Penelope Valentine left, thoroughly satisfied with her thoughts.

Her figure vanished at the end of the hallway.

Marcus Valentine's voice sounded again.

"It's about Grace Nan…"

Third Uncle's weary, teasing voice came through the phone. "What? Did you find out she's your father's or your second uncle's love child?"

Marcus's mouth twitched.

"I'll report it to you in person when you return."

He was afraid Third Uncle would get too excited and fly back overnight.

Third Uncle snorted.

"Learning to be secretive now?"

He sounded like he was in a decent mood.

Marcus ventured a question. "How are things on your end? Any leads on Mrs. Sophia?"

Sudden silence answered him.

Silence was an answer in itself.

Marcus softened his voice. "Come back and rest for a few days first. She's on Earth. It's not like she escaped to outer space."

Third Uncle responded flatly. "Understood."

Marcus hung up, his brow furrowed.

Third Uncle had been searching for so long with no news.

Could Mrs. Sophia have already met with misfortune?

The thought weighed heavily on him.

He glanced back at the bridal suite and strode inside.

Mina Sherwood had already removed her makeup and changed out of her wedding dress.

She wore a conservative nightgown.

Seeing him enter, she lowered her eyes. "You take the bed. I'll sleep on the sofa."

Her cold demeanor ignited a fire in Marcus's chest.

He let out a cold laugh. "Mina, I didn't marry you just for decoration!"

Mina stiffened.

Marcus walked to the bed. "Tonight is our wedding night. Don't ruin my mood."

Mina's face tightened. "What do you want?"

Marcus looked down. "If you don't want a divorce, then make me happy. This is a joyous occasion. Don't wear a funeral face."

Mina clenched her fists.

How dare he ask why?

Who could possibly smile after such humiliation?

She took a deep breath. "Marcus, since you don't believe me, we'll divorce after the baby is born."

Marcus frowned. "What?"

She went through all that trouble to marry into the family, and now she mentions divorce?

Mina walked to the table and took two agreements from her bag.

The agreements stated she would leave with nothing after the child's birth, taking only the baby.

She had already signed them.

It didn't seem fake.

Marcus was stunned. "You're serious about divorcing?"

Mina nodded. "This kind of marriage is torture for both of us. You don't want to be cheated on? Then we'll divorce after the baby is born."

Nine months was enough time for Grace Nan to complete her task.

Then she would be free.

Marcus slammed the agreements on the table. "Mina, what game are you playing? You finally managed to marry in. You'd give that up? Is this a strategic retreat?"

Mina smiled bitterly. "The agreements are signed. What game could I possibly be playing?"

Marcus scoffed. "Who knows? You schemed so hard to marry me, and now you bring up divorce on our wedding night… Isn't that strange? This contract might have traps. I'll have my lawyer look at it first!"

He grabbed the contracts and headed for the door.

At the doorway, he let out a cold laugh. "Mina, you truly don't deserve the position of Mrs. Valentine. At least you have the self-awareness not to dirty the Valentine bloodline with a bastard!"

He strode away.

Mina had a vague feeling his retreating figure looked somewhat flustered, almost like he was fleeing.

How could that be?

He didn't even want to marry her. Why wouldn't he want a divorce?

Mina shook her head with a bitter smile.

She looked around.

The room was decorated with celebratory 'double happiness' characters, full of joy everywhere.

But on her wedding night, she was alone.

This bride was truly pitiful.

…

Marcus drove out, heading straight for a private room at a bar.

He summoned his lawyer and tossed him the contracts. "Check these for me. See if there are any traps."

The lawyer, woken in the middle of the night, took the contracts in a daze.

He finished the two pages quickly. "No traps. They're very favorable to you. Miss Sherwood leaves with nothing, only taking the child."

Marcus was stunned. "She's serious?"

The lawyer was confused. "Mr. Valentine, what do you mean?"

Marcus lowered his gaze.

Why did Mina want a divorce?

Once the baby was born, a DNA test could be done. If it wasn't his, she would be exposed.

That would be her perfect chance to escape.

The more Marcus thought about it, the angrier he became. He slammed his glass down heavily.

What exactly was she thinking!

Marcus ran his hands through his hair, feeling like he was going crazy.

At that moment, he remembered Mina's resolute expression.

Her confident demeanor every time she talked about the child.

He suddenly felt a twinge of self-doubt.

Could the child really be his?

But what about the hospital report?

Marcus tapped his fingers lightly on the sofa.

He remembered the oligospermia diagnosis from his physical at eighteen.

He had been receiving treatment all these years, even cutting back on his beloved horseback riding.

But there was no improvement.

It was why he had remained unmarried.

Could it have been a misdiagnosis?

He had always gone to the family hospital for check-ups and treatment, keeping it secret to protect his image.

Marcus frowned deeply.

The lawyer spoke cautiously. "Mr. Valentine, if there's nothing else, I should head back?"

Marcus suddenly looked up. "Do you know a good urology clinic?"

The lawyer was taken aback. "Yes… Why?"

Marcus looked down. "Contact them for me now. I want to get checked tonight."