Chapter 1869


    Everyone fell silent at his words. How many times had they endured such thoughtless remarks?


    Ugly? How could he say something like that. The baby was the spitting image of his father, even if


    the stubborn man refused to admit it.


    Molly bit her lip, her eyes shing with frustration as she red at Morrison. "That''s your son. And


    for the record, you were even uglier when you were born."


    It seemed that it was true, Grandchildren were more precious to the grandparents than their own


    children.b2


    Morrison appeared unfazed by their collective outrage. He pursed his lips and looked back at the


    baby.


    Where was the chubby, cherubic infant he''d been promised? Instead, there was this wrinkled, red-


    faced little creature, features barely defined. How could this be his offspring?


    He sighed. Well, ugly or not, the kid was his flesh and blood. There was no denying that.


    As if sensing his father''s disapproval, the baby in his swaddle stirred. His tiny fists clenched, his


    mouth puckered, as if he were on the brink of tears.


    Rose, sensing the impending meltdown, began to rock the infant gently. She leaned in and nted


    a soft kiss on his forehead. "There, there, sweetie. Mommy loves you."


    The baby cooed softly, nuzzled his head against her, and settled down.


    Rose''s smile was tender, her heart full. No one else could understand the rush of joy, love, and


    wonder she felt at that moment.


    As the "ugly little thing" calmed down at Rose''s soothing words, Morrison couldn''t help but feel


    surprised. Was the baby really that sensitive? Or was it just Rose''s touch?


    He was still scrutinizing the baby when Rose nudged him with her elbow. "Hand me my phone, will


    you? Chloe''s dying to see the baby."


    Morrison, though irked by Rose''s interest in Chloe''s opinion, reached over to the nightstand and


    passed her the phone.


    Rose dialed up a video call, and within seconds, Chloe''s face appeared on the screen.


    "Rose..."


    Rose paused, teasing, "You weren''t waiting by the phone for my call, were you?"


    Seeing Rose safe and well enough to joke was a relief to Chloe. "How are you feeling?"


    "I''m fine," Rose replied with a smile, angling the camera toward the baby. "Take a look at your future


    son-inw."


    The shaky camera finally focused on the infant, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Though his


    features were not fully formed, there was an unmistakable resemnce to Morrison.


    Damon leaned over Chloe''s shoulder, catching a glimpse of the baby on the screen, and frowned.


    Chloe nced at him. "What''s with the face?"


    Damon''s expression was unreadable as he straightened up. "He''s not exactly a looker."


    Chloe quickly turned her attention back to the screen. "Well, the baby does have quite a bit of


    Morrison in him."


    "I heard that!" Rose''s indignant voice rang out. "He has gone too far. Chloe, you have to avenge


    me. I''m upset."


    Without hesitation, Chloe nodded. "Of course, I will avenge you."


    After all, no mother wanted to hear her baby called ugly. Damon had crossed a line.


    Morrison, on the other hand, was practically hopping mad. "Don''t think your kids will be any prettier.


    And I’ll get to call them ugly soon."


    Damon''s brow furrowed. "No way they could be as ugly as your kid. Gics don''t lie. You can


    never catch up to us."


    Morrison clenched his teeth, but Rose cut in. "Stop fighting. Morrison, you can''t call Chloe''s babies


    ugly. Damon and Chloe, one handsome, the other beautiful, their children are bound to be


    attractive. So what if our son''s a little less than perfect? As long as his future wife is gorgeous, I


    won''t worry about how my grandson looks."


    At that, Damon snatched the phone from Chloe, his face stormier than ever. "Who''s your future


    daughter-inw?"


    Rose blinked innocently. "Little Moon. I''ve already talked to Chloe about it. Her daughter is going to


    be my daughter-inw."


    Damon''s voice was icy. "That''s not happening. You''re dreaming."


    Rose''s demeanor chilled instantly, her tone sharp. "You don''t get a say in this. Chloe and I have


    already decided. It''s not up for discussion."


    Chloe, startled by the exchange, reached for Damon''s hand. "Let''s not fight. Rose just had a baby,


    and she''s not in control of her emotions."


    Damon took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and tried to sound calm. "My daughter will


    remain unwed."


    Rose red up. "You— Ah!"


    Her cry of outrage startled Chloe. "What''s wrong?!"


    The camera shook, then refocused on the baby in Rose''s arms. "Chloe, look! My son''s so upset by


    your husband''s words, and he''s woken up."


    Chloe leaned closer to Damon, and indeed, the baby who had been peacefully asleep was now


    wide-eyed, looking around curiously before fixing his gaze on the camera.


    Damon watched, a strange feeling stirring within him. As a newborn, the baby did fascinate him, but


    the idea of this infant having designs on his daughter instantly soured his mood.


    In Damon''s eyes, no man would ever be good enough for his daughter.


    The atmosphere was tense, a palpable sense of rejection filled the air as Damon red down at the


    little tyke before him.


    The tot had been fixated on the smartphone camera for a good while, his lower lip trembling, a sure


    sign that a tantrum was on the horizon.


    Damon raised an eyebrow, his mischievous side eagerly anticipating the impending meltdown. But


    after what felt like an eternity, the little guy started pping his tiny arms and legs, staring at the


    camera and breaking into a wide, joyful grin.


    The sight was nothing short of charming and heartwarming.


    Chloe covered her mouth in surprise, "Oh my God. The baby just smiled. Could it be that he smiled


    for Damon?"


    Before Rose could utter a word, the camera feed was suddenly dominated by a "gigantic" head


    looming into the frame.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Morrison leaned in closer, his face darkening as he witnessed his own son''s beaming smile. "Do


    you even know who your real dad is?!"


    Rose''s mouth dropped open in astonishment.


    Was her son giving too much respect to Damon? Her boy''s very first smile wasn''t for her, nor


    Morrison, not even for Megan and Molly, but for Damon, the very man who disapproved of the idea


    of his daughter marrying this little guy.


    What kind of nonsense was this?!


    However, momentster, she couldn''t help but chuckle. "Damon, look at that, my son knows how to


    charm you from birth. So keep Little Moon reserved for him, will you? With the way he''s acting, he''s


    bound to treat Little Moon right."


    Damon snorted, "Don''t get ahead of yourself. A clueless tot knows nothing. You think just because


    he smiles at me, I''m gonna promise my daughter to him? What gave you the impression I''m so


    easygoing?"


    Rose rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Fine. But when they''re older and the deed is done, I''d like to


    see what you can say then."


    Damon''s brows knitted tightly, "I won''t give them any chance to be together."


    Rose felt a wave of dizziness from her irritation. "Fine. If you don''t agree for your daughter to be


    with my son, then some day, some other bloke''s gonna sweep your daughter off her feet."


    Damon''s eyelid twitched, nearly crushing Chloe''s smartphone in his hand.


    Chloe quickly reimed her phone, "After giving birth, you need to take good care of yourself. The


    baby will need you to look after him. Rest well now. I''lle to see you again tomorrow."


    Rose, realizing she may have gone too far, nodded vigorously, "Okay, I''ll rest. And you take care,


    too."


    "I will."


    They exchanged goodbyes and hung up.


    Chloe tossed the phone aside and nudged Damon, who looked visibly upset.


    "Are you really mad? Actually, Rose does have a point."


    Damon''s icy stare shifted to Chloe, and sheughed nervously, "Every girl dreams of love, and I


    trust Rose will raise a fine son. I''d be more at ease with him than some random guy."


    Damon''s voice was stern, "I can take care of her for her entire life."


    Chloe arched an eyebrow, "She''ll want to find love herself eventually. She''s bound to meet her


    match one day, and you won''t be able to stop it, whether it''s Rose’s son or someone else."


    Damon fell silent for a moment before conceding, "Fine, if he wants to be part of this family, he can


    try to win me over as my son-inw."


    Chloe paused, seeing his imcable demeanor, and nodded reluctantly. "Alright then."


    It was all just talk now, but no one knew how things would y out in the future.


    "Rose''s baby is adorable. I can''t wait for our own little ones to join us in this world."


    Chloe reminisced about the tender image of Rose cradling her newborn. She was truly envious.


    Damon, his temper red up by the exchange with Rose and Morrison, softened at the sight of


    Chloe''s longing expression. He gently squeezed her shoulder and whispered, "Our kids will be even


    cuter."


    Chloe smiled and nodded in agreement.


    Yulia came downstairs, and Chloe mentioned that there was food ready for her in the kitchen. After


    eating, they chatted while Damon headed upstairs.


    His inbox held an unread email that had been lying there quietly, unattended. He opened the video


    message in his study – it was the footage of Rose''sbor that he had requested.


    The video had been recorded from a few days before her due date, with some post-editing, focusing


    mainly on the expectant mother''s daily life. The editing was neat, but it retained the part where


    Morrison sang to Rose.


    That childish luby, coupled with Morrison''s awkward tune, even made the usually stoic Damon


    crack a smile. "Silly."


    He listened intently to the important details mentioned by the doctors, Megan, and Molly in the


    video.


    Fifteen minutes in, Rose was on the phone with Chloe when suddenly she went intobor.


    Morrison looked panicked, the doctor wore a serious expression, and Rose, pale and in pain, had


    even soaked her thin hospital pants.


    The screen went dark as they entered the delivery room, leaving only audio – the clear, urgent


    voices of the doctors and Rose''s screams made Damon''s head throb with difort.


    His heart was in knots just hearing how much pain Rose endured. And she was only having one


    baby.


    Chloe was expecting twins. Would her pain be double Rose''s?


    Leaning back in his chair, Damon pinched the bridge of his nose, suddenly regretting his earlier


    wish for twins. He had no idea how to ease her suffering.


    To think of having more children? He would never allow it again.


    --


    Without another word, Damon arranged for Chloe to be admitted to the hospital for observation. The


    team included Jane and three doctors from different countries, all optimistic about her condition. It


    was clearly Damon''s doing.


    News of Chloe''s early hospitalization spread like wildfire throughout P City, with everyone eagerly


    awaiting the arrival of the twins.


    After being off the grid for an eternity, Stanley made a beeline for the hospital as soon as he


    resurfaced. Damon, of course, wasn’t about to let him waltz in to see Chloe. The two locked horns


    for what felt like an endless series of days and nights. Finally, in a move straight out of a Hollywood


    heist movie, Stanley scaled the hospital building and snuck into Chloe''s room through the window in


    the dead of night.


    Furious, Damon did what any one would do—he chucked Stanley right back out through that very


    same window.


    The next day, someone was arranged to install the sturdiest anti-theft bars on the windows of the


    hospital room.


    But Stanley, undeterred, kept climbing. In doing so, he overheard some juicy intel: Damon was


    arranging for someone to fly to B Country to pick up his mother-inw.


    So, the following day, Stanley strutted into Chloe''s room as if he owned the ce, with Damon’s


    mother-inw in tow, no less.


    Sauntering in with Yasmine, he made quite the entrance.