Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 426: Acknowledging His Identity

Chapter 426: Acknowledging His Identity

Ella leaned gently into Eric’s embrace, her fingers brushing over his slightly rough hands. "I know you’ve been working hard these past days," she said softly.

Though she didn’t press him, Ella understood that Eric rarely worked this late. In the past, he always made it home in time for dinner and would take her for a stroll afterward. For him to stay at the office until 10 p.m., there must have been something exceptionally important happening.

What’s more, Eric had always been forthcoming with her about everything, but now it seemed like he was deliberately keeping something from her.

"How are you feeling today?" Eric asked, leaning back on the couch and gently kissing her cheek.

"Pretty good. Much better than usual," Ella replied with a smile.

Eric placed a hand on her waist and began massaging gently. "Still sore?"

Ella chuckled lightly. "Not anymore. My body seems to be recovering quite well these past few days."

Eric continued to rub her waist tenderly before getting up to fill the bathtub. He wanted Ella to take a bath, not only to relax her but also to distract himself from the desires he had been suppressing.

The warm, comforting night passed quickly. Ella didn’t sleep well, as usual, and in the early hours of the morning, she felt Eric getting out of bed. This time, however, he didn’t head out for his usual morning run or workout. Instead, he left the house entirely.

Reaching out, Ella’s hand landed on the now-empty spot beside her, leaving her feeling a tinge of melancholy.

Unable to fall back asleep, Ella opened her eyes and gazed out at the slowly brightening light creeping through the window. Morning had fully arrived.

Lucas had also left the house early. When Ella went downstairs to the dining room, Mrs. Harris and Mia were busy with their tasks.

Mia often chatted with Ella to keep her company. It was Mia who had taken Ella’s phone and hidden it somewhere unknown.

"Mia, I’m suddenly craving some oranges again. Could you buy some for me?" Ella said with a soft smile.

"Mr. Luke stopped by earlier. He brought plenty of oranges; they’re on the coffee table in the living room," Mrs. Harris replied with a smile.

Ella was slightly surprised. Luke had been here?

"When did he stop by?"

"Just now. He came to pick up Mr. Anderson," Mrs. Harris explained. Ella nodded lightly. "In that case, Mia, could you get me some preserved plums? My mouth feels a little bland."

Mia’s eyes widened. "You love oranges! Why has your craving changed?"

Mrs. Harris laughed warmly. "That’s perfectly normal for a pregnant woman—her tastes can change all the time."

"But I’m terrible with directions!" Mia groaned, pulling a face.

"Then drive Mrs. Harris to the store," Ella suggested with a playful smile, her eyes filled with a hint of pleading. "Mrs. Harris, please help me out. I really want those plums!"

Mrs. Harris, doting on Ella as much as anyone, reluctantly agreed. Together, she and Mia left the house to fetch the plums.

Ella’s eyes glinted with purpose. Mia’s belongings were usually kept in her room, and she wasn’t exactly the most cautious person.

Suppressing her nausea, Ella hurried upstairs to Mia’s room. Turning the doorknob, she found, unsurprisingly, that it was unlocked.

She slipped inside and quietly closed the door behind her.

Mia’s room had been furnished before Ella and Eric moved in, complete with a vanity table, wardrobe, and other essentials.

Ella approached the vanity and opened one of the drawers. There it was—her phone, lying quietly inside.

Raising an eyebrow, Ella couldn’t help but smirk at Mia’s carelessness. Finding her phone was far too easy.

She quickly retrieved the phone and opened the browser.

LXL had grown into a rapidly advancing company over the past few years, and any newsworthy incident would undoubtedly appear online quickly.

As expected, when Ella opened a well-known news website, the headline in the entertainment section immediately caught her off guard.

Famed Actress Tiffany Resurrected, Alleges Staged Car Accident!

Ella’s expression turned cold. Tiffany was as troublesome as ever.

But after all, she had spent three years in hiding, sharpening her skills, and gaining the powerful support of the Miller family.

During those three years, as she approached fame, she must have connected with many influential figures. Was the car accident a deliberate ploy for her to fake her death? Or had someone saved her and masterminded this entire scheme?

Ella clearly remembered the Tiffany of that time—Hannah’s identity after her cosmetic surgery. Back then, Hannah had appeared utterly broken. Could it all have been an act?

And the deranged killer? Was that part of her plan too?

Ella was hesitant to believe it. After all, back then, Hannah had set a trap for her, saying those vile things to provoke her. Yet when Ella outmaneuvered her with quick thinking, Hannah had realized how precarious her position and reputation were and had quickly abandoned her scheme to frame Ella.

So... Ella suspected a mysterious figure must have saved Hannah.

Was this person targeting her, or was it about Eric?

Only someone elusive and unpredictable could cause Eric this much trouble. If it were the Miller family, the enemy would be clear, and their vulnerabilities could be exploited for a decisive counterattack.

Ella deleted the browsing history, closed the webpage, and returned her phone to where she had found it.

She didn’t need to check to know she was likely being viciously attacked by netizens.

Still, to maintain her peace of mind, Ella refrained from looking further.

She knew Eric must be working on a solution, but it was undoubtedly a tough challenge.

Ella returned to her room and lay down, her head pounding with stress. Her temples throbbed painfully, making her feel even more unsettled.

However, remembering she was pregnant, she tried to push the thoughts away. Eric would surely handle this, she reassured herself.

Despite her efforts to calm herself, Ella couldn’t completely shake the worry. Just then, Mia and Mrs. Harris returned, and Ella decided to distract herself by heading downstairs.

Lucas and Luke had also returned shortly after leaving and brought back a variety of fruits Ella enjoyed.

"Ella, you haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? Mrs. Harris mentioned you wanted some preserved plums," Lucas said with a warm smile as he set down the items.

"These are baby essentials. I had them specially designed by experts in Country W—they’re safe and eco-friendly," Lucas added with a tone filled with affection.

Ella couldn’t help but smile. "Thank you... Dad."

Lucas froze for a moment, and then his smile grew even brighter. Ella had finally called him "Dad"!

"Come, come, have some breakfast. Preserved plums with porridge are a great match," Mrs. Harris chimed in with a laugh.

Ella sat at the dining table, but suddenly, the room seemed to tilt slightly.

Her head throbbed violently, and a wave of nausea left her feeling utterly drained.

"Ella, what’s wrong?" Luke, forgetting the tension that had existed between them, asked in a deep, concerned voice as he noticed her pale face.