After Joanne had found out that she was pregnant, she began reading a lot of related books. All the books she had read mentioned that fetal movement would take place at week 18 if it was her first pregnancy.

But now, it's not even week 15. If it's abnormal fetal movement, then...

She wished that the whole fetal movement had been an illusion.

Brian called Dr. Hans, explaining the situation to him. Dr. Hans told him not to worry. "There are precedents of pregnant moms having their first fetal movement at week 15. As long as the mother feels okay, there is nothing much to be worried about."

"So, no examination in the hospital?" Brian's slightly furrowed eyebrows showed his worry.

"No need. Just come in to have pregnancy examination regularly as scheduled." Dr. Hans smiled and added, "If the movement was so strong at the early stage, the babies would be very energetic once they come into this world. Mr. Lambert, you have nothing to worry about, as well as Mrs. Lambert."

"Thanks."

Brian hung up and touched Joanne's stomach gently.

These two little guys caught him so unprepared, which also alerted him silently that he needed to get rid of Rowdy as soon as possible.

As long as Rowdy was out there, he couldn't be relieved.

Sensing the tension of Brian by observing his facial expression, Joanne thought that he was still concerned. She looked down and said, "Dr. Hans already said that it's normal." She turned his face upside down using her fingers lightly. "Smile. You look so serious that you may scare them."

Brian couldn't help smirking. He held Joanne's with his dry, yet big and warm hand. "Let's go eat."

After dinner, Gavin called.

"Our evaluation review and the one from the police have been released just now. The thing that Yuna found was an explosive. Well, actually it was a bomb. But it cannot be found in any of the existing models. So it proves that Wesley was right-it is a new type of bomb."

Brian squinted and asked, "Rowdy invented this?"

"It's possible," Gavin said. "Rowdy owns a weapons factory, specializing in research and improvement on different weapons. But it's a shame that people could never get out once they went in the factory. Even the ICPO (International Criminal Police Organization) couldn't find the exact location of the factory, let alone us."

Brian was silent for a while then said, "Check to see if there are any other places that this new type has been used."

"I checked already. There are none." Gavin gnashed his teeth angrily. "That little rat Rowdy is sneaky. So far, it appears that he has nothing to do with this bomb. So, even if we proved that the collapse incident was of a human cause, we couldn't prove that it was him who caused it."

Brian's eyes went dim. "He just used Fontine Gardens to test the power of the new bomb. Of course he wouldn't leave any clues."

"Damn!" Gavin couldn't help swearing. "That mind-twisted asshole."

"..."

Brian recalled that Joanne had told him some trivia once when he had been bored, saying that if two people had been in touch for a rather long time, and if one of them had been having feelings for the other, then they would imitate the way the other spoke, or even some of their commonly used phrases.

Wendy often used the phrase "mind-twisted asshole" in reference to Gavin. Obviously Gavin got the hang of it.

Gavin didn't seem to notice a thing as he continued, "There's another thing I couldn't figure out. Wesley said that that thing had been discovered by Yuna when she first arrived on the scene. And she has handed it to us at this very time. What is she up to? Or is she just trying to be nice?"

"We don't know anything yet." After pausing, Brian continued, "See if she can stay in the hospital calmly for medical treatment after the announcement has been made. Maybe we will know by then."

Brian had hung up before Gavin comprehended what he just said, and went to Joanne.

Joanne was calling Freya downstairs on video.

After the light-consuming (half of Arlington could have been lit up by that) and sensational proposal, Freya was a hit. Many of her jobs had been carrying on well, and her net worth increased at a speed that was out of reach for other new models, which resulted in more jobs.

Freya had done her jobs well every time. But she wasn't a workaholic. In fact, she had rejected many job offers and her schedule wasn't packed at all.

The reason was quite simple: She wanted to be with Chris when he got off work. Other than that, there were a lot of things about the wedding that she needed to take care of, like picking out the wedding gowns. It was too much work.

Whenever Freya had something on her mind, the first person that she would go to would be Joanne. Only Joanne could help her get it together. In addition, she had been so busy that she couldn't visit Joanne in person. That was why she called her on video.

When Brian was walking down the stairs, he overheard Freya and Joanne discussing the style of the wedding gowns.

Joanne offered her a piece of her mind, like Freya had such delicate shoulders that she could definitely pull off an off-shoulder-cut wedding dress. Freya accepted all of her opinions. At the end of the call, she threw Joanne a kiss on the screen and said, "You are always the right person to go to!"

"Why don't you talk to my brother?" Joanne asked out of curiosity. "He bought me a lot of gifts. I think he is good at picking out ladies' outfits."

"Him?" Freya said with obvious repulsion on her face. "He is dying to wrap me in a bandage like a mummy and lock me in a box. Do you think it's possible that he would advise me to expose my shoulders?"

"..." Joanne was speechless.

Freya hadn't finished. But soon she noticed that Brian was right behind Joanne. "I guess that I'll just leave you two alone. See you." She grinned.

Joanne was puzzled, and the screen suddenly turned black and Freya was gone.

While Joanne was still struggling with confusion, Brian sat next to her. He took her computer and put it aside. "When's Freya and your brother's wedding day?"

"My brother is thinking maybe June." Joanne lay in Brian's arms relaxingly. "It is gonna be warm in June. Also, it's still months away, which gives them plenty of time to get it prepared."

Brian put his arms around Joanne's waist, with his chin placed on her shoulder. "I thought we would be the ones who got married first."

Joanne pointed at her little bump. "It's not my fault..." she said innocently.

Brian smiled and didn't deny it. He turned to Joanne and kissed her on her cheek. "It's my fault." At the same time, he held her in his arms and carried her back to their room. Then, he prepared a bath for her.

After the bath, Joanne lay on the bed with only a robe on. When Brian lay down, it was her camellia scent that lingered in his nose.

He looked at her. She was lying on her side comfortably, holding a detective novel. Her pose showed clearly the exquisite line of her neck and the graceful shape of her collarbone. Even with the book in her hand, he couldn't help noticing that her hand was creamy and soft in a heart-flipping way.

Brian didn't know if it was because Joanne was the apple of his eye, but even though Joanne had put on some weight after the morning sickness had weakened, he found her figure to be even more attractive and seductive.

He had been testing lately almost every day.

But he was doomed to fail every test related to Joanne.

Joanne sensed a warm and familiar body pressed against her back. Her robe slipped off revealing her shoulders, and the warm kisses were all over her.

Every spot that Brian put his lips on trembled.

She couldn't deny that she really didn't want to push Brian away.

"You look good in an off-shoulder-cut outfit too," Brian said with his deep voice full of pleasantness.

Joanne was a little bit clumsy when she turned around, but she still tried to. "Maybe I can wear it tomorrow?"

"No!" Brian gave her no chance for explanation. He pressed against Joanne but avoided her stomach area. "The only one knowing how beautiful your shoulders are can be me alone," he said, then pecked all over her.

Joanne smiled. "I am staying home tomorrow. So, only you can see."

Brian was cheered up like a child. He put his arm around her. "Sweetie..."

Joanne felt her heart melt. "Yeah?"

Brian rubbed against her. "I want."

Joanne knew exactly what he meant. Her face turned red, and half of it nuzzled into the pillow. "All right."

She told herself that the doctor had said that after three months of being pregnant, they could do it. So, well, she couldn't let Brian hold it in for too long...

Brian beamed, cupped her face carefully, and kissed her lips with hotness and intensity.

This night would be a sleepless night.

......

The next day...

The sunlight had already filled up the room.

Since she got pregnant, Joanne woke up later day by day. This day, she slept past 8:30 and still felt sleepy.

But then she felt weird. She suddenly opened her eyes, recognizing the fact that Brian was still here!

On the weekdays, Brian never got up later than 7:30. This time, he obviously woke up in advance, but was still lying in bed, staring at her deeply.

"Are you ditching work today?" Joanne lay on his arm, staring back at him.

Brian clasped Joanne. "I feel good today."

Joanne was aware of what he meant. She blushed and hid in his arms as he asked, "Was there any discomfort?"

Joanne's cheeks got even more red. She shook her head and pushed Brian away. "Get up. You need to go to work."

Brian held her cheekily. "Then come and have breakfast with me."

Anyway, Joanne wasn't sleepy anymore. She nodded and was carried into the bathroom by Brian. She took the electronic toothbrush with toothpaste on it prepared by Brian. But before she brushed, she felt this weird sensation in her stomach and consecutively threw up with no warning.

Without hesitation, Brian immediately used a hair clip to tie her hair up and patted her back. "Feeling sick?"

Joanne gargled and shook her head. She was about to say something, but suddenly, she had this nauseous feeling and threw up again.

Brian frowned so hard, then pulled a tissue out and wiped her lips. "Hold it for a while, I am taking you to the hospital."

Joanne stopped Brian and shook her head. "No, I'm okay."

"Why would you throw up if you were okay?" It could be seen from his facial expression that Brian felt regret. "I'm sorry. It's my fault."

There was still a disagreeable feeling in Joanne's stomach, but she chuckled. "I have more serious morning sickness than the others, remember?" She blushed again. "It really... has nothing to do with last night."

Joanne seldom had her morning sickness during this period. It had been a while since he saw her throwing up like that. It was hard for Brian to stop relating this situation to last night. He asked in doubt, "Really?"

Joanne nodded with certainty. "Yeah." She added, "I once read it in a book that morning sickness has nothing to do with... that."

She felt sick again after saying this. Joanne covered her stomach with her hand, and it took her a while to relieve the pain. After that, most of her energy drained and she felt exhausted and consumed.

After she finished brushing her teeth, Brian carried her to the bed and asked Martha to bring breakfast upstairs.

"I don't want to eat." Joanne shook her head and stayed in bed. "I am full."

Brian sweet-talked Joanne patiently. "But you threw up. You gotta eat something, okay? Sweetie, just have a few bites."

After being coaxed to eat half of the congee spoonful by spoonful, she said she couldn't eat anymore. Brian didn't force her and just let her rest.

Joanne checked the time. It was almost 10, and Brian didn't seem to be planning on going to work. She tried to smile. "I am okay. Go to work. I will call you if anything happens."

Brian's schedule was packed, so he really couldn't stay home with Joanne any longer. He left a kiss on her forehead, gave Martha a few reminders, and left with concerns.