Keegan paused his writing and asked in a calm voice, "Do you want her toe?"


    Aurora hesitated before softly replying, "I don''t want her to, but if she insists, we can''t really stop her."


    Keegan looked up, "If you don''t want her there, she won''t be. Just focus on your engagement with Aldor. I''ll handle her calls and anything else."


    Aurora wanted to ask how he nned to handle it but decided to stay quiet and just nodded in agreement.


    After Aldor left, Ste washed up,y on the bed, and browsed her phone. Bored, she moved over to Keegan''s side to look at the books he had been readingtely.


    Since Ste got pregnant, Keegan''s bedside reading had shifted from his usual professional materials to popr science books about motherhood and babies.


    Keegan was the type who, when hemitted to something, did it thoroughly. He read books, researched online, and even took notes. He often shared what he learned with Ste, who appreciated his dedication. She knew the bond between a mother and child is natural, but a father''s connection takes time to develop. Keegan, however, was already proving to be more involved than she had expected, which made her happy. She reached into the drawer to grab a pen to correct a note Keegan had made.


    Inside, she found a notepad with a pen clipped to it. As she took the pen, she nced at the notebook and paused when she read the entries.


    [131 days: Same as yesterday. No vomiting. Morning sickness has eased, but she cried after dreaming the baby was ugly. Luckily, it wasn''t a nightmare about me being unfaithful or violent, or I''d be kicked out of the bedroom again. Frequent bathroom trips; blood sugar normal. The doctor said it''s likely due to the uterus pressing on the dder, and it''ll get worseter.]


    Thema was dark, as if Keegan had paused there before writing the next sentence: [It''s tough-need to get her more exercise.]


    Ste bit her lip and turned back a few pages.


    [126 days: Waist has increased by two centimeters. She spent a long time in front of the mirror with her favorite clothes. I told her she still looks good even if she''s gained weight. She ignored me all night and spent hours watching videos of pregnancy transformations. She''s anxious, and that makes me anxious too-I don''t want her to worry.]


    [117 days: First fetal movement-note it down.]


    [109 days: She had a fever but refused to take medicine, worried about the baby. The doctor advised cooling down physically first. She sweated through the night and muttered in her sleep. The fever broke at dawn. She was weak and pale but proudly said she''s tough. If it were me, I''d be sick for days. Idiot... I wish I could take her ce.]


    [100 days: Good appetite but still vomiting.]


    [97 days: Still vomiting heavily.]


    [94 days: After the prenatal checkup, she secretly asked if I wanted a boy or a girl. How could I choose? I just want her to suffer less. Her belly''s growing, but her face looks thinner.]


    [87 days: Big changes in appetite; still dizzy and vomiting.]


    [81 days: Vomiting heavily.]


    [78 days: Baby''s the size of a soybean and growing well.]


    [77 days: Hahahahahaha, twins!]


    Ste couldn''t help butugh. It was rare for Keegan to express his emotions so openly, and his joy was clear in the way he wrote it down.


    She read on, noticing that some lines were written in different ink, likely addedter: [What happiness? It''s so tough!]


    It seemed Keegan had intended to document the baby''s progress during each prenatal checkup but ended up recording more about Ste''s experiences. As her pregnancy symptoms worsened, his concern deepened Ste''s earlier worries now seemed unnecessary-Keegan was far more attentive and involved than she had realized.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    The bathroom door handle turned, and Ste quickly closed the notebook and put it back in the drawer.


    Keegan came out, drying his hair. Seeing her leaning against the headboard, he walked over and sat beside her. "Aren''t you going to sleep?"


    "I was waiting for you," Ste smiled.


    Keegan patted her hand, "I''ll be right back after drying my hair."


    "Okay."


    A few minutester, Keegan returned to bed. Ste leaned into his arms, "Are you really not going to let your mothere to Aurora''s engagement?"


    "If shees, it''ll only cause trouble," Keegan said, gently stroking her shoulder. "She''s always tried to control Aurora. Even though Aurora seems spoiled, she''s actually quite timid and indecisive. If my mother shows up, she might say something that could push Aurora to do something she''d regret."


    Ste asked, "But what if Aurora says she wants her there?"


    Keegan replied, "Then I''ll find a way to keep her away. I don''t want to see her."


    e


    The incidents at Wendy''s daughter''s wedding and Dahlia''s online behavior at Rivera''s productunch had deeply hurt Keegan. He didn''t want Dahlia anywhere near him or Ste, so he was determined to keep her away from the engagement party.


    Ste didn''t say anything more and just hugged Keegan tightly.


    Keegan''s engagement party was nned to be held at Wendy''s hotel, and Ste had gone to finalize the arrangements with her.


    After going over all the details, Wendy poured Ste a cup of tea, "Try this-it''s the first crop of Longjing tea my friend grew."


    Ste took a sip. It was light, sweet, fresh, and elegant. "It''s good. Are you nning to sell it?"


    Wendy asked, "Do you want to buy some?"


    Ste put down her cup. "With the holidaysing up, I''m thinking of getting some small gifts for friends."


    Wendy smiled, "So it''s for Keegan to


    give to his friends? Don''t you usually give out VIR cards for your jewelry store as gifts? Never miss a chance to promote your business, do you?"


    Ste smiled too, "It''s just a bit of advertising on the side."


    Wendy suddenly said, "I''ve been


    friends with Dahlia for years. She''s taken a lot of tea from me, but she''s


    never used my connections for her


    En


    husband or son. I think she wasn''t just upset about your background when she thought you weren''t good enough for Keegan. She also wasn''t happy that you were so good to him."


    Ste was puzzled, "Why would it be wrong to be good to him?"


    <script>


    load_facebook = false;


    window.onscroll = function() {


    if (load_facebook == false) {


    load_facebook = true;


    var s = document.createElement("script");


    s.type = "text/javascript";


    s.src = "https://connect.facebook/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v14.0&appId=3339256753013270&autoLogAppEvents=1";


    $("body").append(s);


    }


    };