Chapter 56: My Status Now Is Not What It Used to Be

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: My Status Now Is Not What It Used to Be

Inside the room, Dylan Lancaster was having his men brutally beat Asher. The official reason was to punish him for trying to escape and to prevent him from hurting anyone. The truth was, it was just Dylan maliciously venting his rage.

But I could tell he was holding back. He didn’t dare have them actually beat Asher to death. After all, there was no guarantee the child in my belly would be born safely.

I knew Dylan Lancaster was waiting. The moment my child was safely born, he would eliminate Asher completely, erasing this so-called stain on the Lancaster family.

"What are you doing here?" Dylan Lancaster asked in a low voice. "It’s gory in here. You’re pregnant, you should be resting. Take her away."

Asher clutched his head, but his gaze was filled with vicious, murderous intent.

I knew he wouldn’t give in. Even if these men beat him to death, he would never surrender.

"I went to the hospital today. The doctor said my hormone levels are unstable," I said quietly, feigning a look of fear. "I need the baby’s father to stay with me and comfort me to ensure my levels stabilize. Otherwise, there are signs of a miscarriage."

Dylan Lancaster sneered. "Is that so?"

The nanny quickly stepped forward. "It’s true... I went with her."

’The nanny was just trying to protect herself, so naturally, she wouldn’t contradict me over something so minor.’

Dylan Lancaster snorted coldly and had someone push his wheelchair over to me. "Get dressed up nicely tonight. You’re carrying the Lancaster family’s child, which makes you our great benefactor. Master Lancaster wants to introduce you to everyone, so get yourself ready."

My heart sank. I looked at the nanny.

The nanny spoke in a low voice. "Master Lancaster is thrilled. He’s invited all the most prominent people in Meridia. Tonight... you must be extremely careful with your words and actions."

’It seems like more than half of Meridia’s high society will be here tonight.’

I took a deep breath and nodded. "You can go first. If Master Lancaster asks, just say I’m having morning sickness and my hormones are unstable, so I need the baby’s father to stay with me for a while."

"Will Master Lancaster believe that? What if he asks the doctor...?" the nanny asked nervously.

"He won’t ask. Even if he does, it doesn’t matter." ’I was pregnant now. As long as my requests weren’t too outrageous, he would agree to them.’

The nanny nodded and left.

I entered the room, closed the door, and said in a low voice, "If this child is born safely, they will kill you."

Asher sat in the corner, not making a sound.

He was covered in injuries, and fresh blood trickled from the corner of his eye.

I got the first-aid kit to treat his wounds. He remained numbly motionless, not even a flicker of expression on his face.

’What a lunatic... Can’t he feel pain?’

"What’s your plan? To just sit here and wait to be killed? Or will you work with me?" I asked quietly.

"Cooperate," he said after a long moment.

I looked at the wound near his eye and sighed. "When I find a chance, I’ll figure out a way to get you out."

"No need..." Asher spoke up. "Once Dylan Lancaster is dead, the old bastard will let me out."

’Once Dylan Lancaster is dead, Master Lancaster will need someone to run the Lancaster Group.’

’After all, my child isn’t born yet. If the Lancaster Group falls into an outsider’s hands, it would be difficult to get it back.’

’At that point, Asher, as the only remaining heir to the Lancaster family, would naturally be qualified to step up.’

"You... you want to kill someone?" I asked instinctively.

’Is he finally going to show his true colors?’

Asher’s eyes darkened. "He’s not worthy."

Asher’s eyes were filled with disdain, as if to say Dylan wasn’t even worthy of him personally dirtying his hands.

A sudden fear washed over me... I was afraid of what Asher was like when he got serious.

At this moment, he didn’t seem like a lunatic. He seemed more like... a demon.

"What are you planning to do?" I had to know what his plan was.

"Just focus on protecting yourself." Asher didn’t elaborate, only telling me to protect myself.

I didn’t dare ask any more questions. After I finished treating his wounds, I prepared to leave.

"Cece..." He called my name.

"Hmm?"

"You went out, didn’t you?" he asked, looking into my eyes.

I felt a pang of guilt. "Yes..."

"Cece, forget him. He’s not worthy of you." Asher’s words were baffling.

I looked at Asher in a panic. ’Who is this ’he’ he’s talking about?’

’In my memories, the original owner, Silvia Lynch, did have an ex-boyfriend. He was a scumbag, even worse than Julian Fletcher. Is that who Asher is talking about?’

I offered no explanation, simply lowering my head as I left.

Asher’s eyes were always so deep, as if they could pull you in. I didn’t dare to look for too long.

「 」

"Ma’am, these are the clothes and jewelry he had us bring," the nanny said as she walked in, holding luxury custom-made garments and jewels, her face full of envy. "He said that now that you’re part of the Lancaster family, you must appear more elegant than anyone."

’A glance at the clothes and jewelry confirmed they were priceless. One gemstone necklace alone was worth tens of millions.’

I got up, walked to the mirror, and began to get ready.

"All the guests today are prominent figures. I just saw the CEO of the Fletcher Group arrive with his fiancée. They look so good together," the nanny reminded me.

I frowned and looked at the nanny. "Julian Fletcher and Erin Whittaker?"

The nanny nodded.

’Heh... talk about a small world. I can’t be blamed for what happens next. It’s Erin Whittaker’s own bad luck for walking right into this.’

I knew Master Lancaster cared deeply about appearances, so I took my time getting ready. I put on makeup and slipped into a strapless evening gown.

The gown had a plunging neckline that accentuated Silvia Lynch’s already perfect and alluring figure.

’Looking at myself in the mirror, to call her an Eastern Muse would be no exaggeration.’

’I had to admit, Silvia Lynch was truly beautiful. The kind of beautiful that would have put her in a league of her own even in the entertainment industry.’

"So beautiful..." The nanny couldn’t help but praise.

My expression darkened. ’Such a low neckline... That Dylan is a real scumbag.’

’Goes to show, men are always up to no good, even in a wheelchair.’

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP. From the doorway, Dylan applauded from his wheelchair. "I have to admire the old man’s eye. He only picks the best. Beautiful. Truly beautiful."

His praise made me sick to my stomach.

I watched him warily and forced a smile. "Thank you for the compliment, Uncle."

’I was reminding him of our respective positions; he should have understood the implication.’

But, of course, his intentions were anything but pure.

Dylan glanced at the nanny. "Get out. I have something to say to her."

The nanny hesitated for a moment, then left without daring to say another word, even thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

I watched Dylan warily, my brow furrowed. "What is it you wanted to say, Uncle?"

"Silvia, you’re a smart girl. You should know who’s going to be in charge of the Lancaster family in the future, right?" Dylan stood up from his wheelchair and walked toward me.

I stared at him in astonishment. ’He’s not crippled? He can walk? If he can walk, why does he spend all day in a wheelchair? Why doesn’t he just move into a coffin?’

"Uncle, what do you mean by that...? I don’t understand." I took a step back.

"It must be hard on you, being with a lunatic... If only I..." Dylan gritted his teeth, a vicious look flashing in his eyes as if he hated something intensely.

’The fact that this sickly member of the Lancaster family was infertile was a running joke in all of Meridia.’

’I’d even heard Julian Fletcher and his friends mocking Dylan, saying that for a family with the Lancaster’s prestige, they had somehow produced a waste of space like Dylan, who’d ruined his health fooling around when he was young and would sooner or later die at the hands of a woman.’

"Silvia, once this child is born, that lunatic will be worthless. Master Lancaster has no other heirs, only me... If you obediently come to my side, you’ll have a truly good life ahead of you. Understand?" Dylan wasn’t bothering to pretend anymore; he was laying his cards on the table.

He reached out with ill intent, trying to grab my dress.

I tried to dodge, but he pinned me against the vanity.