Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire-Chapter 378: The Baby

William was finally back in his preferred workspace, the GIS office. He stretched his arms and took in the buzzing city view through the transparent wall with a contented sigh. "Ah, finally!" he exclaimed, savoring the sense of being back in his element.

William felt a sense of relief as he reflected on how smoothly things were going, especially with his family. Alexander had returned to his old self, and his relationship with Rain seemed to be flourishing. Their bond appeared stronger and more genuine with each passing day, a clear sign of progress.

On top of that, there was promising news about the Elysium Biotech Institute. The groundbreaking drug they had developed to neutralize cancer was on the verge of being approved and released, a monumental achievement that filled him with pride and hope.

As for the family business, William felt he was gradually getting the hang of it. However, he couldn’t deny that Alexander was the one truly born for the role. Even with five years of memories missing, Alexander had an innate talent for managing business affairs. His sharp instincts and strategic thinking made him excel in ways that William admired but couldn’t quite replicate.

"Some things never change," William thought with a faint smile. Alexander’s natural ability to lead was undeniable, and it was clear he belonged at the helm of their empire.

"Welcome back!" came a warm greeting from Arlan Cartier, who approached with his signature wide smile.

"Uncle," William replied, smiling back and nodding respectfully. Despite his recent frustrations with Carla, his admiration for his mentor Arlan and Aunt Summer remained unwavering. They were family he genuinely respected and adored.

"I thought it’d be ages before I saw you here again," Arlan teased. "But I guess Alexander is back to his workaholic ways. Let me guess... he kicked you out of his office already?"

William laughed, shaking his head. "Not quite. Believe it or not, he’s actually asking me to stay longer this time. But honestly, I can’t commit full-time anymore, not with him back and fully capable of running things himself. Besides, Aunt Ava and Tyron are better suited to assist him now. That said, I still hold a good position there, so I’ll be dropping by occasionally."

Arlan chuckled at his explanation. "Well, it’s good to see you back here where you belong. How about a drink to celebrate? Or are you diving straight into work?"

William smirked. "A drink sounds tempting, but I’d better get to it. The city doesn’t stop, and neither should we."

"Suit yourself then. Drop by my office if you change your mind," Arlan said with a casual shrug.

"I’ll definitely bug you later, but for now, I need to catch up on where I left off," William replied with a small smile.

Arlan nodded and then he suddenly remarked, "Also, if you and the rest of the family choose not to attend the hunting event next week, Summer and I will completely understand. I’ll explain everything to the others."

William took a deep breath before replying, "The family and I have decided to participate in the hunting event, Uncle. Let bygones be bygones. We’re fine as long as Carla no longer does anything to jeopardize the relationship between my brother and his wife."

"Thank you, William. Summer and I will do our best to monitor Carla and keep her in check," Arlan said with a weary sigh. He glanced at the door and added, "I should head out now so you can get started on your work."

William nodded, watching his uncle Arlan leave the office. He couldn’t help but admire Arlan and Summer. They were genuinely good people, always trying to mediate and keep peace in the family.

"How come Carla didn’t inherit their kindness?" he muttered under his breath, frowning at the thought.

Once Arlan exited, Brandon entered, quietly closing and locking the door behind him.

"It’s hard to keep anything from the Deputy Director," Brandon began with a sigh, his expression serious.

William leaned back in his chair, nodding. "I know. But don’t worry, I’ll take full responsibility. Just stay focused on uncovering Rain’s real parents. Oh, and my sister informed me this morning about Michael investigating Tim Clayton. Make sure someone’s assigned to protect Prosecutor Han while he’s in the detention center."

"Understood," Brandon replied firmly. "I’ll ensure the investigation remains discreet and assign a guard for Prosecutor Han. By the way..." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I’m not sure how relevant this is, but did you know there’s a history involving the Claytons, the Cartiers, and Kayla Perez? I don’t have the full story, but I overheard my father discussing it once with your father and Deputy Director Arlan before."

William raised an eyebrow. "I’ve heard bits and pieces. Aunt Melanie mentioned a twisted love story involving the Claytons’ adopted daughter, Lydia. Apparently, Tim Clayton was in love with her, but Lydia was dating Uncle Arlan at the time."

Brandon nodded. "Exactly. But here’s the thing, it gets darker. Lydia broke up with Deputy Director Arlan, and from what I’ve gathered... she was pregnant when she committed suicide. The mother didn’t survive, but the baby did."

"What?!" William exclaimed, sitting up straighter in shock. His mind raced as he processed the revelation. It didn’t add up with what he thought he knew. Aunt Melanie had never mentioned a child. In fact, her account of Lydia’s death had always been vague, limited to what little she knew from her time in the hospital back then.

"Where did you find out about this?" William demanded, his sharp gaze locking onto Brandon.

Brandon scratched his head, looking slightly hesitant. "Well... My girlfriend, Vania. Her mother was actually a janitor at Clayton University Hospital during that time. She witnessed part of what happened."

William’s eyes narrowed with interest. "Go on."

Brandon exhaled and continued, "She brought it up recently when she saw Rain in the news while I was visiting their house. She commented on how Rain’s father, Tim Clayton, was... twisted, and how she didn’t like the man. According to her, she still remembers how heartless Tim Clayton was when she witnessed him giving explicit instructions to the doctors to save Lydia at all costs, even if it meant the baby wouldn’t make it. That was around the time Lydia committed suicide."

William’s brows furrowed deeply. "Huh?" he muttered, the weight of the statement hitting him hard.