Is It Love Or a Lie?

Chapter 7 Not a Pushover

Brian played with the babies for a while, their laughter like the sweet sound of wind chimes, and his thoughts drifted back to the past.

When Florence was born, she was just as delicate and adorable, the apple of everyone's eye. The three of them, Brian, Florence, and her mother, had been a happy family.

'It's just a shame that I couldn't protect Florence's mother, who passed away too soon, leaving Florence without a mother's love at a young age.'

"Florence..." Brian put the babies down, his voice catching with emotion. "I'm sorry I couldn't give you a complete family..."

"Dad, what are you saying?" Florence got anxious, and she quickly took his hand. "Mom's passing was an accident. You've carried that guilt for so long, but it's time to let it go. I'm happy now. I'm married to Lancelot, and we have four beautiful babies. From now on, we'll be a family of seven."

Brian felt a wave of relief at his daughter's words, but when his gaze shifted to Lancelot, the warmth faded, replaced by a stern expression.

"Lancelot, I heard Florence switched hospitals during delivery and went through a dangerous situation. Why weren't you with her the whole time?"

Lancelot's heart skipped a beat. 'Looks like he is not a pushover.'

That day, he had arranged everything, but Florence unexpectedly changed hospitals without saying anything. It had taken him a lot of effort to track her down.

"Dad, that was my fault, not Lancelot's..." Florence interrupted before Lancelot could speak, her eyes welling with tears as she clung to Brian's arm. "I was panicking at the first hospital and insisted on changing to another one. I didn't have time to inform Lancelot..."

"You silly girl, how could you act on a whim like that?" Brian pretended to scold her but patted her hand gently, his eyes filled with concern.

"Please don't blame Florence. It's all my fault." Lancelot took a deep breath, pushing down his emotions, his voice calm and steady. "I should have taken better care of her."

Brian studied him, who appeared composed and reliable, but a sense of doubt lingered in his heart.

But seeing how much Florence was defending him, Brian decided not to press the issue further, though his suspicions lingered.

"Lancelot, how's the preparation for the upcoming press conference?" Brian changed the topic, and his tone turned more serious.

'Press conference?'

Florence's heart skipped a beat, as she remembered that during her pregnancy, Brian had gradually handed over control of Moore Group to Lancelot, even appointing him as the CEO.

She vividly recalled that in her previous life, after the press conference, Lancelot had started making sweeping changes at Moore Group, calling it bringing in fresh blood, but in reality, he was slowly sidelining her father and taking control of the company.

Back then, she was too devastated by the loss of her babies to focus on the company, and her father, overwhelmed by grief, had also been deeply affected, allowing Lancelot to succeed in his plans.

She wouldn't let the Moore family meet the same fate this time.

"Don't worry. Everything is ready," Lancelot replied respectfully, though there was a flash of ambition in his eyes that didn't go unnoticed by Florence.

Florence observed him quietly, plotting her next move to stop him.

She needed to find a way into the company and regain control.

But she was still recovering from childbirth, nursing her babies. If she brought it up now, Lancelot would surely be suspicious and might use it as an excuse to keep her away.

She remembered that after the press conference, there would be a charity gala, a perfect opportunity!

Night fell, and the city lights began to twinkle.

Lancelot emerged from the bathroom, fresh from his shower, and glanced at Florence and their four sleeping babies on the bed. His expression softened with a hint of tenderness.

He approached the bed, gently pulling back the covers, wanting to cuddle with Florence.

But she recoiled as if burned, pulling away from his touch with a look of fear.

Lancelot's hand froze mid-air, his brow furrowing slightly. "Florence, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Florence took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "It's just... I had a nightmare about the day I gave birth... Lancelot, I'm so scared. I'm terrified of losing our babies." Her voice trembled, filled with genuine fear and anxiety.

She wasn't faking it. The memory of losing her babies in her previous life was still painfully vivid.

If she hadn't changed hospitals in time after her rebirth, she might have faced the same tragic fate.

"Florence, don't think like that. It's all over now." Lancelot wanted to pull her into his arms, but she flinched away again.

He looked at her pale face, her tightly pressed lips, the pain and distrust clear in her eyes, and felt a mix of emotions he couldn't quite name.

"Florence, are you still upset that I wasn't there with you..." he asked cautiously.

"No! I don't even know what's wrong with me." Florence shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I just... I'm so scared. I'm scared of losing our babies, and I can't control my emotions."

Her behavior mirrored the symptoms of postpartum depression.

Lancelot sighed and tried to comfort her. "Florence, you've been through so much, facing a life-and-death ordeal alone. It's normal to feel this way. I'll find the best doctor to help you recover."

Florence secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If a doctor confirmed her condition as postpartum depression, and then even if she acted differently from before, Lancelot might not suspect her anymore.