Ara's face became pale like that of a ghost. How the hell did Kaizan know that she was pregnant? She snapped her face to look at Paige, who was under the grip of heavy shock. She had to take control of the situation or else her cover would get blown. "I am not pregnant!" she countered, shaking her head. Then she looked at Kaizan and said, "Are you out of your mind? Stop concocting poisonous stories only so that you can throw me out and then let Paige get her share." She glanced at Paige whose suspicion seemed to fade a little. She held her hand and squeezed it. "But you know what, I will not leave Paige because I want her benefit. Under a man like you or rather with a sibling as powerful as you, she is being underestimated and underplayed. I will stand tall with her and not let you crush her!" And those words removed whatever little doubt that remained with Paige. Her lips curled up faintly. 

Kaizan chuckled. He crossed his arms across his chest. "Are you sure you are not pregnant?" he asked in a very casual tone. 

"Kaizan!" Paige almost shouted at him. "You should be ashamed of yourself for falsely accusing Ara. You are getting too much! I have never ever done this kind of a thing with Olivia!" 

Kaizan knew that talking to Paige at this moment would be futile. So, he ignored her and turned his attention to Ara, who was looking victorious.

"If it satisfies your curiosity, then once again I am saying that I am not pregnant," Ara said in a determined voice. She tugged Paige's hand and said, "Come, let us go up."

The two turned to go when Kaizan's voice boomed, "Wait!" His command, and aura was so strong that the girls just stopped in their tracks. 

Paige turned to gaze at him with a weary expression. "What is it, Kaizan? Please just let us live peacefully…"

"If you are not pregnant Ara, then just to satisfy our curiosity, you must let the healers examine you," he said. Then he tilted his head to see behind them and gestured with his chin. Finn came out of the shadows and along with him was a healer. 

Icy-panic blasted in her body and Ara stared at the healer. Her throat became paper dry. If she allowed the healer to examine her, her pregnancy would be exposed. Gathering her wits, she turned to Kaizan sharply and hissed, "Your plans are not going to work on me, Kaizan. You are the most vicious person I have ever seen. You are going to humiliate me like this? I am yet to see a man as lowly as you!" 

"Gods, Kaizan!" Paige said in a disbelieving tone. "You are a piece of shit!" 

Ara held Paige's hand and tugged her. She had to leave before things spiraled out of control. "Come on, let us go before he stoops down further!"

But Paige pulled her hand back. "No Ara!" she said, her voice filled with anger. "I want the healer to check you and I want Kaizan to be humiliated. I have had enough of this shit from him and I can't stand anymore." She gazed at Ara for a long time and said, "I trust you, Ara. Get this done once and for all. After this we are going to live in peace." Her gaze went to her parents. "And I hope my parents will give me the overdue respect." 

"What?" Ara seethed as her heart plummeted to her stomach. "Even you don't believe me, Paige?" 

"I believe you, baby," Paige assured her. "I believe you with all my heart. I just want this doubting audience here to believe you. I am fed up with people suspecting us at all times." She placed her hand on Ara's cheek. "Please Ara, do it for me, and not for them. I know that you aren't pregnant. I know that you will never deceive me, but this needs to be out and clear." 

Ara shirked her hand away. Tears filled her eyes. "So, you too are suspecting me?" She pressed a hand to her heart. "I didn't expect you to be like that." On the inside she was burning with rage and panic. She glanced to her side and saw that two guards came to join Finn. She looked beyond the garden if there was an escape through which she could bolt. Unfortunately, there were tall fences all around. She was trapped. She had to take a chance with Paige. Ara let out a loud sob. "It is better if I die rather than be suspected by my lover!" Tears streamed down her face. "I have stood by you at all times and this is the reward I get?" 

Paige looked so hurt. "No baby…" she shook her head with guilt. "I understand that integrity is what you are looking for, but—"

Ara held her hand up as if accusing Paige. "I can't endure this anymore. I am going up…" She started to leave but the two guards stopped her. Infuriated, she shouted, "What is this? Let me go!" 

"Not without the healer checking you," came Kaizan's cold voice. He was watching the drama unfold patiently. "Even if Paige had allowed you to leave, I wouldn't have. So, you better sit here and let the healer check you and that too in front of us." 

Before Ara could bolt out of there, Finn moved his chin and the two guards held Ara. 

"You can't hold me against my will!" she shouted at them as she resisted them. "I will not get myself checked. You can't insult me to this degree!" But the guards didn't listen to her. They dragged her to an empty chair and made her sit forcibly. Kaizan waved his hand to the healer, ignoring Paige's glare and hatred. The healer rushed to stand in front of Ara. Ara tried to kick the healer. 

Finn rushed to her. He took his dagger out and placed it on her throat with a growl. "Stay quiet till he finishes his work, else this gets in your throat." 

Ara went still. She looked at Paige who gasped, eyes going wide with horror. This was how the General played in his turf. No one dared to challenge him once he used his powers. 

The healer took a sigh of relief. Everyone's eyes were pinned on him as he walked to where Ara was sitting. He took her wrist in his hand to check her pulse. A minute later, he placed his hand on her forehead, on her neck and on her cheeks. Then he took out a funnel from his bag and placed it on Ara's stomach. He pressed it hard over there. Moments later, he got up and declared, "She is pregnant." 

Ground beneath Paige's feet slipped. Her mind became numb. 

Kaizan's lips curled up in a victorious smile. He moved his chin for the healer to step aside.. Finn also removed the dagger from her throat. In a cold, lethal voice he said, "Would you care to tell us who is the father of the child or do you want me to reveal it?" 

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