Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 196: An act

"Smack!"

Xarion raised his hand and slapped Nix hard across the back.

The force nearly knocked Nix straight onto the bed.

Jasper shot Nix a helpless look. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about? If the baby really were Cotton Candy’s, Rory wouldn’t know?"

Was this guy’s brain completely filled with nothing but mechs?

Nix rubbed the back of his head—nearly shattered by Xarion’s blow—and defended himself pitifully.

"But what if he... did it while Rory was asleep?"

Xarion’s expression turned icy in an instant. "If the child really is his, I’ll kill him." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

If that rabbit had dared to take advantage of the Female Master while she slept... He would make sure the creature paid for it with its life.

At worst, once the cub was born, he could simply send it to the Snow Domain and let his father raise it.

Jasper’s expression also darkened with murderous intent.

"Rory, if it really is Cotton Candy, we will absolutely not let him off."

Rory pressed a hand to her forehead. The three of them were getting more ridiculous with every sentence.

"It’s absolutely impossible for the baby to be Cotton Candy’s," she said firmly.

"I was asleep—not dead. If something like that had happened, I wouldn’t have been completely unaware."

Then she quickly dragged the conversation back on track.

"The baby isn’t the issue right now. What we need to discuss is how to trick Cotton Candy."

She then continued, "I already have a plan. This hospital stay is actually the perfect opportunity. Yuel said that if Cotton Candy wants to become my mate, then the person he cares about most right now... is me."

"So we’ll put on a little performance and trick him into revealing his true identity."

"How do we trick him?" Nix asked immediately.

Jasper and Xarion both looked at Rory.

"It’s simple." Rory smiled faintly. "You’ll keep my pregnancy a secret. When we go back, tell him I’m sick. Very sick."

The three men listened carefully, nodding as she explained the details of her plan.

When she finished, Rory turned to Jasper.

"You have to make sure that the private doctor cooperates with us."

Jasper nodded. "I understand. I’ll send him a message right away. Don’t worry, Rory—I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly."

When it came to handling matters, Jasper was always reliable.

As for the hospital, Rory wasn’t worried either. Because of Xarion’s influence, she had been admitted through a special channel and registered in a restricted system.

Even if someone tried to inquire about it, they wouldn’t be able to uncover anything.

Once everything had been arranged, Rory soon boarded a starcraft and headed back to the estate.

Back at the villa.

Aren was anxiously waiting for Rory’s return.

Ever since that night when Xarion had rushed out carrying Rory in obvious panic, she hadn’t come back.

He had sent people to investigate the hospital from every possible angle, but they had learned almost nothing.

The only thing they managed to confirm was that Xarion had indeed taken Rory there.

"What happened to the Female Master?"

Why had she been in the hospital for three or four days and still hadn’t returned?

Aren stood at the entrance of the manor, wearing the princess dress Rory usually liked seeing him in, anxiously peering out toward the horizon.

The moment Rory’s starcraft appeared above the estate, Aren nearly flew into the sky in excitement.

"The Female Master is back!"

Dressed in the fluttering princess skirt, he dashed outside at full speed.

The starcraft descended and came to a smooth stop.

Xarion stepped down first, carefully carrying Rory in his arms.

"Chi-chi!"

Aren hopped anxiously on the ground.

What happened to the Female Master?

Why did she look so weak?

Usually, when she returned, she would walk down from the starcraft herself.

What on earth had happened?

"Chi-chi..."

Female Master...?

"Cotton Candy, don’t make noise around Rory."

Nix stepped down from the starcraft and saw the rabbit bouncing anxiously on the ground. Remembering Rory’s suspicions, he suddenly felt that something about the creature seemed off.

What kind of ordinary rabbit cared this much about its owner?

This rabbit definitely had a problem.

Without revealing his thoughts, Nix bent down and picked up the suspicious rabbit, his voice thick with emotion.

"Cotton Candy... the doctor said Rory is sick. Very sick. She needs to rest quietly right now. You mustn’t disturb her, understand?"

What? The Female Master was ill? And seriously ill?

Panic surged through Aren.

She had been perfectly fine—how could she suddenly fall ill?

"Chi-chi!"

He squeaked frantically at Nix, asking what illness she had and whether the doctor had said how to treat it.

But Nix couldn’t understand a word he was saying—and even if he could, he wouldn’t have answered.

Rory had instructed them to appear extremely worried and heartbroken in front of the rabbit.

Holding Cotton Candy in his arms, Nix looked like he was about to cry.

"Cotton Candy... if anything happens to Rory, I won’t be able to go on living either. You’re just Rory’s pet—you can still live. Don’t worry. Before I die, I’ll make sure you’re properly taken care of."

Jasper walked over from behind and placed a solemn hand on Nix’s shoulder.

"I’ll go prepare some food Rory likes. You and Xarion stay with her."

Watching Jasper and Nix looking so heavy with grief, Aren felt panic claw at his chest.

He nearly transformed into human form on the spot.

Female Master!

With a sudden leap, Aren sprang out of Nix’s arms and raced upstairs. The rabbit disappeared onto the third floor in the blink of an eye.

Nix immediately lowered his voice and asked Jasper, "How was my acting just now? I should’ve fooled him, right?"

Jasper nodded. "Very convincing."

***

Upstairs, Xarion carefully laid Rory down on the bed.

"Female Master, would you like a bath? I’ll run the water for you."

He knew that every night before sleeping, she liked to soak in a warm bath.

After nearly four days of sleeping in the hospital, she certainly deserved a proper one.

From the corner of her eye, Rory saw the rabbit rush in.

She grasped Xarion’s hand weakly and nodded.

"Xarion... I don’t have any strength left. When the bath is ready, could you carry me there?"

"Of course." Xarion nodded gently and brushed a stray strand of hair away from her ear.

"Wait for me, Female Master. I’ll be back soon."

As soon as Xarion entered the bathroom, Aren darted toward the bed and jumped onto it, staring at Rory in alarm.

What illness did the Female Master have? Why was her face so pale?

She looked so fragile... so weak.

"Cough... cough..."

Seeing Cotton Candy, Rory coughed softly and reached out to touch one of his ears.

Her hand trembled with weakness, her fingertips unnaturally cold, as if even lifting her arm required all the strength she had left.

"Cotton Candy..." Rory murmured. Her voice was light as a feather, hoarse and fragile, as though it might break at any moment. "I’m fine... don’t worry..."

She tried to smile, but the moment the corners of her lips lifted, another violent fit of coughing overtook her.

"Cough—cough—cough!"

"Chi-chi..."

Aren was frantic.

Female Master, what’s wrong with you?

Please don’t scare me!

At that moment, the bathroom door opened softly. Xarion stepped out.

Seeing Rory coughing uncontrollably, his heart lurched. He crossed the room in three quick strides and rushed to the bedside.

"Female Master, what’s wrong?"

Rory grasped his hand and finally managed to suppress the wrenching cough.

She gasped for breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her already pale face flushed with a sickly red, and tears glistened at the corners of her eyes from coughing so hard.

She looked heartbreakingly fragile—like glass that might shatter at the slightest touch.

"Xarion..."

"I’m here," he answered immediately.

His other hand moved gently to her back, rubbing slow circles to ease her breathing.

The concern and tenderness in his expression looked completely genuine—no trace of acting.

"I’m here, Female Master. Don’t be afraid. Do you want to go to the bathroom?"

Rory seemed too exhausted even to speak. She only nodded weakly.

"I’ll carry you."

Xarion carefully pulled back the blankets, bending down. One arm slipped beneath her knees, the other supporting her back as he lifted her gently into his arms.

Aren watched from the side, anxiety driving him nearly mad.