Chapter 211

"Apologies for the delay." Ethan flashed a casual smile as he settled beside Vivian, acting as if their earlier argument had never happened.

Vivian shot him a glare but held her tongue. They were guests here, after all. With an exasperated sigh, she turned her attention to her plate.

The dinner table hummed with warmth and laughter.

Little Isabella gnawed on a chicken leg, her tiny hands and cheeks smeared with sauce. The sight melted Vivian's irritation instantly. She reached for a napkin—

But Ethan was faster. Gently, he wiped the girl's face, murmuring, "Such a messy eater." His tone was softer than Vivian had ever heard.

She stared, caught off guard. This wasn't the cold, detached Ethan Blackwood she knew. The man dabbing sauce from a child's chin seemed almost... human.

Her anger dissolved like sugar in tea.

Isabella beamed up at him. "Uncle Ethan, you're prettier than movie stars! I should call you Brother Ethan so you match Sister Vivian better!"

Anthony and his wife burst into laughter. "Smart girl!"

"Mr. Blackwood," Anthony said, swirling his wine. "You seem fond of children. Sons or daughters—which would you prefer?"

To everyone's surprise, Ethan answered without his usual icy demeanor. "Daughters. They're sweeter. I'd spoil one rotten." A faint smirk tugged his lips. "But sons have uses too—hiking, skiing, business... and when they misbehave, I can knock some sense into them."

Eleanor grinned. "Then you'll need two! Pregnancy takes years—best start soon."

Anthony winked. "Or aim for twins. One of each, done in one go."

Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Twins aren't ordered, darling. It's genetics." She turned to Ethan. "Any twins in your family?"

Ethan shook his head.

"Ah!" Anthony's face lit up. "But Vivian's side has the gene! Her twin brother was stillborn—umbilical cord accident. Tragic, really."

Ethan's gaze snapped to Vivian. "You had a twin?"

"Yes." Her voice tightened. "It's not something we discuss." The loss had shattered her parents. They'd erased all traces of that baby boy, as if he'd never existed. Only Eleanor, a former biology professor, knew the details—for academic purposes.

Eleanor leaned in eagerly. "Statistically, Vivian's very likely to have boy-girl twins. Mr. Blackwood, if you want both, she's your best shot."

Vivian choked on her wine.

Ethan, however, remained unflustered. "Noted."

Noted?! Vivian seethed silently. Who crowned you king of my uterus?

Anthony's eyes dropped to her midsection. "Viv, your stomach looks... rounder. Are you already carrying twins?"