<h4>Chapter 426: Acknowledging His Identity</h4>


    E leaned gently into Eric’s embrace, her fingers brushing over his slightly rough hands. "I know you’ve been working hard these past days," she said softly.


    Though she didn’t press him, E understood that Eric rarely worked thiste. In the past, he always made it home in time for dinner and would take her for a stroll afterward. For him to stay at the office until 10 p.m., there must have been something exceptionally important happening.


    What’s more, Eric had always been forting with her about everything, but now it seemed like he was deliberately keeping something from her.


    "How are you feeling today?" Eric asked, leaning back on the couch and gently kissing her cheek.


    "Pretty good. Much better than usual," E replied with a smile.


    Eric ced a hand on her waist and began massaging gently. "Still sore?"


    E chuckled lightly. "Not anymore. My body seems to be recovering quite well these past few days."


    Eric continued to rub her waist tenderly before getting up to fill the bathtub. He wanted E to take a bath, not only to rx her but also to distract himself from the desires he had been suppressing.


    The warm,forting night passed quickly. E didn’t sleep well, as usual, and in the early hours of the morning, she felt Eric getting out of bed. This time, however, he didn’t head out for his usual morning run or workout. Instead, he left the house entirely.


    Reaching out, E’s handnded on the now-empty spot beside her, leaving her feeling a tinge of mncholy.


    Unable to fall back asleep, E opened her eyes and gazed out at the slowly brightening light creeping through the window. Morning had fully arrived.


    Lucas had also left the house early. When E went downstairs to the dining room, Mrs. Harris and Mia were busy with their tasks.


    Mia often chatted with E to keep herpany. It was Mia who had taken E’s phone and hidden it somewhere unknown.


    "Mia, I’m suddenly craving some oranges again. Could you buy some for me?" E said with a soft smile.


    "Mr. Luke stopped by earlier. He brought plenty of oranges; they’re on the coffee table in the living room," Mrs. Harris replied with a smile.


    E was slightly surprised. Luke had been here?


    "When did he stop by?"


    "Just now. He came to pick up Mr. Anderson," Mrs. Harris exined. E nodded lightly. "In that case, Mia, could you get me some preserved plums? My mouth feels a little nd."


    Mia’s eyes widened. "You love oranges! Why has your craving changed?"


    Mrs. Harrisughed warmly. "That’s perfectly normal for a pregnant woman—her tastes can change all the time."


    "But I’m terrible with directions!" Mia groaned, pulling a face.


    "Then drive Mrs. Harris to the store," E suggested with a yful smile, her eyes filled with a hint of pleading. "Mrs. Harris, please help me out. I really want those plums!"


    Mrs. Harris, doting on E as much as anyone, reluctantly agreed. Together, she and Mia left the house to fetch the plums.


    E’s eyes glinted with purpose. Mia’s belongings were usually kept in her room, and she wasn’t exactly the most cautious person.


    Suppressing her nausea, E hurried upstairs to Mia’s room. Turning the doorknob, she found, unsurprisingly, that it was unlocked.


    She slipped inside and quietly closed the door behind her.


    Mia’s room had been furnished before E and Eric moved in,plete with a vanity table, wardrobe, and other essentials.


    E approached the vanity and opened one of the drawers. There it was—her phone, lying quietly inside.


    Raising an eyebrow, E couldn’t help but smirk at Mia’s carelessness. Finding her phone was far too easy.


    She quickly retrieved the phone and opened the browser.


    LXL had grown into a rapidly advancingpany over the past few years, and any newsworthy incident would undoubtedly appear online quickly.


    As expected, when E opened a well-known news website, the headline in the entertainment section immediately caught her off guard.


    Famed Actress Tiffany Resurrected, Alleges Staged Car ident!


    E’s expression turned cold. Tiffany was as troublesome as ever.


    But after all, she had spent three years in hiding, sharpening her skills, and gaining the powerful support of the Miller family.


    During those three years, as she approached fame, she must have connected with many influential figures. Was the car ident a deliberate ploy for her to fake her death? Or had someone saved her and masterminded this entire scheme?


    E clearly remembered the Tiffany of that time—Hannah’s identity after her cosmetic surgery. Back then, Hannah had appeared utterly broken. Could it all have been an act?


    And the deranged killer? Was that part of her n too?


    E was hesitant to believe it. After all, back then, Hannah had set a trap for her, saying those vile things to provoke her. Yet when E outmaneuvered her with quick thinking, Hannah had realized how precarious her position and reputation were and had quickly abandoned her scheme to frame E.


    So... E suspected a mysterious figure must have saved Hannah.


    Was this person targeting her, or was it about Eric?


    Only someone elusive and unpredictable could cause Eric this much trouble. If it were the Miller family, the enemy would be clear, and their vulnerabilities could be exploited for a decisive counterattack.


    E deleted the browsing history, closed the webpage, and returned her phone to where she had found it.


    She didn’t need to check to know she was likely being viciously attacked byizens.


    Still, to maintain her peace of mind, E refrained from looking further.


    She knew Eric must be working on a solution, but it was undoubtedly a tough challenge.


    E returned to her room andy down, her head pounding with stress. Her temples throbbed painfully, making her feel even more unsettled.


    However, remembering she was pregnant, she tried to push the thoughts away. Eric would surely handle this, she reassured herself.


    Despite her efforts to calm herself, E couldn’tpletely shake the worry. Just then, Mia and Mrs. Harris returned, and E decided to distract herself by heading downstairs.


    Lucas and Luke had also returned shortly after leaving and brought back a variety of fruits E enjoyed.


    "E, you haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? Mrs. Harris mentioned you wanted some preserved plums," Lucas said with a warm smile as he set down the items.


    "These are baby essentials. I had them specially designed by experts in Country W—they’re safe and eco-friendly," Lucas added with a tone filled with affection.


    E couldn’t help but smile. "Thank you... Dad."


    Lucas froze for a moment, and then his smile grew even brighter. E had finally called him "Dad"!


    "Come,e, have some breakfast. Preserved plums with porridge are a great match," Mrs. Harris chimed in with augh.


    E sat at the dining table, but suddenly, the room seemed to tilt slightly.


    Her head throbbed violently, and a wave of nausea left her feeling utterly drained.


    "E, what’s wrong?" Luke, forgetting the tension that had existed between them, asked in a deep, concerned voice as he noticed her pale face.