C166 Father's Decision

Silence filled the dining room after Kelvin's words. "...Let's discuss what we came here for." The cheerful atmosphere from lunch instantly disappeared. Everyone unconsciously straightened in their seats. Even little Monica seemed to sense the change in the mood and quietly rested in my arms.

Kelvin looked around the room before his gaze finally settled on Chris. "Christopher..." Chris immediately sat upright. "Yes... Uncle." Kelvin folded his hands together on the table. "I didn't come here today to blame you." "I already know the truth." "I know my son's involvement in all this, he caused everything." "My daughter has already explained everything that happened in France."

David and Valeria exchanged confused looks. "What happened in France?" Valeria looked at her son still confused "Chris i asked you what happened in France." "Mom i will explain everything later." Kelvin froze for a moment as he realised he had exposed Chris's secret. After a moment he continued "But..." "As Sarah's father..." "I need to know one thing." His voice became firm. "Do you fully understand the responsibility you now carry?"

The room became completely silent. Chris slowly stood up. He looked at Sarah. Then at Kelvin. Finally... He lowered his head. "I do." Kelvin continued calmly. "Sarah is no longer just my daughter." "She is the Director of Wood IT Company." "In a few months..." "People will notice her pregnancy." "There will be rumours." "There will be criticism." "There will be people who question her character."

He looked directly into Chris's eyes. "When that day comes..." "Will you stand beside her?" "Or will you run away?" Without hesitation... Chris answered. "I'll stand beside her." "I'll protect her." "I'll protect our child." "And..." He slowly looked toward Sarah. "I'll protect the woman I love." Sarah immediately lowered her head. Her ears had already turned bright red.

Valeria smiled proudly. David quietly adjusted his glasses, pretending not to notice his son's embarrassment. Kelvin remained expressionless. "Words are easy." "What makes you believe you can give my daughter happiness?" Chris took a deep breath. "I don't have the wealth of the Wood family." "I don't own a company." "My father is a university professor." "My mother is a nurse." "I know our family can't compare to yours."

He paused before speaking again. "But..." "I'll work harder than anyone." "I'll never allow Sarah to regret choosing me." "If she cries..." "I'll be there to wipe those tears away." "If she falls..." "I'll hold her tightly and walk beside her." "If she succeeds..." "I'll be the first to congratulate her." "And if one day she becomes greater than everyone..." "I'll still proudly call myself her husband."

Silence. Absolute silence. Even Kelvin's stern expression softened slightly. Beside him... Tracy quietly wiped away a tear. She had expected hesitation. Instead... Chris had answered every question without fear. Kelvin slowly nodded. Then he turned toward Sarah. "Daughter." "It's your turn." Sarah looked up nervously. She instinctively reached beneath the table.

Chris immediately found her hand. Their fingers intertwined. That small action gave her courage. She stood up slowly. "I..." Her voice trembled. "I know many people will question me." "I know becoming pregnant before marriage isn't something people will praise." She smiled bitterly. "But..." She looked directly at her parents. "I've never regretted meeting Chris." She turned toward him. "Not once."

Chris stared at her quietly. Sarah continued. "What happened back then in France wasn't something either of us wanted." "But..." "I'm grateful that the person who woke up beside me..." "...was him." She wiped away the tears gathering in her eyes. "When I found out I was pregnant..." "I was terrified." "I thought everyone would hate me." "I thought I'd have to face everything alone."

She smiled gently. "But Chris never once asked me to get rid of our baby." "He smiled." "He hugged me." "He said he wanted a beautiful daughter." Everyone unconsciously smiled except David and valeria. Now they wanted to know what happened in France. They wanted to know how the France event got to do with England event. Chris clearly told them that Sarah became pregnant in England. So what happened in france?

Little Monica laughed as if agreeing. Sarah continued. "Every day..." "He worries about whether I've eaten." "He brings me lunch." "He reminds me to rest." "He treats our baby as the greatest gift he's ever received." She slowly looked toward Kelvin. "Dad..." "I love him." The words echoed through the dining room. No one interrupted. No one spoke. She had finally said it aloud.

Then... She looked at Chris. "I want to marry him." Chris froze. His eyes slowly became red. Sarah smiled through her tears. "I don't know what our future will look like." "I don't know whether I'll become a good wife." "I don't even know whether I'll become a good mother." "But..." "I want my future..." "...to have him in it."

Tears quietly rolled down Tracy's cheeks. She smiled while covering her mouth. "My daughter..." Valeria could no longer contain herself either. She stood up and hugged Sarah tightly. "My child..." "You are very brave." Sarah burst into tears. Chris hurried over before gently pulling both women into a hug. David laughed softly. "Our family just keeps getting bigger." Everyone around the table smiled warmly.

Only one person remained unusually quiet. Samantha. She watched the scene unfold before her. Somehow... It reminded her of another day. Another family meeting. Another engagement discussion. She remembered sitting beside Ben. She remembered her parents... Nicolas Heaps and Lindsey Heaps.

There had been no questions. No one had asked what she wanted. No one had asked whether she loved Ben. Everything had already been decided. The adults had spoken. The marriage had been arranged. The contracts had been signed. One hundred and twenty million dollars. That was the amount both families had agreed upon.

She remembered sitting there silently... Unable to object. Unable to confess that the person she truly loved... Was not the one sitting beside her. She slowly lowered her head. If only... Someone had asked me what I wanted... A single tear silently landed on her folded hands.