Forgotten Love: Mr. President, Mrs. Fordham Has Rejected You!-Chapter 227: Your Belly Is a Bit Big, I Want to Touch It
Outside the mansion, fists were whipping through the air.
When Stella Grant rushed out, the scene she saw was Ethan Monroe and Aiden Fordham locked in a fierce brawl, each strike aimed ruthlessly at the other’s vital parts.
It was as if the fight that never happened at the Whitman Family was being settled here.
"Stop!"
Stella shouted sternly.
The two men paused in their tracks, and upon seeing her running over, they simultaneously withdrew their hands for fear of accidentally hurting her.
Stella’s gaze swept over the two of them.
Ethan Monroe’s brow was bleeding, and blood was trickling down the side of his handsome face.
Aiden Fordham’s mouth was also bruised, a shade of purple-blue.
Their chests heaved violently, and the hostility in their eyes hadn’t yet dissipated.
"Quite the fighters, aren’t you?"
Stella sneered, her tone filled with cold sarcasm.
"How about I find you a boxing gym, have you sign a death match agreement, and let you really go at it?"
"Butler, please see them out."
She tossed out these words and turned to leave, unwilling to spare them another glance.
Ethan Monroe, anxious, was the first to rush forward and grabbed her wrist.
"Sierra, I have something to say to you."
Before he finished speaking, a shadow swept over with a gust of wind.
Aiden Fordham kicked Ethan in the side, a sneak attack.
"Bang!"
Caught off guard, Ethan fell to his right.
But his hand was still tightly holding Stella, and the force almost pulled her down as well.
"Ah!" Stella exclaimed in shock.
In a flash, another arm more forcefully wrapped around her waist, pulling her back securely into a firm embrace.
Aiden Fordham held her, looking down at the disheveled Ethan Monroe.
"Ethan Monroe, what face do you have coming here to see my wife?"
He emphasized "my wife" with great weight.
"The company is a man’s battlefield, seeing her won’t help."
Aiden slightly tightened his arm, encircling the person in his embrace more firmly, his posture dominant.
"I advise you to have a little self-awareness."
He had secured his position as the Whitman Family’s son-in-law, and he couldn’t allow himself to lose in terms of momentum.
Fortunately, he came today; otherwise, if Ethan talked a bit more with Stella, his fake God N identity might have been exposed.
It was not yet the time to reveal his cards.
Ethan Monroe propped himself up and stood, trembling with rage.
He held back the raging fire inside, his gaze bypassing Aiden Fordham and landing on Stella, his voice surprisingly retaining some of its usual gentleness.
"Sierra, I didn’t want to bother you with work issues."
"Thank you for sending the formula to the Monroe Group. I just... wanted to talk to you."
"The issues with the Monroe Group have caused you trouble too, and I am trying to resolve them."
Seeing the slander about God N online was harder on him than anyone, and he couldn’t let her suffer reputational damage because of the Monroe Group.
Stella’s expression was calm, her voice even calmer.
"Young Master Monroe, as long as you can bravely face it, the Monroe Group can weather this crisis."
"With its solid foundation, the Monroe Group still has a chance to rise again."
That was her thought, and her advice.
Decisive and final.
Ethan Monroe’s face turned pale instantly; he understood.
At this moment, Mrs. Whitman’s cold voice came from the doorway.
"Butler, please see Young Master Monroe out."
"Yes." The butler immediately stepped forward and gestured him out.
Ethan Monroe was "seen" out.
In the courtyard, only one remained.
Mrs. Whitman’s sharp gaze was like a knife on Aiden Fordham.
"How long do you plan to hold her? Let go of Sierra."
It was then Aiden abruptly realized, he had been holding her tightly all this time.
And she, in his arms, had given Ethan guidance on the "kingdom."
She hadn’t struggled free.
Seeing this, Ethan Monroe should thoroughly lose hope.
He instantly let go as if shocked by electricity.
"Mrs. Whitman."
Aiden Fordham turned to Mrs. Whitman, immediately calling upon his grandfather as a shield, otherwise, with his current status, he’d likely be chased out immediately.
"Grandfather sent some New Year gifts for you and said... he asked me to accompany Stella for New Year."
"She used to spend it at the Fordham Family, and he’s worried she might not be accustomed here alone."
Mrs. Whitman listened and suddenly smiled.
But that smile didn’t reach her eyes, instead, it sent a chill down one’s spine.
"I heard from Elder Fordham that you knelt in the Fordham Family’s ancestral hall and even received family punishment?"
Aiden Fordham stood straight, replying sincerely, "I was foolish and I deserved the punishment."
"Our Whitman Family also has an ancestral hall."
Mrs. Whitman spoke slowly.
"Why don’t you kneel there too? To learn a lesson."
She paused, then shifted her tone.
"Of course, if you’re not part of our Whitman Family, you’re not fit to enter our ancestral hall either."
"I am willing to be punished." Aiden almost rushed to reply, without a moment’s hesitation.
The identity of Whitman Family’s son-in-law was something he would never abandon.
Mrs. Whitman nodded in satisfaction.
"Butler, take him there, let him properly confess before the ancestors."
"And remember, the training ruler first."
"Yes." The butler took the order and was about to lead him away.
Stella’s lips moved, wanting to say something but ultimately swallowed it back.
She subconsciously glanced at Hugh Whitman beside her; he had walked over at some point and placed an arm around her shoulders.
"Sierra, don’t worry."
Hugh’s voice was soft.
"It won’t hurt from kneeling; I misbehaved as a child, and I knelt there often."
"Let’s go inside, it’s cold out here."
He guided Stella into the warmth of the house.
The butler took Aiden Fordham to the Whitman Family’s ancestral hall.
The ancestral hall was a standalone structure at the front-right of the main residence, lit by over ten candles, their flickering light casting a solemn and imposing aura.
The butler stopped and said to him, "Son-in-law, please take off your top."
"I will represent Madam in the use of the ruler on you."
"When Madam punished the young master in the past, it was always this rule."
"Alright." Aiden Fordham did not hesitate, swiftly removing his coat and then the wool sweater underneath.
When he turned around bare-chested, the butler gasped.
His entire back was a web of crisscrossing whip marks.
Old scars layered over new ones, some places had formed dark scabs, others were still a vivid, angry red, shockingly hideous.
Elder Fordham did indeed strike hard.
However, he deserved such punishment for causing the young lady to lose her child.
The butler thought as he picked up the bamboo ruler leaning against the wall.
"Slap!"
"Slap!"
"Slap!"
Three strikes landed not too lightly, not too heavily on Aiden Fordham’s back.
"I hope the son-in-law will refrain from arrogance and impatience, acknowledge mistakes and amend them."
The butler put down the bamboo ruler, his tone stern.
"Stay here and properly reflect before the Whitman ancestors."
"Yes," Aiden Fordham responded softly, with not the slightest defiance.
Being able to kneel here as the Whitman family’s son-in-law, for him, was actually something to be thankful for.
"Creak—"
The heavy wooden doors of the ancestral hall were shut, and the butler left.
The snow outside was getting heavier and heavier; the winter night in The Imperial Capital had already dropped to ten degrees below zero.
Aiden Fordham straightened his back and knelt properly on the prayer mat, his head bowed.
He hadn’t eaten dinner, had been beaten, and kneeling for a long time, the piercing cold spread from his knees to his entire body.
He gradually began to feel cold, and his head started to feel heavy and swollen.
Inside the mansion, it was warm and cozy.
Stella Grant was chatting idly with Mrs. Whitman, but her mind kept drifting towards the window.
She glanced at the clock on the wall, the hour hand already pointed to ten o’clock.
He had been kneeling for four hours.
"Mom," she finally couldn’t help but speak up, "let him come back in."
Mrs. Whitman raised her teacup, blew on the steam, and smiled.
"You don’t need to feel sorry for him. Kneel for a while; it won’t do him any harm. When your brother was little, after being punished, he always behaved for a while."
Her gaze turned cold.
"He caused you to lose your child, this is what he deserves."
"Since he stubbornly refuses to sign the divorce papers and Elder Fordham personally came to apologize, I gave him a three-month observation period."
"After three months, if you still don’t want to forgive him, the Whitman family’s legal team is not to be underestimated."
Stella absentmindedly nodded.
"Alright."
At eleven o’clock at night, Mrs. Whitman finally got a bit tired and went upstairs to sleep.
As soon as she left, Stella quickly walked out of the mansion.
She found the butler, her voice tinged with urgency she hadn’t noticed in herself, "Uncle Quantum, take me to the ancestral hall."
"Creak"—the door was pushed open.
Aiden Fordham was kneeling there with his head lowered, his upper body bare, and his back bore shocking whip marks.
Stella was startled. She had never seen the wounds on his back before, thinking it was the family law executed by his grandfather, so severe.
"Aiden Fordham."
She picked up the clothes from the ground and patted him.
"Aiden Fordham, wake up."
At this moment, Aiden’s entire body was icy, like a block of freezing ice. He opened his eyes to see the woman in front of him, dizzy but still trying hard to stay upright.
"I’m fine, I’m not cold," he stubbornly said.
Stella didn’t expect that he would have to take off his clothes while kneeling here.
In weather below zero, it’s a wonder if he isn’t frozen.
"Come on, put your clothes on first."
She rolled up a sweater and put it over his head, finally giving Aiden some warmth.
She quickly helped him into the coat as well.
"Uncle Quantum, help him to the guest room."
But his legs were already frozen stiff, and when he got up, he couldn’t move, almost toppling over on her.
"Be careful, sir," the butler quickly came over to support and massage his legs so he could slowly move forward.
As they stepped outside, the cold intensified in the windy, snowy night.
It took effort to get him to the guest room and settled him on the bed.
Stella quickly instructed, "Uncle Quantum, please bring some porridge and water, and also a medicine box."
Seeing his condition, she’d expect him to have a fever tonight, fearing that he might burn like last time and become delirious.
"Yes, Miss," the butler promptly ran out.
Lying on the bed, Aiden tightly held onto her small hand, afraid she’d leave.
"Stella, don’t go."
Stella felt a bit soft-hearted then, "I’m not going anywhere; you just lie down."
She took out her phone and called Keegan Lindsey.
At that moment, Keegan was only wearing a pair of gray underwear, nestled warmly in his bed. Seeing her number, he jumped up.
"Ma’am."
"Keegan, are you in The Imperial Capital?" Stella asked. If he was in a hotel, he could come over to help care for him.
Keegan replied, "I’m back in Borrin at my family’s place for the new year."
"Did something happen to President Fordham? Do I need to fly over to handle it?"
He was indeed very dedicated.
Stella realized, being seven thousand kilometers away, "It’s alright, I can handle it myself."
"Alright, ma’am, goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Stella hung up the phone.
After a while, the butler delivered the food and medical box.
Stella quickly helped him sit up, fed him some warm water and a little porridge. By this time, he had already started to heat up.
"Aiden Fordham, come on, eat something first. After eating, take the medicine."
Aiden opened his mouth for the porridge but didn’t eat much, looking dazed.
"Stella, I’m sorry, I regret it."
"I shouldn’t have done things that made you sad, and caused you to lose our child."
"I deserve to die," he clutched her hand tightly, bowing his head in remorse, eyes red.
Stella’s eyes were red too at this point, feeling upset, but regret wouldn’t change anything.
She handed the medicine to his lips, "Come on, take the medicine."
Aiden obediently swallowed it and lay back on the bed, but his big hand never let go of hers.
Stella looked at him, feeling all sorts of things inside.
Suddenly, he started mumbling, "So cold."
She touched his forehead and indeed, the fever had set in. The medicine wasn’t effective enough. She quickly grabbed some alcohol to help cool him down physically.
Feeling the chill, Aiden trembled even more.
"Stella, don’t go. I beg you."
"Stella, so cold," he softly murmured her name, "Stella..."
Finally, Stella took off her coat and got into the covers with him.
He immediately snuggled up to her and hugged her tightly, only then did he feel warmth and slowly fell asleep.
The next day, Aiden woke up, finding himself in an unfamiliar room with a warm presence in his arms.
Seeing her face, his heart leaped with joy.
She spent the night with him?
Seeing the medicine box by the bed, he guessed he must have fallen sick during the night, and she had stayed to take care of him.
Thanking the Whitman ancestors, he would be willing to kneel again if it meant another chance like this.
He stretched his big hand to gently wrap around her waist, suddenly feeling something unusual.
Her waist was thicker, and her abdomen seemed slightly bigger.
He lifted the covers to take a look; as she slept on her side, her belly looked like it had a small round ball, especially noticeable.
His heart skipped with shock and joy.
Could it be that the child is still...?
He wanted to reach out and touch it, but Stella suddenly opened her eyes, getting up with a morning grump.
"Aiden Fordham, what do you think you’re doing?"
Aiden was startled and quickly explained, "I wasn’t doing anything; I just saw your tummy was a bit big, and I wanted to have a feel."
Stella immediately erupted, "Aiden Fordham, don’t you know that it’s difficult for a woman to recover her figure after pregnancy?"
"What right do you have to complain that I’m fat, what right do you have to touch me!"
Aiden was momentarily speechless. He did know that after a woman is pregnant, her figure changes and she gains a lot of weight. After recovery, the uterus doesn’t shrink immediately, causing her figure to change.
No wonder she’s been wearing loose clothes lately; it turns out she’s gained weight.
He had hit the sensitive topic precisely.
"I’m sorry, I wouldn’t mind you being big; you don’t need to worry about that."
Stella quickly got out of bed, put on her coat, and stood straight, her tummy no longer noticeable.
"Hurry up and leave before my mom sees you and punishes you again."
Aiden pulled her into an embrace, speaking softly, "No matter how you change, I won’t mind, with some flesh, it feels better to hold."
Stella paused, "Get lost, who wants your embrace!"
She pried open his hand, storming off angrily.
Aiden stood there dazed, then took out his phone and made a call.
"Check Mrs. Fordham’s medical records on Lumina Isle. I want to know all the details, especially regarding the child."
