THIBV - Chapter 100

Eleanor took the baby from Isaac and held it in her arms to show it to the doctor.

She had a lot of questions.

"It's been a little less than a month since he was born, he was born prematurely, about three weeks before the due date."

She watched the doctor's expression carefully.

The doctor, who was taking out simple tools from his bag and examining the baby, tilted his head.

"That's strange. The baby looks like it's been two or three months since he was born."

Penelope intervened...

"Well, that's because he ate well! Because he loves the nanny milk... I'm giving the nanny so many good things to eat."

Eleanor stood In Penelope's way.

"Are there any other problems? Please take a closer look at the baby, he was born prematurely."

"He looks very healthy. His complexion is good, and his reflexes are normal. That's good. He's healthy."

"How can a baby not follow his mother right after birth? Even newborn babies recognize their mothers... Is there a problem we are missing?" 

Eleanor seemed to have something to say to the doctor.

Penelope watched her ask questions that seemed to be on the edge of crossing the line.

After several leading questions from Eleanor, the doctor finally understood what she meant.

He whispered in a voice that only Eleanor could hear.

"If you take the baby's pulse and compare it to the parents, you can find out whose constitution resembles theirs more. Are you interested?"

The question was whether to check if the baby was indeed Isaac's.

Eleanor glanced at Penelope.

Penelope asked nervously.

"What are you whispering so carefully, you two?"

"Whispering. The doctor said the baby is quiet and cute."

Eleanor gestured for Isaac to come closer, trembling with fear.

"...?"

As Isaac approached, the doctor took Isaac's hand and felt his pulse.

"What..."

"Just stay still, Isaac. The doctor will see you too. Penelope, give me your hand."

"I'm fine, Mom. My regular doctor sees me regularly, so why bother seeing a doctor I don't know?"

"Don't be like that. He's the court doctor. If you see several doctors, you might be able to find something your primary care doctor missed."

Eleanor insisted on taking the pulse of not only the baby but also Isaac and Penelope.

The doctor kept tilting his head with a serious expression.

"Everyone is in good health, but..."

The doctor suddenly got up and started to pack his medical bag.

Eleanor was busy leaning in front of the doctor to listen to the rest of the story.

"Nothing unusual? And?"

"Ahem."

The doctor coughed a few times as if he was in trouble, then looked into space and spoke.

"The baby's pulse doesn't resemble its parents."

"What does that mean? If you don't resemble your parents, then who do you resemble?"

"You should find out about that separately. Is it possible that the baby has been switched..."

"What, what are you saying? The baby is switched?"

The doctor urged Bridget to leave, as he was sure he was done.

"Lie!"

Penelope screamed. She glared at Bridget.

"So this is why you brought a doctor to look at the baby? You had an ulterior motive! I was suspicious from the moment you said you would just register my child. How childish of you! Who would believe the doctor you brought?"

She laughed sharply.

"Isaac! Mother! You wouldn't believe such a quack, would you? Bridget had ill intentions toward me. She brought in a doctor or something to make a scene like this! I've never heard of a way to check if a child is a father or not by holding the wrist. Do you think that makes sense?"

Isaac also thought Penelope's words made sense, as he was suspicious of Bridget's sudden decision to bring a doctor.

"Bridget, did you suddenly change your mind and do this? You were the one who said that if I could come to an agreement with Benjamin, you would add him to the family register whether he was my nephew or my son. Do you really have to go this far?"

Bridget, who had remained silent until then, told the doctor to go down first and sent him out.

When the doctor asked with his eyes if it was really okay for her to stay here alone, she nodded as if telling him not to worry.

After the doctor left, Bridget apologized meekly.

"I didn't know it would turn out like this. I'm sorry, everyone. I was just wondering if the baby was healthy."

Penelope felt triumphant when Bridget gave in sooner than expected.

"Don't make me laugh. Are you surprised that we're not as easily fooled as you think?"

The one who stepped forward at that time was surprisingly Eleanor.

"Everyone, don't be like that."

The fight between Bridget and Penelope was not important to Eleanor.

So she wasn't really trying to defend Bridget.

However, she was concerned about the doctor's words which cleared up the doubts she had while looking at the baby.

"If you don't trust the doctor Bridget brought, you can just call another doctor and make sure. I have these suspicions, but I feel bad about just letting them go..."

"What did you say?"

Penelope's anger shifted from Bridget to Eleanor.

Penelope had been feeling annoyed by Eleanor's secret suspicion.

She decided that this was the time to shut Eleanor's mouth so she wouldn't say anything nonsense again.

"You doubt me like this. I don't see any reason why I should stay here and endure this humiliation!"

Penelope snatched the baby from Eleanor with a rough touch as if she was dying of resentment.

The startled baby burst into tears.

But Penelope was more interested in venting her anger than in soothing the baby.

She threw a tantrum without even thinking about it.

"I'll take the baby and leave right now!"

"What do you mean, Penelope!"

Isaac stopped Penelope.

"He's my son. Why do you keep saying he's leaving? He's my son. I didn't say anything, so why are you listening to other people and doing this?"

Isaac tried to receive the child from Penelope, fidgeting nervously, fearing that his son might get hurt.

But Penelope refused to give him the baby and continued to shout insults and insults.

Isaac became really anxious and on edge when the baby started crying loudly.

"Penelope, calm down! The baby will get hurt! Support his neck properly. What if you shake his head like that?"

Eleanor muttered behind Isaac.

She was already completely taken in by the doctor's words.

"You can't treat a newborn baby that his own mother gave birth to like that. Oh my, son. Please come to your senses."

"Mother, please! Stay still!"

Isaac snapped at Eleanor.

"The doctor must have made a mistake! Or..."

He looked sharply at Bridget.

"Or bought."

Bridget looked away, her face blank.

It seemed like she was feeling sorry, but also secretly enjoying it.

It seemed certain that she was acting relaxed as if it was none of her business.

Isaac was more and more intimidated by Bridget's shallow tricks and defended Penelope.

"Let's forget about this. I don't trust the doctor you brought."

This could have ended up as an incident.

But Eleanor persisted.

"What a misunderstanding. Isaac, I didn't tell you, but I've actually been suspicious for a while. The child doesn't look like you at all. Look closely. I've had children myself, and I raised Benjamin's children myself. Strangely, a newborn baby born before the full term would get so fat right after birth. I'm saying this because I'm genuinely worried."

Eleanor knew that the difference between two and three months was quite significant for a newborn.

Even if the doctor hadn't said anything, she would have continued to have doubts.

"Please listen to this mother. Why don't you call in another doctor and make sure of it..."

“Wah wah!”

The baby cried. His face turned bright red. Is that how he can breathe properly?

Isaac was anxious and angry.

If this baby is not my son, then where on earth is my son?

That was nonsense.

How much money had he given to Benjamin to register this child!

I didn't even want to imagine that I had made a failed investment.

"Mother! If you're going to talk nonsense like that, go back to Benjamin's! Go back! Stop making a fuss! Why on earth are you staying here like this?"

"Wah wah!"

"Isaac! I have a responsibility to pass my family line on to my descendants."

"Ugh! Ugh!"

"Responsibility? What responsibility? Mother has nothing! Penelope, stop! The baby is crying!"

Isaac managed to steal the baby away from Penelope.

"Get out of here!"

Isaac shouted and called the servants. Eleanor was dragged away helplessly by the servants.

Isaac opened his eyes wide and shouted at Bridget.

"What are you doing, Bridget! You have to keep your promise. This is no use doing this! This child has to be on my family register!"

"Don't worry about that, Isaac. I never said I wouldn't keep my promise."

Bridget shrugged and placed the papers on the table.

She was the only one who was calm in this chaos.

"This is a document authorizing the child to be registered in the family register. I have already signed it, so all you have to do is sign it."

"Uh...?"

Isaac, who had been angry, was left speechless.

"Congratulations, Isaac. You have gained a son who will be your successor, just as you wished."

Bridget smiled and leisurely left the room.

Penelope was right. There is no way to confirm paternity by taking a pulse.

All she was trying to do was plant a tiny seed of doubt.

'We'll see if you're convinced that the baby is yours when the excitement subsides, Isaac.'

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