Midnight Bride The CEO's Temptation

The video call ended in a happy and easy atmosphere.

After hanging up, Lionel and Charlotte went upstairs back to their rooms.

Joanne stared at the black screen, and all the laughter gradually went out of her face. She had a happy time talking with her children, but after that, the sad feeling of the gloom came to her again.

Although Ethan and Joanne were halfway couples, Ethan loved Joanne and treated her whole-heartedly these years. He immediately knew what his wife thought when she saw her depressed expression.

She was thinking of her daughter, who was dead and gone very early.

After all these years, she could not forget her own daughter. Though she was happy when spending time with Lionel and Charlotte, she had by no means forgotten her own daughter.

"Joanne, don\'t think about any unhappy things," Ethan said softly.

Joanne nodded. Yeah, what\'s the use? Savannah could never appear in front of her again. Although she lost her own daughter, God was kind to her and gave her another son and daughter.

Charlotte was very cute and good at making her laugh, and if Savannah was alive, she must be the same lovely and vivacious as Charlotte...

Every time she looked at Charlotte, she felt as if she saw her own daughter...

Because of this, since she married into the Rowe family, she had placed all her affection on Charlotte and treated her as her own flesh and blood.

Joanne\'s eyes became a little moist at the thought. Hearing her husband\'s words, she wiped the sparkle from the corners of her eyes and forced another smile.

* * *

A week later, Royal Villa.

There was an uncomfortable stillness in the house.

Lionel looked at the DNA testing report on the coffee table, overwhelmed by the result. His assistant was standing nervously beside the table, and there was a long silence between them.

The result of the DNA test alleged that his stepmother Joanne was Savannah\'s biological mother.

His assistant could not react for a long time too.

"Sir..." he hesitated, finding nothing at which to catch.

Lionel turned his mind back and said seriously, "you must not tell anyone about this, including Charlotte."

The assistant understood the decision of his young master immediately. This thing might break the peace of the Rowe family. Besides, the Rowe family was in the upper class and one of the famous, wealthy families in Chicago. The media would make a fuss if they knew Mrs. Rowe had a daughter outside the family.

"I know, Sir." He nodded.

Lionel\'s gaze fell on Savannah\'s name on the testing result, his graceful eyes flashing sympathy.

That was to say, as Charlotte was, Savannah was also his sister.

Though the two girls were about the same age, their destinies were quite different.

Savannah lost her father and mother at an early age. She lived under her uncle\'s roof after spending one year in an orphanage. Now she became Dylan\'s mistress and was going to have kids for him without any status...

How sad Joanne would be if she knew it!

Even so, he must protect his own family first, and he didn\'t intend to give Savannah a chance to meet her mother. Thinking of this, he felt a little guilty.

Since he would not make Savannah\'s existence public in his family, as her brother, he must take the place of his stepmother and take good care of his sister.

He would make up for what she had to suffer...

With that in mind, Lionel looked a little relieved.

***

Birds were chirping in the garden behind the Sterling\'s house when Savannah got up. The scent of the flowers was wafted to her by the breeze.

Old Sterling knew that Savannah had been in a bad mood since she returned from Rowe\'s house that night, so he always asked Savannah to accompany him walking in the garden after breakfast.

In order to make Savannah happy during her pregnancy, he bought lots of beautiful and rare flowers, growing them in the garden; he also raised some costly birds, such as small songbirds resembling larks, canaries, and serins, for Savannah\'s entertainment. What\'s more, he had the pavilion repaired and covered all the benches with soft leather cushions for Savannah to rest at any time.

The servants couldn\'t help but sigh with emotion. Besides Mrs. Sterling, Miss Schultz was the only woman who had enjoyed such a treatment in Sterling\'s house.

It seemed that their old master not only valued his grandson but also took Miss Schultz, the mother of his grandson, as his future daughter-in-law. Although Miss Schultz had no status yet, it\'s only a matter of time before she got married into the Sterling family.

The plants had been transplanted for a few days and were accustomed to the soil and water here. They grew very luxuriantly, and the good weather helped to bring the flowers into blossom quickly. The rare birds were fed well by the servants. They looked very lively and beautiful.

Savannah accompanied old Sterling, walking around the garden with a peaceful heart.

The green plants and colorful cute birds soothed and relaxed her, and they temporarily banished all troubles from her mind.

After a while, a servant walked into the garden with quick steps. He stopped in front of old Sterling and said, with hesitation, "Sir, Mr. Rowe\'s assistant has just been here, and he brought a lot of gifts."

Mr. Rowe?

"You mean Lionel?" asked old Sterling, a little surprised.

"Yes," replied the servant.

"Mr. Rowe is too kind," old Sterling laughed, "he invited Dylan to his house and sent gifts here..."

The servant hesitated for a moment and then glanced at Savannah, "Mr. Rowe\'s assistant said... today\'s gifts are for Miss Schultz."

"For Savannah?" old Sterling stared.

Savannah stood there bug-eyed when she heard her name.

"Yes... that man brought lots of expensive supplements for pregnant women," the assistant said.

Old Sterling slightly frowned and remained silent for a while. Lionel sent his assistant to Sterling\'s house not for the purpose of visiting the master of the house but mostly for Savannah.

Knowing the doubts of old Sterling, Savannah quickly explained, "I had seen Mr. Rowe once in Chicago, and we meet again in Muse Park. It was the third time we saw each other at Royal Villa that night. He knew I\'m pregnant…I think it is for the Sterling family\'s sake that he cares about me so much."