"What if he wants you to abort the baby?" Chloe asked, her voiceced with concern.


    She had already fallen out with Steven. Jessica''s unborn child was herst lifeline. No matter what, Jessica had to carry this baby to term-she couldn''t allow anything to happen to it.


    Jessica understood Chloe''s attachment to the baby. Feigning distress, she choked, "Then, I''ll have to abort the baby. Consider it my punishment for rashly forcing Steven to get a vasectomy.


    "If I hadn''t been so desperate to secure the child''s future, you wouldn''t have pressured Steven. It''s all my fault. I should face the consequences of my actions!"


    "Absolutely not. I won''t allow it," Chloe demanded.


    Jessica asked pitifully, "But Steven''s already angry. What else can I do to make him forgive me?"


    Chloe took a deep breath. "You''re pregnant. Focus on taking care of yourself and the baby. Don''t overthink things. I''ll handle the rest. Trust me, I''ll do everything I can to reconcile your rtionship with him."


    Jessica had sessfully shifted the responsibility. She was relieved but still tried to sound upset. "Okay." Chloe instructed, "Go to the hospital first. I''ll go to Steven''s house."


    "All right," Jessica replied meekly.


    Chloe added, "If Steven doesn''t show up, just go home. Don''t do anything rash." "I''ll do exactly as you say, Mom," Jessica responded obediently.


    èt


    Jessica left her house while Chloe had her driver take her to Steven''s home. As they arrived at Steven''s doorstep, a message from Jessica came through.


    Chloe nced at it. "Mom, I''ve arrived. I''m going to register now."


    Chloe calcted the timing. If she knocked on the door now and told Steven about Jessica''s situation, Steven would have just enough time to go to the hospital and stop Jessica.


    She knocked and said, "Steven, open the door quickly. I have something very important to tell you." Steven had just gotten home and was nning to rest when he heard the knocking. He responded irritably, "Can you stop bothering me?"


    He opened the door as he spoke.


    Chloe''s expression froze. She stammered, Ever since you told Jessica she could abort the baby and that you didn''t care, she''s been very upset. She hasn''t contacted you all this time while waiting for you to apologize to her.


    "However, you still haven''t reached out to her. She''s heartbroken and has decided to do as you wish."


    Chloe grew increasingly anxious as she spoke. Then, she grabbed Steven''s hand and pleaded, "Steven, please go stop her, will you?"


    Steven looked down at Chloe and said, "Mom, that''s enough."


    Chloe asked incredulously, "What do you mean?"