The CEO's Mischievous Little Bride
Chapter 434 The Clever Brianna

Noah found out the next day that Vera and Patrick were having conflicts.

When he video-called Vera, he noticed she was in a bad mood. Sensing something was off, Noah hung up and immediately called Brianna. "You said Vera was looking up Patrick's mistress online?" Noah was unsettled.

Ignoring Brianna's advice, Noah called Patrick directly.

Patrick was surprised to get a call from Noah. Thinking about the tension between him and Vera, he answered with some suspicion. Noah got straight to the point. "Did you cheat?"

Patrick was confused.

Realizing there might be a misunderstanding, Patrick denied it immediately, "The only person around me is Vera. Who else would I cheat with?" Noah was just arriving at the parking lot, ready to fly home. If Patrick had really cheated, as Vera's brother, he needed to support her. But Patrick's words stopped Noah.

"Did Vera tell you I cheated?" Patrick asked.

He thought, 'Vera has started to slander me? So quickly?

'How fragile is my love for Vera that she thinks I would cheat after just one day apart?'

Noah said, "Vera was secretly looking up information about your mistress online yesterday. Brianna saw her search history."

With that, Patrick chuckled, "I see."

After hanging up, Noah was left in a daze, thinking, 'Should I go home or not?'

Finally, he decided to go back. It had been a while since Noah saw Vera and his unborn nephew.

Patrick finally went to the Linister Manor.

When Brianna saw Patrick's car pull into the front yard, she felt relieved.

Patrick walked into the living room and saw Brianna waiting for him on the sofa.

He immediately asked, "Mom, where's Vera?"

Brianna didn't answer his question. Instead, she asked, "Patrick, are you done with work? Why did you suddenly have time to come over today?" Patrick said frankly, "If I didn't come over, I might end up with an illegitimate child one day."

Hearing Patrick's blunt joke, Brianna knew their relationship issues weren't due to a third party.

"Vera is in her bedroom. Go ahead."

"Thanks, Mom," Patrick said suddenly.

Brianna replied politely, "We are family. No need to thank me."

Patrick added, "Thank you for that phone call."

Brianna's eyes showed a moment of appreciation because Patrick understood her intentions.

During her call with Noah, she had deliberately mentioned Vera's online search. If Patrick had really cheated, Noah would questioned him.

As elders, she and Warren avoided meddling in their children's marriages. But Noah was Vera's brother. If Noah confronted Patrick, Patrick would learn about Vera's situation.

If Patrick had cheated, Noah would have been furious and called her immediately to tell Vera to stay away from the Olteran family.

If Patrick hadn't cheated but found out about Vera's search, he would have explained the misunderstanding right away. After all, Vera was pregnant, and deepening the misunderstanding could harm both Vera and the baby. Brianna smiled. "You should go up now."

Patrick turned and went upstairs.

In the bedroom, Vera was feeling sad when the door suddenly opened.

Seeing Patrick suddenly appear, Vera was stunned.

She blinked in disbelief.

Then, her mouth turned down, her eyes reddened, her nose tingled, and tears welled up.

Even though she hadn't started crying yet, Patrick could almost hear her sobs echoing in his mind.

He walked in and looked at Vera. Despite her silence, just looking at her made him feel she was on the brink of breaking down.

Before he could get closer, Vera quickly moved to the other side of the bed. Then, she got off the bed and hid in the corner by the window.

Patrick hadn't even started to scare her, and she was already hiding.

Seeing this, Patrick closed the door and sat on Vera's vanity chair, keeping a distance of several feet between them.

He deliberately tried to intimidate her, watching her pout and cry, but he didn't offer any comfort.

Patrick asked, "Why are you hiding so far away?"

Vera said softly, "I'm afraid you'll hit me."

Patrick, no matter how tough he could be, knew better than to lay a hand on a woman, especially not Vera, his beloved wife.

He observed Vera behind the thick curtain, not intending to comfort her just yet.

Instead, he questioned, "Who told you I cheated?"

The curtains were heavy and long, covering Vera's face, leaving only her round belly exposed.

Vera quickly tucked curtains behind her, looking at Patrick with a pitiful expression.

"Randall said you might cheat while I'm pregnant."

Patrick thought, 'It is Randall again!'

"I'll deal with him later. Come over here." He clenched his fist and knocked on her vanity table.

Vera, caught between fear and stubbornness, not only refused to move but actually took a step back. With tears still glistening on her lashes, she mustered the courage to say, "You can talk from this distance. I'm afraid to get closer." Patrick was frustrated, feeling a pang of heartache. "If you stay standing like this, your legs will swell up again tonight."

Vera was puzzled, thinking, 'How does Patrick know my legs were swollen?

'It must have been Brianna who told him downstairs.'

Vera didn't move, so Patrick got up and walked over to her.

Vera instinctively put up her hands to resist and backed away until her back was against the wall.

"Stop." Patrick said.

Vera glanced up at his stern face and then lowered her head, feeling wronged.

Patrick grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the end of the bed, guiding her to sit down.

He then crouched down, lifted her skirt, and as Vera tried to cover herself, Patrick held her wrists firmly. "Have I never seen your leg before? I need to check if your thighs are swollen."

Vera pouted, "They're not swollen anymore."

Patrick wasn't convinced. He let go of her hands and pulled her skirt up to her thighs, then gently pressed on her leg, moving to her knee and calf. He even took off her shoes and examined her feet closely.

He pressed gently, frowning. After checking the other foot, he concluded, "Your feet are still a bit swollen."

Vera looked at her feet in his hands. Despite Patrick's evident love and concern for her, she couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't come to see her the day before.