Chapter 699


    Karen wasn''t one for wild theories, but if a guy had been admitted to the hospital, there was no way


    Jeffrey would''ve kept it a secret from her.


    Typically, Jeffrey was the kind who''d give her a y-by-y of his day, down to his bathroom


    breaks. But today, he''d darted off to the hospital without a peep. Heck, just earlier, she couldn''t


    reach him at all.


    That could only mean one thing: he was there with a woman.


    A woman?


    Her brows knit together in sudden concern. "It''s not your ex, is it?"


    "No! It''s not her." Jeffrey blurted out so fast it was as if he didn''t even pause to think. Worried he


    might spill more beans, he quickly added, "I''ll be back at the office soon. I''ll exin everything when


    I get home tonight, promise. Gotta run, sweetheart."


    "But, you—"


    Before Karen could finish, the call ended, leaving her staring at her phone, a mixture of annoyance


    and confusion stirring within.


    Just then, Serena called out, breaking her reverie. "Karen, what are you zoning out for? Come on,


    we need your help with your brother."


    "On my way."


    ...


    Jeffrey caught a glimpse of the little girl.


    She was just over a year old, slender and pale, sleeping peacefully in her hospital bed.


    He didn''t dare look too long—just one nce and he stepped out of the room.


    Paige was there, her eyes red and puffy from crying, her breathsing in short, jagged pulls.


    "How much does her treatment cost?" Jeffrey asked, his voice low, not even wanting to look at


    Paige.


    "It''s not much. But I''m afraid that she might not make it."


    He paused, then pulled out a card and handed it to her. "There should be over five million on this.


    Use it for her treatment; I''ll cover the cost."


    Paige was stunned, a flicker of surprise in her eyes as she looked up at him.


    "You''re acknowledging her as yours?"


    "I''m not," Jeffrey said coldly, pushing the card into her hand. "I need to leave. Karen suspects I''m at


    the hospital. I have to get back."


    He turned to go, but Paige caught his arm. "Jeffrey, have you no heart? Your daughter is fighting for


    her life, and you''re just going to leave?"


    "I said I''d pay for the treatment; what more do you want?"


    "At least stay with her through this tough time," Paige retorted, uncharacteristically firm. "You


    showing up today proves you care about your child, even if just a little. So why do you rush back


    when that woman calls? Is she more important than your own daughter?"


    "We haven''t done a DNA test yet. I can''t be sure she''s mine."


    "Jeffrey! You bastard. How can you say such things?" Paige yelled, hysteria edging into her voice.


    "If you never cared about me, why did you get involved with me in the first ce? Why did you


    deceive me, and make me fall for you? You think you''re innocent? Am I not innocent too?"


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Jeffrey had no idea that one night with her would lead to all this mess.


    If he had known, he would''ve never gotten entangled with her, not in the slightest.


    "Just one day, okay?" Paige''s voice softened as she pleaded with him. "The doctor says we''ll know


    by today whether she can go through with the surgery. I can''t handle this alone. Just stay with me in


    the hospital for one day."


    Jeffrey would''ve preferred her yelling, making a scene.


    But this kind of humble begging was hard for him to outright refuse.


    "I told her I''d be home."


    "Just say you''re out ying pool or grabbing a drink with the guys. Isn''t that what you used to tell


    me? You never hesitated to blow me off."


    "If you want a DNA test, let''s do it. We''re in the hospital right now. Let''s get it over with."