[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322E1C3D0-288":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},288,74,"Chapter 74: The CEO’s Sympathetic Morning Sickness","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The following morning, Leland Alexander arrived bright and early, practically radiating delight at the news. When Marcellus descended the stairs, he found his grandfather perched on the sofa, looking like he’d won the lottery.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Grandpa.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Marcellus! Where’s Evangeline? Still sleeping?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yes. She’s been sleeping quite a bit lately.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Let her rest, let her rest.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Leland was so immersed in his own joy that he completely missed his grandson’s haggard expression. Marcellus sank into the opposite armchair, looking utterly drained.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Helen Meyer walked over with a glass of milk, her brow furrowed in concern. \"Young Master, is milk really enough? You haven’t touched a thing.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’m fine. I just can’t stomach anything right now.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Only then did Leland finally take a proper look at him. \"What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve been plowing fields for twenty miles without a break.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Helen smothered a laugh behind her hand. \"Sir, our young master is experiencing sympathetic morning sickness for the young mistress!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"The hell is that?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I don't know the medical term, but Dr. Spencer said it only happens to men who are deeply, painfully devoted to their wives.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"And Evangeline? Is she throwing up, too?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Not at all. The young mistress is eating and sleeping like a queen.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Helen’s eyes crinkled with joy. It was a bizarre phenomenon—unheard of, really. But if his grandson was truly strong enough to share in the burdens of pregnancy, it was almost a blessing in disguise.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Leland was dumbfounded. \"That’s actually a thing?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Haha, well, it’s not all bad. It’ll teach him how hard pregnancy is so he can treat her even better.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Urgh!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">No sooner had the words left her lips than a sharp, retching sound cut through the room. Leland watched, stunned, before collapsing into laughter, clutching his sides. \"Good god, that’s rich!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus didn’t flinch at the mockery. He simply reached for his water glass with a steady hand. \"Grandpa, watch your mouth—you're laughing so hard your dentures are going to make a run for it.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Leland’s expression shifted instantly, his laughter dying a swift death. He swatted at Marcellus’s leg with his cane. \"You insolent brat!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"If you're done, you should head back. I have to go earn a living for my wife and child.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Leland watched his grandson walk away, a soft, satisfied smile spreading across his face.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"The boy finally feels human,\" he murmured.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Indeed,\" Helen agreed. \"Since the young mistress arrived, the young master’s mood has stabilized. He’s smiling more, and he’s so much more at peace.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Things will only get better from here.\" Leland’s gaze drifted into the distance, his lips twitching into a knowing, cryptic smile.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">At the office, it was a disaster. Marcellus was puking during boardroom meetings, puking while signing contracts, and even mid-insult while chewing out subordinates. The entire staff at Alexander Corp was whispering that the CEO had come down with some mysterious, terminal illness.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As Preston Wright cut through the administrative wing, a junior secretary lunged out and dragged him into a private office, her hand clamped over his mouth.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mr. Wright! I’m going to let go, but don't you dare scream!\" she whispered, pointing a finger at him with theatrical intensity.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Preston rolled his eyes, looking absolutely exhausted. \"Are we doing a murder mystery roleplay today?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"No! I just want to know what’s wrong with the CEO. Could it be… his stomach?\" She broke off, her face turning pale as she covered her own mouth, terrified she’d said too much.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Preston poked her forehead. \"Focus on your work, not the gossip.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He walked out, but hesitated at the door. He turned back and tossed over his shoulder, \"The CEO is fine. His wife is pregnant. He’s got Couvade syndrome.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before the girl could even process the words, Preston was gone. She scrambled to her computer, her fingers flying across the keys.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Oh my god! Our stone-cold CEO is actually this whipped?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What? What is it?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The entire office crowded around her monitor. A collective gasp rippled through the room. The legendary, feared \"Prince of Kyoto\"—a man known for being cold-blooded and volatile—was actually a hopeless romantic?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"His looks are one in a million, his assets are practically a small country, and the best part? He’s only ever had eyes for one person. What kind of god-tier man is this?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Haha… someone wipe the drool off your chin!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Shh! Keep it down!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The room went deathly silent as everyone shot wary glances toward the door. True, he was a dream for her—but he remained a nightmare for everyone else.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus spent the day retching until his stomach was raw. He leaned back in his chair, feeling every bit of the exhaustion, and realized that a woman’s journey into motherhood was a feat of endurance he could barely comprehend.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Meanwhile, after getting the call, Remi Crawford felt like she was crawling out of her skin with excitement. She couldn’t wait another second to get to Elysian Estate. When Damian Spencer came to pick her up, she was practically skipping.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Remi, slow down! You’re wearing heels—if you trip, I’m not responsible for the heart attack you just gave me!\" Damian shouted, chasing after her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She was breathless, but her face was alight with pure joy. \"Just drive!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Are you really this excited because Evangeline is pregnant?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Obviously. The child she's carrying is basically my own.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Cough!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian nearly choked on his own spit, reeling from the weight of her words. \"Remi, if that’s your child, then the one you give birth to must be mine.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Remi looked at him, surprised by his deadpan delivery. She quickly turned her head to stare out the window, feigning disinterest. But her hands, twisting the fabric of her skirt, betrayed her nerves.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian’s gaze darkened, and he gave a hollow, bitter laugh. The air in the car turned heavy and suffocating. Remi knew he was sincere, and she knew she loved him—she just couldn't figure out why she was being so stubborn. She kept telling him she’d marry him when the \"time was right,\" but she didn’t even know what that meant. Seeing the quiet, encroaching sadness in his eyes pricked at her heart. She decided she’d have to sit down and figure out her own confusion soon.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She took a deep breath, forced a bright smile, and searched for a new topic. \"Damian, why is this road so empty?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"This mountain belongs to Marcellus. Up there is Elysian Estate.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Wow, poverty really does limit my imagination. But isn't it creepy living way up on a mountain?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"The old sayings say: mountains provide support, water brings wealth. A place nestled between them is a feng shui goldmine.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Remi clicked her tongue in amazement. \"Well, put that way, this whole mountain looks like it’s made of gold.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian glanced at her with a soft smile, a brilliant idea beginning to take root in his mind.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The European-style villa was hidden deep within the forest, looking like a mysterious castle with its intricate stone carvings and Roman columns. As Remi scanned the sprawling, complex gardens with their various pavilions, her eyes suddenly lit up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Is that a lake?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"A natural one. Want a tour?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Remi shook her head. \"No, let’s see Evangeline first.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Inside, Evangeline was curled up on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. A moment later, a joyous shout echoed through the hall.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Evangeline! I'm here!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Remi! I’ve been waiting forever. I’ve missed you so much!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Remi pulled her up and scanned her face, nodding in satisfaction. \"You’ve filled out a bit. Your complexion looks much better.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Of course. I’ve been eating well.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Good girl.\" Remi pinched her cheeks, giving them a playful shake. Her eyes suddenly dropped to Evangeline’s stomach, and she reached out, touching her abdomen with a sense of wonder. \"There’s a baby in here… you’re going to be a mother. It’s so surreal.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline leaned into the touch, her expression softening. \"I know. It’s hard to believe I’m actually growing a new life.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Wow… Evangeline, you’re literally glowing with motherly grace right now.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Helen arrived with a tray of fruit and tea. \"Ms. Crawford, please, have some.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Remi blinked, surprised. \"How did you know my name was Remi?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"The young mistress mentions her adorable fairy-godmother best friend to me all the time.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Haha, really? Is that how you describe me, sweetie?\" Remi tilted Evangeline’s chin up, a playful, flirtatious gleam in her eye as she leaned in close.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Remi!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Evangeline!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Two voices cut through the room, sharp and urgent. Remi awkwardly turned toward the doorway to see Marcellus striding in, a protective arm instantly wrapping around Evangeline.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What do you think you’re doing, Ms. Crawford?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Pfft. Why are you jealous? We were practically inseparable years before you even knew she existed,\" Remi countered, crossing her arms without backing down.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Urgh!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Whoa—am I really that nauseating?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian laughed, pulling Remi into his side. \"Stop poking the bear. His emotions are volatile today; he’s puking his guts out.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Why?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian explained the situation with a patient, amused tone.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Holy—\" Remi looked at Marcellus, stunned. \"Okay, fine. Your love is the real deal. I’m not messing with that.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She’d heard of surrogacy, but she’d never heard of someone \"subbing in\" for morning sickness. Truly, the world was full of wonders!\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272914080]