Hearing this, Aiden Howkins’s face turned a few shades paler.

’It’s over, it’s all over. Something huge is about to happen in Aethelgard!’

The young nurse continued her indignant report, "And that’s not all. Miss Quincy forced us to keep quiet and forbade us from telling anyone about Miss Sinclair’s miscarriage—not even Miss Sinclair herself. That’s why she never came back to the hospital for a follow-up."

"Are you saying she doesn’t know she had a miscarriage?"

"Yes. Miss Sinclair was unconscious for a long time that day, and having lost so much blood, she was barely conscious when we performed the medical abortion. Afterward, Miss Quincy wouldn’t let us near her room. If Miss Sinclair knew about something like this, why wouldn’t she come back for a check-up? A condition like this can easily lead to infertility."

"Damn it!" Aiden Howkins couldn’t help but curse, then turned to leave.

The young nurse was stunned for a moment, then hurried after him. "Adjutant Hawkins, please don’t tell Miss Quincy I was the one who told you! She’ll kill me! She’s vicious when she hits people. Miss Sinclair couldn’t even fight back that day. I don’t want to die!"

Aiden Howkins looked back at her and said through gritted teeth, "I won’t. Now go back to your work."

"Thank you, Adjutant Hawkins!" As if she’d been saved, the young nurse finally returned to her post, relieved.

...

「A district in the south.」

After rushing back, the first thing Aiden Howkins did was take a hospital report into a certain tent.

Adrian Quincy had not yet returned; he was showering in the temporary bathing facility next door.

Aiden Howkins placed the report on the table and stood aside, awaiting his superior’s return.

After a long wait, Adrian Quincy entered wearing a white robe. A white towel was draped over his head, and he used it to dry his hair as he walked in.

With his head lowered, Aiden Howkins reported in a low voice, "Young Master Quincy, I’ve brought back the Young Madam’s hospital report. Please take a look."

Adrian Quincy walked to his desk, casually picked up the report, and glanced over it. His already grim, handsome face was instantly shrouded in a murderous chill.

He crumpled the paper into a ball, tossed it into the trash can, and abruptly turned to walk out. "Pack up. We’re going back."

"Huh? Yes, sir!" Aiden Howkins was taken aback. ’He just got back, and now we’re leaving already?’

He hurried out after him, adding information that wasn’t in the report. "Young Master Quincy, the Young Madam doesn’t seem to know about the miscarriage. She might not even have known she was pregnant."

"What did you say?" Adrian Quincy glared back.

Aiden Howkins forced himself to continue, "Miss Yara silenced the doctors and nurses and also concealed the Young Madam’s condition from her. That’s why she didn’t even know she needed a follow-up check-up after being discharged. For the full details, you’ll have to ask Miss Yara, Young Master Quincy."

Adrian Quincy’s cold eyes narrowed, and the chill radiating from him was nearly enough to freeze the air.

’My first child with Claire... gone, just like that. And she never even knew the child existed...’

Without a doubt, what Yara Quincy had done to Claire was like adding frost to the snow of their already crumbling marriage—making a terrible situation even worse.

’And to think Claire was so calm when she broke up with me over the phone. Once she learns the whole truth, will she hate me for the rest of her life?’

’Claire, I’m so sorry. I was terribly wrong this time, allowing you to be hurt so badly.’

’As for the person who hurt you, I swear I will make her pay a heavy price!’

...

"ACHOO!" Claire Sinclair couldn’t help but sneeze. Her head felt fuzzy. After another night of poor sleep, she had actually caught a cold.

Looking at the mountain of work piled on her desk, she could only accept her fate. ’After all, who else is to blame for taking on so much...’

After her chat with Teacher Hartwell that day, she had thrown herself into a frenzy of work. She kept herself so busy she couldn’t think straight, leaving no room for wayward thoughts.

But after only about a month, her body was already protesting. ’It seems I overestimated myself after all.’