My Ex-Boyfriend Gave Birth to My Child? What Does That Mean? - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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My Ex-Boyfriend’s Child Was Born to Me—What Does That Even Mean? Episode 28
A light voice caught me at my back as I stepped through the thick doors of the Guild Hall.
“Thank you for such a fine opportunity, Miss Otreha of the Argent Guild.”
I answered flatly to Shand Ordore’s practiced wink.
“I was pleased with the Ordore Guild’s terms. The prospect of additional Eastern Continent Silk deliveries is too good to pass up.”
“You have excellent judgment! Eastern Continent Silk simply cannot be compared to ordinary fabrics—well, except perhaps for Milky Way Silk. You see, on the Eastern Continent they use cocoon-spinning Demonic Beasts to produce their silk. Terrifying creatures, absolutely dreadful……”
“I know. I’ve dissected them myself.”
“Ah, so the rumors of your Magic Tower training are true, then.”
Today I’d finalized contracts with both the Ordore Guild and the Fauber Guild as distributors for the Milky Way Silk. Both had their advantages—the Fauber Guild with its vast retail presence in the Capital, and the Ordore Guild with its harbor trade routes.
Either way, I’d done far better than my initial targets.
“I do hope you’ll keep me in mind when you introduce new products! I’d hate to miss the opportunity.”
“Of course I’ll look after those I’ve already done business with. To be frank, I need influence far more than money.”
“An ambition befitting a Pearl of Chastang.”
“You caught that, did you?”
“Many will have noticed. Whether they possess the courage to approach you is another matter entirely.”
The man who’d let slip such self-praise soon drew closer and whispered in a low voice.
“When Dominique first spoke of you, I didn’t believe him. Now I understand why he’s so keen.”
My eyes widened at the familiar name. The man smiled knowingly, his expression turning playful.
“You know Dominique?”
“Of course. A distant relation—so distant that blood relation hardly applies, but we spent considerable time together as children. I heard he’s returning from the South soon. Shall I pass along word when he arrives?”
“That would be lovely. An unexpected connection, truly.”
“I consider it good fortune.”
Shand Ordore, who’d been making pleasant small talk, extended his hand to me.
“You must be famished after spending so much time in negotiation. Would you care to dine together?”
“I’m afraid not. My child is waiting at home.”
“A pity.”
“Indeed.”
I turned to Siril, who stood beside me glowering at Shand.
“The carriage?”
Siril bowed slightly and answered in her clipped voice.
“It should be waiting on the main road.”
“Good. That’s enough for today! We’ve exceeded our quota. Let’s head home and eat!”
I offered Shand a brief farewell and walked toward the main road with Siril at my side.
With all that money, I’d never understand why they held the assembly in such a remote corner.
That was when it happened.
As my eyes turned toward the main road, I glimpsed a familiar figure approaching.
Rough footsteps closing in on me without hesitation. A hand thrust suddenly in my direction.
“Master, be careful!”
The moment I tensed, Siril leaped forward without a second thought and twisted the man’s arm.
“Ugh……!!”
“Master. What shall I do?”
Having dropped the man to his knees in an instant, Siril asked coldly. Upon confirming the man’s face, I exhaled and took a step back.
“Let him go.”
Meanwhile, Shand—hand still outstretched, a step too late—stood before me with a slightly embarrassed expression, as though shielding me.
As Siril released the man’s arm and positioned herself in front of me, I gave Shand a light nod of gratitude. His impulse to protect me had been genuine, regardless of who’d been faster.
Siril may have been quicker, but there was no doubt he’d moved to guard me.
Only after confirming I was safe did I turn to the man kneeling before me and speak in a frigid voice.
“Pascal Oker. What on earth are you doing?”
“You’re the one who suddenly attacked me. What are you doing?”
“You should explain yourself properly. That was a defensive response to your attack. Stop being dramatic and get up.”
“Dramatic? I just……”
He seemed to have just realized his arm was moving quite freely.
He frowned briefly, then rose to his feet. Brushing dust from his clothes, the man opened his mouth in a measured tone.
“I came upon hearing you were here.”
“Not to discuss something regarding your mother?”
“I did hear you drove my mother away.”
Pascal looked down at me with cold eyes and spoke as though spitting out the words.
“Why have you been avoiding me all this time?”
“Avoiding you? Why would I need to meet you in the first place?”
As I spoke, I tugged on Shand’s sleeve. The man turned his head, his gaze asking silently why. I tilted my chin toward the opposite end of the alley.
This was too personal a matter. I didn’t want him lingering through this conversation.
Shand was a perceptive man. He nodded and turned down the opposite alley, pausing on his way to ask me one final question.
“Shall I offer assistance?”
I shook my head.
“Siril is with me, and I’m a mage.”
“Right.”
Shand gave a light bow and departed.
Pascal, who had been watching us, narrowed his brow and confronted me.
“A new man?”
“That’s a ridiculous thing to say! Do you think I’m you?”
I looked up at the man before me. He wore his shamelessness like a badge of honor, as though he were the victim.
‘I’m bringing Emil into the family through adoption.’
At the sight of that face, his words from my past life—the ones that had shattered my heart—surfaced again. I suppressed the emotion, refusing to let anger consume me.
“Everything between us is finished. There’s no reason we should meet again, no reason we should be speaking like this.”
“That’s not so. I hold your weakness in my hand.”
“What are you talking about?”
Pascal stared directly at me and laughed, cold as metal.
“You’ve never given birth.”
* * *
I followed Pascal out.
It wasn’t exactly a threat. I was simply curious to see where he was going. Pascal Oker was underestimating me.
‘An opponent who’s lowered his guard is easy prey.’
Convinced he had subdued me with words alone, Pascal strolled leisurely into the Guild Hall.
When we had arrived, the gatekeeper had verified our identities one by one. But he made no such demand of Pascal—a single glance at his face was enough to warrant a respectful bow.
Pascal Oker led me to a space dominated by a large conference table.
“Be seated.”
I stepped back from the man pulling out the chair.
“Changing locations is sufficient. If you have something to say, say it.”
From the day I decided to accept Lusian as my child, I’d known a moment like this would come eventually.
But that it would be Pascal speaking these words?
‘Is this man mad? Even with House of Oker’s prosperity, they’re not in a position to stand against Duke Voltaine.’
Pascal opened his mouth, his tone dripping with confidence.
“I don’t know what Duke Voltaine promised you, but in the end, you’re raising someone else’s child.”
I lifted my chin sharply and shot back.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Lusian is unmistakably my child.”
“You think I don’t know what you were doing during that time?”
“There was no marriage proposal between us during that time. So what exactly do you think you know?”
Pascal stepped closer to me.
The man’s eyes held the cold gleam of a snake on the hunt as he opened his mouth.
“I’m not fool enough to proceed with a marriage proposal to a woman carrying an illegitimate child. Otreha. You really think I don’t know your past?”
I barely suppressed a laugh at his words. It was because Lea Oker came to mind—the one in our house.
He didn’t realize it, but he was exactly the type of man he’d just denied being.
Emil Oker. That child, not yet born, would resemble Lea Oker so closely that traces of the father would be nearly invisible. In my past life too, Pascal had boldly declared he would make that child the heir to House of Oker.
“How foolish you are isn’t my concern. But the fact that you’ve been watching my household far longer than I’d imagined—that much I can see.”
“Watching? I’d call it interest.”
“After leaving the Magic Tower, I secluded myself in research for some time. For you to speak so confidently about what I was doing then… if that isn’t surveillance, I don’t know what is.”
His accusation didn’t trouble my heart. My mind remained cool enough to ask questions.
“Why was it my household in particular?”
At my question, Pascal let out a bitter laugh—one that mirrored his mother’s expression perfectly.
“If you’re curious, wonder away. I have no intention of giving you easy answers.”
“Fine then. I don’t need to know anymore. At least I’m certain of one thing—it was never love.”
I gestured to Siril.
I’d seen enough. There was no reason to linger in this place.
Siril, who moved ahead of me, slowly opened the gold-adorned door.
“Wait.”
Before stepping through the threshold, I glanced back and met his gaze directly.
“How is the lady Lea Oker faring these days—she who married for the love of the century?”
Through the closing door, I watched Pascal’s face crumble with shock.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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