Claimed by the Crown Heir novel Chapter 129

"Of course I have," Vanessa nodded, her tone entirely matter-of-fact.

Back then, she hadn't known he was Alistair Howard. Why would she risk getting pregnant by a stranger?

If she married into the Howard family carrying another man's child, it would be the scandal of the century. The Howards would destroy her, and the Grant family would be completely humiliated in Sterling City.

Alistair's eyes narrowed, his gaze turning incredibly dangerous. "You don't want my child?"

She pressed her lips together and looked away. "Not right now. As for the future... that depends on your performance."

He loved judging people's performances so much, so she would throw his own words right back at him.

"..."

She was certainly a fast learner.

"You studied medicine. You know those pills wreck your body. Besides, nobody gets pregnant off one or two nights," he said, standing up and pointing to the nightstand. "I left some clothes for you. Come down for lunch."

Watching his broad back disappear through the door, Vanessa quickly got dressed.

Unsurprisingly, the clothes fit her perfectly, as if they had been tailor-made.

The afternoon sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the entire villa in a warm, golden glow.

Walking barefoot across the plush carpet, she followed the mouthwatering aroma into the dining room. Seeing the man walking out of the kitchen with plates of food, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

"You can cook?"

"Try it."

Grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, and a creamy soup. The simple meal looked incredibly appetizing, making her stomach rumble.

She hadn't eaten a single bite since yesterday and was completely starving.

Picking up a fork, she took a bite. Her eyes immediately lit up.

"I never expected a billionaire like you to be such a good chef."

It was a fantastic surprise.

Alistair served her a bowl of soup, his tone casual. "I'm human too. I have to eat. Cooking is just a basic survival skill."

Vanessa found room 606 and rang the bell. The person inside reacted like a terrified deer.

Seraphina checked the peephole. Once she saw it was Vanessa, she yanked the door open, dragged her inside, checked the hallway, and slammed the deadbolt shut.

"Seraphina, relax. This place is incredibly secure."

The Sovereign Hotel had some of the best security in Sterling City.

"Better safe than sorry. You have no idea how insane last night was."

Seraphina grabbed her arm, frantically rambling about her brush with death.

"I got backed into a corner, so I just sprinted into the restricted area, figuring I was dead either way. They caught me and literally locked me in a cage."

"I honestly thought I wasn't going to live to see the sun come up. I thought I'd never see you again."

She grabbed Vanessa's hands, her eyes wide. "Babe, did you beg Mr. Howard to come save me?"

"Yeah. To save your life, I had to sleep with him and let him completely take advantage of me." Vanessa poked her forehead hard. "You're out of your mind. Why on earth did you go running into a place like that?"