug me?" Oliver's legs gave out, and he almost dropped to his knees. "No... I didn't... it was..." His panicked gaze suddenly snapped to me, and he pointed a finger in my direction, screaming: "It was him! It was Silas! He gave me the drugs! He said as long as the deed was done, I could marry into the Sterling family! Arthur, you have to believe me, I was tricked by him too!" I laughed out of sheer anger. I was just standing by the car, and the blame literally fell from the sky. My anger actually pushed my nausea back down. I stood up straight and spoke slowly: "Oliver, a brain is a wonderful thing. It's a shame you don't have one." "If I actually had drugs, why wouldn't I just use them on myself? What benefit do I get from throwing you into Arthur's bed? Did I think my life in this crappy house was too comfortable and I just wanted some excitement?" Oliver was speechless, his face flushing bright red: "You... you're just jealous that I'm an Omega! You're a useless Beta, nobody wants..." "Enough." Arthur impatiently interrupted the farce. He walked up to me, looking down with a probing gaze: "You just said, if it were you, you would have used them on yourself?" My heart skipped a beat. Crap. I talked too fast. I braced myself and forcefully spun the narrative back: "It was a hypothetical! Do you know what a hypothetical is?! I'm not a masochist, why would I want to be with a human pile-driver like..." Before I could finish, Arthur's face visibly darkened. Oliver, listening from the sidelines, was completely lost, but he caught the gist and shrieked: "Silas, what do you mean? Are you calling Arthur a..." "Let's go inside." Arthur didn't give me another chance to speak. He grabbed my wrist. "Since we're here, let's not make a fool of ourselves at the door." He dragged me toward the entrance. Left standing there, Oliver was unwilling to give up. He jogged after us, trying to hook his arm around Arthur's other arm: "Arthur, wait for me..." "Get lost." The low growl carried the terrifying pressure unique to an Enigma. Oliver froze instantly, his face deathly pale. It was as if an invisible hand was choking him. Even his gardenia pheromones shrank back in terror. I also felt my legs go weak from the pressure. The little cub in my belly seemed to sense something, twitching excitedly. It actually moved. I clearly felt a spasm in my lower abdomen. Fuck. What kind of monster was this? It could move at five weeks?! Dragged by Arthur, I stumbled into the banquet hall. The heating in the grand hall was turned up high, mingling with various perfumes and the cloying scent of sweet pastries. The moment I stepped inside, the churning in my stomach that had just settled down roared back to life. "Ugh..." I couldn't help it. I let out a muffled groan and bent double. Arthur paused and looked back at me. I didn't care about his expression anymore. I shook off his hand, covered my mouth, and bolted for the restrooms in the corner. "Silas!" Arthur's voice echoed behind me. I ignored him completely. Right now, even if the King of Heaven himself came down, he couldn't stop me from puking. 7 Charging into a stall, I hugged the toilet, feeling like I was about to throw up my own bile. Is this what pregnancy is? Fuck pregnancy. This was a literal trial by fire. I puked until tears and snot streamed down my face. Cold sweat drenched my body, and my legs felt like wet noodles. I couldn't even stand, forced to kneel pathetically on the tiles. I finally managed to catch my breath. I flushed, pushed the door open, and stumbled to the sinks. The person in the mirror looked like a ghoul. My face was as white as paper, my lips lacked any color, yet the corners of my eyes were shockingly red from the violent vomiting. I splashed a handful of cold water on my face. It was bone-chilling. I finally felt a bit more alive. Just as I reached for a paper towel, I heard the sound of leather shoes clicking against the floor behind me. There was an arrogant swagger to the steps. "Silas, how much longer are you going to keep up this act?" I looked through the mirror. Oliver was leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, covering his nose with a look of utter disgust. Even though it was just the two of us in the bathroom, he still carried himself with the haughty air of a wealthy aristocrat. "Act?" I shook the water off my hands, leaned against the counter, and gave a weak, mocking smile. "What am I acting about? Acting like I'm throwing up for your entertainment? You've got some weird tastes." Oliver sneered and took two steps closer: "Don't think I don't know what you're planning. Showing weakness in front of Arthur, acting pathetic to gain his sympathy?" "Silas, you should take a good look in the mirror. You're a Beta that no one wants. Do you really think a top-tier Enigma like Arthur would ever look twice at you?" There was that sickeningly sweet gardenia scent again. As he stepped closer, it grew thicker. My brows furrowed tightly. The nausea I had just suppressed began to stir again. "Stay away from me." I turned my head and held my breath. "Your scent is giving me a migraine." Oliver's face changed, acting like his tail had been stepped on: "You're disgusted by me? This is the pheromone of a top-tier Omega! It's something a defective Beta like you could never possess in your entire life!" As if trying to prove a point, he deliberately released an even thicker cloud of pheromones. I was going to lose my mind. This wasn't a pheromone; this was an emetic. I still couldn't understand how a Beta like me had become so sensitive to pheromones. "Ugh—" I couldn't hold it in. I turned toward the sink and started dry-heaving again. "You!" Oliver was furious. "Silas, you are truly disgusting! How dare you throw up at my pheromones..." Before he could finish his sentence. His voice suddenly cut off. Followed closely by a suppressed, agonizing sound squeezed out from his throat: "Ugh—" I froze. I even forgot to wipe my mouth, turning my head stiffly. The arrogant Oliver from a moment ago was now covering his mouth tightly, his whole body curled over like a shrimp. His face was flushed red, the veins on his neck bulging, his other hand gripping the edge of the sink in a death grip. "Ugh..." Another sound. He couldn't hold it back this time. He shoved me aside, commandeered the sink next to mine, and puked his guts out. It was even louder than my episode. I was dumbfounded. My brain went blank, like I had been struck by lightning. I threw up because I was carrying Arthur's seed in my belly. Why the hell was he throwing up? Did he eat something bad too? Or... A highly absurd thought popped into my head, making my scalp tingle. I stared at Oliver's stomach, which, although flat, he was instinctively guarding with his hand. "Are you..." My voice trembled. "Are you pregnant?" 8 Oliver threw up until tears welled in his eyes. Hearing my words, his body violently stiffened. That reaction. There's a ghost. There is absolutely a ghost here. He stood up in a panic, turned on the faucet, and haphazardly splashed his face. His eyes darted everywhere, refusing to look at me. "What nonsense are you talking about! I... I was just grossed out by your vomit!" "Who's as filthy as you, having those kinds of thoughts in your head!" Stubborn. I narrowed my eyes, my brain working in overdrive. Five weeks ago, that night, it was just me and Arthur in the room. I was entirely certain Arthur only touched me. If Oliver was actually pregnant... Then there were only two possibilities. Either he cuckolded Arthur, and this baby wasn't Arthur's at all. Or, he was faking it. To solidify the lie that he was the person from that night, and to secure his place in the Sterling family, he was faking morning sickness! Regardless of which it was. This was a fatal piece of leverage against him. Suddenly, I wasn't panicked anymore. I actually wanted to laugh. "Is that so?" "Just grossed out?" "Perfect. How about I take you for a blood test? An ultrasound?" "Or... should I call Arthur in here, and let him see how his 'lover' is throwing up just as enthusiastically as a useless Beta like me?" Oliver's face went deathly pale. "Don't you dare!" He growled, trying to sound tough but failing miserably. "Silas, if you dare say a single word in front of Arthur, I'll have Dad break your legs!" "Tsk." I chuckled softly. "Why so nervous? Good brother." "I'm just concerned about your health. After all..." I leaned close to his ear and whispered so only the two of us could hear: "If this baby is born and doesn't look like Arthur, that would be so awkward. Wouldn't you agree?" Oliver reacted like I had poked his fatal weak spot. He violently swatted my hand away, his emotions spiraling out of control: "Shut up! Shut up! This is Arthur's baby! I was the one there that night! Only me!" He broke. My eyes turned cold. I knew it. This idiot wasn't just trying to steal my identity; he was actually trying to pass off a bastard child as Arthur's. Or... he really was experiencing a hysterical pregnancy. Regardless of the truth, the waters were muddy beyond recognition now. I glanced down at my own flat stomach. I was speechless. What kind of situation was this? The actual pregnant person was terrified to admit it, while the fake one was puking his guts out, desperate to claim it. If Arthur knew the truth, he'd probably drown both of us in the river. Creak— The bathroom door was suddenly pushed open. The sound of steady footsteps echoed inside. Oliver and I turned our heads at the same time. Arthur stood in the doorway, a freshly lit cigarette pinched between his fingers. Through the swirling smoke, his deep eyes swept over the two of us. Finally, his gaze locked onto Oliver's pale face. "Why have you been gone so long?" His voice was deep, devoid of any discernable emotion. "You're both in here throwing up?"
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "394499", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel