<h4>Chapter 418: Boy or Girl?</h4>


    Back at the hotel, Ey exhausted on the bed. After drinking a little water, her stomach churned again, and she rushed to the bathroom to throw up.


    Eric stood by, heart aching as he watched her suffer. He wished he could take on the pregnancy for her.


    "They say strong nausea means it’s a girl," Eric said with a cheerful smile as he rubbed her back.


    E rinsed her mouth and gave him a quizzical look. "Eric, are you going to be one of those people who prefer sons over daughters?"


    "Of course not," Eric replied without hesitation. "Sons, daughters—it’s all the same to me."


    "Hmph, I thought some people preferred sons!"


    Eughed despite herself, her eyes sparkling with joy even though she still felt physically unwell.


    Eric gently tapped her forehead. "I think *you’re* the one who wants a son."


    "Eric, don’t you dare nder me like that!"


    E yfully punched him with her small fists,ughing all the while. As they bantered, Eric’s phone rang.


    He nced at the caller ID—it was John.


    Eric picked up. "What’s going on?"


    "Boss, we’ve got the results from the investigation you asked for," John said, his tone low and serious.


    Eric immediately moved to the balcony, his instincts kicking in. "Go on."


    "Tiffany was in a car ident and was rushed to a L hospital, but she diedter that night from excessive blood loss. Her older brother signed off on the cremation paperwork the following day."


    Eric frowned. "Her older brother?"


    "Yes, Andrew. That’s who signed the papers. I also learned from their rtives that Andrew arrived in Country W the day after Tiffany got there. The timing is suspicious, isn’t it? I’ve met Andrew before—hees across as a simple, honest man. Unlike Tiffany, he struggled after college, finding it hard to deal with the cutthroat nature of corporate life. He eventually quit and started a small business. It didn’t fail, but it wasn’t exactly thriving either. Once Tiffany found sess, he switched to running a clothing business, with Tiffany as the face of the brand."


    Eric’s expression darkened as he listened.


    Tiffany’s death was too coincidental. Why had it happened right after she met E?


    That suspicion had led Eric to instruct John to investigate discreetly.


    "Andrew’s business did improve, but I noticed something odd," John continued. "At Tiffany’s funeral, neither Andrew nor their parents seemed particrly grief-stricken. And that same night... Andrew was seen sneaking off to a nightclub with a model."


    Eric’s lips curled into a cold smile. "His sister, the backbone of his family, dies, and he has the energy to pick up women?"


    "Exactly. It raised a red g, but we haven’t found anything concrete yet. We’re keeping an eye on him for now," John said.


    Eric’s eyes shed with a cold gleam. Tiffany—better known as Hannah—had climbed to stardom as an award-winning actress, and it hadn’t been through hard work alone.


    Behind her sess, there had been support, not just from the Miller family, but perhaps from others as well.


    "Good. Investigate further. Look into Tiffany’s connections during her rise to fame—find out who she was close with during that time."


    "Understood, Boss. I’ll get my team on it."


    "Be careful. Don’t tip anyone off," Eric warned.


    After John agreed and hung up, Eric turned to find E sitting nearby, quietly watching him.


    "What’s going on? Why are you suddenly out here?" he asked, surprised.


    E yfully batted her eyshes. "Eavesdropping, of course! You were being all secretive—I thought you were chatting with some little girlfriend!"


    Eric chuckled, dropping to one knee and cing a hand gently on her abdomen. "My little girlfriend is right here. You know, they say daughters are a man’s soulmate from a past life. E, aren’t you jealous?"


    E rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. "Jealous? Of myself? Dream on, Mr. Nelson."


    Eughed mischievously. "Then I’ll have a son too. After all, sons are a woman’s soulmate from her past life and this life’s debt collector. Wouldn’t you be jealous?"


    Eric sighed, defeated, and kissed her gently on the cheek. "Not jealous, because in this life, you’re mine."


    E smiled, but her thoughts drifted back to his conversation with John.


    "By the way... you mentioned investigating someone. Was it Tiffany?" Herrge eyes shimmered with a soft light that tugged at his heart.


    "It’s nothing, just a small matter. Don’t worry about it."


    E was in a delicate state, and Eric wanted to ensure she stayed happy and rxed as she focused on her pregnancy.


    E nodded, choosing not to press further. They shared a sweet moment before a servant arrived with a nourishing medicinal soup. Lucas had specifically arranged for a traditional herbal recipe, mild enough for her condition but full of nutrients.


    E reluctantly drank half a bowl, suppressing her nausea with effort. This time, she managed to avoid throwing up.


    "Your father wants me to return home to finalize the wedding preparations. Would you like to stay here for a while? Once everything’s ready, I’lle back to get you," Eric suggested, offering her the rest of the soup with a gentle smile.


    E’s current state made it impossible for her to travel or help with the wedding arrangements. Eric nned to handle all the details personally to ensure everything was perfect.


    "That might be best..." E said quietly. "Even though I still hold some resentment toward him, he’s still my father. There were misunderstandings back then..."


    Her expression darkened slightly. The past couldn’t be undone, no matter how much she wished otherwise.


    Staying behind would give her time to rebuild her rtionship with Lucas, something she knew she couldn’t avoid forever.


    "That’s a good idea. While you’re staying at your father’s house, make sure to take care of yourself. And... keep some distance from Luke," Eric added, his tone shifting as he recalled the earlier incident.


    E chuckled softly. "He’s not a tiger. Why worry so much?"


    "A wife should listen to her husband, you know?" Eric replied, sidestepping further exnation. He kissed her cheek again, murmuring, "You’ve been through so much, my love."


    But as he kissed her, something stirred within him. The soft scent of her skin and the warmth of her presence made his desires rise unexpectedly.


    E, sensing his intentions, quickly pushed him away. "No, the doctor said it’s best to avoid... anything like that in the first three months."


    Eric exhaled heavily, his eyes flickering with restrained longing. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to suppress his urges.