MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

Madeline subconsciously hid behind a nearby tree and poked her head.

"Brother! The King family went too far!" An angry female voice sounded.

It was a black-haired girl who talked to a black-haired man. They both had distinctly mixed-blood features.

In an instant, Madeline's face was filled with hatred.

They were able to get here so quickly and have clear access to the manor. This girl must be the woman named Cynthia who Ted liked. Then the man next to her was, of course, her brother. Yesterday, Madeline found out that Cynthia had a brother named Daniel who shared the same biological parents.

Cynthia said in exasperation, "Last night, I danced three times with the first son of the King family, but when I looked for him today, they actually told me I danced with the second son!"

"Enough, Cynthia!" Daniel's face was grim. He said in a deep tone. "You can grumble in private, but you mustn't let anyone who has some ulterior motivate you to hear it!"

"Do you want me to be humiliated for nothing?" Cynthia said, unconvinced.

"Humiliated?" Daniel sneered. "I've told you how powerful the organization and the King family really are. You don't want to be humiliated, but some women even get in line for it! Also, Cynthia, you don't forget…."

Daniel looked around. Noticing there was no one else around, he said in a deep voice, "On the surface, we are both favored, but we are still bastards! Only if you are married to the King family can you make the family take you seriously. If you can't do it, we'll likely be unable to gain a foothold in the family, let alone help me take the Bryant family, and make our mom become a legal wife!"

"I, I know..." Cynthia, who was frightened by him, said quickly, "Brother, I know all this. I just couldn't help complaining."

"Don't complain like that in other people's houses!" Daniel snapped.

"You're right, brother," Cynthia hastily agreed.

Madeline didn't come out from behind the tree until they were both far away.

Her eyes flashed with a heavy sneer. She had been worried, but now it seemed that Cynthia wasn't a big threat as she thought.

Cynthia was merely an illegitimate daughter whose marriage would only be used as a connection between two families. She seemed to be favored, but she was not, in fact, regarded as necessary, and she would definitely pester Joshua.

It was very easy for Madeline to make Joshua hate a woman like Cynthia. After all, Madeline herself was also hated by Joshua and knew exactly what would test his patience. But... Madeline's eyes sparkled with malevolence. This time, she might be able to get rid of a woman with another woman's help!

***

West House.

Simon whistled delightfully. As he approached, he saw Joshua lying on Hazel's swollen belly. It seemed Joshua was listening to the movement inside her belly. There were warm smiles on the couple's faces.

Speechlessly, Simon covered his eyes. Then he couldn't help complaining, "That's enough, you two. Don't show public display of affection anywhere."

Seeing him, Joshua calmly got up.

"The baby moved just now. I asked Joshua to listen." Hazel smiled and explained earnestly.

"It'll be a very healthy baby," Joshua said gently. The next moment, he gently held her hand. "Are you going to have a prenatal exam soon? I'll go with you this time."

It had always been a thorn in his heart that he wasn't able to accompany Hazel for antenatal care as a husband since she was pregnant. Therefore, he began to remember the date of the prenatal exam from a long time ago.

"Fine." Hazel knew what he cared about, so of course, she wouldn't say no.

Simon really felt helpless. Now the couple even had a public display of affection regardless of occasions.

"... I'm still here," he reminded them with resignation.

"We saw you," said Joshua, giving him a light look, "Make yourself at home. Help yourself to whatever you want to drink, and you can ask the servant to get what you want to eat."

"..." Simon was even more speechless. They really did not treat him as an outsider!

A little angrily, he sat opposite them, but they still ignored him.

"Joshua, it's so well-behaved. Do you think it's a princess?" Hazel smiled.

"You haven't checked the gender of the baby yet?" Simon was very surprised.

"No, why should we check?" Hazel shook her head. "Whether it is a boy or a girl, it is the fruit of my love with Joshua. Wouldn't it be more surprising to wait until the last minute?"

"Mmm," agreed Joshua, nodding his head. He laid his hand lightly on her belly and rubbed it gently. "I like it whether it is a boy or a girl."

"Honey, you're the best!" Hazel rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek.

Simon was gooseflesh all over. "Hey, hey, you two, can you restrain yourselves?"

"Singles like you are unable to understand our happiness," Joshua spoke lightly but with great earnestness.

Simon nearly spat out a mouthful of thick blood. He clenched his teeth. "Joshua Denmark! What are you so proud of? Don't you know that after a woman gives birth to a baby, she will put the baby before her husband? When the time comes, you can only rank second in Hazel's heart at that time!"

Joshua raised an eyebrow while Hazel glared at Simon. "Simon King, don't talk nonsense!"

"I didn't." Simon deliberately said frightening things with a complacent face, "I heard it from a girlfriend who was a doctor in the department of gynecology and obstetrics. She said there were many women in the maternity wards seeing through their men, and these women felt they almost died when they suffered the pain of childbirth, so they treated the babies as their only loved ones and were alienated from their husbands."

Joshua's fingers tightened slightly as he took Simon's words to heart.

Hazel froze and shook her head. "You think too much. Joshua has already chosen a painless delivery for me. I've heard that it won't hurt at all..."

"Even so," said Joshua, shaking her hand with a face full of pity, "When you suffer, I can do nothing but be there for you and encourage you."

Hazel's body was getting heavier every day. She sometimes had backaches and even swollen legs. Although Joshua was always there for her, taking care of her and making her as comfortable as possible, he couldn't share her pain. Joshua felt guilty at the thought of this.

Looking at Joshua's face full of chagrin, Hazel felt a little uncomfortable. She gave Simon an angry look. "It's all your fault! You're talking nonsense."