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"No, I will be responsible for you, but there's something I'm sure you'll agree to. If you're not pregnant within the next month, we won't get married. However, I'll watch wherever you go. After one month, I'll take you to the hospital to check if any part of me is alive inside you or not. If there is, you have to agree. If not, I'll expose everything you've done."

"No one will believe that he's your child."

"That's what you say, but don't forget that there's something called a DNA test in this world," Bryan replied vehemently.

Silvi struggled to remain calm in the face of Bryan's attacks. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Okay, if that's what you want. Please come back in a month. I will go to the hospital with you."

"No, I won't leave you alone. Because I know you could do anything to my future child to avoid responsibility from his father."

"So, what do you want?" Silvi was desperate. Her hands clenched tightly; she felt like hitting Bryan just to make him go away. Later, if she didn't do it, Bryan might become bolder and close the distance between them.

"Listen to me carefully!" Bryan hugged Silvi's waist. "I will follow you wherever you go and watch your every move because the life of my future child is at stake here."

Silvi burst into laughter again. "What did you say? Future child? I'm not sure there's any part of you left inside me. I remember that..."

"You were drunk, Sil. You don't remember anything we did, so just accept all my conditions. Once I make sure you're really not pregnant and have no history of miscarriage, trust me. I'll leave without being asked."

"Whatever!" Silvi waved her hand. "Release your hand from my body, stay away so you won't lose your trail again. You know what my father has; it would be very easy for him to take me far away from here."

"Okay, I'll go. And remember, today is not the last day we'll meet." Bryan briefly kissed Silvi's forehead. It was quite long, but he immediately let go, afraid that she might get angry at being treated that way.

And Bryan himself didn't understand why he dared to do such a thing to Silvi, a woman he had just met. Silvi was stunned, touching the place where Bryan had left his kiss. Her chest trembled, her blood raced, feeling a strange sensation suddenly flowing from where the kiss had been planted.

As if to convey that that particular part was quite special at the moment.

"Mom, what happened to Dad? Why does he need a blood transfusion from me?" Nicholas hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath, but he couldn't help but ask his mother right away. He was genuinely worried about his father's condition, especially if he needed more blood transfusions.

Mariana, trying to hold back her tears, replied, "Last night, your father had heart surgery to have a stent placed. However, he suddenly experienced severe bleeding, and he's still unconscious after the operation."

"Dad..." Nicholas was taken aback. This was the first time he had heard such bad news about his father. He had always thought that the middle-aged man was perfectly fine. It had never crossed his mind that Handoko could have such a serious illness.

Seeing what was going through Nicholas's mind, Mariana quickly tried to correct any misconceptions. "You don't need to feel guilty about this because no one knew about it. Your father intentionally kept this illness hidden from both of you. I didn't know about it either until one day, he had a sudden heart attack, and that's when I found out that he wasn't as strong as we thought."

As if she could read Nicholas's thoughts, Mariana wanted to ensure he didn't blame himself entirely. While Nicholas had been kept in the dark about their lives due to his rebelliousness, Mariana couldn't entirely blame him. She and Handoko had made their fair share of mistakes in handling the situation.

"Where can I find a doctor for the blood transfusion?" Nicholas asked quickly, not wanting to waste any time because his father's safety was paramount.

"Come with me," Mariana said, reaching out to take Alesya's hand, who seemed surprised that her mother was involving her in the family matters. Mariana wanted Alesya to feel like part of the family, not just a prospective daughter-in-law.

Alesya was startled because it was the first time Mariana had touched her. She joined them as they headed to the laboratory. Nicholas immediately underwent tests to confirm whether his blood was compatible with Handoko's and whether he was fit for blood donation, given his recent long journey.

Fortunately, due to Nicholas's healthy lifestyle, his blood was suitable for donation, and one bag of blood was collected. It was handed over to the doctor in charge of Handoko's case, even though it couldn't be used immediately. At least now there was a supply of blood for the middle-aged man.

"Forgive me for always having negative thoughts about you," Mariana couldn't hide her happiness as Nicholas didn't hesitate to help with his father's condition. She was genuinely grateful that Nicholas was willing to step in. Despite the past tensions and misunderstandings, they were still family.

Nicholas gave a warm smile and hugged his mother. "You don't need to thank me or apologize, Mom. As a son, this is what I should do. I hope this can be a lesson for all of us so that our lives can go back to normal, and we can be a happy, complete family."

Mariana nodded in Nicholas's embrace, truly appreciating the support of her youngest son. She and Handoko had caused a lot of pain to others in the past, and it was only fair that their lives might also crumble as a result.

"If I had known, I would never have asked you to do all those things. I'm glad you have become the son I always hoped for," Mariana confessed with a hint of regret.

Nicholas patted his mother's back reassuringly. "It's alright, Mom. Let's not dwell on the past. Now, what are your plans? Will you stay with Mom, or are you planning to move to your apartment? Don't think I don't know that you've been looking for an apartment while your house is being built." Mariana immediately teased Nicholas before he could answer her question. She was hinting at Bryan, making sure he didn't move in with her. She knew very well that her son-in-law was dangerous, even though they had no official relationship.

"As you know, Mom, Alesya and I started our relationship because she is my sister-in-law, so it's not impossible for both sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law to have a relationship."

"So, you don't trust that Alesya can be faithful to you?" Mariana asked, trying to push Nicholas to stay with them.

Their house was quite large, and it felt empty with only the three of them in it. Despite never having shared meals together at the dining table, just having Nicholas back at home was enough to fill Mariana with warmth. She had missed her son's presence, but their stubbornness and pride had kept them distant from each other for too long.

Nicholas sighed, considering his mother's words carefully. "I'll think about it, Mom. But I'll definitely look for an apartment just in case Bryan ends up marrying Viska. Bryan's presence alone makes me uncomfortable, and now with Viska there too... You know she's my ex-girlfriend. Rather than causing rumors and gossip, it's better to be safe. Besides, soon you'll have a new daughter-in-law there."

"In that case, you should stay there until Bryan and Viska get married. That's just three more months. After that, you're free to go wherever you want. However, if something happens between you two during that time, if there's a child on the way, I won't let you leave. Alesya will need your support, especially in the early months of pregnancy."

Mariana held Alesya's hand, hoping her daughter-in-law would support her in convincing Nicholas to stay.

"Of course, Alesya can't do all the housework on her own. I don't want our grandchild to be at risk because of your selfishness. As you both know, selfishness only brings pain to your child's life. So please, follow what I want because it's for the best."

This time, Nicholas couldn't argue anymore. What Mariana said was undeniably true. When a woman was pregnant, she couldn't be left alone, fearing accidents or other potential problems if she were left unattended in an apartment.

"Yes, we will consider your request, Mom," Nicholas finally agreed. "What you said is indeed correct. We'll stay until Bryan and Viska get married. If, by any chance, you get pregnant, Alesya and I will prioritize your well-being. We will take care of you first."

Mariana sighed with relief. "Thank you, Nicholas. I know this is the right decision for all of us."

Nicholas nodded, understanding that Mariana was trying to protect their family and ensure the best for their future. He glanced at Alesya, and she nodded in agreement, showing her willingness to stay for the time being.