“Mom, don’t bother with them,” Olivia said soothingly. “I have some good news for you.” She handed Andrea a medical report.
“What’s this?”
“I had a friend arrange for a thorough checkup today, including an ultrasound. They said I’m carrying a boy.”
“Really?” Andrea’s eyes lit up, staring at Olivia’s belly. “I told you, the way your belly is hanging, it had to be a boy!”
“Yes, although I was hoping for a girl,” Olivia said with a smile.
“A boy is better! He’ll be my first grandson! When he’s born, there’ll be a big reward!”
Thrilled by the news, Olivia hesitated before cautiously adding, “Mom, Henry and I have been dragging this out for so long. Now that I’m having a son, if we don’t get married soon, it’ll reflect poorly on me.”
Andrea’s expression shifted. She wasn’t particularly fond of Olivia, but having a son was a significant advantage. After all, the child should grow up in a stable family.
“I’ll talk to Henry about it soon.”
“Thank you, Mom,” Olivia said sweetly, her voice filled with satisfaction.
One day, a man visited the CEO’s office at Scott Corporation. Sitting in the plush chair, he crossed his legs impatiently and called out, “Hey, Joanna, where’s your boss? He’s not back yet?”
Joanna rolled her eyes. “Our CEO is very busy. Not everyone can afford such a leisurely lifestyle like you.”
“Little girl! Don’t think I didn’t catch that sass,” the man replied, feigning indignation.
Joanna chuckled as she sized him up. Despite being nearly fifty, he looked like he was in his thirties, with smooth skin, no wrinkles, and a charmingly roguish demeanor.
“I wouldn’t dare sass you! I’m just stating facts. The CEO is in a meeting.”
“Your CEO works too hard! What’s the point of earning so much money? If I were him, I’d be grinning in my sleep. He has so much money that if he dumped it into the Pacific Ocean, it’d raise the sea level. What’s the use of having so much?”
“You always have a comeback,” Joanna retorted with a smile.
The man studied her for a moment before remarking, “Joanna, you’ve gotten prettier in just a few days. Look at that face and figure! Have you found yourself a boyfriend yet?”
“Nope.”
“A woman needs a man in her life.”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” Joanna said, rolling her eyes again, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation.
Just then, Livinus stepped out of the elevator, his tailored suit immaculate as always, and walked into the office with his usual cold expression.
Everyone immediately straightened up, their demeanor shifting as they prepared for the potential wrath of their demanding boss.
“CEO Scott, someone’s waiting for you,” Joanna said respectfully.
Without sparing a glance at the man, Livinus sat down and asked indifferently, “What do you want?”
The man, rubbing his hands together with a sycophantic smile, replied, “Brother, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I came to visit.”
Finally glancing at him, Livinus’s eyes were cold.
“Whenever you visit me, it’s never for anything good.”
The man, Scott Justin, hesitated before laughing awkwardly. “Brother, you wound me. Can’t your brother come see you out of the goodness of his heart?”
“Spare me,” Livinus said, his tone frosty. “Which woman have you gotten pregnant this time?”
Scott Justin chuckled nervously. “Just a small-time influencer. She’s blackmailing me to buy her a house. But where would I get that kind of money?”
Livinus’s gaze darkened, his face like a brewing storm.
The man before him, Scott Justin, was the biological father of Ella. Known for his irresponsibility and debauchery, Scott Justin had been exiled from the Scott family upon reaching adulthood. His greatest passion was chasing women, and he had no scruples about it.
Scott Justin’s recklessness extended to fathering numerous children, so many that even he had lost count. Whenever he ran out of money, he would return to the Scott family to ask for help, knowing that Livinus controlled the family’s finances.
Despite his many flaws, Scott Justin harbored no ill will toward Livinus. In fact, he hoped his capable younger brother would keep the family’s legacy alive, ensuring there was always money to fund his lifestyle.
But he also feared Livinus, who, despite being more than a decade younger, wielded immense authority.
“This time was an accident,” Scott Justin stammered.
“When isn’t it an accident?” Livinus replied coldly, his sharp brows furrowing in disapproval.
The atmosphere in the room became stifling, the pressure dropping significantly. Scott Justin dared not breathe too loudly, waiting for Livinus to reprimand him.
Livinus knew words would be futile. In his usual cold tone, he said, “The cost will be deducted from next year’s dividend.”
