After saying goodbye to her parents, Christine rushed to the hospital to visit Ethan.
Just as she stepped out of the elevator, she was surprised to see Ethan's uncle Victor standing outside the hospital room. He was with his two sons, Wesley and Marcus, and two bodyguards in suits.
They were talking to Rebecca, and all turned to look at Christine as she emerged from the elevator.
Christine instinctively shrank back, scared they might notice the red marks on her neck where Adrian had grabbed her. Thankfully, the weather was getting cooler, and her turtleneck sweater naturally concealed the marks.
She composed herself and walked forward, greeting Victor first, then Ethan's two cousins. Victor gave her a practiced smile, which didn't reach his eyes.
Christine wasn't particularly close to Victor's family, having only met them a few times at Blackwood family gatherings during holidays.
From what Ethan had told her, Victor and George, Ethan's father, had a terrible relationship despite being brothers. Years ago, their father had built his fortune in Europe before bringing the family to North America. The company had made all their relatives either wealthy or privileged. However, before the old man passed away, he left 70% of the company shares to his younger son, George, leaving Victor with only 30%. The reason was simple - George was more capable and better suited to run the company.
"Victor loves money too much" - that was how Ethan described his uncle. Everything about Victor's family screamed wealth, from his glamorous socialite wife to his sons' flashy designer clothes covered in luxury logos.
So it came as no surprise that the moment the will was read, blood ties meant nothing anymore. That day marked the end of their brotherhood and the beginning of Victor's lifelong grudge against George.
Ironically, those who desperately chase money often find it slipping through their fingers. Victor eventually sold his shares, gritting his teeth as he started his own logistics company. But his mediocre business skills showed - even with 40% of the shares, his company remained unremarkable. Now, with new competitors emerging and his wife's extravagant spending habits, he was likely drowning in problems.
Christine didn't know the specifics of the business conflict between Victor and George. She only knew that she rarely saw this relative, even during holidays.
Ethan and Adrian's father passed away six years ago from a sudden brain hemorrhage while swimming. He was only fifty-nine. His death came too early, and Ethan's grandmother, heartbroken, passed away shortly after. Rebecca handled both funerals. Christine remembered Victor attending with his sons that day.
The man had worn a strange, almost mocking smile when offering his condolences to Ethan.
Later at home, Ethan had told her, "How can someone be so fake? His eyes showed he was actually happy."
Christine had tried to comfort him, saying human emotions were complex, that Victor's feelings toward his father might not have been pure hatred, but something more complicated from their generation.
Now, Victor's lips twitched as he looked at Ethan in the hospital room.
He never imagined that Adrian, the son of the brother he despised, would make the company so successful. A few years ago, at Ethan's birthday, Victor had shown up unexpectedly, trying to get his sons positions in Adrian's company.
But Adrian had rejected his request immediately, right in front of everyone, with that cold expression of his. The memory still made Victor's blood boil.
While he didn't wish any particular harm, he couldn't help thinking he'd be happier if Adrian were the one lying in that hospital bed.
"Such a shame," Victor said with a fake smile, looking at Christine. "I still remember when Ethan was just a kid, barely reaching my knee. Did you know he got into a fight with Wesley and Marcus back then?"
Christine had heard this story from Ethan.
He had been only five or six, when Wesley, Marcus, and several other kids had pinned him down and beaten him. He'd cried hard until Adrian showed up. Adrian, only eleven at the time, had rescued Ethan and then single-handedly fought off the whole group, even breaking Wesley's bone in the process, getting revenge for his little brother.
When the adults found out, Ethan couldn't remember exactly what happened, but he knew Adrian was grounded for a month.
According to Ethan, something changed in Adrian after that month. He became quiet, stopped initiating conversations with anyone, and grew distant... a change that persisted to this day.
Christine wanted to end this pointless conversation with these distant relatives, but Victor kept engaging her and Rebecca. After some small talk, he suddenly brought up Christine's pregnancy, asking about her due date, which hospital she was going to, and details about her check-ups.
Christine's heart skipped a beat. Why was Victor asking these questions? Were they suspicious? Had they discovered something?
That shouldn't be possible - Rachel had provided genuine reports, and she hadn't shown them to anyone except Ethan and Rebecca.
"Just downstairs at the maternity clinic," she replied nervously.
"You didn't go with her?" Victor turned to Rebecca.
Rebecca found the question odd but didn't catch his underlying tone, simply shaking her head.
"What perfect timing for this baby to come along."
The man narrowed his eyes, pausing briefly. Then he suddenly changed the subject, turning to Wesley: "Wesley, which hospital did Vivi go to when she was pregnant? That was a good one, wasn't it? Professional doctors, advanced equipment. Since we're all family here, why not recommend it to Christine? An extra check-up wouldn't hurt, just to be safe."
"It's East City Hospital," Wesley replied, his eyes lingering on Christine's belly.
"Perfect!" Victor clapped his hands, turning to Rebecca. "How about this - it's getting late today, but tomorrow morning, Wesley can drive you both to the hospital for a check-up?"
"Well... that would be fine, but isn't it too much trouble?" Rebecca responded hesitantly, still not catching on to what was happening.
Victor smiled and waved off her concern, saying it was what family was for.
Christine stood silently, sweat forming on her back, her hands clenched into fists by her sides.