When Maeve woke up again, she was in a hospital room.

She blinked, her eyes meeting the anxious face of Martha Higgins.-

"Ma'am, you're finally awake. I went upstairs to clean and saw you lying motionless in the bathroom. You nearly scared me to death."

"Thank you, Martha." Maeve's eyes were full of gratitude. If it weren't for Martha, she might have rotted on that bathroom floor without anyone knowing.

"Don't mention it." Martha looked at her paper-white face, worry etched deeply across her features.

"Ma'am, wasn't today supposed to be your third anniversary with Mr. Fairchild? How did you end up fainting? And he's nowhere to be found."

Maeve's lips twitched into a faint, bitter smile.

Forget about celebrating an anniversary; she had nearly lost her life.

And where was Frederick? Busy keeping his pitiful sister-in-law company.

As for why she fainted?

Her hand drifted to her stomach. The sharp, agonizing pain still lingered like a phantom ache.

"My stomach just started hurting out of nowhere. Are the test results back yet?"

"Not yet. It'll probably be a little while longer."

Just as Martha finished speaking, a nurse walked in carrying a clipboard.

"Doctor, how is my mistress doing?" Martha asked immediately, and Maeve looked over as well.

The nurse looked at Maeve with a warm smile. "Congratulations, you're pregnant."

With that, the nurse handed the medical chart to Martha and left.

Maeve froze in pure shock. Before she could even process the news, Martha's excited voice beat her to it.

"You're pregnant, Ma'am? This is wonderful news! I have to tell Mr. Fairchild right away!"

"No!" Maeve immediately stopped her, snatching the medical chart from Martha's hands and hiding it under her pillow.

"Do not tell Frederick about this."

Martha looked confused. "Why—"

"What can't you tell me?" A chilling voice suddenly echoed through the room. Maeve looked toward the door.

Frederick's tall figure loomed in the doorway. The dim lighting of the hallway cast a heavy shadow over his sharp features. His brow was set low, radiating an overpowering dominance that instantly flooded the room.

As he stepped closer, the previously spacious hospital room suddenly felt suffocatingly small.

Maeve's breath hitched. Even after three years of marriage, she was still often intimidated by Frederick's overwhelming presence. She discreetly pushed the chart deeper under her pillow, feigning composure.

"It's nothing..."

Frederick noticed her movement. He took a long stride forward, reaching his arm directly behind her back.

"What are you hiding?"

Maeve quickly grabbed his wrist. "I said it's nothing."

Frederick's frown deepened. He gripped her shoulder, pushing her slightly to the side as his other hand went straight for the pillow.

Maeve swiftly sat back on the pillow, grabbing both of his hands with all her might.

As their eyes met, Frederick's gaze darkened, a freezing aura rolling off him.

"Maeve, show it to me."

Maeve gripped his hands until her knuckles turned white, staring right back into his eyes as she enunciated every word.

"This is my personal privacy. I am under no obligation to show you anything."

The veins on Frederick's forehead bulged. "You—"

"Uncle Frederick!" A clear, childish voice suddenly interrupted as Charlie Fairchild ran in and hugged Frederick's leg tightly.

Then, Zoe walked in. She wore a white dress, her long hair woven into a side braid that draped over her shoulder. She looked gentle and sweet, her voice soft as velvet.

"Frederick, how is Maeve? Is she alright?"

The moment they walked in, Frederick had already shaken off Maeye's hands. The icy hostility on his face melted away like thawing frost, replaced by a warm, gentle demeanor.

"She's fine."

His large hand naturally reached down to rest on Charlie's forehead to check his temperature.

"You're still a little warm. Why aren't you resting in your room?"

Charlie glanced nervously at Maeve on the hospital bed, his small body intentionally hiding behind Frederick's legs as he spoke timidly.

"Mommy said Maeve was sick in the hospital too, so we came over together to check on her."

At that moment, Zoe walked up to Maeve with an apologetic, innocent expression.

"I'm so sorry, Maeve. I know I shouldn't bother Frederick with every little thing, but Charlie was running a fever and refused everyone else. He only wanted Frederick. I really had no other choice but to text him."