The Fruit of Immorality - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Fruit (Part 2)

Beatrice couldn’t believe it. She kept asking the same question over and over again.

The doctor’s answer remained unchanged. Even in front of Charles, who had hurriedly returned after hearing the news, the doctor repeated himself.

“Yes, the madam is indeed pregnant.”

The expressions on the faces of the two men were in stark contrast. Alessandro’s face was filled with joy, while Charles’ was clouded with suspicion.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. It seems the madam has been pregnant for about a month.”

“That can’t be.” Charles frowned deeply. “Such a misdiagnosis… Are you a quack?”

“Your Grace? What do you mean…?”

Seeing the doctor’s confusion, Beatrice, who had been lying silently, spoke in a weak voice, “Charles? What’s wrong?”

“Well—”

Charles couldn’t continue his sentence. He stared intently at Beatrice’s abdomen, as if wanting to open her up and see for himself.

Beatrice, frightened, instinctively covered her lower belly. It was a natural protective reaction.

“A month ago!”

Beatrice mumbled as if to explain.

“The day before you left… inside me… It must have been then. No, I’m sure it was that day.”

When Beatrice mentioned their vigorous lovemaking that day, Charles clicked his tongue in irritation and looked away. He remembered now. That was the day he had made a mistake he usually didn’t.

It was the day he had released his seed inside her multiple times. He had regretted the mistake, but at the time, he hadn’t thought it would lead to anything.

“…Alright then, for now.”

Charles reluctantly accepted the explanation. He didn’t like the idea of a child, but now that she was pregnant, there wasn’t much he could do.

Even though Charles seemed to accept it, Beatrice couldn’t shake her anxiety. There was still a deep suspicion on his face.

As she nervously watched Charles, she glanced at Alessandro, who was standing quietly behind him.

For a brief moment, Beatrice was speechless when she saw Alessandro’s expression. He was smiling brightly.

Beatrice’s heart felt heavy at the sight of his smile. The words she had said to Charles, her explanation, were not a complete excuse.

Beatrice gently touched her abdomen. She still couldn’t believe that a life was growing inside her, let alone that it had been conceived a month ago.

In truth, regardless of when the child had been conceived, Beatrice had already decided she would claim it as Charles’ child.

She had heard that, in rare cases, pregnancy could occur even without direct ejaculation inside the body.

It was a weak and unlikely theory, but it was something she had clung to during the eight long years of being tormented by the fear of not bearing a child for Charles.

And so, she knew it was possible. Even though it was rare, a woman could still get pregnant without the man releasing inside her. Charles, with his many affairs, must have heard of this possibility too.

Of course, even if she used this excuse, Charles would likely continue to doubt her until the child was born. But once he saw the baby, he wouldn’t be able to confirm her unfaithfulness.

The child would either resemble her or carry the distinct features of the Clasis family.

If the child looked like her, that would be fine. Even if the child resembled Alessandro, with his black hair and green eyes, no one would doubt that it was a Clasis.

No matter when she became pregnant, her child would always be considered a Clasis, and Charles’ heir.

But.

But if the pregnancy had truly occurred a month ago…

If it had been a month ago, the child could very well be Charles’.

That night, Charles had done something he hadn’t done in their eight years of marriage—he had released his seed inside her. Not just once, but multiple times, until she was overflowing with it.

Still, Beatrice couldn’t be sure.

The morning after Charles left, Alessandro had embraced her. He had inserted himself into her still-filled body and had pushed Charles’ seed out of her, replacing it with his own.

So, this child…

Beatrice swallowed hard. Her throat, parched from days of not eating or drinking properly, felt like it was cracking, and even swallowing was painful. No, what truly pained her was her heart.

She didn’t know who the father of her child was.

“Dear.”

Charles, having dismissed the doctor in irritation, approached Beatrice, who was lost in dark thoughts.

Though he had called her, he remained silent for a moment, staring intently at her flat belly. It was as if he couldn’t believe that a life bearing his blood was growing inside her.

“Charles?”

Fearing that he might have discovered her infidelity, Beatrice called his name cautiously. Only then did Charles tear his gaze away from her lower abdomen.

Fortunately, the words Beatrice feared didn’t come.

With a frown still on his face, Charles issued a stern command, “Since you’re pregnant, you’ll need to behave even more carefully.”

“You know I don’t go out. I don’t meet anyone.”

“Be even more careful.”

Beatrice lowered her head. Even though this was their first pregnancy in eight years, Charles didn’t offer a single word of congratulations. She hadn’t expected him to, nor had she hoped for it, but it still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Just then—

“I have something I’d like to say to Bea, if I may.”

Alessandro interrupted their cold conversation, stepping forward from the background. Charles frowned, surprised to realize that Alessandro was still there.

“You’re still here?”

“I couldn’t leave Bea alone.”

“There was a doctor with her. She wasn’t alone.”

“If she had been left with a stranger, Bea would have been anxious.”

Charles scowled, feeling as though his younger brother was indirectly criticizing him, as if to say he didn’t care about his own wife’s anxieties.

“Still, thanks to you, we’ve received good news.”

Alessandro turned away from Charles and approached Beatrice. Lowering himself to her eye level, he smiled warmly.

“Congratulations on your pregnancy.”

His gentle voice softened Beatrice’s heart. The anxiety, nervousness, guilt, and frustration that had been weighing her down seemed to melt away in an instant.

Charles, watching Alessandro and Beatrice exchange smiles, stiffened.

“I’ve told you this before.”

Charles spoke sharply, glaring at the two of them through narrowed eyes.

“No matter how much Beatrice cared for you when you were young, you’re an adult now. You should keep your distance from your sister-in-law.”

“……”

“It doesn’t look good to others. You should be more respectful toward her, and you certainly shouldn’t be entering private spaces like the bedroom.”

In response to Charles’ warning, Alessandro bowed his head without a word. But his clenched jaw and the blood pooling from his tightly clenched fists told a different story.

After a moment of silence, Alessandro seemed to come to a decision. He lifted his head, and to Charles’ surprise, he was smiling.

Before Charles could continue, Alessandro spoke, “But Bea is in poor health, and now that she’s pregnant, it will be even harder for her. She’ll face many inconveniences, and since you’re so busy with work, you won’t be able to be by her side. That’s why I’ll take care of her. After all, I’m the only family she has left here.”

Charles frowned but couldn’t find fault with Alessandro’s words. What he said made sense.

“She was the one who took care of me and raised me with such kindness when I was younger. I owe her, and now it’s time for me to repay that debt.”

Alessandro’s voice carried weight as he finished speaking.

“I’ll be a good protector for both Bea and the child.”

A protector, not an uncle. It was a subtle but deliberate choice of words, as if Alessandro was claiming the right to protect Beatrice and the child.

But Charles didn’t catch the nuance. Reluctantly, he responded, “…Just make sure to maintain proper boundaries.”

“Of course.”

Alessandro answered cheerfully. After all, the “boundaries” Charles was referring to had long since been crossed.

***

Alessandro kept his word. It was he, not the busy Charles, who cared for Beatrice with great attention.

During the early, risky stages of her pregnancy, Alessandro never left her side, not even for a moment.

He was so devoted that many people in the mansion, though they never dared to say it out loud, thought Alessandro looked more like the father of the child than Charles did.

Even after Beatrice’s belly grew visibly round and she entered the more stable phase of her pregnancy, Alessandro’s behavior didn’t change.

He stayed by her side, attending to her every need, whether it was the smallest chore or serving her meals, and even…

“Aless! You don’t need to come in here. You know you’re not supposed to!”

“It’s alright, Bea. No one knows I’m the one bathing you.”

“Aless!”

“Shh. Just relax. I’ll clean you thoroughly.”

He even bathed her.

Of course, they were careful not to get caught. No matter how close Beatrice and Alessandro were, no matter how much Alessandro was seen as taking care of Beatrice and her unborn child on Charles’ behalf, bathing her was something no one would have accepted.

Alessandro didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, but Beatrice, mindful of public opinion, didn’t want to openly reveal their intimate relationship. So Alessandro respected her wishes.

Splash! Alessandro stepped into the bathtub, where Beatrice was submerged up to her chin.

He grabbed her small, delicate foot and pressed a kiss to it.

“Aless!”

Startled, Beatrice pushed his shoulder, but Alessandro didn’t budge.

“Don’t! It’s dirty.”

“It’s not dirty.”

Alessandro kissed her soft sole.

“Not a single part of your body is dirty.”

He placed her toes in his mouth, sucking on them as if they were candy, all the while maintaining eye contact with her.

His hands, which had been massaging her ankles, slowly moved upward, gently kneading her slender calves. Beatrice let out a contented sigh.

Watching her, Alessandro’s lower abdomen tightened with desire.