?


    Christine was always reasonable, at least in Jake''s eyes.


    And it wasn''t about winning her forgiveness or anything like that.


    He simply wanted to protect her as much as he could.


    To shield her from the harm that hanging out with Max could bring-hurt from E or disdain from the rksons. Jake reluctantly tagged along with Max, not out of choice but because Emily had asked him to check on things. Seeing the mess Max hadnded himself in, Jake couldn''t help but jab, "Looks like Merritt''s got it better than you right now." Max, uninterested in a verbal spar, suggested, "Let''s reach out to Dr. Andrews, see if we can arrange a DNA test now." Jake replied, "Haste won''t help. Even if you wanted to, E wouldn''t let you."


    "This mess might be on you now, but if she starts targeting Christine, the road ahead for both of you will be even rockier."


    It wasn''t that Jake couldn''t intervene, but he had a soft spot for the elder rksons who''d treated him well.


    He wasn''t keen on burning bridges unless absolutely necessary.


    Besides, with Caldwell and Madge at their age, any stress could be too much.


    Even if Max chose Christine unequivocally, she wouldn''t want his family to suffer over their rtionship.


    Thus, a gentle approach, rather than confrontation, seemed best.


    E was the real issue at hand.


    Over the years, Jake had learned to read between the lines of Max''s words.


    He nodded, "I''ll take care of her."


    Jake grunted in acknowledgment, bending to peer into the car, "Caldwell, with your arthritis, you should avoid the cold. Let me know if you need anything."


    Caldwell was skeptical but smiled, "I''ll take you up on that, don''t find me too bothersome."


    Jakeughed, "How could I? My best trait is being dutiful."


    ""


    Your only good trait is being henpecked.


    Caldwell didn''t say it aloud, just kept up his mysterious smile.


    Max slid into the driver''s seat, and the line of sleek ck cars slowly departed.


    Jake turned back to the hospital, heading straight for Dr. Andrews''s office.


    "If it''s just over a month, that won''t work. You''ll need to wait at least two and a Kalf months, but the optimal time for testing is between three and five months."


    Jake pondered for a moment before asking, "And the mother''s safety is guaranteed?"


    Dr. Andrews paused. Jake, after


    settling down and bing a father, had softened significantly. His methods were less violent,


    preferring words over action,


    bloodshed now rare. Hence, Del


    Andrews was briefly taken aback, "Yes, the procedure is safe for the mother. Theter stages just provide more urate data."


    "As long as we can confirm the child is Max''s, that''s all that matters."


    "Then let''s schedule it for two and a half months. I''ll handle it personally."


    The risk was too great with just a


    month''s difference. Monitoring theet s was crucial for r


    swnovel


    Hold on.


    Just as Emily was about to call a nurse to remove her IV, she bumped into Jake.


    "Phone."


    "What?"


    Stunned by the sudden collision, she didn''t immediately grasp his two-word demand. "Christine''s phone."


    Handing it over, she then called for a nurse, pulling Jake aside.


    "What''s going on?"Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Jake unlocked the phone, his expression revealing a sly smile.


    "Smart people can be too clever for their own good."