<h4>Chapter 416: Could She Be Pregnant?</h4>


    If it had been a stranger, Lucas wouldn’t have reacted so anxiously. The thought brought to E’s mind a news story she’d read recently—a father had thrown his child out of a car during an ident, saving the child from a horrific tragedy.


    This was the essence of paternal love.


    If it had been a stranger, that father would likely have focused solely on escaping or avoiding harm, not sacrificing precious seconds for someone else.


    "E, are you okay?" Eric’s soft voice broke through her thoughts as he noticed her distant expression.


    E snapped back to reality and offered a faint smile. "I’m fine. Anderson... Mr. Anderson shielded me from all the hot soup. How could I possibly be hurt?"


    The water temperature had warmed slightly, so E instructed a waiter to rece it. She continued helping Lucas cool his hand.


    At that moment, the hotel manager and several senior staff arrived in a rush, apologizing profusely to Lucas.


    "Please don’t worry," Lucas said calmly. "It’s just a minor injury. The waiter was only trying to avoid hitting a child—it’spletely understandable. Please don’t make things difficult for him."


    Hearing Lucas’s words, the manager smiled nervously. "Understood, Mr. Anderson. But perhaps we should take you to the hospital for proper treatment..."


    "There’s no need. It’s just a small burn. Don’t make a fuss," Lucas said evenly. With his reassurance, the staff refrained from ming the waiter.


    The waiter, who had just returned with burn ointment, overheard Lucas’s kind words and was moved to tears.


    E, feeling awkward, released Lucas’s hand. Her earlier worry and concern had been instinctive—almost as if Lucas were truly her father.


    The ancient saying "blood is thicker than water" seemed to hold some truth. E stepped aside as the waiter cautiously applied ointment to Lucas’s burn, bringing the small incident to a close.


    Despite the pain, Lucas’s spirits were high. The episode reassured him that E still cared for him, proving she wasn’t as cold-hearted as she tried to appear.


    "E, Eric, why don’t we all have lunch together?" Lucas asked warmly.


    Eric took E’s hand and said gently, "Let’s join them."


    E nodded slightly. "Since we’re already here, let’s eat together."


    Luke nced at E, his gaze lingering on her face. Her fairplexion was tinged with a faint blush, as delicate as a budding peach blossom on a spring branch. His heart pounded like a drum, and he turned away angrily, ashamed of his reaction.


    Eric noticed Luke’s reaction and smirked faintly, a trace of mockery in his expression.


    The group moved to their usual private dining room, and the atmosphere was harmonious. Although E spoke little, her attitude had softened significantlypared to the rebellious edge she used to disy.


    Halfway through the meal, E suddenly felt a wave of nausea. Her stomach churned violently, and she abruptly stood up, rushing toward the private room’s bathroom.


    "E!"


    All three men shot to their feet simultaneously. Eric was the first to follow her inside. "E, what’s wrong?" he asked anxiously.


    Luke’s face darkened, and a thought struck him—was E... pregnant?


    Lucas, on the other hand, couldn’t hide his delight. "If my girl is about to be a mom, that means I’ll be a grandfather!" he said, his face lighting up with joy.


    Inside the bathroom, Eric hovered worriedly over E as she retched into the sink, her face pale and drawn. Gently patting her back, he asked, "E, are you okay? Are you feeling any better?"


    E gasped for air, her stomach seemingly emptied. "I feel... a little better now," she managed to say weakly.


    Her mouth tasted bitter and unpleasant. Lucas stepped in with a ss of water. "Here, rinse your mouth," he said softly.


    E epted the ss with trembling hands, but before she could drink, Eric took it from her and held it to her lips.


    Lucas flushed the contents of the toilet away, his expression calm andposed. Despite his elegant demeanor, he didn’t flinch in the face of something most people would find unpleasant.


    E rinsed her mouth, finally feeling a little relief.


    "Should we go to the hospital for a checkup?" Eric asked, his brow furrowed. Was E pregnant? He vividly remembered her insistence on not wanting children yet—they always used protection.


    Condoms were generally 85–98% effective, and after years without any surprises, it seemed unlikely. Could this time be different?


    "I’m fine; don’t worry so much," E reassured him with a soft smile. "I might’ve eaten something that didn’t agree with me. I’ve felt nauseous a few times over the past few days."


    Lucas chuckled, clearly in high spirits. "Perhaps I’m about to be a grandfather!"


    E’s cheeks turned pink, and Eric’s face lit up with joy. "In that case, we’d better hurry and finish nning the wedding."


    "Absolutely," Lucas agreed with a nod.


    Everyone seemed delighted by the possibility, except for Luke, whose indifferent expression remained unchanged. After all, this news had nothing to do with him.


    After the meal, Lucas invited E and Eric to visit the Anderson family estate again.


    This was E’s second time at the estate, and it felt much more weing than the first.


    Lucas was visibly pleased with Eric as his son-inw and eagerly discussed wedding details in the living room. From the earlier events, it was clear that E epting Lucas as her father was only a matter of time.


    Feeling a bit stifled, E decided to take a walk. The estate’s servants greeted her respectfully, calling her "Miss."


    "E!"


    A cold voice stopped her in her tracks.


    E turned around, her dress flowing elegantly in the breeze, entuating her graceful silhouette.


    Luke approached her with a stern expression.


    "What is it, Mr. Anderson?" E asked, raising her eyebrows slightly. Her bright eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and amusement.


    Thete autumn sunlight was not harsh, but its warmth enveloped her, making her look like she was glowing. Luke, seeing her bathed in the golden light, thought she resembled a radiant goddess.


    "Father has done so much for you. I hope you won’t hurt him again," Luke said coolly, his voice steady, though his expression betrayed his inner turmoil.


    E scoffed softly, her tone sharp. "That’s none of your business, so stop meddling."


    For a fleeting moment, a dark flicker of emotion passed through Luke’s eyes. But E paid him no further attention, instead reaching out to gently touch a blooming rose nearby.


    "Father didn’t interfere with Eric’s situation. These past few days, he barely slept or ate. He’s relieved Eric returned safely, but if he hadn’t..."


    "Luke, it’s over now. Stop cursing Eric!" E interjected, her tone sharp as she lifted her gaze to him. "I know you don’t approve of me being with Eric. It must really bother you!"


    Luke opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.


    His intention had been to advise her, but the moment he saw her, he couldn’t help but approach.


    E straightened her posture, ready to leave. But just as she was about to take a step, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. Her strength seemed to drain inexplicably, and she felt herself tipping sideways.


    "Careful!"


    Luke, standing close by, quickly reached out, his strong arm wrapping around her waist to steady her.