The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride (Ethan and Janet)

lan, eager not to intrude on the couple's intimate moment, sought an opportune excuse to slip away from the ward and attended to other matters.

Once lan had departed, Garrett wasted no time in shedding his calm and collected facade. Gripping Laney's hand, he grumbled irritably, "I can't fathom why Janet thought it wise to employ a male assistant for a pregnant woman's care."

Laney, preferring to avoid conflict, deftly steered the conversation in another direction. "Today, Kailee had Lola bring a peace offering as an apology to me." "What?" Garrett's brow furrowed, his striking visage clouding over. "I explicitly warned her to leave you be, and yet she persists. And that Lola - she takes liberties without permission. Does she have any desire to keep her job?"

Laney hesitated, biting her lip, unsure if she should reveal Leo's involvement.

Recognizing her reluctance, Garrett pieced it together immediately.

Without his father's consent, how could Lola possibly have known about Kailee or dared to deliver a gift on her behalf?

Recalling his mother's blatant favoritism toward Kailee at home, Garrett's guilt intensified.

Clasping Laney's hand, his eyes brimmed with regret and anguish. "Darling, I apologize for bringing you such strife."

Laney exhaled softly, continuing, "The health tonics Kailee asked Lola to deliver isn't fit for my consumption. Some ingredients would trigger an allergic reaction. Luckily, lan discovered this in time and had Lola return the items."

Fear coursed through Garrett's heart at the thought of what might have happened had Laney ingested the allergens.

His opinion of lan improved somewhat. "I understand. We must express our gratitude to lan. If necessary, you can enlist lan's aid and exploit his unique strength as a male assistant. Just let lan kick her out." Laney's concerns lingered. Garrett tightened his grip on her hand and declared resolutely, "I will handle everything. Trust in me and focus on your needs. Your safety and that of our child are paramount." "Thank you, Garrett." Laney, deeply moved, nestled into his embrace. "I promise to care for myself and our baby."

A glint of menace danced in Garrett's eyes. "As for Lola, it isn't the opportune moment to let her go. If we do, my father might dispatch another unfamiliar assistant, which could prove even more treacherous. Once our baby is born, I will manage everything." ******

Stepping out of the ward, Lola couldn't help but stew over Laney's ruthless treatment of her.

After all, she had been hired by Leo himself. Laney was merely a disfavored daughter-in-law. What right did she have to act so haughtily?

Fuming, Lola resolved to call Leo and recount the ordeal.

As she angrily bit her lip and prepared to dial Leo's number, her phone rang. It was Kailee.

"Hello, Lola. How did the gift delivery go?" Kailee eagerly inquired. "Has Laney accepted my apology?"

Lola's fists clenched, her voice thick with resentment. "Miss Gibson, Laney not only refused your apology but also expelled me and demanded I return the gifts to you."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Kailee's eyes. As a hospital administrator, she had access to detailed information on expectant mothers. Discovering Laney's allergies, she had deliberately sent tonics containing those ingredients. But she hadn't anticipated Laney's refusal.

Feigning a sigh, Kailee adopted a tone of dejection. "It's all right. It's only natural Laney wouldn't forgive me."

She added, "You've been of great assistance today. You may keep the money I offered you."