With no other choice, Frederick Fairfax headed upstairs.
"Hubby, hubby!"
"What is it?"
"I heard you can play the piano. The baby wants to listen," Olivia Young said, gently cradling her belly. "Grandfather just told me that dads need to take part in prenatal education too."
Dad! Dad! Dad! He was just the stepdad!
"Why does he tell you everything?" Frederick Fairfax grumbled, but his feet already carried him straight to the music room.
"You weren’t home, so Grandfather kept me company and even showed me your childhood photo albums. Jingche, you were so adorable as a kid, like a little prince—super cute." Olivia Young looked up at the tall man before her. "What on earth did you eat to grow so tall?"
"Good genes, obviously. You can forget about it. Even if you have a boy, he won’t be taller or better-looking than me."
Olivia Young cupped her stomach with both hands. "Baby, don’t listen to your daddy’s nonsense. You’ll outshine him for sure—if you’re a boy, you’ll be more handsome than him; if you’re a girl, even prettier than mommy."
Frederick Fairfax took a seat at the piano. What kind of karma was this?
He was about to play piano for someone else’s kid as prenatal education.
Couldn’t her child just listen to music on a speaker? Did it have to be live?
What picky little ears! Already troublesome before even being born.
"So, what do you want to hear?"
Frederick Fairfax’s slender fingers, with their rosy tips, looked perfectly made for the piano.
"Für Elise."
Elise? That wicked woman from the other night had claimed her name was Elise.
Except, that name wasn't even on the guest list that night. Liar. She’d even faked her name.
Usually so unruly and untamed, Frederick Fairfax, with his pink hair, looked every bit the elegant nobleman while seated at the black piano, as if he was born for the music of a bygone era.
His fingers began to dance, and the gentle, flowing notes seemed to make the baby in Olivia Young’s belly kick in time.
Could the baby already sense his dad’s magic?
When the song was over, Olivia Young sat down beside him. "The baby moved when you were playing."
Meeting Olivia Young’s tender gaze, hearing her soft, honeyed voice, Frederick Fairfax’s irritation just melted away.
"He really liked it?"
"He did! He really enjoys when Dad plays. Want to try feeling it?"
"Feel what?" Frederick Fairfax asked nervously.
Feel where?
Olivia Young grabbed his wrist and set his hand carefully on her rounding belly.
In the past, whenever he’d accidentally rolled over and hugged her in his sleep, he’d never really sensed the pregnancy like this.
With only a thin layer of cotton between them, he felt the stir of new life beneath his palm.
"You could talk to him, if you want. He can sense you, you know."
Was she serious?
Did a stepdad really have to go that far?
"I’d rather just play the piano," Frederick Fairfax mumbled, not knowing what to say.
He wasn’t the real dad.
What was he supposed to do, say ‘Hi, I’m your stepdad!’? That’d be ridiculous!
He played a few more pieces. "Is the baby still listening?"
Olivia Young didn’t feel any more kicks—the baby might have dozed off.
She smiled, the corners of her lips arching. "He’s listening."
Little one wasn’t listening at all. She was.
Frederick Fairfax closed the piano lid. “Olivia Young, why is Grandfather doting on you lately? What did you say to him?”
Grandfather was acting so strangely these days.
The only reason he’d married Olivia Young was to fulfill some family tradition and for his own strange bouts of nausea.
Looking back, he realized it really could be pregnancy symptoms.
Pregnant for someone else, it seemed.
So how exactly had Olivia Young convinced Grandfather to side with her?
Olivia Young smiled. "It’s a secret. You’ll find out eventually."
"I was just trying to bluff you, but you and Grandfather really do have secrets I don’t know, huh? What is it?"
"If I'm not letting you know, why would I tell you?" She reached up and ruffled his hair. "We’d never hurt you, you know. We’re your family, after all."
"Hey! Please don’t touch my hair."
"Olivia Young, hands off my hair!"
"You messed up my style!"
"Olivia Young, you—"
Frederick Fairfax, thoroughly exasperated, pulled her into his arms and held her tight so she couldn’t move.
Olivia Young’s lips lightly brushed against his cheek, and Frederick Fairfax froze.
"Hubby~"
"Wanna kiss?"
She... she!
Frederick Fairfax swallowed hard. "You say things like that—what about the terms of our prenuptial agreement?"
"I’m just asking your permission, not forcing you." Olivia Young licked her lips. "It’s just, it’s been so long since our last kiss. Your lips look so kissable. Just like how your abs are so tempting to touch!"
Flirt on, Olivia Young, flirt all you want!
If he caved even a bit, he’d be wrapped around her little finger for life. Was this how the baby happened too?
"Can I kiss you?"
Suddenly, he really did want to kiss her.
What a waste of a romantic mood if they didn’t kiss now.
If this were a romance drama, this would be the slow-motion passionate kiss scene.
But their kiss couldn’t get too steamy. The story wouldn’t allow that.
"No. No way," Frederick Fairfax refused firmly.
"Then let me go!"
He released her reluctantly.
"If you won’t kiss me, don’t bother coming back to the master bedroom tonight." Olivia Young stood up and walked out.
Frederick Fairfax: ???
Wasn’t the master bedroom originally his room? Wasn’t it?
He didn’t believe she’d actually bar him entry.
But right at the bedroom door, Aunt Holly stopped him.
"Young Master, Miss Young says you toss and turn too much at night, and it disturbs her sleep. So, you’re not allowed in tonight."
"Not like I really wanted to go in," Frederick Fairfax said through gritted teeth.
Who gave this mistress-and-maid duo so much authority? Even dared to block him!
He’d remember this. Revenge would come sooner or later.
For now, Frederick Fairfax’s idea of revenge was leaving to go film on set. He didn’t even leave a trace at home.
They were so busy teasing each other that Olivia Young had completely forgotten to ask Frederick Fairfax about Liam Rivers.
She didn’t remember until she saw Liam Rivers at the film’s opening ceremony.
Speak of the devil; he’d actually taken the part.
Olivia Young texted Frederick Fairfax, but the guy didn’t respond at all.
Men—so petty.
A week later.
Olivia Young came home from shopping with her mom, only to hear retching from the bathroom.
Tiptoeing over, she found Frederick Fairfax crouching by the toilet.
Was it starting again?
Why was he still getting sick?
Once he was done, Frederick Fairfax reached his hand out, and a glass of water was already waiting. He rinsed out his mouth and turned to see Olivia Young.
"Yu. Xi. Yue!"
"Hey, hubby, long time no see," Olivia Young greeted him with a big smile. "Still getting sick, huh?"
Seriously! Why was he still nauseous?
After marrying Olivia Young, he’d hardly thrown up those days—maybe once a day, sometimes not at all. But as soon as they were apart, and he went to film, the nausea came back, impossible to suppress.
Maybe he really did need to stay by her side.
Frederick Fairfax slowly leaned in, the corner of his mouth curling up in a wicked grin.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
Olivia Young backed away, hand protectively on her belly. "Why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t even use your card when I went shopping today. Frederick Fairfax, calm down!"