Chapter 174

The sudden ringing of her phone shattered the quiet.

Stella Valentine reached for her bag, but Mr. Alistair pulled her back, his arm tightening around her waist. "No work calls after hours," he muttered into her hair.

"What if it's personal?" She squirmed slightly. "Let me go—"

"Especially not Victor Valence's." His voice turned steely. "No calls today. From anyone."

She tilted her head to study his clenched jaw and burst into laughter. "So possessive? Are you jealous?"

"Yes." He nipped at her earlobe. "He gave up the quadrennial motorcycle race for you. I want to punch him right now."

Her shoulders shook with mirth. "He dressed like a rockstar today, I thought—"

Seizing his distraction, she twisted free and shoved the phone in his face. "See? It's Martha."

With visible reluctance, he released her.

Ethan's exuberant voice exploded through the speaker the moment she answered. "Mommy! I miss you!"

Her expression softened instantly. "I miss you too, sweetheart. I'll be home soon—"

"No, no!" The boy dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Grandma Martha said you and Daddy are having alone time!"

Her ears burned. "She told you that?"

"Yeah!" His pitch climbed with excitement. "She said when you're alone, I get a baby brother! Then I'll be the big brother!"

Stella choked on air.

The phone vanished from her grip. Mr. Alistair's baritone rumbled, "You want a brother?"

"Yes! Can you magic one like Sun Wukong? Tommy has one! I'm the only one without!"

"I can do anything—except that."

"Whyyy?"

His gaze slid to Stella's crimson face. "Mommy has to agree first."

"I'll ask her! Mommy loves me best!"

Flustered, she wrestled the phone back, cheeks scalding. "Ethan, bedtime now—"

"Pleeease, Mommy?"

She shot a glare at the smirking instigator. He took the phone, tone shifting to solemn. "A brother would make Mommy very tired. Let's help her get strong first, okay?"

"Okay! Daddy's the best!"

Stella massaged her temples. The father-son duo made her the villain.

"Quite the charmer," she said tartly. "Even his birth father wasn't this smooth."

He pulled her closer. "Then let me be his father forever."

———

Dawn found his side of the bed empty.

After dropping Ethan at school, Stella drove straight to the hospital. Grace Laurent sat propped in bed, scrolling through baby food recipes with noticeably better color.

"Mom."

"Stella!" Grace beamed. "The doctor said I can leave today!"

Warmth bloomed in Stella's chest—another of Mr. Alistair's arrangements.

"You look healthier." Grace peered closer. "Have you gained weight?"

Self-consciously, Stella touched her cheek. "Really?"

"A mother knows." Grace produced a handkerchief bundle from under her pillow. "I saved enough for a small apartment—"

The unfolded cloth revealed neatly stacked bills.

Stella seized her mother's wrist. "Where's your jade bracelet?"

Grace avoided her eyes. "Sold it. The children need—"

"That was Dad's love token!"

"He'd approve." Grace wiped tears. "He always wanted grandchildren."

Stella's throat tightened. She clasped the wrinkled hands. "No apartment. Mom, you're coming home."

"But your uncle took—"

"From today," Stella said fiercely, "that house is ours forever."