The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold)

Chapter 1266

Raines barely glanced at her, "Just set it aside, I'll have it later."

"That soup's best served hot, or it'll go off if it cools," Lisbeth warned.

"I know," Raines replied, his tone icy and detached, sending a chill through Lisbeth's heart as if she'd plunged into a wintry cave.

"I'm in the next room over if you need anything."

"We have maids for that, no need for you to step in," Raines cut in.

At that moment, Lisbeth felt a flutter in her belly, a delicate tremor that rippled through her being.

It was the baby's first kick.

"Raines, the baby just moved for the first time. Do you want to feel it?" she asked, hope threading her voice.

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Raines glanced at her rounded stomach, replying, "Just focus on your prenatal care. Leave everything else to the maids."

"But Raines, this child is truly yours. I've made many mistakes, but | would never betray you on this," Lisbeth implored.

"There's no need to explain. I'm not interested in the details. Once the baby's born, we'll do a paternity test. The truth will out,"

Raines said with cold indifference.

Lisbeth bit her lip, falling silent. She didn't know what else to say. Their relationship seemed frozen in time, the warmth they once

shared was now just a memory, replaced by an endless cold.

As Aurelia stepped out of her room, she ran into Lisbeth, saying, "Lisbeth, why don't you head down for ssweet stew? The

kitchen has just finished a pot of sweet stew."

Lisbeth nodded and left, and Aurelia made her way to Raines' room.

According to Skyler's professional analysis, Raines might not actually have amnesia. He could just be unable to accept the fact that

he was betrayed by someone he loved, forcing himself to pretend to have forgotten Lisbeth.

The heart's ailments required the heart's cure, and maybe she could do something.

She knocked and entered the room where Raines was sipping his soup.

"Feeling any better, Raines?"

"Much, thanks for asking," Raines replied.

Aurelia settled on the couch and spoke deliberately, "After you were kidnapped, Lisbeth suffered a lot. The villains poisoned her,

threatening her life unless she cooperated. Under such duress, with no one to turn to, she was compelled to follow their demands."

Raines stirred the soup in his bowl.

"We all make our own choices. No one can help with that."

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"If it had been me," Aurelia continued, "faced with such a situation, | would have been scared and lost too. But Lisbeth, she found

her strength. She stayed close to the enemy, gathering information that helped us rescue you."

"It's not easy for two people to find and love each other. Now that the storm has passed, | hope you and Lisbeth can reconcile."

"The storm hasn't passed. My mother hasn't been found. If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself," Raines said,

implying he'd also never forgive Lisbeth.

"We're working hard to find Elfreda. We'll find her," Aurelia assured him, "It's not your fault, nor Lisbeth's. Our enemy is cunning

and had this planned all along. Leopold and | have been deceived more times than we can count."

"If I'd been more vigilant, more prepared, | wouldn't have fallen into their trap," Raines blamed himself.

"Raines, we didn't expect them to reach out to you. It's easy to dodge a clear shot, but not so for a stab in the back. You can't

blyourself."

She could see Raines’ real issue was Elfreda. Until Elfreda was found, he couldn't accept Lisbeth. If something truly happened to

Elfreda, a thorn would remain between him and Lisbeth, possibly preventing any chance of mending their broken bond.