The moment these words were spoken, the executive, who was about to leave, suddenly froze.

The rest of the Davis Corporation’s employees nearby also turned their gaze toward Mary.

Christina feigned surprise. “Director Davis, what did you say?”

Overwhelmed by emotion, Mary suppressed her nausea and repeated, “I said I’m pregnant, so I’m feeling unwell and can’t drink, sorry.”

The executive was stunned as well. “I see, it’s okay… You definitely can’t drink if you’re pregnant. I didn’t know… so… take good care of yourself…”

Mary breathed a sigh of relief, and just as she was about to leave, Christina said, “Director Davis, I remember you aren’t married, are you? How could you be pregnant?”

Her words cast a deadly silence over the crowd.

Everyone’s eyes were on Mary, then they glanced at her stomach…

Victoria chimed in. “Christina, how can you ask such a question? Since Director Davis has announced her pregnancy, it must be good news, right? May I ask who the father is?”

The others immediately turned their attention to Mary.

Mary clenched her jaw and took a deep breath. “Sorry, that’s my privacy.”

Victoria went straight to the point. “Privacy? In families like ours, marriages are to be made public. Is Director Davis’s fiancé a secret?”

Christina immediately scoffed. “Don’t tell me you don’t know who it is. I’ve heard that Director Davis’s personal life is quite controversial…”

As soon as she said this, the employees from both Davis Corporation and Olsen Group started whispering and pointing at Mary.

“She’s pregnant before she’s married?”

“Although the Davis family has separated, won’t this affect the reputation of the Davis family’s women?”

“Mary has always been quite liberal with her social life, drinking with countless people for the sake of projects, but I heard she still has some boundaries!”

“Boundaries? She’s pregnant now, where are the boundaries?”

“Considering her status, wouldn’t the man take responsibility if she’s really pregnant? How come there isn’t even a fiancé?”

“Maybe Christina is right. Mary has messed around with so many men that she doesn’t know who the father is. I’ve heard that in the circles of the wealthy, some live very wild lives. There are even those events…”

“What? Where did you hear such gossip? Tell me, what happened?”

“Don’t you know? I just heard about it, but I’ve never seen it… I heard that some people have very promiscuous lives. They like to gather a group of women and men, then everyone gets undressed, forms a circle, and the men stand still while the women walks around in circles…”

“My God, I’ve really learned something new. If one were to get pregnant like that, you really wouldn’t know who the father of the child is… You can only wait for the child to be born, then test all the men present that day…”

“No way, would anyone dare to keep such a child?”

“I heard the Davis family has good morals, nothing like this has ever happened before, could there be some misunderstanding?”

“…”

Hearing all this, Mary was stunned; she had never expected gossip to shape into such a scenario. But she didn’t know how to explain, so she clenched her fists and turned to leave.

Just then, Chad also heard the surrounding chatter and hurried over. When he heard that people were questioning the Davis family’s upbringing, his face darkened drastically. There were still several unmarried women in his family. If this scandal broke, would the other Davis family’s women still be able to get married?

His expression turned ugly as he stared at Mary, who had clenched fists. He quickly stepped forward to block her path. “Where are you going? Tell everyone who the father is!”

Upon seeing this, Mary subconsciously looked toward Ellis.

Ellis leaned against the wine table, a glass of champagne in hand, gently swirling it. Although he had heard the commotion, he only watched it in silence as if the champagne was some kind of rare treasure that could be played with all night long. He showed no intention of coming forward to help her.

Mary couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile. That was it. In his eyes, her child belonged to another man. She had messed around with others; how could he possibly come forward to speak up for her?

She lowered her gaze. “Chad…”

“Don’t talk to me!” Furious, Chad stared at her and asked, “Just tell me, what’s the deal with this baby?!”

Mary clenched her jaw, looking at him. “It’s what it is.”

She looked at the people around her, with sharp eyes and a cold smile. “The country has laws that allow unmarried women to get pregnant and have children, don’t we? Are you all not allowing it? Or are you still living in Medieval times? This is the 21st century! Don’t tell me everyone’s still holding onto those archaic ideas!”

“You!” Seeing her so unabashed, Chad felt anger well up from within him.

Christina covered her mouth. “Miss Davis, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that the Davis family was so lenient. In the Olsen family, we must be home at night, and any movements after ten o’clock must be reported to parents…”

These words caused Mary’s complexion to change slightly. Just as she was about to speak, the scene in front of her darkened, followed by a “smack”! Chad’s palm struck hard against her face!

As the elder cousin, Chad had the right to discipline his siblings, and what Mary had said here severely impacted the Davis family’s reputation.

Mary looked at him incredulously, “Chad?” Although Chad was strict toward them, she was, after all, a woman from another branch of the family. Chad had never laid hands on her before.

Chad stared at her. “This slap is for your lack of self-respect! Mary, tell me now, who is that bastard man?”

At a distance, Ellis saw what was happening, and his brows furrowed immediately. His fingers tightened around the glass.