Melissa held Julie's arm gently. “Didn't you say it yourself? We'll be taking care of the child together. He can't know. You can't tell him."

Julie let out a resigned sigh. "I can't win over you. Okay. We will do it ourselves."

Melissa leaned gently on Julie's shoulder.

The doorbell rang, and Julie gave a light pat to Melissa. “I'll go open the door."

She had not expected the man standing outside.

It was Ryan.

From the bags in his hand that contained things suitable for expecting mothers, he seemed to have come to check on Melissa. His eyes went wide at the sight of Julie, and he asked in a low voice, "Is Melissa here?"

Julie recognized Ryan. She knew he was a jerk.

Narrowing her eyes at him, she asked, “What are you doing here?"

Ryan ignored her and instead called out loudly, "Melissa."

Hearing her name, she walked over. She hadn't even contacted Ryan since she left. She just met him by accident one time. Melissa didn't know what had gotten into him. He had sold his parents' house and gave her the 400 thousand dollars he got from it. She took the money and combined with her own savings, gave it back to Marcus.

She didn't want anything to do with Ryan anymore.

But he thought differently. Ryan was aware of his condition, and he knew that he would likely never be able to have his own child.

The life growing inside Melissa's womb gave him hope.

The baby in her stomach was Marcus' child. It was a descendant of the Fowlers. If Melissa would be willing to marry Ryan, he could raise the child as his own. Marcus would never know, as he had no intention of ever telling him.

Nor did he plan on letting him know Melissa's whereabouts.

Along with his dramatic entrance, it was easy to guess what his intentions were. He was practically volunteering to be the child's father. His audacity enraged Julie. She picked up the broom and went to hit him.

"You bastard! Don't even think about coming back here. Or I'tl kill you!"

Ryan had always been one to abuse the weak and fear the strong.

He took a few steps backward, both angry and embarrassed. “You'll regret this, Melissa."