What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 94

With Finnian's flawless charm, the lunch passed warmly and happily. Brynlee was the life of the party, constantly making the adults laugh. Whenever she felt shy after showing off, she would dive into Finnian's arms, hiding her face against his coat.

Looking at his adorable daughter, Finnian couldn't help but reminisce about the past.

Even as a tiny infant, Brynlee had eyes only for him. By the time she was six months old, she’d be kicking her legs and reaching out with her chubby arms the moment he walked through the door, straining toward him until he finally picked her up.

Initially, Finnian had no real concept of fatherhood. He knew he would be a responsible parent, but he never expected to become so completely addicted to spoiling his daughter.

Through every stage of her life, a deep bond of dependency had formed—and he had fallen completely for her.

Watching her cry when she got her shots, seeing her pout when she was sick in his arms, watching her tiny figure run toward the preschool gates with her little backpack, or finding her sitting on the steps waiting for him to come home—every single moment melted his heart. Now, he felt that it wasn't just her who needed him; he couldn't live without her, either.

Capitalizing on everyone's adoration for Brynlee, Jane and Warren casually suggested to Leo and Sophia that it might be time to start thinking about having a baby.

Leo shot a look at his wife.

Under the table, Sophia kicked him hard in the shin.

"Mom, Dad, we're still young! Sophia is only twenty-seven. We want to wait a couple more years. Don't worry, we're not planning on being child-free," Leo quickly assured them.

Sophia then smiled sweetly and nodded. "Exactly. Right now just isn't the right time for us."

Hearing their usual rehearsed excuse, Jane and Warren dropped the subject. Having a child was a massive life decision; if the couple wasn't ready, pushing them wouldn't help.

Jane then turned her hopeful gaze toward Kaia. Seeing her daughter's calm expression, she smiled at Finnian. "Finnian, what about you and Kaia? Do you have any plans?"

Finnian gave a perfectly practiced smile and looked at Kaia. "I follow her lead."

Taking the cue, Jane asked, "Kaia, Brynlee is going to be five soon. Don't you want to give her a sibling?"

Kaia paused with her fork mid-air. She looked up at her mother. "Mom, Brynlee will be my only child."

The words brought an instant, heavy silence to the table.

Everyone instinctively looked at Finnian. He had just said he would follow Kaia's lead.

When they were leaving the house, Finnian had to head out for a work emergency. Standing outside the car, he looked through the window and saw Kaia leaning over to talk to Brynlee, her profile looking incredibly gentle.

That afternoon, Kaia had to cover a shift at the Holistic Wellness Center. Since she hadn't driven, Finnian waited outside, expecting to take her.

Instead, Kaia got into Leo's car and left. Sitting in the back seat of his SUV, Finnian stared at the departing vehicle, his lips pressed into a thin line.

In Leo's car, he suddenly spoke up. "Kaia, I really think you should seriously consider having another kid. Preferably a boy. That's the only way your position as Mrs. Sanders will be totally secure."

Sophia punched Leo in the arm. "Stop interfering in Kaia's business! Do you think having a baby is easy? It's literally putting her life on the line!"

"I'm just thinking about Kaia's future!" Leo argued, sounding panicked. "If she doesn't have a son, how is she supposed to hold her ground in that family? A multi-billion-dollar empire isn't going to be handed over to Brynlee!"

Sophia was momentarily silenced by the brutal reality of his words. Even in normal families, people felt the pressure to have a son—let alone in an ultra-wealthy dynasty like the Sanders family. The pressure to produce a male heir was immense.

Seeing his wife quiet down, Leo huffed. "Now you get it. The stakes are massive. If Kaia refuses to have a son, those ambitious women waiting in the wings are going to do it for her."