The CEO's Mischievous Little Bride
Chapter 438 My Baby Is Already Kicking

Vera's action was purely instinctive; she swore she didn't mean to hit anyone. She raised her hand and slapped Noah on the back, the sound echoing through the living room, which fell silent instantly. "How dare you say my son doesn't have a heartbeat!"

Vera, agitated, grabbed Noah by the shoulder and pulled him close, emphasizing loudly, "My baby is already kicking me; how could he not have a heartbeat? The stuff you bought is broken, and don't talk nonsense." "Wait a minute."

He placed his hand on Vera's belly, feeling for the baby's movement. Ten seconds passed, and Noah couldn't help but urge Vera's baby, "Kick, why aren't you kicking?"

There was no movement. Noah looked at Vera's face and then pointed at her belly. "Vera, he's not moving."

Vera retorted, "Well, of course he's not just going to kick on command. If he's in a mood, he won't even do it for Patrick."

Patrick, standing nearby, nodded helplessly; that was true.

Noah placed the device back on Vera's belly, listening carefully. "Vera, there's really no heartbeat."

Patrick, calm and composed, took the device, flipped through the manual, and began investigating on his own.

Vera and Noah continued to argue.

"My baby's got a bit of a temper," Vera said. "You need to call him 'baby' and tell him 'I love you.' Maybe then he'll give you some respect."

Noah replied, "Is he a boy or not? Why's he so picky?"

After saying that, Noah placed his hand on Vera's belly again. "Baby, I'm your uncle. I love you. If you hear me, give me a kick."

Vera responded, "Like I said, maybe he'll give you a sign if you're nice. Right now, he's just ignoring you."

Patrick, after checking, said, "You put the batteries in backward."

Noah was speechless.

Vera looked at Noah, incredulous. "Excuse me, how are you qualified to criticize me with your intelligence?"

Noah defended himself, "It was a mistake, a mistake." After saying that, he seriously thought about why he hadn't checked carefully earlier. This time, Patrick correctly inserted the batteries and handed the device back to Noah, still making him the first to listen for the heartbeat. Patrick could feel how much Noah cared about this baby.

Noah took the device, put on the headphones, and placed the device on Vera's belly. "Got it!" he exclaimed excitedly. Vera immediately got excited, too. "How is it?"

Noah scanned her belly, hesitating.

"If you have something to say, just go ahead. What's with that expression?"

Noah scanned her belly for a long time, finally seeing the heartbeat displayed on the device. He stopped and listened carefully.

Vera didn't dare to disturb Noah, who was seriously listening to the heartbeat. She even tried to breathe quietly so as not to disturb him. Patrick was also slightly nervous, looking at Noah.

Patrick thought, 'What's with the frown?'

"Vera, are you carrying a baby or a train? Why does it sound like there's wind blowing and a train running in the wind inside your belly?" Noah pulled off the headphones and handed them to Patrick. "Patrick, give it a listen."

After listening, Patrick was also puzzled; it wasn't a heartbeat.

"Honey, let me listen."

Patrick put the headphones on her and started searching for information on fetal heart sounds.

"This is a normal sound. I listened online that other pregnant moms have the same sound," Vera said.

Her words reassured both Patrick and Noah.

The afternoon slipped away with the three of them at home, listening to the baby's heartbeat and playing with the device Noah had brought.

By evening, Vera had turned the device into a new "game," sweeping it over her belly.

They had planned to return to the Olteran Manor today, and in the evening, Shawn called to urge them to come home.

Noah decided to stay with Vera. Patrick updated the family, and he and Vera remained at the Linister home.

In the evening, Warren and Brianna came home too, and they were also drawn into the fun of listening to the baby's heartbeat.

Patrick mused that his son was already becoming a toy for Vera, even before the baby was born.

At night, Patrick watched Vera continue to play with the gadget Noah had bought her.

She wore headphones, sometimes listening to music, sometimes to the baby's heartbeat.

Patrick glanced at the clock on the nightstand. "Vera, it's eleven o'clock. You and the baby should sleep."

Vera looked at her belly, which was sometimes bulging and sometimes smooth. "Honey, feel my belly. He's very active right now."

Patrick and Vera didn't react much to the baby's movements anymore, but Noah acted as if he had stumbled upon a whole new world.

In the evening, after dinner, Noah kept studying her belly. "Vera, do you feel like you're carrying a watermelon?"

"Don't mention watermelons." As soon as summer arrived, she wanted to eat frozen watermelon, but because watermelon had high sugar content and Cindy was worried that she was going to get gestational diabetes, she wouldn't let Vera eat it.

Noah joked, "Then do you feel like you're carrying a cantaloupe?"

Noah's playful teasing was getting on her nerves.

She stayed at home for a couple more days to accompany Noah. Although she didn't say it, she cared a lot about Noah; knowing he came back specifically to see her, so she stayed a few more days. The Olteran family knew Noah was back, so Shawn and Cindy didn't urge Vera to return home.

This prompted Brianna and Warren to privately comment, "Vera made a great match."

Occasionally, the Olteran family would reflect on how well Patrick had chosen, noting, "Vera's family is really great." Because Noah returned in a hurry, he had many things at school that needed his attention, so he had to leave early. So he didn't stay long at home, and after seeing his family, he boarded a plane and left.

Vera also returned to the Olteran family with Patrick.

Molly was discharged from the hospital, and Randall came home.

Coincidentally, Vera also returned.

Just as Vera arrived, they ran into each other. A single glance from Patrick had them scatter in different directions. Patrick wondered when Vera, Randall, and Molly had become so apprehensive of him.

Patrick ordered, "Vera, go upstairs and sleep. Molly, go to your room and rest. Randall, come with me to the study."

They all nodded in agreement, knowing better than to protest.

It was as if they were lining up: Randall led the way up the stairs, followed by Molly, with Vera bringing up the rear. "Honey, take it easy," Vera called out. Patrick gestured toward the stairs, signaling her to go ahead. Vera obediently went upstairs.

She cracked the bedroom door open slightly, peering through the gap.