Chapter 1227:

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“Okay, I believe you,” Jenessa replied, a small smile playing on her lips. “Brin and I were just speculating.” All the while, her eyes stayed fixed on the restaurant entrance, the knot in her stomach tightening with every passing second.

After a pause that seemed to stretch forever, Ryan’s voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “But Allen knows now. He saw the message you sent me a few moments ago.”

A chill ran down Jenessa’s spine. “Are you saying Allen is with you right now?”

“Give me the phone.” Allen’s voice cut through the line, sharp and commanding. “Jenessa, where is Brinley? I need to speak with her.”

Jenessa shot up from her chair, her heart hammering. “Weren’t you the one who messaged Brinley and asked her to meet at a restaurant?”

The silence that followed spoke volumes. Finally, Allen’s voice came back, heavy with concern. “I didn’t contact her.”

“Oh no!” Jenessa cursed under her breath as she bolted for the exit. “Someone used your name to message her — asked her to come here to talk. We’ve been waiting for ages. Brinley said she was going to the restroom and never came back!”

The gravity of the situation hit Allen and Ryan like a thunderbolt. The pieces clicked into place at once: someone had orchestrated this entire thing, using Allen’s name to lure Brinley out while keeping Jenessa occupied at the table.

“I’m coming over right now!” Allen’s voice crackled with urgency. He spun around and tossed his phone to Ryan without breaking stride. “Ryan — you knew about Brinley’s pregnancy all along!” Without waiting for a response, he bolted for the door.

Ryan snatched his coat and called after him, “Allen, Brinley and Jenessa made me promise not to tell you!”

Meanwhile, Brinley forced herself to stay composed as she faced Leonie, her initial surge of panic giving way to a mask of calm.

𝗠о𝗋𝗲 𝘯o𝗏els o𝘯 g𝖺𝘭𝗻𝗈𝘃𝖾ls.𝖼𝘰𝗆

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady.

Leonie’s fingers dug into Brinley’s shoulders as she leaned in with a cruel smile. “Brinley, drop the act. I know you’re a hacker who can manipulate hospital records. But I saw you at your prenatal check-up with my own eyes.”

Without warning, Leonie’s hand shot out toward Brinley’s stomach.

The blood drained from Brinley’s face. Maternal instinct took over in an instant — she shoved Leonie away, one hand moving protectively to cradle her belly.

Leonie’s nostrils flared, rage consuming her features. “Brinley, stop playing games!” she spat, her voice trembling with fury. “You claim you broke up with Corbin, yet here you are carrying his child! What’s your endgame?”

Brinley watched Leonie’s increasingly unhinged state with mounting dread. This was bad. There was a wild, dangerous glint in Leonie’s eyes that made Brinley’s blood run cold, and every second she remained here heightened the risk of something catastrophic.

The revelation that Leonie knew about the pregnancy had blindsided her completely. Had she known, she never would have walked into this trap alone. But Allen’s secret had been weighing heavily on her mind, and without a chance to confide in Jenessa, she had foolishly chosen to face this confrontation by herself.

“I have nothing to say to you,” Brinley said firmly, turning to leave.

“Stop!” The command cracked like a whip. Leonie’s fingers clamped around Brinley’s wrist and yanked her backward with savage force. Pain shot through her arm as she stumbled, her feet scrambling for purchase on the smooth floor.

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