"Can money make her go away?” Tarquin asked.


    Keaton shook his head. "She wants one thing: to be Mrs. Huber."


    Tarquin frowned. "I have no connection to her. It''s awkward for you to get involved, so how about I go talk to her?"


    Keaton''s brow tightened as he shook his head again. "I can''t hurt her."


    Tarquin''s face hardened. "... You need to be prepared, Keaton. If you don''t handle this right, something terrible could happen to Janelle and Mr. Huber."


    Just hearing the truth had made Janelle faint.


    If she saw a stillborn baby, the shock could literally kill her.


    Keaton took a hard drag from his cigarette. "Damn it..."


    This was a real crisis, even worse than the pregnancy drama from the past few weeks. He couldn''t see a good way out.


    Maybe it was the anxiety, but before he''d even finished the cigarette, Keaton started heaving again.


    His stomach was empty, so he just dry-heaved.


    Worried he''d catch a cold, Tarquin helped him back to his hospital room.


    Janelle was in the room next door. She had woken up and was sobbing.


    Keaton wanted to gofort her, but Tarquin stopped him. Out of sight, out of mind. Seeing him right now would only make Janelle angrier.


    He got Keaton settled, then stood in the hallway and called Elysia.


    Elysia had just finished dinner with the kids and was cleaning up in the kitchen. She answered the phone with immediate concern.


    "What''s wrong with Keaton?"


    Tarquin exined the situation with Beatrix. Elysia waspletely floored. After a long pause, she finally asked,


    "Is Beatrix really pregnant with Keaton''s baby?!"


    “.....Keaton isn''t sure. The dates line up, but he hasn''t done a paternity test. Beatrix refuses to do one until after they have a marriage license."


    Elysia frowned.


    "Why wait until after they''re married? Is she hiding something?" Tarquin sighed softly.


    "She''s hiding from Keaton now and won''t see him. Her stance is firms if


    he doesn''t marry her she''ll hav rave an abortion and send the... fetusto Janelle and Mr. Huber."


    Elysia red up. “Is she insane? Is the baby just a tool to her?"


    "To put it brutally," Tarquin said, “yes, it is."


    Elysia said angrily,


    "When I first met her, she wore sses and had this whole cold, nerdy-girl vibe. I just thought she was a bit distant, maybe hard to get along with. I never imagined she


    could be this cruel!"


    "What do the problems between adults have to do with a child? That''s her own flesh and blood! Even if she doesn''t want to have it, she shouldn''t use it like this!"


    "And what does Keaton not wanting to marry her have to do with Mr. Huber and Janelle? Sending them the aborted baby... she''s trying to kill them!"


    Tarquin was angry too, his brow furrowed.


    “She tried threatening Keaton with a rape usationst time and it failed. This time, she''s going all in."


    Elysia frowned.


    “...So what now? What''s Keaton nning to do?”


    "He hasn''t figured out a solution yet," Tarquin said. “Janelle fainted from the shock. She just woke up and is still in her room crying."


    "Keaton is still dry-heaving."


    "Jess is pregnant, so we haven''t dared to tell her about this. I''m noting home tonight. I''ll stay at the hospital to look after them."


    Elysia was supportive.


    “Okay, you stay there and be with them. Don''t worry about things at home. Call me if anything happens. If you really need me, I''lle over."


    "You don''t need toe," Tarquin said. "You stay home and take care of the kids. I can handle it here. Benjamin is also at the hospital tonight so can call him if there''s an emergency."


    Elysia let out a long breath.


    "Okay, then I''lle see Janelle tomorrow morning after I drop the kids off at school."


    "...Alright."


    After hanging up, Elysia couldn''t resist video-calling Winona.


    Winona was, of course, eating. She was holding a huge slice of tiramisu, savoring every bite.