Chapter 40: Not Going to Die

Not long after, someone posted an analysis online, pointing out that Elsa had been steering the narrative from the start, deliberately leading people to believe I was pregnant with Eric’s child. Everyone who learned about my so-called pregnancy had heard it from Elsa; I had never admitted to it myself.

The post quickly gained traction, with countless netizens agreeing. They said they had the same suspicion—something about the evidence didn’t add up, and Elsa’s words dripped with subtle malice. Some even brought up old rumors about Jeremiah and Elsa, speculating that they orchestrated the whole thing.

Propping my chin on my hand, I watched as netizens turned their anger toward Elsa and the Cornell family. I couldn’t help but laugh. In truth, I had paid someone to write that analysis. Why should Eric and I take all the blame while the culprit hid in the shadows, gloating? After finishing everything, I stretched lazily and walked out of the study.

Mom rushed over with her phone and asked, “Is that post true? Are you really not pregnant?” She seemed genuinely shocked, even reaching out to touch my stomach. The tickling sensation made me step back two paces as I struggled to suppress my laughter. “Come on, Mom. I’m really not pregnant. Didn’t I explain everything to you yesterday? You and Dad didn’t believe me, so Eric and I just decided to play along.”

Dad walked over, shaking his head with a mix of exasperation and indulgence. “You always keep your schemes to yourself. You could have at least clued us in.”

I blinked innocently. “I did tell you. You’re the ones who didn’t believe me.”

For a moment, Dad was at a loss for words. Then, he waved it off. “Fine, as long as it’s resolved now. But how could Elsa spread baseless rumors like that? This whole mess is her doing. I need to have a word with her!” With that, Dad headed straight for Elsa’s room.

I wasn’t about to miss the drama. I followed to watch.

After the post went public, Elsa came to my study, pretending to console me by saying she’d get Quinton to take the trending topics down. But ever since public opinion flipped, she’d been holed up in her room, refusing to come out.

Dad knocked on her door several times, but there was no response. The door was locked from the inside.

Mom’s expression turned grim. “Do you think something’s happened to her?”

Hearing that, Dad immediately called for the housekeeper to fetch the spare key.

Just then, Jack came rushing in through the front door, out of breath. “I just saw the news online. I called Elsa, but she didn’t pick up. I was worried something might have happened to her, so I rushed over. How is she?”

Seeing how frantic he was, I couldn’t help but mutter, “Relax. She’s not going to die. No one’s going to off themselves over a few nasty comments.” I was also dragged through the mud earlier, but he hadn’t shown the slightest concern for me.

“You—” Jack glared at me furiously, but then he took a deep breath and said, “Forget it. Elsa is what matters right now. I’m not in the mood to argue with you.”

He snatched the key the housekeeper handed over and unlocked the door before rushing in.

The room was dark, with no lights on. Only the faint glow of a phone screen illuminated the bedside. He turned on the lights, and that was when I saw her. She was curled up on the bed, wrapped in a blanket with only her head sticking out. Her eyes were red, with tears continuously streaming down her face. The blanket near her chin was already soaked.