Oops! My Secret Baby Is Caught By His Top-Lawyer Daddy! Novel

---- Her father's voice trembled with worry. "We just wanted you to marry and have children normally." Scarlett sneered. "Just? That's easy for you to say! You think I don't want to get married? What if I couldn't find the right person-should I just marry a stranger? Are you raising a daughter, or a puppet? One year, you forbade me from dating; the next year, I graduate and you start pushing me to marry!" Her mother grabbed her arm. "Enough talk! We're going to the hospital to get it taken care of!" Scarlett pulled her hand away sharply. "No!

I'm going to have this baby." Her mother, furious, slapped her. "Are you trying to rebel? You'll only bring shame to me!" Scarlett froze, the heat on her cheek triggering a flood of childhood memories: "Why can't you behave?" "Why are you so useless?" "Can't you be more sensible?" "You've embarrassed me in front of everyone!" Who would have guessed that behind the glamorous Scarlett, the celebrated actress, she was actually sensitive and insecure in private? A cold smile spread across Scarlett's lips. "Rebel? This is my life. Did I ever get your approval for anything growing up?

When I wanted to dance, you enrolled me ---- in advanced math. When classmates hung out, you accused me of early romance and reported me to my homeroom teacher. When I chose college majors, you forced me into teaching-knowing full well I hated it! You always wanted a daughter of your design-did you ever ask me what kind of mother I wanted?" Scarlett stood up. "I'm sorry, but I'll never be the daughter you imagined! If I embarrass you, then fine-kick me out!" She turned, grabbed her still-packed suitcase, and walked straight out the door.

"Scarlett..." her father's voice called after her, muffled by the closing door. The moment she stepped into the elevator, tears began to slide down her cheeks. Her heart ached-pulled between guilt for her parents who had raised her, and the weight of years of silent grievances. Scarlett pulled on her baseball cap, sunglasses, and mask, standing on the curb while waiting for her assistant and driver. She had originally planned to return tomorrow, and now her staff were somewhere unknown, eating dinner. Two and a half hours later, they arrived home. The tense mood left her assistant uneasy.

"Scarlett, do you ---- want me to stay with you tonight?" "No. You should go home. Just pick me up on time tomorrow," she said, closing the door firmly behind her. Alone, she finally relaxed. She removed her gear, stood in front of the mirror, and saw her face red and puffy. She retrieved an ice pack from the fridge-not for pain, but to maintain professional composure for tomorrow's filming. Pouring a glass of red wine, she sank into the lounge chair by the floor-to-ceiling window. Forget all the nonsense about "pregnant women shouldn't drink." Tonight, she needed the wine to calm herself.

Life, she thought bitterly, was a journey of constant struggle. Scarlett couldn't help but wonder: what kind of ending could ever be worthy of all the hardships she had endured? She sat in a daze, staring at the flickering city lights outside, feeling unusually low. The doorbell rang. Rubbing her slightly numb legs, Scarlett stood and went to open it. Even if it was just a delivery person, or someone who pressed the wrong bell, she wanted to thank them for breaking her out of this spiral of negativity. ---- Through the peephole, she saw Cyrus. Scarlett opened the door.

"What are you doing here?" Cyrus kicked off his slippers as he stepped inside. "Your assistant said you weren't in a good mood. I came to check on you." Scarlett muttered, "My assistant really talks too much..." Cyrus froze in the living room when he saw the red marks on her face. Anger flared instantly. "Who did this? Derek?" Scarlett's voice dropped to a whisper. "No... it was my mom." She felt embarrassed even with Cyrus, though he was a close friend.