Goodbye, Ex-husband! I’m Pregnant with Your Uncle’s Child!
Chapter 405: Helping Dad

Chapter 405: Chapter 405: Helping Dad

The doctor hadn’t left the room for long when Maxwell Bell arrived.

Lady Bell managed to put on a faint smile. "Arthur, is the company not busy today? How do you have time to visit me?"

Maxwell Bell pulled out a chair and sat beside the hospital bed, his expression revealing a hint of exhaustion. "I made time to come see you today. I wanted to talk to you about something."

Lady Bell looked at Maxwell Bell and felt quite anxious. "Is there something wrong?"

Maxwell Bell held Lady Bell’s hand. "Auntie, I want to return the shares you gifted to me and Luke a while ago... back to you."

At that moment, Lady Bell felt a surge of joy. The child she had raised hadn’t betrayed her.

This gave her a deep sense of relief.

"Arthur, why do you want to return the shares to me? I know you’re a filial child; you’ve treated me well all these years, I’ve seen it with my own eyes."

Maxwell Bell hesitated for a moment, deciding not to tell Lady Bell about the anonymous recordings he received.

After all, Celeste Lewis and Luke Bell were his wife and son. Some things were better left unsaid for everyone’s sake.

Maxwell Bell smiled faintly and softly said, "The shares in your possession rightfully should go to Julia."

When Maxwell Bell brought up Julia Land, Lady Bell’s entire demeanor changed. She snorted coldly. "They absolutely cannot go to her."

Maxwell Bell was taken aback by Lady Bell’s cold reaction. He hadn’t expected that even after so many years, her feelings toward Julia Land would still be so intense.

Some mothers and daughters perhaps were just born without natural bonds of affection.

He pursed his lips and gently tried to persuade her. "Auntie, Julia is the legitimate heir. Plus, she’s fully capable of managing the company. Perhaps... you could consider it."

Lady Bell clenched the blanket in her hands, her face darkening, her voice carrying an icy edge. "Arthur, I understand what you’re thinking, but I cannot give it to her."

Maxwell Bell looked at Lady Bell’s stubborn expression and sighed, feeling somewhat helpless.

Lady Bell glared at her nephew. "Arthur, this matter is non-negotiable. I won’t change my mind. If you still consider me your aunt, you’ll do as I say. Don’t try to persuade me further—the shares I gave you are yours now, no need to return them."

"Auntie, don’t get upset. Arthur hears you," Maxwell Bell saw her growing agitation and stopped trying to convince her. "Please rest well. I’ll come visit you again tomorrow."

Lady Bell’s expression softened somewhat. "Alright, go now. Tomorrow, bring Celeste to the hospital to chat with me. I’m so bored being here alone."

Though she didn’t plan on taking back the shares, she definitely didn’t intend to let Celeste Lewis off the hook.

She would find a way to make her nephew divorce that conniving woman, Celeste Lewis!

"Alright," Maxwell Bell left the hospital room.

He glanced at the caregiver standing by the room’s door, his expression indifferent as he instructed, "Take good care of Lady Bell. If there’s anything, contact me directly, alright?"

The caregiver quickly nodded. "Yes, Mr. Bell."

She watched Maxwell Bell’s leaving figure and exhaled in relief, recalling the interrogations she had been subjected to the night before by his people. She shuddered.

How badly she wished to leave this place—it was far too dangerous. Everyone here seemed to be playing mind games.

Maxwell Bell left the hospital and got into his car, his eyes darkened slightly.

Having managed the Bell Group for over twenty years, pouring his heart and soul into it, the thought of handing it all over to someone else was almost impossible for him.

He had mentioned Julia Land’s name purposely to test Lady Bell’s reaction.

Sure enough, Lady Bell firmly refused the idea of returning the shares to her, even going so far as to insist that Julia Land should never have any connection to the Bell Clan’s shares after her death.

This reaction brought Maxwell Bell some relief.

He was now cleaning up after Celeste Lewis and her son.

At his age, with certain matters and words, he naturally knew how to handle things for the greater benefit of everyone.

The car pulled into the Bell family estate.

Celeste Lewis heard the sound of the door opening and turned to see Maxwell Bell returning. She snorted coldly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I thought you weren’t going to come back, with how much your aunt resents us."

Maxwell Bell closed the door, silently changed his shoes, and walked into the living room to sit on the sofa.

His gaze was calm as he looked at Celeste Lewis, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness. "Tomorrow, go to the hospital and chat with Auntie."

Celeste Lewis’s expression shifted slightly before standing up. She walked over to Maxwell Bell and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You’ve already heard those recordings and learned about my malicious intentions, yet you still want me to go accompany that old woman?"

Maxwell Bell let out a sigh. "I didn’t bring up any of the recordings to Auntie. I only mentioned returning the shares to her, but she refused."

"Celeste, the elderly have declining health. Just humor her like you used to."

Celeste Lewis found this negotiating approach acceptable—after all, she did genuinely love him.

"No returning the shares?" Celeste Lewis suppressed her rising smile.

"Auntie doesn’t want them," Maxwell Bell sighed in resignation, warning her. "From now on, don’t mention anything about the shares to avoid giving anyone leverage against us."

Celeste Lewis finally felt some peace of mind. She nodded slowly, her expression softening significantly. "Alright, I understand. I won’t bring it up anymore. Honey, I’m sorry. Even though I had bad intentions toward your aunt, I’ve spent years accompanying her."

She sat down beside Maxwell Bell, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, frowning slightly. "So who recorded it? The recordings capture things that happened both in the car and at home. Should we consider hiring someone to sweep the house for bugs or similar devices?"

Maxwell Bell’s expression remained neutral. He already knew who was responsible for the bugging, but he couldn’t reveal it, or things would become more complicated.

He reassured Celeste Lewis. "Don’t worry, I already had someone investigate. Everything is fine now, and the house is secure."

"Why can’t you tell me who it is?" Celeste Lewis thought about someone secretly recording them and felt deeply unsettled, gripping Maxwell Bell’s arm tightly. "Honey, do you have any mortal enemies?"

"Don’t speculate wildly—I’ve already handled it," Maxwell Bell gently patted her hand, his gaze darkened as he comforted her. "Don’t worry about it. Tomorrow at the hospital, remember to watch what you say. I still have a lot of work to take care of."

"Alright, I understand. Don’t worry," Celeste Lewis nodded.

**

Meanwhile.

James Thompson had promised to take Alice Thompson out to play today.

When the father and son returned home, Julia Land was startled to see the two of them covered in colorful ink stains. "What on earth did you two do?"

The big one and the little one had turned into vibrant, multicolored ink-stained characters.

"Mommy, we were painting," Alice Thompson lowered his head to show Julia Land what was on top—the green turtle drawn on his head. "Daddy drew the little turtle."

Julia Land: "..."

A bald child with a turtle drawn on his scalp—how creative.

She glanced at Mr. Thompson. Who even thinks to draw a turtle on someone’s head?

James Thompson tugged the corner of his lips into a slight smile, his tone innocent. "Alice loves it."

Alice Thompson spread his arms wide, his round eyes shining brightly. "Mommy, do you see? I look just like a tree now! The tree on Daddy’s body was drawn by me!"

Their clothes and even portions of their exposed skin were adorned with leaves and branches.

Julia Land looked at the colorful duo in front of her, rubbing her temples, her head throbbing. "Both of you, hurry up and go take a bath."

In the bathroom.

James Thompson held the showerhead, washing the little turtle off Alice Thompson’s shiny bald head.

Finally, the turtle was gone.

The forehead gleamed brightly.

"Alice, close your eyes."

James Thompson carefully and gently washed the colorful ink off Alice Thompson’s face.

The little one’s chubby cheeks finally revealed their adorably puffy appearance.

"Daddy, Alice will help you wash too later," the little one said in a soft and sweet voice. "Daddy helps Alice, so Alice will help Daddy too—fair and square."

"Alice wants to help Daddy take a bath?" James Thompson’s lips twitched slightly. With his son’s short stature, he’d probably only manage to wash his calves. "Let’s wait until Alice grows up to help Daddy bathe."

"Daddy, no need to wait until I’m grown up! I can do it now!" Alice Thompson puffed out his tiny chest, confidently declaring.

His tummy sticking out proudly as well.

"..." James Thompson didn’t want to crush his son’s confidence. "Alright, alright. Later, Alice can help Daddy take a bath."