The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1869

Everyone fell silent at his words. How many times had they endured such thoughtless remarks?

Ugly? How could he say something like that. The baby was the spitting image of his father, even if the stubborn man refused to admit it.

Molly bit her lip, her eyes flashing with frustration as she glared at Morrison. "That's your son. And for the record, you were even uglier when you were born."

It seemed that it was true, Grandchildren were more precious to the grandparents than their own children.b2

Morrison appeared unfazed by their collective outrage. He pursed his lips and looked back at the baby.

Where was the chubby, cherubic infant he'd been promised? Instead, there was this wrinkled, red-faced little creature, features barely defined. How could this be his offspring?

He sighed. Well, ugly or not, the kid was his flesh and blood. There was no denying that.

As if sensing his father's disapproval, the baby in his swaddle stirred. His tiny fists clenched, his mouth puckered, as if he were on the brink of tears.

Rose, sensing the impending meltdown, began to rock the infant gently. She leaned in and planted a soft kiss on his forehead. "There, there, sweetie. Mommy loves you."

The baby cooed softly, nuzzled his head against her, and settled down.

Rose's smile was tender, her heart full. No one else could understand the rush of joy, love, and wonder she felt at that moment.

As the "ugly little thing" calmed down at Rose's soothing words, Morrison couldn't help but feel surprised. Was the baby really that sensitive? Or was it just Rose's touch?

He was still scrutinizing the baby when Rose nudged him with her elbow. "Hand me my phone, will you? Chloe's dying to see the baby."

Morrison, though irked by Rose's interest in Chloe's opinion, reached over to the nightstand and passed her the phone.

Rose dialed up a video call, and within seconds, Chloe's face appeared on the screen.

"Rose..."

Rose paused, teasing, "You weren't waiting by the phone for my call, were you?"

Seeing Rose safe and well enough to joke was a relief to Chloe. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Rose replied with a smile, angling the camera toward the baby. "Take a look at your future son-in-law."

The shaky camera finally focused on the infant, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Though his features were not fully formed, there was an unmistakable resemblance to Morrison.

Damon leaned over Chloe's shoulder, catching a glimpse of the baby on the screen, and frowned.

Chloe glanced at him. "What's with the face?"

Damon's expression was unreadable as he straightened up. "He's not exactly a looker."

Chloe quickly turned her attention back to the screen. "Well, the baby does have quite a bit of Morrison in him."

"I heard that!" Rose's indignant voice rang out. "He has gone too far. Chloe, you have to avenge me. I'm upset."

Without hesitation, Chloe nodded. "Of course, I will avenge you."

After all, no mother wanted to hear her baby called ugly. Damon had crossed a line.

Morrison, on the other hand, was practically hopping mad. "Don't think your kids will be any prettier. And I’ll get to call them ugly soon."

Damon's brow furrowed. "No way they could be as ugly as your kid. Genetics don't lie. You can never catch up to us."

Morrison clenched his teeth, but Rose cut in. "Stop fighting. Morrison, you can't call Chloe's babies ugly. Damon and Chloe, one handsome, the other beautiful, their children are bound to be attractive. So what if our son's a little less than perfect? As long as his future wife is gorgeous, I won't worry about how my grandson looks."

At that, Damon snatched the phone from Chloe, his face stormier than ever. "Who's your future daughter-in-law?"

Rose blinked innocently. "Little Moon. I've already talked to Chloe about it. Her daughter is going to be my daughter-in-law."

Damon's voice was icy. "That's not happening. You're dreaming."

Rose's demeanor chilled instantly, her tone sharp. "You don't get a say in this. Chloe and I have already decided. It's not up for discussion."

Chloe, startled by the exchange, reached for Damon's hand. "Let's not fight. Rose just had a baby, and she's not in control of her emotions."

Damon took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and tried to sound calm. "My daughter will remain unwed."

Rose flared up. "You— Ah!"

Her cry of outrage startled Chloe. "What's wrong?!"

The camera shook, then refocused on the baby in Rose's arms. "Chloe, look! My son's so upset by your husband's words, and he's woken up."

Chloe leaned closer to Damon, and indeed, the baby who had been peacefully asleep was now wide-eyed, looking around curiously before fixing his gaze on the camera.

Damon watched, a strange feeling stirring within him. As a newborn, the baby did fascinate him, but the idea of this infant having designs on his daughter instantly soured his mood.

In Damon's eyes, no man would ever be good enough for his daughter.

The atmosphere was tense, a palpable sense of rejection filled the air as Damon glared down at the little tyke before him.

The tot had been fixated on the smartphone camera for a good while, his lower lip trembling, a sure sign that a tantrum was on the horizon.

Damon raised an eyebrow, his mischievous side eagerly anticipating the impending meltdown. But after what felt like an eternity, the little guy started flapping his tiny arms and legs, staring at the camera and breaking into a wide, joyful grin.

The sight was nothing short of charming and heartwarming.

Chloe covered her mouth in surprise, "Oh my God. The baby just smiled. Could it be that he smiled for Damon?"

Damon, his temper flared up by the exchange with Rose and Morrison, softened at the sight of Chloe's longing expression. He gently squeezed her shoulder and whispered, "Our kids will be even cuter."

Chloe smiled and nodded in agreement.

Yulia came downstairs, and Chloe mentioned that there was food ready for her in the kitchen. After eating, they chatted while Damon headed upstairs.

His inbox held an unread email that had been lying there quietly, unattended. He opened the video message in his study – it was the footage of Rose's labor that he had requested.

The video had been recorded from a few days before her due date, with some post-editing, focusing mainly on the expectant mother's daily life. The editing was neat, but it retained the part where Morrison sang to Rose.

That childish lullaby, coupled with Morrison's awkward tune, even made the usually stoic Damon crack a smile. "Silly."

He listened intently to the important details mentioned by the doctors, Megan, and Molly in the video.

Fifteen minutes in, Rose was on the phone with Chloe when suddenly she went into labor.

Morrison looked panicked, the doctor wore a serious expression, and Rose, pale and in pain, had even soaked her thin hospital pants.

The screen went dark as they entered the delivery room, leaving only audio – the clear, urgent voices of the doctors and Rose's screams made Damon's head throb with discomfort.

His heart was in knots just hearing how much pain Rose endured. And she was only having one baby.

Chloe was expecting twins. Would her pain be double Rose's?

Leaning back in his chair, Damon pinched the bridge of his nose, suddenly regretting his earlier wish for twins. He had no idea how to ease her suffering.

To think of having more children? He would never allow it again.

--

Without another word, Damon arranged for Chloe to be admitted to the hospital for observation. The team included Jane and three doctors from different countries, all optimistic about her condition. It was clearly Damon's doing.

News of Chloe's early hospitalization spread like wildfire throughout P City, with everyone eagerly awaiting the arrival of the twins.

After being off the grid for an eternity, Stanley made a beeline for the hospital as soon as he resurfaced. Damon, of course, wasn’t about to let him waltz in to see Chloe. The two locked horns for what felt like an endless series of days and nights. Finally, in a move straight out of a Hollywood heist movie, Stanley scaled the hospital building and snuck into Chloe's room through the window in the dead of night.

Furious, Damon did what any one would do—he chucked Stanley right back out through that very same window.

The next day, someone was arranged to install the sturdiest anti-theft bars on the windows of the hospital room.

But Stanley, undeterred, kept climbing. In doing so, he overheard some juicy intel: Damon was arranging for someone to fly to B Country to pick up his mother-in-law.

So, the following day, Stanley strutted into Chloe's room as if he owned the place, with Damon’s mother-in-law in tow, no less.

Sauntering in with Yasmine, he made quite the entrance.