Chapter 2 After I hung up the phone , my gaze fell on the pregnancy diary sitting on the desk . I didn't even open it . The moment my eyes landed on the cover , my knees weakened , and I had to grip the side of the crib just to keep myself from collapsing At that moment , perhaps noticing that the nursery light was still on , Cedric's voice sounded behind me . " Lavinia ? Why aren't you asleep yet ? What are you doing in the pups ' room so late ? " I bit my lip hard , struggling to steady the tremor in my voice . " The pups have been restless in my belly . I couldn't sleep , so I wanted to see if there's anything else we might need to prepare . " Cedric came up beside me , gently slipping an arm around my shoulders as he guided me toward the bedroom . " These little troublemakers , already giving their mother a hard time before they're even born , Just wait until you come out , then we'll see how I'deal with you . " His gaze lingered on my swollen belly . His beautiful eyes were warm , his voice laced with affection as he spoke . If I hadn't overheard his words in the study just moments ago , I would have believed without a doubt that he loved me , and therefore loved our pups . But now , all I could feel was bitter irony . He loved the pups , not because of me , but because of Amelia . Cedric didn't notice anything unusual . He helped me to the bed , his tenderness looking no different from the past eight years . I lowered my gaze , avoiding the tenderness in his eyes . " I'm tired . Let's sleep , Cedric . " Early the next morning , Cedric accompanied me to Crescent Vale Hospital for a check - up . We had just stepped out of the elevator when we saw Amelia emerging from a pack doctor's office . Cedric frowned slightly when he saw her . " Why did you come to the hospital alone ? Are you feelin you feeling unwell ? " The concern in his voice for her was plain as day . Amelia smiled faintly , clearly pleased by his attention . " I've been having heart palpitations lately . You know my heart's been weak sin today , so I thought I'd get it checked . " since I was a child . I happened to have some tree t Liste " And you , Cedric ? Did you bring Lavinia for her prenatal exam ? Or is she not feeling well ? " Her gaze slid toward me , carrying a subtle hint of provocation . I curved my lips in a faint smile and spoke before Cedric could answer . " Nothing serious . I've just been sleeping poorly these past few days . Cedric got worried and insisted on bringing me here to get " I have no idea who these pups take after . They're constantly kicking and bouncing around inside me . Maybe there's something wrong with the genes . " moment my words fell , both their expressions changed . Cedric's anu slipped around my shoulders in a show of tenderness " Don't say such nonsense . They're our pups . How could there be anything wrong with their genes ? " CallApp Google Play INSTALL " Come on , the pack doctor has been waiting for a while . Let's During the check - up , Cedric patted my head reassuringly before stepping out t to wait . In the past , I would have thought nothing of it . After all , there wasn't much he could do inside the examination room . But now , watching his retreating figure , a suspicion stirred in my chest . Just as I had suspected , after finishing the check - up and stepping outside , I found that there was no one waiting outside the examination room . I wandered through the corridor and eventually found Cedric with Amelia in the stairwell . Amelia's brows were slightly furrowed , her face clouded with displeasure . " You were so gentle with her just now . You're not actually falling for her , are you ? " Cedric pulled her into his arms with patient ease , brushing his hand over her forehead to smooth away her frown . " Of course not . She's carrying our pups now , so of course I have to treat her well . Otherwise , she might get suspicious . " " She's nothing . Don't let something so trivial upset you , alright ? " I couldn't listen any longer . My steps felt unsteady as I made my way back to the bench outside the examination room , his words echoing over and over in my head . Something so trivial . In his eyes , the mate he'd formed the mate bond with for three years meant nothing at all . It was Amelia's unhappiness that mattered to him .