Jessica took a deep breath, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything. She gazed down as she caressed her stomach. She would keep the baby no matter what.

After some hesitation, she gave Chloe a call. When the latter picked up, she started sobbing. "Chloe, I don't know if it's the pregnancy, but I've been an emotional wreck these days."

Jessica was practically golden in Chloe's eyes. With a gentle smile, she asked patiently, "What happened?"

"Steven has recently gotten chummy with Annalise," Jessica whined tearfully. "I can't help but think what will happen to me if he decides to get back together with her and abandon me and my baby!"

"That won't happen!" Chloe promised solemnly. "He's not getting back together with Annalise not on my watch!"

Jessica knew Chloe would unconditionally side with her. "As much as I appreciate it, your assurance won't make me feel better about this situation."

"Then what do you want me to do?" Chloe asked.noveldrama

"Persuade Steven to get a vasectomy," Jessica replied without even batting an eye.

Chloe fell silent when she heard this. She knew her chances of becoming a grandmother were riding on Jessica, but getting Steven to undergo a vasectomy seemed somewhat extreme.

She tried to negotiate with Jessica, keeping her tone pleasant as she said, "Normally, it's the woman who chooses to get her tubes tied. It's rare for a man to want to get a vasectomy."

Jessica argued, "Unless the chances of Steven having children with other women are reduced to zero, I won't believe that he won't walk out on me and my child."

"This sounds like an important decision," Chloe said hesitantly. "It's best if I talk to Steven about it." Considering Steven's attitude, Jessica had a feeling he wouldn't budge on getting a vasectomy. "Fine. Tell him that if he refuses to get the surgery, I'll abort the kid."

...

Chloe was caught between a rock

ར།

and a hard place. She had gone still on the living room couch as she stared out the window, feeling completely at a loss.

It took her a while before she finally called Steven.

He put the call through and asked stoically, "What is it, Mom?"

"How are you feeling?" Chloe asked. She couldn't jump straight into the vasectomy talk, so she resorted to expressing motherly concern.

Steven answered, "I'm good."

She chuckled and said, "I know you've been busy with work and preoccupied with Annalise lately, but you must understand that health is wealth."

"Got it," Steven bit out. He didn't feel like wasting his breath on her. "Is there anything else you'd like to say?"

"Yes." Chloe debated her choice of words but settled on bluntness in the end. "Have you made up your mind to get back together with Annalise?"

Steven realized that his wavering

stance in the past had led others to believe he did not and could not possibly love Annalise. As such, he said with resolve, "That's right."

Chloe couldn't understand what he saw in Annalise or why he was so hung up on her. Incredulously, she asked, "And you don't plan to date other women?"

He nodded on the other line, but when he realized Chloe couldn't see him, he answered without a trace of doubt, "Yes."

"And you don't plan to let other women bear your children, either, is that it?" Chloe demanded, looking more grim by the second.

Steven's brows furrowed. "Yes."

With a deep breath, Chloe said, "In that case, do as Jessica says and get a vasectomy."

Steven was used to Jessica's

tantrums and dismissed her

impractical suggestions as part of her usual nonsense. But Chloe was different; she was his mother, and she should side with him instead of butting into this mess.