CHAPTER 173: DON’T KNOW HOW SHE GOT PREGNANT AGAIN

Seeing her slight hesitation, Cassandra immediately smiled reassuringly.

"Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to her.

I just want to have a chat.

Or you could give me her contact information—I’ll arrange to meet her myself.

And don’t worry, your Uncle won’t find out."

Beauty felt a pang of relief.

Thankfully, Cassandra didn’t know about her contractual marriage with Lucas yet—otherwise, they probably wouldn’t even be sitting here having lunch together.

After hesitating for a couple of seconds, she shook her head.

"If you really want to know, you should ask my uncle directly.

I don’t think it’s right for me to share someone else’s private information.

I’m sorry..." She wanted no part in their conflict—she’d rather stay far, far away.

But what she didn’t realize was that becoming Lucas’s wife meant she could never escape the battlefield.

Leaving the restaurant after lunch, Beauty felt a twinge of guilt.

She hadn’t helped Cassandra with what she’d asked for, and now she’d even gotten a free meal out of it.

The thought weighed on her.

"Cassandra, next time I get my paycheck, I’ll treat you and Mr. Marson to dinner.

How does that sound?"

At this point, she had no choice but to invoke Lucas’s name.

If she tried to invite Cassandra alone, the woman might not even accept.

She had never liked owing people anything.

But when it came to Lucas, she was already in deep—what was one more debt?

There was a saying, wasn’t there?

*A dead pig isn’t afraid of boiling water.*

In front of Lucas, she was that dead pig—what did she have to fear?

Back in the office, she was surprised to find Lucas and Drake already seated on the sofa, having returned from their lunch with Nathalie.

Neither of them looked happy.

She had half a mind to make a sarcastic remark, but the heavy atmosphere made her clamp her mouth shut.

"Finished lunch?" Lucas’s thin lips parted slightly as he saw him, speaking in a measured tone.

Beauty nodded and was about to slip away when Drake called her back.

His voice was icy and low, carrying a heavy weight.

"How’s Sarah been these days? Today, I received the court notice—her father was sentenced to ten years, and all the company’s assets will be confiscated.

Sarah has practically lost everything."

The news struck Beauty like a bolt from the blue.

She had been swamped with work lately and hadn’t reached out to Sarah much.

Even when she did send a message, the replies were slow in coming.

Worry gnawed at her heart.

"Sarah hasn’t been in touch much these days either.

With her father getting such a harsh sentence, she must be devastated.

I’ll go to her house tonight and see if there’s anything I can do to help."

Drake ran a hand through his hair in frustration, tousling what had once been perfectly groomed locks.

He looked years older, with a shadow of stubble darkening his jawline.

Clearly, Sarah family’s troubles had taken their toll on him.

Suddenly, Beauty saw him in a new light—his stature in her mind grew taller.

"If you’re free, spend more time with Sarah.

I’ve already talked to Lucas, and he’s agreed to let you stay at Sarah’s place for a while."

Lucas’s hawk-like eyes narrowed as he shot Drake a glare.

"When did I say I agreed?"

"I say you agreed, so you agreed.

Beauty, you don’t need to go back to the Marson family villa for now.

Just pack a few changes of clothes and keep Sarah company."

As he spoke, Drake flicked a sidelong glance at someone, the corner of his mouth quirking up.

Lucas itched to teach this man a lesson—how dare he meddle with his woman?

But considering Sarah’s dire situation, and the bombshell Drake had dropped earlier about the explosive news before Beauty returned, he reluctantly let it slide.

Beauty beamed with excitement, her porcelain-white teeth gleaming as she looked at Lucas, unable to conceal the joy on her face.

With a light tone, she asked, "Do you really mean it?

You’re letting me stay with Sarah for a while?"

Lucas’s expression darkened instantly, and the office was suddenly engulfed in a suffocatingly tense atmosphere.

"What’s got you so thrilled, Beauty?" he said coldly.

"Do you really hate being around me that much?"

Drake smirked at the remark, his lips curling mischievously.

"Of course she doesn’t want to stay with you, you old wolf. Right?" Beauty shot Drake a look of silent agreement, as if they were comrades in arms.

But Lucas’s icy glare cut through the air like a warning.

"Know your place.

This is your sister-in-law.

Show some respect.

How dare you, as my best friend, flirt with my woman right in front of me?

Have you lost your mind?"

Beauty heard the unmistakable sound of someone grinding their teeth and couldn’t suppress a shiver.

Drake let out a disgruntled huff, his brows furrowing as he reluctantly muttered, "Hello... sister-in-law." Beauty nearly choked, her face twisting into a comical expression.

Without another second’s hesitation, she bolted for the door.

One more moment in that room, and she might have actually suffocated.

Once she was gone, Drake slumped back into his usual lethargic demeanor and turned to Lucas.

Rubbing his hands nervously, he groaned, "What am I supposed to do?

I genuinely don’t remember when it happened.

Counting back, the only time was when I got wasted, and Samantha stayed over at my place.

We slept together—just that once.

I never thought she’d end up pregnant."

Lucas’s sharp brows furrowed.

"If Sarah finds out, it’s over between you two.

Who told you to go around sowing your seeds recklessly?

You think you’re some kind of damn fertilizer spreader?

My wife and I always use protection.

Serves you right for being careless."

Lucas’s mocking tone made Drake flush with anger.

He slammed his hand on the coffee table with a loud thud, his voice sharp with frustration.

"I swear I don’t know how this happened!

I never crossed the line with Samantha—I wasn’t planning to marry her, so I knew better than to mess around.

And now, out of nowhere, she’s pregnant!

Last time, because of Sarah, we had a huge fight that nearly made her miscarry.

Now, whatever she says, I don’t dare argue back."

"If you never touched her, how did she end up pregnant?"

The accusation hung heavy in the air.

"Samantha has been devoted to you—she even had an abortion for you once before.

Do you really expect her to go through that a second time?

Or a third?"

Drake felt like he was breaking apart.

Just when things had started to smooth over with Sarah, this disaster had to crash down on him.

Now, he was backed into a corner with no way out.

"This time, I can’t let her go through that again.

She’s still a woman—too many of those procedures will wreck her body."

"So, you’re finally stepping up to take responsibility?"

Lucas’s piercing gaze locked onto him, demanding an answer.

Drake exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

"What else can I do? I’m at a complete loss here.

Just... furious with myself."

At that moment, he wished he could slam his head against the coffee table and be done with it.

Shame and frustration coiled inside him—how could he ever face Sarah again?