CHAPTER 970: CHAPTER 970: HIS UNEXPLAINABLE PANIC AND UNEASE

Serena picked up the phone.

Justin Xavier tightened his grip on the phone, swallowing his words, "Mrs. Crawford, regarding Leah Thorne, there’s something I want to ask you."

"Leah? President Xavier, please go ahead."

"Did you know that Leah Thorne can’t get pregnant?"

"I knew."

Indeed, Serena, this good friend, knew everything.

"Why can’t Leah Thorne get pregnant? Is it congenital or acquired?" Justin asked.

On the other end, Serena was silent for a few seconds, "President Xavier, why don’t you ask Leah directly?"

"Don’t want to say? It’s okay, I’ll ask differently then. Leah Thorne can’t get pregnant, but she’s also very afraid of getting pregnant. Initially, I didn’t notice anything unusual, but now I feel something is very wrong. Every time I’m with her, she always insists on using contraceptives or birth control pills. That’s not a concern for someone who can’t conceive naturally, unless... this infertility is acquired, meaning it’s man-made."

Serena was not surprised that a man as astute and perceptive as Justin Xavier would eventually become suspicious, though it happened a bit sooner than she had imagined.

"From a medical perspective, it’s very possible that Leah experienced some kind of trauma in the past, which hasn’t healed yet, forming a post-traumatic stress reaction," Serena said.

Justin Xavier showed no expression, his voice devoid of any emotion, "Then Mrs. Crawford, you definitely won’t specify what kind of trauma that is, right?"

"President Xavier, it’s not that I don’t want to say, I just don’t have the right to. If Leah wants to tell you, she’ll naturally say it." With that, Serena hung up the phone.

Listening to the "beep beep" on the other end, Justin Xavier tossed the phone onto the desk, his handsome brow covered with a layer of gloom.

The private secretary cautiously spoke up, "Pre... President..."

Justin didn’t lift his head, irritated, "Alright, you can disappear now."

"So, President, are you planning to sleep... in the office tonight?"

The private secretary immediately looked at him with an expression suggesting that the President was being kicked out of the room by Miss Thorne—in a pitiful manner.

Justin angrily picked up a document and threw it at the private secretary, "If you don’t want to get lost, then stay and work overtime."

The private secretary darted out like an arrow.

The office became completely silent. Justin sat in his chair, feeling inexplicably chaotic and extremely... uneasy.

He didn’t know where this unease came from. With his current status and power, there was nothing to fear.

Leah was not acting normal, at least in his view. Every time the topic of pregnancy came up, she reacted like a porcupine, putting up all her quills as if to hurt him while cautiously protecting herself, as if... secretly licking an unknown wound.

Serena was also hiding things from him.

Justin collected his thoughts, feeling a storm brewing in his heart. Actually, he could think of many scenarios, such as...

Such as what?

The image of her at 18 leaving him flashed in Justin’s mind, blood mixed with white fluid streaming down her leg...

Justin quickly shut his eyes, breaking off his train of thought. He didn’t dare think further, as it seemed to lead to a vast abyss, filling him with fear and unease, as if he would be devoured.

...

Leah returned to the set, appearing as usual except for a somewhat pale complexion.

Just then, there was a "ding" sound, and her phone pinged on WeChat; it was a message from Serena saying Justin had become suspicious.

Leah knew what he was suspicious of.

Then came a second message from Serena: overnight there had been no movement from Justin, which wasn’t his usual style. Typically, he would have launched an all-out investigation, not staying quiet. There was only one possibility—Justin was scared.

Leah quietly read the message as Madame Goldie approached, softly saying, "Leah, Davina Rowe is here, she’s at the set packing her things."

Leah hadn’t heard the name Davina Rowe for a long time. Since the last incident, Davina had become obsolete—Old Master Xavier had long discarded her, leaving Davina to fend for herself.

After being removed from the cast of "Ephemeral Life," Davina kept a low profile for a while and now sheepishly returned to the set to pack her things.

Leah caught Davina from the corner of her eye; Davina was staring at her resentfully and walking over.

Leah pretended not to see her, turning to Madame Goldie, "Madame Goldie, Justin is already suspicious of my past, so you must keep it to yourself, not a word should be leaked."

Madame Goldie was taken aback, unsure of Leah’s meaning, "Leah, which incident are you referring to?"

"About my pregnancy and miscarriage at 18 that led to infertility."

Davina was unwilling, compelled to walk over and throw sarcastic remarks. But right behind Leah, she overheard the explosive news.

Davina’s mind went blank with a "buzz" as it hit her, freezing in place; what had she just heard?

Leah had been pregnant and had a miscarriage at 18?

Davina forgot to breathe, afraid of being discovered, and turned to run.

Just then, Madame Goldie noticed Davina fleeing, her expression changing, "Davina! Not good, Leah, Davina just overheard what you said! She’s going to spread it around, I must stop her and shut her mouth!"

"Let her go, Madame Goldie!" Leah held Madame Goldie back.

Madame Goldie was puzzled, "Leah, are you out of your mind? Davina knows about your pregnancy and miscarriage, you’re a big star. If she spreads it, it’ll be a scandal, and the consequences would be severe!"

Leah nodded, "Madame Goldie, I’m not out of my mind, I know."

"Leah, you didn’t... intentionally let Davina hear it, did you?" Madame Goldie sensed something amiss.

Leah gave a faint smile, "Yes."

Madame Goldie drew a sharp breath, looking at Leah in awe, "Leah, this time you’re playing too big!"

...

Davina ran out, gasping for air with her hand on her chest.

Her heart pounded heavily now, flooded with the shocking secret she had discovered about Leah.

To think Leah had been pregnant and miscarried at 18. Any female star linked to such rumors would see their career end.

And let alone it being the entertainment industry’s red rose, Leah!

Davina quickly pulled out her phone, "Hello, is this Entertainment Weekly? I have explosive news to sell to you, regarding Leah Thorne!"