Empire 14

Chapter 14 

After settling Penelope down, Eugene couldn’t shake the thought of Jacklyn from his mind. He was worried something might happen to her since she was alone in the ospital. 

When the Stinsons weren’t paying attention, he quietly slipped out and made his way back to the hospital. 

“Jackie, I came back to see you. I brought…” 

He pushed open the door of the ward with a cheerful tone but stopped mid–sentence. 

The room was empty. Not a trace of Jacklyn. 

“Sir, this is a patient’s ward. If you’re not here for a reason, please leave,” a nurse passing by reminded him politely. 

Eugene rushed over. “Where’s the patient who was in here? I’m her husband, but I haven’t heard from her. Could you please check for me?” 

The nurse eyed him up and down. “Her name?” 

“Jacklyn Stinson.” 

The nurse looked up. “Ms. Stinson already signed her discharge papers. You’re her husband, and you didn’t know? 

11 

“What?” Eugene froze. 

Why hadn’t she told him? 

He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed her number. 

The endless ringing with no answer made his chest tighten with unease. Had something happened to her? 

He didn’t dare dwell on that thought. He immediately rushed home. 

The moment he stepped inside, he asked, “Is Jackie back?” 

Before the maid could answer, he was already rushing upstairs. 

He pushed the door open and saw that familiar figure sitting by the window. 

The moment Eugene saw her, he let out a breath of relief. He was grateful she was safe. 

But it was quickly replaced by frustration. “Jackie, why didn’t you tell me you were discharged?” 

Jacklyn turned slowly, revealing her cold expression. “I didn’t want to bother you. I know how busy you are.” 

Would he even have come if she had called? He’d already chosen Penelope. Why pretend to care now? 

Eugene blinked, confused. “Did something happen?” 

“I’m just tired,” she replied flatly. 

The next second, Eugene’s face darkened. After some hesitation, he asked, “Did Liam bring you home?” 

Jacklyn laughed silently to herself. 

Just a short chat with Liam, and he was already doubting her. Yet, he’d been sleeping with Penelope for who knew how long. 

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Chapter 14 

+25 BONUS 

“I came back on my own,” she replied. 

She couldn’t stand facing Eugene’s disgusting face any longer, so she got up and went to the bathroom. 

That night, the silence in the bedroom pressed down on Eugene like a heavy stone. He tossed and turned, haunted by images of both Jacklyn and Penelope. 

He turned to face Jacklyn’s sleeping face and couldn’t help but reach out to gently caress it. 

In a whisper, he said, “Jackie, I know I’ve put you through a lot. But just hang in there, okay? Just a few more months.” 

Penelope was pregnant. Once the baby was born, he’d bring the child home for Jacklyn. Then, everything would fall into place. 

After Eugene drifted off, Jacklyn slowly opened her eyes. 

In the darkness, his face was barely visible. She sneered. 

Hang in there? Oh, of course she would. 

The next morning, Eugene woke first. Watching Jacklyn sleep, he couldn’t help but smile. Even asleep, she was breathtaking. 

Unable to control his feelings, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. 

“Wait for me, Jackie,” he whispered. 

As soon as the door closed behind him, Jacklyn’s eyes flew open. Disgusted, she grabbed the blanket and wiped the spot where he had kissed her. 

She’d clearly seen his phone light up moments earlier. It was a message from Penelope. 

A sour ache spread through Jacklyn’s chest. She had wasted all her love on someone who didn’t deserve a single bit of it. 

She lowered her gaze and glanced at her stomach. 

“Just a little longer, baby. We’ll leave when the time is right,” she thought to herself. 

Eugene picked up Penelope from the Stinson residence and took her to the monastery where the fortune teller was. 

“Sorry. We’re closed to visitors today,” said a young man, Miguel Boyd, who had stepped out to block their way. 

Penelope quickly explained, “I made an appointment with Mr. Ramon Collier a while ago.” 

Miguel studied them both for a moment, then nodded. “Wait here.” 

After a short while, he returned. “Follow me.” 

He then led them to the back courtyard and gestured toward a meditation room. “Mr. Collier is inside. You may go in.” 

“Thank you.” 

They stepped into the room, where a man with a kind face sat quietly. That was Ramon, the fortune teller. 

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Chapter 14 

+25 BONUS 

“Mr. Collier, could you read my fortune?” Penelope sat down and went straight to the point. 

“Date and time of birth.” 

She told him all the information he needed, and Ramon began divining. 

After a long pause, he opened his eyes and sighed heavily. 

Noticing that, Penelope placed a hand on her belly and pretended to ask cautiously, “Mr. Collier, am I going to face serious trouble?” 

Ramon nodded solemnly. “Yes. You’re facing a very unlucky year. At best, you might fall ill. At worst, there could be bloodshed.” 

Penelope stole a glance at Eugene, then pretended to be shocked. “What?” 

Eugene frowned, and his expression turned dark. 

Ramon asked, “Is there anything I should know, miss? I-” 

Penelope pinched her thigh hard, making her voice tremble as she cut in, “Mr. Collier, I’m pregnant. If I’m really facing bloodshed, what does that mean for the baby?” 

“You’ll miscarry,” he said bluntly. 

Penelope’s face crumpled. “Gene, what do we do? I don’t want to lose the baby! He hasn’t even seen the world yet! He’s the proof of our love! I have to protect him.” 

She turned to Eugene, her voice choked with tears. 

Eugene was shaken. He finally had a child coming. There was no way he’d let anything happen to them. 

Clenching his jaw, he looked at Ramon. “Mr. Collier, is there a way to fix this?”