Chapter 449

Nina finished talking, and Richard was left speechless.

He instinctively wanted to move towards her, but Elodie tightened her grip on his hand.

She snapped, "Nina, from the moment you appeared, I had a hunch. You've come to Silvercrest this time with the sole intention of sabotaging my wedding with Richard. Nina, to reach your goal, you even lied about being pregnant. Aren't you afraid of the consequences?"

Nina barely glanced at Elodie, her eyes fixed on Richard. "Do you want to see the test results? They're in my bag." She directed the question at Elodie, but her gaze never left Richard.

Richard stood there, seemingly unfazed.

When Nina pulled the report from her bag and held it out, Richard didn't take it.

A servant, on Elodie's signal, stepped forward, took it, and handed it to Elodie.

It was an ultrasound Nina had just done that day.

The round gestational sac was clearly visible in the image, and the text below stated that the little life was very healthy, with measurements detailed in inches.

The text and images stung Elodie's eyes, but she still didn't believe it.

She scoffed, "You came prepared, Nina. But I bet you've got a stack of fake reports just like this one."

Nina's cold stare met Elodie's. "I don't lie about something like this."

With a look of irritation, Elodie turned towards Richard. "Richard."

Richard had been quietly listening all along. At this moment, he took the sheet from Elodie's hand, gave it a cursory glance, and then casually tossed it aside.

His eyes, hard and skeptical, fixed on Nina. "Are you sure the child is mine?"

Nina's heart sank. "What are you implying?"

Richard's lips twisted slightly. "Nothing, it's just... the dates don't quite match."

His tone was so casual, like a knife piercing Nina's heart.

A dull pain seeped from the depths of Nina's heart, pricking every nerve.

Nina felt a bit unsteady on her feet and took a few steps back.

Nina understood. Richard didn't want this child; he didn't even want to acknowledge it.

Nina wanted to say something, but she felt so distressed that she couldn't find the words.

She had anticipated this outcome, but when reality hit, she was still at a loss.

The scene she had imagined on the way here, where he would be overjoyed upon hearing the news, shattered at this moment.

Richard looked at Nina, a deep pain flashing in his eyes.

His heart ached with an intense longing to go over and hold Nina in his arms, to whisper words of comfort and reassurance.

But he had promised Seb.

Before their plan succeeded, he couldn't afford to let anything go wrong on his end. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to maintain his composure. In front of Elodie, he could only endure, his face a mask of cold indifference.

Nina was in a daze for a moment. She wanted to smile but found her lips heavy, unable to even twitch. Half of her body was soaked by the rain; she thought, 'At this moment, I must have looked like a clown.'

Nina came here seeking a definitive answer, and now she had it, though it was not what she had hoped for.

Nina looked up and managed to ask, "So you don't plan to acknowledge the baby in my belly, right?"

"If it's mine, I'll acknowledge it," Richard said flatly.

"It is yours!" She fought to keep her voice steady.

"Then prove it," he said.

Nina was speechless. When she needed to prove herself, the result no longer mattered.

All of Nina's remaining strength was drained. She lowered her eyes and gave a bitter smile. "Sorry to bother you."

Nina turned and walked away. Richard's tense expression softened a bit. As long as Nina left, he could find a way to see her again and explain everything later.

"Wait!" Elodie's voice cut through the rain-soaked air.

Richard's face hardened. Elodie clutched his hand and asked, "Richard, what if she really is pregnant with your child?"

Richard's voice was cold and final. "Impossible."

"What if she's telling the truth?" Elodie said, eyeing him suspiciously. "I mean, Nina came all this way. We can't just send her packing. Why not have a doctor come over and do a quick blood test? It'll show if she's being honest or not."

Richard's voice was icy. "There's no need."

"There is," Elodie insisted, her fingers intertwining with his, her tone soft but resolute. "Tomorrow is our wedding, Richard. I don't want any last-minute surprises. Even if Nina leaves today, I won't feel at ease. If it's all a lie, great. But if it's true? If Nina shows up with the child later, I'll be a laughingstock."

Nina shot back coldly, "Didn't you hear him? He said he wouldn't acknowledge this child. So from now on, my child is mine alone and has nothing to do with him at all. Elodie, don't worry. Even if you can't have children in the future and want to claim this one, I won't allow it!"

"Nina, are you cursing us?" Elodie snapped, gritting her teeth. "I'm younger than you, and this is my first marriage. Besides, I've never had an abortion. What makes you think I can't have children?"

Nina chuckled, "It's great if you can have kids. I came in such a rush that I didn't bring you any gifts. So, here's to you having 108 babies all at once!"

Elodie glared at her, her face darkening.

Was Nina implying Elodie was a breeding machine?

"Richard," Elodie called out, knowing she couldn't win a verbal spar with Nina. Her only card left was Richard.

As long as Elodie used Richard, she could easily hurt Nina deeply.

Richard sighed, "Why bother arguing with her?"

"I don't care." Elodie was determined.

She pressed, "Richard, I want her to take the test here today! I need to know the results to feel at ease! If not, I'll call my dad right now and cancel the wedding."

Richard was silent for a moment before speaking. "If you insist, I guess I have no choice."

He was referring to canceling the wedding.

"Richard!" Elodie's eyes welled up with tears, and her tone softened.

"You know marrying you has been my dream for years. I just don't want any unresolved issues between us after we're married."

"Can't we clear up any misunderstandings and issues before the wedding? After all, marriage is a lifelong commitment."

"You're the one I want to spend my life with. Marrying you means I want to grow old with you."

Richard frowned, his voice still cold. "Then stop making a fuss."

Elodie bit her lip and insisted, "I have only one request: let Nina do the blood test here."

Richard fell silent, realizing that Elodie wasn't going to let Nina off the hook tonight.

If Elodie let Nina go now, there was a chance Nina might vanish later, making the situation even more complicated.

Richard weighed his options and thought this might actually be a good opportunity.

Elodie pleaded, "Richard, please agree. I won't be at ease otherwise."

Richard sighed, pretending to be helpless. "Alright, you win."

Seeing him agree, Elodie's face lit up with happiness.

Nina, however, looked at them with an indifferent expression. "I'm not taking any test!"