Chapter 430

Shermaine smiled. She tipped her head back and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Relax. I know what I’m doing. I would never let anything happen to our baby.”

If she had sensed anything truly wrong, no victory would have mattered. Winning or losing meant nothing in the face of life itself, especially when that life was something she and Joshua had created together.

“You’re not supposed to eat undercooked steak while you’re pregnant,” Joshua said, suddenly remembering last time he made it medium rare for the flavor.

“It’s fine. I only had a bite. It won’t do any harm.”

That eased him a little. “I’ll call the hospital and get an appointment set up for this afternoon.”

“Alright.”

Meanwhile, Sophia had followed Judy off the riding field, intending to say something. But Judy’s face was tight with fury. She didn’t even acknowledge her, let alone stop to talk. Within seconds, she had walked away without a word.

Sophia stood there seething. ‘Seriously? What the hell is her problem? She was the one who asked me to come, used me like a pawn, and now just walks off? Unbelievable!’

In the car, Judy’s expression finally cracked. All the frustration she’d kept in check now showed plainly on her face.

Harry, sitting in the front seat, had been confident she’d win. That was why he hadn’t stayed for the whole match. He’d returned in the second half only to discover Judy was on the verge of losing.

Panicked, he scrambled to deploy their signal interference gear, disrupting the match just enough to level the playing field.

He hadn’t expected Shermaine to be that good with a bow.

And knowing Judy’s temperament, if she had lost outright, she wouldn’t have taken it lightly.

Cautiously, Harry spoke up. “Your Highness… there’s something I want to show you.”

The car was dim. He tapped a screen, and a soft blue light glowed.

On it appeared an image of a small booklet, its cover stamped with the script of the Kingdom of Xyperia.

This was the artifact they had been searching for.

Harry explained, “Your Highness, whatever it is we’re after, it’s not with Joshua or his people. There’s no point wasting more time on them.

“What we need now is funding. Once we secure the booklet, we can figure out a way to obtain Joshua’s blood sample. Then we’re done here.”

If they couldn’t win it at auction, they’d take it by force.

Judy’s voice was cool. “Did you find out how this booklet surfaced? And who’s behind the auction?”

“I did some digging. Apparently, a team of grave robbers discovered it decades ago. They cleared out everything in the tomb. The seller is strapped for cash. That’s why it’s finally up for sale.”

“When is the auction?”

“Next Friday.”

“Has the guest list been released?”

Chapter 130

Harry hesitated, clearly reluctant to answer. “Your Highness…”

“Show me.”

He had no choice and pulled it up.

Judy scanned the list and paused when she saw two familiar names: Joshua and Shermaine.

She raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise passing through her.

It wasn’t unusual for the wealthy to attend private auctions, especially those involving rare artifacts. The York family was the most prominent household in all of Basterel, with wealth and legacy to match. And the Jeans weren’t far behind.

Still, knowing she had nearly lost to Shermaine this morning, and that it was only thanks to cheating that she’d managed to save face, made her stomach churn with suppressed rage.

Then her lips pulled into a cold, calculated smile. She had just come up with a new plan.

U

Later that afternoon, while Henry and the others were still busy enjoying themselves at Peach Mountain Villa, Joshua and Shermaine quietly slipped away and headed to the hospital.

They had already made an appointment with a private obstetrician. Upon arrival, Shermaine was taken in for a full round of tests. It didn’t take long for the results to come in.

S

Inside the consultation room, the doctor smiled warmly. “Mr. York, congratulations. You’re going to be a father.”

Shermaine glanced down at the report. She was just under four weeks along. All the numbers looked good, no abnormalities or red flags.

“Thank you, doctor,” she said with a smile.

“My pleasure.”

They had deliberately avoided Yaleview Hospital. Setting foot in that building’s maternity wing would’ve guaranteed gossip.

Instead, they’d chosen a discreet, high-end private clinic.

The doctor turned to Joshua. “Alright, Dad-to-be. Let me walk you through what to expect. There are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. You’ll need to know how to take care of your wife and baby once you’re home.”

Shermaine stood up, amused. “You take notes. I’m going to the restroom.”

“Careful. It might be slippery.”

“Got it.”

Joshua remained frozen, still processing the news that Shermaine might be pregnant.

He sat down, letting the doctor’s words about diet, lifestyle, and daily care wash over him, his mind far away, caught in the quiet shock of becoming a father.

The more he heard, the more the reality set in. Pregnancy was no easy journey. And with every new detail, his brows furrowed a little deeper.

Chapter 131 Chapter 431