The Tyrant's Stolen Bride-Chapter 97: When Suspicion Turns Reckless

The next day, Rosalba and Nico waited for the doctor to arrive, but she never did. The absence only deepened their suspicion.

Dante was not home at the time either, so they summoned the maid to demand an explanation.

"You called for me, madam?" the maid asked politely as she stopped just inside the doorway of Camela’s room.

Rosalba lifted a hand, motioning for her to come closer.

"Where is that doctor? Why didn’t she come today?"

"Oh, that doctor... she was given leave and won’t be coming for a while. Besides, Madam Camela has improved a lot and no longer needs close attention from the doctor."

Rosalba’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, her brows creasing.

Slowly, she turned her head toward her son. He gave a faint smirk and let out a quiet snort, clearly showing that he had known all along and had been right from the beginning.

They dismissed the maid so they could discuss the matter further.

As soon as she stepped out and closed the door, Nico sprang up from the sofa, pointing a finger at his mother.

"See? I told you... that means he’s hiding her from us."

He huffed in irritation and crossed his arms.

Rosalba looked puzzled for a moment and shook her head.

"I don’t know... why would he bother hiding her? From what I know, a man like him wouldn’t care about keeping a mistress a secret."

She paused, thinking, and suddenly her experience told her the answer.

"But a man like him would hide her if she were pregnant. He’d be protecting the child."

Rosalba spoke with quiet confidence. After all, her husband had never been faithful, and she knew men like them all too well.

"That means she’s pregnant," Nico blurted out, jumping to the conclusion again.

Like Camela, Nico had always been impulsive and foolish but this time, Rosalba failed to notice.

She had already been drawn into Nico’s delusion, her own judgment clouded by the certainty in his voice.

Suddenly, Camela interrupted, breaking the moment.

"She’s not pregnant. Idiot," Camela snapped, smacking the back of Nico’s head.

She had been watching her mother and brother the entire time.

"Her stomach is flat, and she’s strong. If she were pregnant, she’d be nauseous and weak like me," Camela said, explaining what she had witnessed herself.

Rosalba shook her head, clearly disagreeing with her daughter.

"Not all pregnant women experience the same symptoms," Rosalba said as she rose to her feet.

"Come on, Nico. Let’s go find that woman. Once I know the truth, I can finally have some peace of mind... but she’d better watch herself if I find out she’s trying to steal my wealth through Dante. All of it belongs to my grandchild."

A fire of determination flared in her eyes.

Camela’s eyes widened. "M-Mom... Mom..." she called, but her mother ignored her.

"This is a disaster," Camela muttered under her breath.

Dante had already warned her to keep an eye on her family and not let them cause any trouble here.

He was a prominent figure in the city now, and any scandal would damage his reputation.

"Wait—where are you going?" Camela called out as she slowly climbed off the bed, then hurried to stop her mother.

She grabbed Rosalba’s arm. "Don’t cause a scene, Mom. Dante will be furious."

Rosalba didn’t slow down as she left the room, and Camela followed, her hand still clinging tightly to her mother’s arm.

"I’m not causing a scene. I’m going to investigate that woman. It’s for your own good. Step aside."

She gently shoved Camela’s hand away, and Nico walked past her without a second glance.

Together, they headed down the stairs.

"But, Mom, there’s no need for this," Camela said, stopping at the top of the staircase.

"I’m sure she’s just a doctor, not his mistress."

She couldn’t follow them down. Lyra had already warned her not to use the stairs due to her fragile condition during the pregnancy.

Instead, she had to turn toward the private elevator in the mansion to reach the lower floor.

But it was in the opposite direction, and by the time she reached it, her mom would already be in the car.

She felt torn.

If she didn’t stop her mother in time, Rosalba would cause a scene. But if she used the stairs, it would be dangerous, she could lose the baby.

And the baby was the contract. The only thing binding Dante to the marriage.

Either choice would leave Dante furious, and he could walk away from both her and the agreement without hesitation.

Amid the chaos in her mind, an idea suddenly sparked.

If they panicked, they would call the doctor. And when that happened, she could prove that Lyra was neither pregnant nor Dante’s mistress.

She let out a scream and grabbed at her hair, then deliberately collapsed, pretending to faint.

The household staff erupted into panic, and Rosalba and Nico were completely caught off guard when Camela collapsed.

Just as Camela had planned, Rosalba abandoned her intention to look for Lyra, and Dante immediately called for a doctor.

But the doctor who arrived was not her.

Camela looked displeased and irritated when the elderly doctor took her hand and checked her condition. He reminded her of John, and the contact sent an involuntary shiver through her.

Dr. Carvin hung the stethoscope around his neck, then walked over to Dante, who was waiting on the nearby sofa.

"Mr. Cortez, your wife is safe now. Everything appears normal. However, please don’t let her experience any stress. She needs proper rest. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

"Thank you, Doctor. That’s a relief to hear."

He tilted his head, signaling for the butler to escort the doctor outside.

As the doctor left, his expression turned serious.

"Please leave us alone. I need to talk to my wife."

But Rosalba hesitated. She sensed Dante was about to scold her daughter, and she quickly stepped in to shield Camela.

"Please, don’t upset her. If anyone is at fault, it’s me." Rosalba stayed and waited for a response, but he ignored her plea and simply waited in silence for them to leave.

Rosalba then turned to Nico and guided him toward the door. "Let’s go outside," she urged, and they reluctantly left the room.