Chapter 67: Pregnancy Plan

"Oh no!" Avery says with mock fear, "I'm so scared."

Avery turns around and watches Evan approach. As he walks, he radiates power, and Avery has to admit that his tall form looks quite handsome in the dark suit. As he walks, he stares intently at Avery. When Leonie greets him in a light voice, he looks at her as if he's only just realized she's there. He frowns in displeasure and confusion.

Perceiving Evan's mood Leonie tries to explain her presence, "After learning about Avery's accident yesterday, I became worried. I wanted to visit her and make sure that she's okay."

Leonie is such an actor! Avery shrugs and puts the wine glass back on the table. "I'm sorry—I didn't realize that you two had a date," Avery says, "Excuse me."

"No, Avery. You've got it all wrong," Leonie interjects, "Evan didn't know I would be here. But I did discover a secret that may interest him."

Leonie glares defiantly at Avery, daring Avery to challenge her.

"Anyway, I should propose a toast in your honor," Leonie continues with a sly gleam in her eyes, "I believe you have some newsworthy of a celebration."

Avery understands Leonie's double meaning perfectly. She's referring to the sale of the hotel, and also to Evan's reaction. When Evan finds out what Avery's done, she'll be dead.

Leonie picks up the glass of red wine and gulps it down with a flourish. The pink diamond flashes beautifully in the light. Evan sees the ring and his eyes flash with sudden confusion. He slides one hand into the pocket and wraps his fingers tightly around the velvet box.

"What's this secret?" Evan asks.

As Leonie prepares to answer the question, Avery walks toward Evan and sweetly takes his hand in hers. 

"It's hardly a secret," Avery says, "I told Miss Summers that I want to sell my shares of the hotel."

"Avery!" Leonie hisses.

Leonie didn't expect that Avery would admit to selling her shares, and she's frustrated that she's lost the upper hand. Though she's surprised by Avery's boldness, she still has a quick mind. She reminds herself that she can't afford to lose to Avery again, and she decides to play along until she can regain the upper hand.

"That's right," Leonie says, "Avery told me that she's been short on money, so she wants to sell her shares of the hotel."

"You want to sell the shares I gave you?" Evan demands.

His face has darkened and he shakes her away from him.

"How dare she try to sell the hotel right under my nose," he thinks.

Her ingratitude and disrespect infuriate him. Suddenly, he recalls the gold and black business card holder, and he feels his anger intensify—she's been lying to him again.

"You shouldn't blame Avery too much," Leonie says, with barely suppressed glee, "She seems pretty desperate, and this was the only thing she could think of. I mean, she's desperate if she's willing to work with me."

Evan pushes an accusatory finger into Avery's chest, causing her to lose her balance and stumble backward. Avery glares at Leonie.

"Are you short of money?" he demands.

Avery grips the dining table behind her for balance and glances at Leonie. Between Evan and Leonie, she feels like a caged animal.

"I do need money," she admits. 

As she speaks she watches Leonie and she perceives that the other woman is also struggling to maintain control of the situation.

"What do you possibly need money for?" Evan asks, slowly stalking toward Avery.

He has no idea why she needs money. All of her clothes are custom made and she has access to everything at her fingertips. All she needs to do is ask a servant to bring her something, and someone will go out and buy it for her.

"You should ask Miss Summers," Avery hedges, "Apparently she's an expert on my finances."

Leonie coughs with surprise and seems to wither slightly under Evan's glare.

"Well, umm, there's no need to be so defensive Avery," Leonie says, "You said that your nanny's medical bills were piling up. You told me that Evan froze your bank account after you attempted to commit suicide in the sea, and you seemed embarrassed to ask for money from him."

Avery tries to keep the surprise and relief from showing on her face—Leonie has come up with a very plausible excuse. Evan bends down over her and she can feel his hot breath on her head.

"Really?" he asks with narrowed eyes.

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"Do you not believe me and Miss Summers?" Avery asks innocently.

"Do you think I'm so gullible?"

"Evan," Leonie interrupts.

"Shut up!" Evan snaps.

Leonie's expression is injured and aggrieved, and Avery sneers at her rival. She straightens her back and looks fearlessly into Evan's face.

"What Leonie says is true," she says, "But I'm also planning for the future."

"Oh?" Evan asks.

"The hotel was a generous gift, but we both know I don't know how to manage it," Avery says, "I want it to go to someone more experienced than me, someone who can make it a true success."

Avery artfully brushes cherry petals from Evan's shoulders, and allows her voice to become seductive, "Besides, I won't have time to manage the hotel when I get pregnant."

Evan seems to ignore her reference to the pregnancy and he scowls at her. 

"Why didn't you just let me handle it then," he says, "Few people are more experienced than me."

Avery curses mentally.

"There's another reason," she says with a desperate glance at Leonie, "I heard that the hotel was Diana's dowry, and that bothered me."

Evan has his back turned to Leonie so he can't see her expression. Avery, on the other hand, can see Leonie's rage and fury. Leonie looks as if she wants to rip Avery to pieces, but she knows she has to remain calm as long as Evan is there. She curls her fingers into her palm and breaks one of her freshly manicured nails.

"Oh, that bothers you?" Evan asks, grabbing her earlobe with a devilish smile, "Are you jealous of Leonie and her sister? Perhaps worried about my involvement with them?" 

"Of course not," Avery says with a decisive shake of her head.

"Why does it bother you then?" Evan asks, puzzled.

"I hate the gossip," Avery says, "You know that people are saying I used all kinds of nasty tricks to get the hotel. They're saying I wronged the Summers family. You know gossip is terrifying, and the most powerful people are often the most vulnerable. Isn't that right, Miss Summers?"

Leonie glares at Avery with absolute hatred and moves her lips in a silent curse.

"No one would dare to gossip about you like that," he says.

Evan's expression softens and he watches Avery's cheeks flush as he caresses her earlobe.

"Did you say that you're going to get pregnant?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"Did I say that?" Avery says lightly.

"You said you won't have time to manage the hotel when you get pregnant," he replies in a low voice, "You make a good point, but I'd like you to prove to me that you're serious."

Avery knows that she's screwed herself. In her desperation to appease his anger about the hotel, she's complicated her escape plans. She knows how badly he wants an heir, and she's just agreed to give him one.

"How easily Evan believes me!" she thinks bitterly.

Though she's deeply uneasy, she knows she has to play along. She wraps her arms around his waist, buries her head against his chest, and nods obediently. Leonie grinds her teeth with anger as she watches them.

"That should be me or Diana in his arms," she thinks.

"I guess I want to disturb your privacy any longer," she says nastily, "Have a nice meal."

She stalks across the patio towards the door, and Robert follows her with a meaningful look at Evan. He has also noticed the ring on Leonie's finger and he wants to know just how Miss Summers got a ring identical to the one Evan just bought for Avery. Robert knows that his boss will want him to investigate the matter thoroughly.

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