The Heiress Spoiled by Four Brothers and One Devilish CEO-Chapter 276 Don’t be sad

After a long ride with countless mountain curves, the black Bentley finally rolled up to the gates of the Genexa Medical Research Lab.

Tristan walked in with Megan and Nicole, heading straight to the cell where Nathaniel was being held.

He pressed the intercom button. "Nathaniel, Nicole’s here."

A rough, hoarse voice came from the other side. "I want to see her."

Tristan glanced at Nicole. She gave a small nod.

He then hit a black button, and the one-way mirror instantly turned into a large screen, projecting their faces right in front of Nathaniel.

The moment Nicole saw him, her face went ghostly pale. Her eyes locked on the man who looked barely human anymore, and her eyes burned red.

Nathaniel stood at the mirror, pressing his palms to the glass, the corner of his mouth curled into a mocking grin. "Heard you’re carrying my baby?"

Nicole shut down the anger rising in her chest. "Yeah. Yours."

Nathaniel let out a low, chilling laugh, like she’d just cracked the best joke in the world. "How do I know it’s not Tristan’s? You were all cozy with him back then—who knows what went down?"

"Everybody knows Tristan’s heart only beats for Megan," Nicole said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "You and I were on the run when it happened. This baby’s from that time."

She kept her tone cool. "But I’m here to tell you—it’s not your business anymore. This is my child now, and I get to decide whether he lives or dies."

Nathaniel’s grin vanished in a heartbeat. His jaw tensed. "You’re trying to play me with the baby?"

Nicole’s face was calm, but her words cut sharp. "I didn’t ask to be here. You wanted this meeting. I’m just telling you the truth. I hate you, Nathaniel. You took my family. I thought I might keep this baby, but now that I’ve seen you again, all I want is for him to never exist. I’ll get rid of him—your child."

"You wouldn’t dare!"

"Try me." Nicole fixed her gaze on him, her tears slipping silently down her face.

"Nicole!" His chest heaved, like the rage inside him had nowhere to go. "You’re such a vicious woman!"

"Vicious?" She laughed bitterly. "You locked up my family, infected us with sorcery worms to control me. You forced me to sleep with those men, pushed me into killing. I became your puppet—empty, hollow. When I first learned about the baby, I thought maybe I could be more than that. Maybe I had something to hold onto. But now, just looking at you drags me right back to that nightmare."

Nicole’s eyes darkened. "Your one and only child’s about to die, and honestly? That’s the only thing I feel proud of."

"No... don’t. Please, let him live!"

She shook her head with a cold laugh. "Even if I didn’t hate you, the world out there is going to be overrun by zombies. I won’t let my kid grow up in that hell."

With nothing more to say, she turned and started walking out.

"Wait!" Nathaniel called out after her. "Please. Don’t. He’s our child!"

Nicole stopped in her tracks. "I’ll never let my baby have someone like you as a father."

"I know," he said quietly, watching her slim figure retreating. "I know I won’t ever be in his life. Just... just let him live."

She turned back to look at him. "You know what price you’ll have to pay for that."

"I’ll tell you! Everything! Whatever you want!" His voice cracked, desperation bleeding through. "Just don’t kill him. Please."

For a moment, Nicole’s throat tightened. Her voice wavered. "Fine."

"Did you ever love me?"A drop of hot tear slid down her cheek, stabbing into Nathaniel’s heart. "Once."

With that, Nicole turned on her heel and walked out. Megan glanced at her and quickly followed.

Nathaniel’s eyes landed on Tristan. "Ask me anything. I’ll tell you."

Tristan took a seat across the one-way mirror. "I’ve already locked down the location of Charles Cooper’s lab. What I need now is the number of uninfected people inside, how many of them are modified, and if there are any other similar bases. I’m going to expose everything he’s done — nothing left in the dark."

"Alright. I’ll tell you everything I know."

An hour later, Tristan walked briskly out of the lab and got in the car. "Let me drive you two back to Dreamscape Manor first."

"What about you?" Megan asked.

Tristan turned back to look at her. "He spilled it all. I need to rally the AI army and go in."

Megan leaned forward, voice full of concern. "Can’t you stay behind and coordinate remotely? It’s dangerous."

His gaze lowered, guilt flashing across them. "Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry."

"Go ahead," she said softly. "I’ll drive Nicole back myself."

Tristan pressed a kiss to her smooth forehead. "I’m sorry. I’ll be back as soon as I can."

"Alright." She stepped out of the car too, then called after him.

Striding forward, she wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek on his chest. "Come back early, okay? I’ll miss you."

Tristan gently patted her back. "I will."

Then he let go and his lean figure quickly disappeared from her sight.

Megan got behind the wheel, driving Nicole back to Dreamscape Manor.

"I wanna go to the hospital," Nicole suddenly said.

Megan paused. "What’s going on?"

Nicole forced a thin smile, bitterness hidden underneath. "I can’t keep this baby. Every time I feel him, I remember all the messed-up things I went through... Nathaniel is a nightmare I can’t wake up from. I keep jolting awake from dreams I wish I never had... I can’t pretend nothing happened."

"As long as you’re sure about this."

Nicole hummed quietly in response.

Megan purposely kept the speed down on their way, just in case Nicole changed her mind.

At the hospital parking lot, they got out, registered, and set an appointment for the procedure.

Megan saw the date listed—tomorrow. Her heart sank.

Tomorrow, her baby would have a 4D ultrasound, and Nicole’s... would be gone.

Nicole gave a small, wavering smile. "I’m okay, Megan. Don’t be sad."

Megan gave her a hug, and they left the hospital together.

Back at Dreamscape Manor, the two women cooked dinner together.

Nicole told Megan she’d learned to cook when she was very young. Growing up poor meant she had to grow up early. But ever since Nathaniel, she’d never stepped into a kitchen again. Today was the first time in years she’d cooked—her first and last meal for the baby inside her.

She looked at Megan, a little jealous. Even though Megan was switched at birth, she still had loving parents and a man who adored her. In comparison, Megan was truly the lucky one.

After dinner, Megan brought Nicole to the sunken rose garden.

Nicole looked out at the colorful blossoms, emotions catching her. "Tristan really showers you with love, huh?"

Megan had garden shears in hand, clipping a bright red rose. She was about to snip away a thorn when — ouch — she flinched. Blood beaded from her fingertip, dripping down between her fingers.