Jason immediately guessed that the person on the other end of the line was most likely Mia's mother, Melanie.
He knocked on the door, heard Mia tell him to come in, and turned the handle to push the door open.
"I'm hanging up now, bye," Mia said into her smartwatch.
"Is that your dad? Put him on the line with me."
The smartwatch was on speaker, and Jason heard every word loud and clear.
Jason took the smartwatch from Mia and asked, "What do you want?"
"Is your wife pregnant?"
Jason looked at Mia, who mouthed pitifully, "It slipped out by accident."
She had remembered Jason's instruction to temporarily keep Gwen's pregnancy a secret from her birth mother.
But returning from the lodge today, she had been so happy, and when her mother started interrogating her, spinning her in circles, she accidentally let it slip.
The moment she said it, she regretted it. But she couldn't take it back.
"Yes, but that has nothing to do with you," Jason said coldly.
"If it involves Mia, it involves me. Didn't you say before that you weren't having kids? Why are you going back on your word? Did you even consider Mia's feelings before deciding to have a second child? I've read articles about kids threatening self-harm when their parents decide to have a second child. If anything happens to Mia, I will never forgive you."
Melanie's shrill voice echoed through the room.
Jason glanced at Mia again. He absolutely did not want her listening to a conversation like this.
"First, Gwen and I never said we weren't having children. Second, we talked to Mia before making the decision, and she agreed and is excited. I will make sure Mia's emotional needs are met. You, on the other hand, have no right to dictate our lives. Goodbye."
"Jason..."
Melanie tried to stop him, but Jason had already hung up.
Jason sat down on the edge of Mia's bed, pulled her chair closer, and kept himself at eye level with her.
"Mia, tell Dad the truth. Are you really upset that Gwen is pregnant?"
"No," Mia denied immediately, before stammering, "Mom said that once you have your own baby, you won't have time for me anymore, and you'll think I'm annoying."
Jason took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of anger in his chest.
"Dad can promise you that will never happen. When we discussed having a second child, Gwen and I already agreed that this baby will never take away from our love for you."
Mia lowered her head, staying silent.


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