Chapter 443:

Shaun hesitated, then replied, "It's not cherry season."

Tracy seized the opportunity to express her displeasure. "What do you mean? If my friend wants cherries, you should find some. You can't just dismiss her with 'it's not the season.'"

Elyse gave Tracy a helpless look. She felt the fuss over cherries was unwarranted, as she wasn't insistent on having them.

Shaun turned to his butler and commanded, "Get some cherries. Frozen or canned, it doesn't matter. I want them within thirty minutes."

The butler nodded and hurried off.

Meanwhile, Elyse raised her hand. "Really, it's okay. An apple would be fine."

Tracy shook her head dismissively. "No, apples are too ordinary. You deserve cherries."

She fixed Shaun with a defiant stare.

Shaun remained composed, meeting Tracy's gaze without expression. Elyse, however, thought she detected a trace of indulgence in his eyes. Was she imagining it?

Thirty minutes later, the butler returned with a can of cherries. He opened it, emptied the contents into a small bowl, and placed it before Elyse.

Just as Elyse took a spoonful, another wave of nausea overwhelmed her. This time, it was more severe. She gagged.

Tracy looked on, shocked and concerned. "Elyse, are you alright?"

Elyse retched, then said, "I'm fine. Maybe I've been hungry all day and have an upset stomach."

Darren looked at her skeptically, gesturing to his plate. "That doesn't sound right. If you were hungry, you'd be devouring food like me," he observed, pointing at the scattered shrimp shells.

Perplexed, Elyse scratched her head.

Tracy sighed with relief and chuckled, "Glad it's just an upset stomach. For a moment, I thought you might be pregnant—you had that look."

Elyse's expression changed momentarily before she masked her surprise.

Shaun, observing quietly, noted the fleeting change and paused to think.

Impatiently, Tracy snapped at the butler, "Go get some medicine for her."

Shaun raised his hand to stop him. "Wait," he interjected calmly. "There's no need for medicine. Just have the cook prepare some light food."

Elyse sighed with relief.

Tracy murmured under her breath, "So stingy."

Shaun remained silent.

Feeling unsettled, Elyse forced a smile. "Excuse me, where is the bathroom? I need to rinse my mouth."

Shaun stood and offered politely, "Let me show you."

Surprised by his gallantry, Elyse followed him.

At the bathroom door, Shaun lowered his voice. "Should I call the family doctor?"

Elyse frowned. "Check on me? I'm fine. I don't need a doctor."

Shaun glanced at her abdomen and smiled slightly. "Maybe you should let a doctor confirm whether you're pregnant."

"I'm not pregnant. Stop saying that," Elyse retorted, paling.

"It seems likely, especially since you and Jayden have been married for almost a year. I thought you'd be thrilled about having Jayden's baby, given how much you love him."

"I'm not pregnant," Elyse insisted.

Shaun waved dismissively. "Fine, if you insist. Pregnant women can be touchy. I'll have the cook prepare something suitable for pregnancy anyway."

Elyse bit her lip and watched him go. She rinsed her mouth, feeling numb and uncomfortable.

After regaining her composure, she returned to the dining room. The cook had prepared lighter fare.

Tracy noticed Elyse's pallor. "Elyse, you need to eat something. You were probably just nervous from today's competition. Try some food."

Elyse managed a few bites.

Shaun pondered whether to inform Jayden of the supposed pregnancy, but remembering Jayden's secrecy regarding Tracy, he decided against it. Elyse wasn't his wife; why should he worry?

After a few more bites, Elyse felt full. Her phone rang—it was Jayden. She answered. . . .