My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Is He Treating You Poorly?

"Not yet, but Elias has already sent people to investigate. Please don’t worry," Vesper Grayson said, gently reassuring her. As a woman who was also carrying a child, she felt a special empathy for a mother in this situation.

’If someone were to steal her child, she would lay down her life to hunt them to the ends of the earth!’

"Oh, that’s right. I just remembered that when my son was born, I put a jade pendant on him." Nancy Linton handed her a photo of the pendant. "It was an heirloom from my mother."

The moment she saw the jade pendant, Vesper Grayson’s gaze froze, her heart suddenly racing.

No one was more familiar with this pendant than she was. It was the token of love Luke Lockwood had given her. She had taken it off to shower once, leaving it on her vanity, and Ivy Joyce had casually swiped it.

She had heard Luke Lockwood say that when the orphanage director found him, he was already wearing this pendant.

’Could it be? Is Luke Lockwood Nancy Linton’s son?’

She suppressed her immense shock, calmly raising her eyes to study Nancy Linton’s features. She realized that her eyes and nose did indeed bear a strong resemblance to Luke Lockwood’s.

"Vesper, do you think my son... is he still alive?" A flicker of anguish crossed Nancy Linton’s eyes.

She had never given up the search over all these years. She had helped countless parents reunite with their lost children, yet she could never find her own son.

She worried the child had died long ago and was no longer in this world.

Worse, she feared that the ruthless Kevin Hawthorne had killed her child to secure a future for his illegitimate son.

"Aunt Nancy, he must still be alive!" Vesper Grayson lowered her gaze, hiding the emotion in her eyes. ’I need to confirm whether Luke Lockwood is really Aunt Nancy’s son first. Otherwise, it’ll just be another false hope.’

Just then, Dolly Hughes walked in carrying two meals.

"Aunt Nancy, let’s eat first."

After they finished eating, Nancy Linton left. Vesper Grayson sat on the sofa, staring thoughtfully at the photo in her hand.

’If Luke Lockwood is really Aunt Nancy’s child, wouldn’t that make him and Jared Hawthorne cousins?’

’God... this is too absurd!’

’The boyfriend she dated in Ashmore turned out to be Jared Hawthorne’s cousin.’

’Fate really has a twisted sense of humor.’

「Night, Stellaris Plaza」

Jared Hawthorne led Vesper Grayson into a private room.

"Congratulations on getting your marriage license!"

Seeing the two enter, Zane Rivers raised his glass and offered his congratulations with a smile.

Jared Hawthorne instinctively guided Vesper Grayson to a seat, a faint smile on his lips. "Tonight’s on me."

"We’re on my turf. No way I’m letting you foot the bill." Zane Rivers casually poured him a glass of wine. "On such a happy occasion, you have to have a drink to celebrate!"

Tristan Forrester smiled faintly. "To celebrate for you guys, Noah even brought out his most prized collection."

"Smart move." Jared Hawthorne picked up his glass and took a small sip.

"Miss Grayson, you’re practically a protected species right now, so you shouldn’t touch any alcohol. I’ve prepared a fruit platter, popcorn, and juice for you... Don’t say I don’t take care of the ladies."

Vesper Grayson’s lips curved into a smile. "Thank you, President Nash."

She hadn’t expected Jared Hawthorne to have already told his friends about her pregnancy and their marriage registration.

"Don’t be so formal. You’re Jared’s woman, which makes you one of us. If you want anything to eat, just ask."

The words had barely left his mouth when the door to the private room was pushed open, and Elena strode in gracefully on her high heels.

"Is everyone here? I hope I’m not late."

Zane Rivers flashed a roguish grin. "A busy woman like you, Elena, honoring us with your presence? You’re never late."

Elena couldn’t be bothered to respond to him. She walked straight to Vesper Grayson’s side, sat down, and took an exquisite jewelry box from her bag, handing it over.

"For your marriage registration. Just a small token of my congratulations."

Inside the box lay a solid gold plaque of a dragon and phoenix. The carving was intricate and masterfully done: the dragon was majestic, the phoenix’s feathers were full of life, and their forms were intertwined from head to tail. It symbolized an auspicious union, a match made in heaven. Discreetly engraved on the back were their initials.

Vesper Grayson was a little overwhelmed by the gesture. "Elena..."

"Don’t think of it as cheap. It’s just a small gesture. I wish you and Jared a healthy baby soon and a long, happy life together."

"Thank you."

Zane Rivers commented nonchalantly from the side, "Leave it to Big Sis Elena to make the rest of us look like we have no manners."

"Who’s your ’Big Sis’? Don’t be fresh." Elena shot him a glare. The memory of him in bed, nibbling her ear and whispering that same word, ’sister,’ in a cloying voice made her ears burn.

’Shameless rake, messing with my head!’

Zane Rivers licked his lips, a mischievous glint in his charming eyes, his tone laced with playful mockery.

"You’re three years older than me, so calling you ’Big Sis’ is only natural. Big Sis Elena... you can’t hold a grudge against me and treat me differently, now can you?"

Elena knew this man would take a mile if you gave him an inch. The more you engaged him, the more improper he’d become. He had a real smart mouth.

She simply changed the subject, asking Vesper Grayson in a low voice, "When are you planning to have the wedding?"

Vesper Grayson smiled faintly. "Jared is planning it. As soon as a date is set, you’ll be the first to get an invitation."

"I’ve known Jared for so many years, and I’ve never seen him so devoted to a girl. We used to worry he was a hopeless case who’d never fall in love, but now look at you—everything’s happening all at once."

"What about you, Elena? Aren’t you going to think about settling down?"

"I’m what they call a ’leftover woman.’ If I can’t find the right person, I’m perfectly happy on my own."

She didn’t have a prominent family to back her. Since graduation, she had clawed her way up from the very bottom, step by painful step. She’d endured hardships and been wronged, but through sheer skill and a ruthless drive, she carved out a path for herself in the industry. Her climb was steady and sure, and she eventually secured an unshakeable position at Vaudin.

It wasn’t that she’d never been in love. It was just that all her past boyfriends found her too independent and strong-willed, lacking the gentleness and dependence of a more traditional girl. Sooner or later, they would drift apart.

She was never willing to compromise who she was to please a man. She firmly believed that for an independent woman, having financial security and self-confidence was far more reliable than depending on anyone else.

"You and President Rivers... what’s the situation?" Vesper Grayson finally couldn’t resist asking. The atmosphere between the two was just too strange, especially the way Zane Rivers looked at Elena. His gaze was full of interest, and it was anything but innocent.

Elena replied, "You can think of us as friends with benefits. Bed buddies."

Vesper Grayson: "..."

’Alright then. You two are really something else.’

Partway through, she got up to go to the restroom. As she passed a private room, a waiter happened to be pushing the door open to deliver some wine. In the brief moment the door was ajar, she caught a glimpse of Luke Lockwood sitting in the center of the sofa, and her steps faltered.

Just then, Luke Lockwood looked up, and their eyes met across the distance.

He shot to his feet and hurried out of the room after her.

"Vesper, what are you doing here?"

Vesper Grayson stopped and turned her head to look at him. "That jade pendant you gave me before... can I see it again?"

Luke Lockwood froze for a second before pulling the jade pendant from his neck and handing it over. Vesper Grayson reached out, took it, and lowered her eyes to study it carefully. ’I was right.’ It was identical to the pendant in the photo Nancy Linton had shown her.

But in Luke Lockwood’s eyes, this scene was misinterpreted. He thought she still harbored feelings for him, that she was reminiscing about the symbol of their past love.

"Vesper, I never imagined Ivy Joyce would steal the pendant I gave you. Do you remember? It was my token of love for you. If he doesn’t treat you well..."

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