"I do all this for you, for our family. I won't let others behind your back stab you in the back and call you a living saint."
I looked at her, speechless.
Seeing me giving no response, Saoirse grew impatient and impatiently tossed her hair. "Alright, stop fooling around. I've already asked Helena to prepare dinner to celebrate."
"As the host, you should at least show some courtesy."
She turned to help Oliver up, her movements gentler than I had ever seen before. “Oliver, what would you like to eat? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it for you.”
Oliver leaned weakly in her arms and said coquettishly, “I want to eat grouper soup and I want you to feed me yourself.”
"Alright, as your request."
The two of them flirted around without paying attention to my presence, treating me like a transparent thing.
I stood there, utterly superfluous and ridiculous.
Just then, Noah Reinhart, the Steiner Family’s doctor, walked in carrying his medical bag.
He took a test report from his bag with a beaming smile on his face. "Ms. Lorenger, Mr. Oliver Lorenger, congratulations!"
She handed the report to Saoirse and said in a firm tone, "The pregnancy is very stable. The ultrasound looks like it's a boy! Congratulations to the Lorengers and the Steiners, you have an heir!"
Saoirse kissed my brother deep and Jack also looked emotional.
Noah turned to look at me, a hint of pity in his smile. "Mr. Zenon Lorenger, please don't be too sad."
"Since you can't give a child, having your brother help you would be just the same."
The laughter and chatter filling the room were like countless needles pricking my ears.
I gripped my phone so tightly my nails dug into my flesh.
Saoirse walked up to me, holding the report.
"Zenon, look, how adorable he is. He'll be our son from now on."
Jack quickly added. “But Zenon, even though he is registered under your name, he still has to call Oliver ‘Dad.’”
They still assumed, as always, that I would grant them any request.
Just like the seventh day after my mother's passing, my father brought home a stepbrother who was only half a year younger than me.
He claimed he was the son of an old friend, yet his face bore a striking resemblance to my father, almost 90% identical.
Just like after Saoirse said she wanted a child, I tried countless remedies.