Martha's revelation caused a furor in the crowd of guests.
"What? Victor Damone got a woman pregnant?"
"Victor never mentioned it to anyone!"
"Is this lady lying?"
"Is she trying to profit from the city hero's death?"
"Shame on her! A divorcee like her shouldn't be allowed in this gathering!"
Carol covered her face immediately, overcome with utter humiliation. She wished she'd just disappear from the world.
What had her mother done? Carol never wanted to reveal her pregnancy to the public and had planned to raise the child by herself. She should have tutored Ruth to keep her mouth shut.
Edgar Damone, who had been silent all along, rose from his fireplace couch. He slowly approached the gathering and stopped by Carol. His face was a mixture of tumultuous emotion.
"Is this true?" he asked the beauty. "Are you carrying Victor's child?"
Carol lowered her hands to reveal a teary face. She opened her mouth to speak but was suddenly overcome by sobs. In the end, the young woman nodded to answer the question.
The people gathered began harassing Carol.
"She's clearly lying to steal his inheritance with lies."
"What a cheap woman! Resorting to such pathetic tactics for money!"
"She even admitted to sleeping with a man who wasn't her husband anymore! Pathetic!"
"Proof! Give us proof!"
"Victor hated you! Why would he even touch you?"
At this point, Elsa Madison stepped forward. "Enough! Please maintain silence, as this is a legal proceeding.”
She turned towards Carol. The female attorney had never approved of the woman as a match for Caesar. She couldn't believe that the peerless man had actually slept with her.
"Miss Atelier, do you have any evidence that you are pregnant and that the child is Mr. Victor Damone's?"
Carol wasn't even listening anymore. The personal attacks the crowd heaped on her were so humiliating that the poor woman froze.
Martha placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Let me speak, dear. You can take your time."
She faced Elsa Madison with confidence. "What right do you have to cross-question my daughter like this? Did she plan her pregnancy or force Victor Damone to sleep with her? The poor thing is already suffering. She can't even begin to imagine how to raise a fatherless child. She's terrified of whether she'll survive as a single mother! Let me answer the questions on her behalf."
Elsa nodded. "That is acceptable. I implore the guests to abstain from personal attacks. As the executor of Mr. Damone's will, I need answers before I continue with the proceedings."
Martha crossed her arms. "Sure. Carol has medical reports from two hospitals to prove that she is pregnant. As far as the father of her child is concerned, we can backtrack her pregnancy to the day she spent with Victor Damone."
"What evidence do you have that Mr. Damone spent intimate time with Miss Atelier and impregnated her?"
Martha shrugged. "I don't. Are you asking for a sex tape? My daughter is a modest woman who never laid with a man before. She was in love with Victor Damone, and he impregnated her in a fit of passion. Why does Carol have to prove anything? She is the victim here!"
Elsa Madison pursed her lips. Martha made a decent emotional speech that would appeal to a jury, but right now, they needed factual evidence.
"I'm afraid, without proof, her claims are baseless. Any woman could get pregnant and claim that she slept with Victor Damone. We can't listen to every floozy who walks in and demands compensation!"
"Are you calling my daughter a loose woman?"
Elsa was about to deliver a sharp retort when a tall man in a distinguished suit stepped forward. He was Drew Archeron, a five-star general of the NWO.
"I have listened enough and now have chosen to speak the truth. I can vouch for Miss Atelier. She spent intimate time with Mr. Damone in a cottage in Tuscan Hill. However, I have no evidence to suggest they slept together. It is naturally a private matter, and I will speak no further out of respect for the lady's modesty."
Carol looked at Drew thankfully. After Victor rescued her from the gas station, he took her to a lavish cottage in the middle of nowhere. Soon after, the NWO arrived at the location in Choppers. So they naturally knew about the intimate time she spent with Victor.
"In other words," Elsa continued. "We are yet to establish that Mr. Damone impregnated Miss Atelier. We can't establish the same without a paternity test that she bears his child. As far as my medical knowledge goes, we can't test the same before eight weeks of pregnancy. As the executor of Mr. Damone's will, I cannot wait that long. Therefore, all bequeathments will be sent to the respective individuals according to the will's instructions."
"No!" Edgar exclaimed. "I don't accept that!"
He had been struck dumb by the revelation that Carol was pregnant with Victor's child. But now it was time to speak up.
"Mr. Damone…" Elsa said. "What is your objection? Do you believe this woman? She already betrayed your grandson once."
Edgar waved a dismissive hand. "Be that as it may. Carol may be many things, but she isn't a liar. I hereby accept her as the mother of my grandson's child. Everything that is mine and has been given to me is hers. She will stay at the Damone House and raise Victor's child."
The old man's declaration got the crowd gossiping again.
"Isn't Edgar being too gullible?"
"Carol's acting was top-notch. Who wouldn't believe that?"
"Besides, she's a beauty. Maybe Victor did wade in her pond once."
"Enough!" Clive Baron thundered. Mr. Edgar Damone has already announced Miss Atelier as his family. If I hear a single word from you all against her character, then God be my witness. It will be your last day on earth!"
Clive's outburst tamed the crowd, and the murmur died down.
Carol walked forward and hugged Edgar. "Thanks Grandpa…"
The old man chuckled and patted her back. "I will never forgive you for betraying Victor. But you carry his legacy, which is valuable to me. Therefore, you are under my protection moving forward."
Elsa sighed. "Alright. Mr. Edgar Damone has voiced his stand. Mr. Damone's major share of the wealth to be managed by a secret organization shall be kept in a lockbox until we can conduct a paternity test on Miss Carol Atelier. Are there any objections?"
The crowd began to gossip, but no audible objections were heard. Elsa closed the file shut. "With that note, we will end this session-"
"Wait!" A feminine voice echoed. "I object!"
All eyes turned to see a tall, exquisite woman standing by the doorway. She was carrying a child in her arms.
"I think I recognize her…"
"Hey, isn't that…?"
Claire Holt spoke up excitedly. "Sophia? Where have you been the past year? When did you get married and have a child?"
The woman was indeed Sophia Baker, the doctor who treated Edgar Damone's heart condition. She had disappeared after a strange encounter with Victor when he was poisoned.
"I am not married," Sophia said bluntly.
"My dear, you are welcome to the gathering…" Edgar said warmly. "But the proceedings have already ended."
"Grandpa," the woman replied. "I am here to proclaim that all of Victor's wealth belongs to his son. I will take this matter to the court if I must-"
Elsa interrupted her. "That is all well and good, Miss Baker. But Mr. Damone's supposed son from Miss Atelier hasn't yet been born. We will conduct a paternity test after eight weeks. Until then, there's no need to approach the court."
"What are you talking about?" Sophia exclaimed. "I am not talking about Carol's pregnancy!"
The beauty lifted the infant in her arms and held it up for the crowd to see.
"This is Niklaus… He is Victor's son!"