�What?� Renee echoed, completely stunned. �You�re saying I�m� pregnant with your child?�

�Were you not aware?� Stefan continued with a straight face. �Were you not the one who provided information to the paparazzi? Just look at the news!�

�I wasn�t, I really wasn�t.� Renee�s mind went blank. �What paparazzi? What news?�

Stefan didn�t explain anything further and took his phone out, searching the current trending news before handing it to the woman. �Take a look for yourself!�

Renee hesitated briefly, read the article, and� exploded right away.

�What?! Which of those damn paparazzi jerks wrote this? When was I ever pregnant? And they even wrote that I was practically begging you to take responsibility! Even Shakespeare would have to bow down to their creativity!�

Stefan stood up and approached her, still smiling. �If you did this to get back together, I really don�t mind, you know? Our children will definitely have both brains and beauty with our genes. So� are you pregnant or not?�

�No!� Renee burst out, putting her arms up into an �X� sign. �Birth control is the way to go! Besides, I don�t even love you, so why would I ever carry your babies? Do you think I have a lot of time and energy on my hands?�

�Are you sure?� Stefan�s gaze darkened, his voice turning cold and intimidating. �So you�re not willing to carry my children even if I am willing to take full responsibility?�

�Exactly!� Renee gritted her teeth. �I want to cut ties with you! If I were to have your children, it�d be impossible for me to do that now, wouldn�t it? Why would I ever want such a horrible future? I�m not an idiot!�

Stefan�s expression became colder by the minute. After all, the woman�s words were like sharp blades stabbing the man�s heart.

His ego thoroughly bruised, anger now rose in him. He warned the woman in a harsh voice, saying, �Remember what you said today, Everheart. If you dare lie to me, I will make your life a living hell!�

Stefan�s threats made Renee feel more alarmed, and she wondered if he had noticed any discrepancies in her denial. However, since he hadn�t made it clear that this was the case, she didn�t want to question him any further either.

Just as the man was about to leave, Renee�s eyes landed on the box which contained the Rainbow Glaze. �Wait.�

Stefan�s tall figure halted, anticipation in his eyes but his voice cold as he turned back to her. �What is it? Have you changed your mind?�

Renee couldn�t help but roll her eyes. �This man is so self-absorbed!�

�You�ve misunderstood. I just wanted you to take this back with you � I don�t need it anymore.� The woman pushed the box towards him with a cold expression.

Stefan looked visibly upset, and his aura was so menacing that anyone around him would get chills. He scoffed, �You don�t need it anymore?�

�Actually, I just don�t want to owe you any favors. This thing seems pretty valuable, so if I were to take it, we�d only be making things harder to settle between us.� Renee folded her arms, looking just as indifferent herself. In reality, not wanting to owe the man a favor was merely part of the reason she was returning the artifact.

She knew that the Rainbow Glaze was likely very important to Stefan and his family, so she didn�t want to trouble him and the rest of the Hunts by taking it away from them. Despite this, she didn�t want Stefan to realize that she was worried about him, which was why she�d rather him view her as a heartless woman instead. JrNovels.com