She didn’t dare to provoke him anymore.

"If you dare to play tricks on me again, you’ll have this kind of punishment, or, I can even escalate the punishment."

His playful tone was not without a hint of wickedness.

Escalate? How could it possibly escalate?

She is a pregnant woman, and one who is close to giving birth at that. Does this man really need to be so extreme!

Though infuriated, Liang Anya ended up enduring it.

He had found a way to "punish" her without causing much harm to the fetus.

She wouldn’t dare to play tricks on him in the future, or at least, not so blatantly anymore.

She wrapped the blanket around herself, entwining her legs in a big, soft maternity pillow: "Alright, I’m sleepy now, I’m going to bed. Staying up late isn’t good for the baby!"

She knew that as soon as she said these words, Si Yuheng would let go of any big issue.

After all, the heir in her belly was the most important.

As expected, Si Yuheng didn’t say much more, walked to the door, and with a snap accompanied by a hint of unfulfilled desire, he fiercely turned off the bedroom light.

She turned over and closed her eyes.

Ever since she reached the late stages of pregnancy, she felt particularly sleepy.

Sometimes, she could fall asleep in minutes while reading magazines, and once she even accidentally fell asleep while taking a bath in the tub.

After that time, fearing she would drown in the bathtub, Si Yuheng nearly decided to personally accompany her to the bathroom every day!

Luckily, Beiming Hall later hired a nanny, and once she let the nanny accompany her during baths, Si Yuheng reluctantly agreed.

Usually, she would fall asleep as soon as she closed her eyes at night.

But today, for some reason, she felt no sleepiness at all.

The warmth he had just left on her lips lingered, slowly spreading heat throughout her body.

Damn man.

It must be because he kissed her lips until they were swollen that she felt so hot.

Forget it, since she’s already tried to sleep, she’ll see the doctor tomorrow and get some ointment to apply.

While Liang Anya was thinking, the bed shook, and someone climbed on it.

Before she could react, the person behind her had flipped aside another blanket and lay down.

Startled, she propped herself up and turned to look: "Si Yuheng, what are you doing?"

"Does pregnancy make you lose IQ? Can’t you see I’m going to sleep?"

She said angrily, "Of course, I know you’re going to sleep! I meant to ask, why are you sleeping in the same bed as me? Your bed is right next to this one!"

As she spoke, she pointed at the temporary fold-out sofa bed next to the big bed!

"Occasionally sleeping with you once or twice won’t matter. I’ll be gentle and careful not to hurt your belly," he said lazily.

What does he mean by occasionally sleeping with her once or twice?! What does being gentle mean...

How come that sounds so sinister!

Before Liang Anya could protest, he pressed her down, his arms circling her waist that he couldn’t grasp with one hand.

"Si..."

Before she could finish her words, her mouth was covered by his hand from behind: "Shut up. Sleep."

Damned.

I don’t know why, but today I just felt like holding this woman in my sleep.

If it was just about yearning for a woman, Kasey is right next door, and I could simply head over there for a quickie.

Why bother holding a pregnant woman whom I can look at but can’t touch?

Yet, oddly enough, the idea of going over to Kasey’s place held no interest for me.

The woman by my side is emitting a faint scent of milk unique to pregnancy, which is strangely enticing.

Damn.

Have my tastes become even heavier? Am I now interested in pregnant women? 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I gritted my teeth, closed my eyes, and tried not to let my thoughts wander.

——————————————————————

After finishing work at Haodu Building and stepping outside, the bright noon sun cast upon Su Yan made her somewhat irritable.

It’s been just over a week since Huo Zhenyang returned to the company, and he had swiftly diluted the powers I held in my hands.

I’ve been practically sidelined, the glory days are gone, leaving me with nothing but a nominal position.

Today was even more outrageous.

It was just a matter of sending the secretary over to the finance department, wanting to look at the quarterly ledger of a certain operations department, yet the department’s boss refused to give it to me, saying that the young master Huo had instructed that he personally handle all matters regarding the ledgers from now on, and nobody else including Su Yan had the right to inquire.

As a Mrs. Huo, I can’t even look at the company’s ledgers anymore!

Huo Zhenyang is obviously trying to force me out of the group!

"Why hasn’t the car been brought around? Hurry up, the old man is waiting for me back at the hotel to take care of him; any delay, and you’ll have to answer for it! Even small tasks are done so slowly." Su Yan was throwing a tantrum at the entrance of the building.

The assistant knew that since the young master came back to the group, the madam had been angry every day without a proper outlet, and didn’t dare to say more, hurriedly went to fetch the car.

Su Yan was pacing impatiently on the steps, waiting for the assistant to come over.

Suddenly, something covered my mouth and nose from behind.

Before I had a chance to cry out, I was dragged into the narrow alley next to the building!

"Mmm... muffled sounds... who is it... let me go..."

Su Yan struggled indistinctly until she was dragged to the deepest part of the alley, and then the person let her go.

Panting, she turned around and saw the man in front of her, her eyes widened in shock as she exclaimed, "You... why is it you? How did you get out..."

Huo Zhenxuan, his face covered in stubble, looking gaunt and haggard, stood before her wearing sunglasses and draped in a dirty, cheap-looking jacket, as if bought hastily from a second-hand clothing store. Seeing her scream, he became flustered, pinching Su Yan’s throat, and whispered sharply, "Keep your voice down! Do you want to be heard?"

Su Yan, worried that he might do something drastic out of desperation, quickly hushed, "Weren’t you taken away by Interpol? How did you get out? Did you... escape?"

He sinisterly replied, "What else?"

After the day of the shareholder meeting, Huo Zhenxuan was taken by Interpol to the city police station for a temporary interrogation in Yunling.

Last night during the interrogation, while being transferred from the detention center to the interrogation room at the police station and taking advantage of a shift change with fewer guards around, he injured a police officer and escaped.

Su Yan tried to remain calm, "Then you better run away quickly."

Huo Zhenxuan’s originally decent-looking features suddenly contorted, his face turning devilishly arrogant and angry, "Run away? Interpol is combing the city for me, the airports and train stations are all manned by their people, how can I escape? Moreover, the Mexican drug cartel knows I’ve been caught by Interpol; fearing I might expose the crimes I’ve committed for them over the years, they want to kill me to keep me quiet. And Interpol will issue a worldwide red notice for my arrest. Now tell me, where can I run—"

Su Yan stared at his eyes, red with despair, her heart pounding with fear, and quickly looked to dismiss this plague-bringer to avoid implicating herself, "Looking for me is useless, though."

Huo Zhenxuan knew she was being perfunctory and didn’t bother to waste words, his lips lifting in a smile that betrayed a hint of eeriness and viciousness, "Two things, help me take care of them. Otherwise, just wait for the evidence of you killing Xiaolei to be exposed!"

Su Yan took in a cold breath, and after a moment, she asked, "What do you want me to help you with?"

"First, arrange for a local snakehead; I need to smuggle out of the country. Also, you, help me buy something from the black market, I need it before tonight."

"You... what do you need?"