Chapter 50

Angela POV

I forced myself to walk steadily as I made my way back to the dining room, with Christina hovering at my elbow.

Elizabeth's worried eyes met mine the moment I entered. "Are you alright, dear? You gave us quite a fright."

"I'm fine," I managed a reassuring smile as I settled back into my chair. The familiar scent of Elizabeth's morning tea wafted across the table, a comfort I desperately needed right now. "Just a bit of seafood sensitivity, that's all."

"I don't understand," Elizabeth's brows furrowed with concern. "I remember you used to love lobster. You never had any allergies before."

"People's tastes change," Christina interjected smoothly as she leaned forward to pour Elizabeth more tea. "I used to adore oysters, but now I can barely stand the smell."

Elizabeth nodded, but her sharp eyes didn't miss the way my fingers trembled slightly as I reached for my water glass.

"Perhaps we should still have you checked by a doctor," she suggested, her voice gentle but firm. "Better safe than sorry."

"That won't be necessary," I kept my voice steady, though my stomach was still churning. "I'm feeling much better already. Besides, we have that board meeting to prepare for this afternoon."

Sarah appeared silently at my side with a plate of plain toast and fresh fruit. My throat tightened at her thoughtfulness-she'd been with the family long enough to recognize the signs, even if others hadn't. Or perhaps she just knew me better than I thought.

"Thank you, Sarah," I murmured, catching the brief flash of understanding in her eyes.

I could feel Christina watching our exchange, her gaze calculating beneath her perfect smile. "The garden looks lovely this morning," she observed, changing the subject with practiced ease. "Elizabeth, you must tell me about those gorgeous hydrangeas I spotted earlier."

Elizabeth brightened visibly. "Oh, you should see them up close. They're a rare variety from Japan-"

"Why don't we take a short walk?" Christina suggested, rising gracefully. "The morning air would do us all good."

I followed them into the garden, hanging back a few steps to give myself space to breathe. The morning's events had left me drained, and maintaining my composure was becoming increasingly difficult.

"Mrs. Shaw?" Sarah's quiet voice came from beside me as she appeared with a shawl. "The morning air is a bit cool."

As she draped it around my shoulders, her voice dropped to barely a whisper. "That woman is clearly trying to take everything from you, Mrs. Shaw. And now she's acting like..." Sarah's voice trailed off meaningfully.

"I know," I cut her off gently, conscious of Christina's occasional backward glances. "Thank you, Sarah."

By noon, I had retreated to the study under the pretense of work. The room had become my sanctuary over the past two years, its quiet solitude offering refuge from the constant performance my life had become.

My laptop displayed Shaw Group's financial reports, but I couldn't focus. The morning's nausea had subsided, but in its place was a bone-deep exhaustion that seemed to seep into every part of me.

A soft knock announced Christina's presence. "I should head back," she said, closing the door behind her. "I've stayed longer than I planned, and we wouldn't want Elizabeth to start asking questions, would we?"

I met her gaze steadily. "No, we wouldn't."

"I'd like to come see Elizabeth again tomorrow," she continued, her voice taking on that familiar sweet tone. "Perhaps you could help arrange that?"

"Why do you need me to invite you?" I asked. "Can't you contact Elizabeth directly?"

Christina's lips curved into a small smile. "That would make me look too eager to please her, wouldn't it?"

I understood then - every move she made was carefully calculated. Even this simple request was part of her strategy.

"You know, Angela," she said, examining her nails with false casualness, "you really should be more careful. Morning sickness can be so... revealing."

My fingers curled into fists beneath my desk, but I kept my face impassive. "I appreciate your concern, but I can manage my own affairs."

"Can you?" Her eyebrows rose slightly.

"Because from where I stand, you're barely holding things together. One slip, one moment of weakness, and everything comes crashing down."

She paused, her voice softening with mock concern. "Think about Elizabeth. The stress of a scandal right now, with her health so fragile..."

"Was there anything else you needed, Christina?"

A knock at the door saved us from further conversation as Emily's face appeared on my laptop screen for our scheduled call.

The afternoon stretched on in a blur of meetings and reports. I threw myself into work, grateful for the distraction it provided.

Once I was finally alone in the study, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. Though still flat, I could somehow sense the tiny life growing inside me. A soft smile spread across my face.

"You're being quite troublesome today, aren't you?" I whispered, my voice tender. "Making Mommy so dizzy in front of everyone." I traced small circles on my abdomen. "But it's okay. I'll protect you, no matter what."

"I wonder if you'll be as stubborn as your father..." I paused, lost in thought.

"Or maybe you'll be more like me? Either way, I'll love you more than anything in this world."

When I finally stood and turned to head to the bathroom, I froze.

Sean was standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable, watching me.