The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 49- Abort

" Derrick doesn’t seem too happy to see me!" August ignored the dark expression on Derrick’s face as he casually took a seat across from him. He accepted a second teacup handed over by Robert, but didn’t drink from it. Instead, he flashed a cryptic smile. "But I’m not here for you today."

"Philip? You’re here to see him?" Derrick frowned. Aside from Charles and himself, Philip rarely met with anyone. He couldn’t figure out what August wanted with him.

"Not him either," August replied, his smile widening. "I heard sister-in-law is ill. I came to visit."

As soon as he said that, the grin on August’s face stretched even further, almost arrogantly so. When he saw Derrick’s face darken, he practically laughed.

"Janet? She’s not someone you should be concerned about!" Derrick snapped, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. Janet should be at Black Rock Co., right? How could she suddenly fall ill?

Though questions swirled in his mind, Derrick kept a straight face. He didn’t care about anyone except Philip and Charles—and certainly didn’t take August seriously.

"You missed quite the show while you were away, Derrick," August drawled, leisurely straightening his suit before rising to his feet. Looking down on Derrick from above, he spoke slowly and deliberately, each word striking like a hammer.

"Sister-in-law is pregnant. Isn’t that supposed to be good news?"

The moment those words left August’s lips, the fatigue on Derrick’s body vanished like mist under the sun. He abruptly turned to Robert, his voice rising with excitement. "Is it true? Janet is pregnant? Since when?"

"I... I’m not sure..." Robert stammered, caught off guard. All he knew was that Janet had been brought back by Lord Charles. The rest... was beyond him.

In Derrick’s mind, Janet had always been Philip’s woman. He remembered clearly: the morning after their wedding, he’d seen the red-stained sheets. He was certain his son was perfectly healthy.

"Tch, as long as it’s Uncle’s grandchild, does it really matter whether it’s Philip’s or not?" August’s voice dropped to a devilish whisper.

Boom.

The words struck like thunder.

Derrick felt a dizzying chill rush to his head. His knees nearly gave out.

"What... did you just say?"

"I said," August began, his voice low and calm, "on the night of Philip’s wedding, I saw Charles enter his bridal chamber."

He spoke plainly, the teasing smirk wiped clean from his face. This time, even he wasn’t sure how Derrick would react. After all, both Philip and Charles were Derrick’s sons. Janet was carrying his grandchild. August had only come to enjoy the spectacle—the chaos that would follow once the truth was dropped like a bomb.

And sure enough, the expression on Derrick’s face was priceless.

Shock. Utter disbelief.

Exactly what August had hoped for.

"That’s impossible!" Derrick’s face went livid, veins bulging in his temple. Yet deep down, a seed of doubt had been planted. The sensation was too familiar—just like when he had uncovered the affair between Sienna and Norman back then.

Betrayal.

Deceit.

Even if they were all his sons, Derrick could never tolerate betrayal.

"Bring Robert to me. Now!" he roared, flipping the table in front of him.

The porcelain teacups shattered as scalding tea spilled out—some splashing across August’s hand. He flinched slightly, but didn’t complain. Instead, his grin returned.

Now that’s more like it. This was the chaos he wanted to see.

"This is still my house!" Derrick barked as Robert arrived. "Unless you’re planning to be cast out of the Elwin family, you better tell me the truth!"

Robert hesitated—but only for a second. Then, with trembling lips and a bowed head, he confirmed what August had implied.

Derrick collapsed onto the sofa like his strength had been sucked out of him, gasping for breath.

"Unbelievable... That bastard! Charles, how dare you!"

His fury erupted like a volcano. The cold, calculated Derrick was gone—replaced by a father pushed to the edge. He raged not just at Charles, but at the collapse of the control he thought he still held over his bloodline.

Watching from the side, August felt immensely satisfied.

Even more than he had expected.

He turned and left as if nothing had happened, strolling casually through the hall.

But when he passed by the northern courtyard, he paused. Just for a few seconds.

His true goal wasn’t just to expose the affair—

It was to drive a wedge between Charles and Derrick.

As for the unborn child... August was still a little hesitant.

He had assumed that no matter how cold-blooded Derrick might be, he wouldn’t harm Janet—not when she was carrying Charles’s baby, his own grandchild.

But he had underestimated the old man.

Badly.

After August left, Derrick immediately ordered the family doctor to be summoned.

Robert, though originally Philip’s trusted aide, was ordered to remain at the main house.

Even he had no choice but to follow Derrick’s command now. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"Milord... perhaps we should call Lord Charles back first?"

Robert followed closely behind Derrick, his voice low and hesitant as they made their way toward the North Courtyard. He was nervous—he hadn’t seen the Lord this furious in years. Both sons of the same blood, both flesh and bone...Even if the child in Janet’s womb was Charles’s, it still bore the Elwin name.

"What? Are you defying me too now?" Derrick snapped, his voice thunderous. "Janet is to bear Philip’s child—only Philip’s!"

He was like a raging lion, completely losing control. Grabbing Doctor Zhang by the collar, he roared, "Use the best drugs. I want the mother safe. No mistakes!"

"Y-Yes, Chairman Elwin! I understand!"

Dr. fred stammered, flanked by two assistants hauling in advanced medical equipment. Together, they marched toward the North Courtyard.

Inside the room, Janet had been asleep. The sudden chaos outside startled her awake. She had just sat up when—

BANG!

The door was kicked open.

Derrick stormed in like a storm incarnate, his face twisted with fury. Doctors filed in behind him, making the atmosphere even more terrifying.

"D-Dad...?" Janet’s voice trembled as she instinctively backed away, dread washing over her.

"You’ve disappointed me, Janet." Derrick’s voice was cold enough to freeze blood. "Have I ever treated you unfairly? How could you betray Philip like this?"

He scanned the room. No sign of Philip.

That absence ignited another burst of rage.

With a sharp wave of his hand, he motioned the doctors forward. They began setting up their equipment with clinical efficiency, opening cases and preparing syringes.

"What are you doing? Don’t come any closer—please!"

Janet’s face paled. Panic overwhelmed her. The fear she felt now far surpassed what she’d felt the day she discovered she was pregnant with Charles’s child.

Derrick’s aura—cold, domineering, merciless—reminded her eerily of Charles himself.

Was her father-in-law really going to hurt her child?

"Abort it." Derrick’s voice was devoid of emotion. "Then you’ll make a test-tube baby with Philip. One way or another, you will bear his child."

No hesitation. No compassion.

This was his version of compromise. Since they refused to obey, he would simply take what he wanted by force.

Test-tube baby...

He didn’t care if Philip was physically incapable. As long as there was a way to continue the Elwin bloodline, the means no longer mattered.

"You can’t do this to me!" Janet cried, her voice cracking. "This is Charles’s child!"

She kept backing up, tears streaming down her face.

She had once thought Harold was the coldest, most ruthless man she’d ever known.

But now, watching Derrick try to personally destroy his own grandchild—her child—she realized what true cruelty looked like.

Charles is his son too. How could he...?

"What are you waiting for? Do it now!" Derrick roared.

Dr. fred didn’t dare disobey. He swiftly prepared the abortion medication, filled a syringe, and stepped toward Janet...

Janet stumbled backward until her spine hit the bedside table.

Her fingers, trembling, brushed against something cold and hard on the surface.

Her heart skipped a beat.

In a flash, she spun around, snatched up her phone, and bolted toward the balcony.

With fumbling hands, she pressed the emergency speed dial.

Beep—beep—

Tears blurred her vision.

"Charles!" she screamed into the phone, her voice breaking with desperation.

"Save me—please!"