CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61 THE CHILD STAYS, THE MOTHER LEAVES

Serena’s POV

"My grandmother. She’s been calling non-stop, demanding I come to the mansion." He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "She’s probably seen those fake pregnancy rumors with Ivy."

I feel a spike of jealousy at the mention of Ivy’s name, which irritates me. I shouldn’t care. I don’t care.

"You should go," I say, pulling the blanket higher. "Tell her the truth."

Ryan studies me for a long moment. "Come with me," he says suddenly.

"What?"

"Come with me to the mansion. Let’s tell her about our baby together."

I stare at him in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

He continued. "My grandmother doesn’t know about our marriage, our divorce, or this baby. But if my uncle is involved in this scheme, she needs to be told everything before he twists the narrative to her."

I swallowed hard. Evelyn Blackwood had always been this mythical figure in my mind—the formidable matriarch Ryan spoke of with equal parts respect and wariness.

The thought of facing her, pregnant with her great-grandchild after a secret marriage and divorce, was terrifying.

"She’ll hate me," I whispered.

Ryan surprised me by actually laughing. "Quite the opposite. If anything, she’ll be furious with me for keeping you a secret all this time."

I studied his face, searching for any sign of deception. Finding none, I slowly nodded.

"Fine," I concede reluctantly. "But only to set the record straight. This doesn’t mean I’m moving back in or that anything’s changed between us."

The smile that spreads across his face is triumphant enough to make me immediately regret my decision.

"Of course not," he agrees, but his eyes tell a different story. "I’ll make the arrangements for your discharge."

As he strides from the room, phone already at his ear, I can’t help but watch him go. The confident set of his shoulders, the purposeful stride—he moves like a man who always gets what he wants.

And God help me, part of me still wants to be what he wants.

I place my hand over my stomach, whispering to our child. "Your father is the most infuriating man I’ve ever met." I pause, remembering the tenderness in Ryan’s eyes when he touched my belly. "But he already loves you. That’s something, isn’t it?"

It has to be enough for now. Because despite the way my heart races when he’s near, despite the electricity that crackles between us when our eyes meet, I can’t let myself fall back into his arms. Not until I’m certain this time will be different.

Not until I’m certain he truly sees me.

***

The discharge process took longer than expected. By the time we left the hospital, afternoon shadows were already stretching across the city.

I sat quietly in Ryan’s car, my hand unconsciously resting on my stomach as I stared out the window.

"Nervous?" Ryan asked, his eyes flickering between me and the road.

"No." I replied.

The moment Evelyn Blackwood sees us entering the mansion, she rushes forward and grabs my arm with surprising strength for a woman her age. I’m still unsteady on my feet after three days in the hospital, but she pulls me along like an excited child with a new toy.

"My darling daughter-in-law! Come quickly, I’ve prepared something special for you," she gushes, leading me toward the grand dining room.

I freeze at her words. Daughter-in-law? I shoot a panicked glance at Ryan, who looks equally confused. We haven’t even told her about our past marriage, let alone our divorce or pregnancy.

The dining table is set with an elaborate spread that includes bird’s nest soup and ginseng—traditional remedies for... pregnant women. My stomach drops as I spot the half-eaten bowl that definitely wasn’t meant for me.

"Grandmother," I say carefully, "have you heard about Ivy claiming to be pregnant?"

Evelyn’s smile doesn’t falter as she pats my hand. "Not just heard, dear. She’s already visited me personally about it."

"And you..." I trail off, uncertain how to continue.

"Don’t worry yourself, Serena. I actually have something important to discuss with both of you. Come, sit down."

I allowed myself to be pulled onto an antique sofa, Ryan taking a seat beside me. What Evelyn said next made my blood run cold.

"Though Ivy may be carrying Ryan’s child, I’ll never accept her as part of this family. A woman like that doesn’t deserve the Blackwood name."

I felt Ryan stiffen beside me.

"So I’ve thought of a compromise," Evelyn continued, her voice pleasant as if discussing the weather. "We’ll take the child when it’s born and raise it as yours. You’ll be listed as the mother on all documents. It will be as if the baby is your own biological child. What do you think?"

I stared at her in horror, suddenly seeing the calculating woman beneath the grandmotherly facade.

"Haven’t you been trying for a child without success?" she pressed on. "Serena, marriage is about compromise. There’s no need to separate over something like this. Now that there’s a child, you can simply raise it as your own. No need to stay angry with Ryan."

Ryan’s voice cut through the room. "Grandmother, what are you saying?"

"Be quiet!" Evelyn snapped. "You’ve made your mistakes. I’m trying to help you reconcile with Serena!"

She turned back to me, her expression softening. "Serena, I’ve lived a long life. What man doesn’t make mistakes? Don’t be difficult. You’re the only granddaughter-in-law I recognize in this family. It’s only ever been you."

Looking at her kindly face, I felt nothing but cold dread in my heart.

"Grandmother, actually Serena is—" Ryan began.

"—fine with the arrangement," I interrupted before he could reveal my pregnancy. I forced a smile, agreeing to her outrageous proposal.

Evelyn beamed. "Serena, you truly are the perfect daughter-in-law! I knew you were a magnanimous woman who wouldn’t hold Ryan’s mistakes against him."

I withdrew my hand from hers. "Mrs. Blackwood, I need to leave now. I have matters to attend to."

Despite my obvious rejection, Evelyn didn’t seem offended. In her mind, my agreement to her scheme was already more than she expected. A little attitude was to be anticipated.

Ryan glanced at his grandmother before following me out.

"Why did you agree to that?" he demanded once we were in the hallway.

I turned on him, my face cold. "Would you rather I let you announce my pregnancy? Your grandmother has been hoping for a great-grandchild, but I never imagined she would be so... ruthless."

I looked at him, disappointment evident in my eyes. "If my child is born into a family like this, I can’t imagine what kind of person they’ll become."

Ryan seemed stunned into silence before recovering. "We’ll live separately from her. I won’t let her interfere. I promise our child will grow up in a happy environment."

I didn’t want to hear his empty promises. I walked straight to the car.

"Take me home," I demanded.

Ryan followed, sliding into the driver’s seat. "I’m coming with you."

I don’t have the energy to fight him on this.