Her Precious Baby

Chapter 78

“She’s the one who’s got her scandal featured on the news, isn’t she?”

“Absolutely. I could’ve never imagined someone with such an innocent image to pull off a pregnancy out of wedlock behind closed doors.”

“Why haven’t I heard of the child’s father, though? Don’t tell me that woman has stooped to becoming some tycoons’ mistress and bore them an illegitimate child?”

“I think so!”

Upon hearing those remarks, Angeline was thoroughly dumbfounded.

Pregnancy out of wedlock?

That was the most humiliating criticism she had ever received. What made matters worse was that the skeleton she had been keeping in the closet for so many years was exposed just like that right in front of everyone.

“Angeline!”

Nancy flurried right over and dragged Angeline, who was puzzled in place, to a corner out of the public eye.

“What happened exactly? Have you really had a premarital pregnancy?” probed Nancy. A tinge of anxiety crept over her.

After being yelled at, Angeline eventually regained her senses, her face ghastly white.

Realizing that she could no longer keep the secret under her hat, she flashed Nancy a serious visage while pursing her lips and admitting, “Yes.”

The second Nancy verified the truth, she staggered a little, almost losing her balance. “H-Hold on… You’re kidding, right? Why did you keep me in the dark?”

“I’m sorry,” responded Angeline as a wave of guilt washed over her. “I hadn’t debuted when it happened, which is why I had never made a public confession. Besides, it’s not even something proud to be brought to light.”

Listening to those words, Nancy pressed on the wall to support herself as she gradually calmed herself down. Moments later, she voiced, “So, you really had given birth to a child? Who’s the father, then?”

Angeline’s mien turned as grim as death at the mention of the child’s father. Sheer disappointment deluged her as if her heart had plummeted to the ground.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.” Nancy hushed Angeline on that note.

Since the former had been in charge of Angeline for so many years, she could tell what was on Angeline’s mind solely by reading the expression on her face.

Seeing Angeline’s dejected look, Nancy could not bring herself to say any more harsh words. All Nancy did was walk up to her and give her a hug.

“This might actually do you some good. Well, at least you won’t be getting so much attention from the media for a while. I’ll talk to the higher-ups later and have our public relations department suppress the news before it continues to gain traction,” stated Nancy.

Indignant, she sighed as she spoke beside Angeline’s ear. “To think that we don’t even know who leaked this to the public! D*mn it!”

A snort escaped from Angeline’s mouth when she heard that. “The culprit can only be the one who’d benefit the most from this,” was her deduction.

“You mean Denise?”

From Angeline’s point of view, Denise could be the only one who would pull such a trick. Even so, Angeline had never disclosed her premarital pregnancy to anyone, so it would be impossible for Denise to even get wind of it.

That was unless the latter had been tipped off by someone else. Joseline must be the one who ratted on me! Who else but she?

Soon after, Nancy and Angeline stepped out together, and the latter decided to apologize to Derek and the management team of the film.

Since the issue had already happened, she figured that she ought to think of a plan to deal with it rather than grieving over it.

At that point in time, the entire film crew had ceased filming altogether. Derek and the rest of the team were having a meeting in the lounge. On the other hand, Angeline stood outside the door, pressing her ear against the door and listening to the discussion going on inside. Sadly, Derek and the producer were not on the same page, and that brought about an ear-splitting heated argument.

About more than ten minutes later, the door to the lounge was flung open from the inside. Derek jumped in fright upon catching sight of Angeline right outside the door.

“How long have you been standing here? Did you hear everything?” he asked.

“Mm.” The look on Angeline’s face grew solemn as she bowed deeply before Derek and the rest of the management team. “I’m truly sorry. Due to my personal affair, I’ve caused the film crew a huge loss. I’ll do whatever I can to make amends,” she said apologetically.

Taking note of her heartfelt apology, Derek did not reprimand her. The others, in turn, merely shook their heads and walked away.

After the management team had left the place, Derek glanced at Angeline with a complicated look in his eyes and piped up, “You’re recommended by Mr. Golding, Angeline. Even if you’re in the wrong, we’ll still do you a favor on account of Mr. Golding.”

Angeline did not offer a reply to that.

“So, we’ve reached a conclusion during the meeting where we’ll be postponing your schedule first. However, if the news doesn’t die down after three days, we’ll have no choice but to have you replaced,” added Derek, wearing a stern countenance the whole time.

“Thank you, Mr. McKenna.” A smile finally touched Angeline’s lips.

Given that The Journey was one of the biggest productions, every delay in the shooting would spell a massive loss in revenue. Taking that into account, Derek was already kind enough in making such a call.

After parting ways with the film crew, Nancy sent Angeline home while she herself attended a meeting back at the company to see how the matter at hand would play out.

That would be logical, for the current state was quite a challenging one for Angeline. On top of that, it was not appropriate for her to make an appearance at the company, not just yet.

Once Angeline reached home, she fished out her phone to dial Joseline’s number. Yet, Joseline did not answer after several attempts.

It was as clear as day that Joseline was trying to prevail over Angeline.

By not picking up the calls, she successfully made Angeline lose herself in an anxiety spiral, constantly looking over her own shoulder. In fact, Joseline had more than just a photo to play as her trump card. When the time came, she would definitely put more of Angeline’s dark past under the media spotlight.

As Angeline’s train of thought arrived there, her emotions became a jumbled mess. She slumped onto the couch and curled herself into a ball. Embracing the pink rabbit pillow on the couch, she buried her head into it.

I’ve worked so hard to get my hands on that role. I haven’t even shot my first scene, and here I am, running into a disaster. I can’t accept this! There’s no way I’d allow myself to be a sitting duck. I’ll have to come up with a solution as soon as I can. I’d really be a fool if I were to stay idle like this and wait for the company to put out the fire!

With that, Angeline immersed herself in collecting more information on the internet throughout the evening. Night soon arrived.

She wanted to head into the kitchen to make herself some pasta for dinner. However, the doorbell suddenly rang at that very juncture.

It’s already so late… Who could it be?

A pucker formed between her eyebrows as she made her way to the door and answered it.

A figure decked in a black outfit from head to toe was standing right in front of her. Witnessing that person’s appearance, Angeline could not help but be assailed by panic. She instinctively shut the door on a whim.

Nevertheless, the man in black grabbed her hand right away. A familiar male voice then rang out. “Hey! It’s me, Angie! Don’t shut me out.”

The man in black eventually took off his hat and sunglasses as he spoke. He gazed at the woman, grinning from ear to ear.

The smile from the man seemed as pure as the driven snow, and not a tinge of insincerity could be found.

As soon as Angeline recognized that face of his, she covered her mouth in shock. “Jacob! How do you know where I stay?”

With a sheepish look, Jacob ruffled his hair and answered, “I ran a background check on you, Angie. Don’t worry, though. I was only afraid that I might’ve gotten the wrong person. I swear I don’t have any other motives.”

Knowing where Jacob was coming from, Angeline had no intention of reproaching him.

Had he wished to put her in harm’s way, he would never have come knocking on her door at a time like that. In addition, should his visit be discovered by the media, the whole act would then be nothing but a pyrrhic victory for him.

“Oh, by the way, Angie, I heard you’ve been suspended from work. I’m afraid that you might be in trouble, so I came over to see you. Look! I even got you groceries,” said Jacob enthusiastically. He even waggled the shopping bags in his hands as he spoke.

His sincere demeanor sent a warm sensation through Angeline’s heart. Immediately, she invited the man into the house. “Come in and take a seat.”

Jacob accepted her invitation and set foot inside before sweeping a glance at the interior of the house. “Such a clean place you have, Angie,” he praised, satisfied.

“It is but a simple home. Do make yourself at home.” Angeline poured him a glass of water. Following that, she checked out the shopping bags he brought.