Let's talk properly

"Stop it, Sarah! You don’t have to go this far!" Knox grabbed the knife, his expression unreadable.

Everyone stood in panic, watching her lose her mind. For some reason, it felt like I was watching a binge-worthy drama. I couldn’t help but laugh.

As a result, all eyes snapped toward me as if I had just slapped them.

"What kind of disrespect is this, Violet?!" my mother snapped, showing no signs of understanding. "You’re laughing while everyone here is grieving!"

"This is sick!" I stood up, grabbing my suit. "I almost agreed to Auntie’s pleas since I’ve never disrespected her. But Sarah just ruined any chance of that. I refuse to bring a child into a world where someone like her exists!"

"What do you mean by that?" Knox asked, irritation flickering in his eyes.

I met his gaze without hesitation. "I’m disappointed in you too, Knox. The man I grew up with had the decency to know what kind of woman he should be with. Clearly, she isn’t the one."

"Are you jealous or something?" Sarah gritted out, her true colors showing.

"Oh, come on! Jealous? Of what?" I scoffed.

"Honestly, I am right now," I admitted, my voice shaking with anger. "Seeing how my family is ready to worship you just because you’re Knox’s girlfriend makes me sick. And look at you—do you even have the capacity to raise a child?"

Sarah’s expression twisted with pure rage. She bit her bottom lip, trying to control her emotions.

"Violet! You’re disrespecting her! How could you say that?" Sam snarled.

"Come on, Sam. As a doctor, you should know better," I stated firmly. "Her behavior is narcissistic—‘If I can’t get it, I’ll manipulate it.’ How could I let my child grow up around someone who just threatened to kill herself because things didn’t go her way? What if she becomes even more aggressive in the future? Can you guarantee that won’t happen?"

Silence fell over the room. They knew I didn’t tolerate nonsense. And they should have realized by now that I wasn’t some kindhearted fool they could walk all over.

"I don’t mind giving my egg and being a surrogate for Knox. As his best friend, it’s the least I could do. But let’s be honest—she doesn’t have the capacity to be a mother. She will be jealous if my child calls me ‘mother’ or if I decide to fight for custody. What happens when she threatens to hurt herself again, claiming she can’t bear to see the child with me?"

No answer.

Sarah, who had been pressing the knife against her wrist, slowly let it slip from her grasp, her face turning pale. She looked at Knox for support, but he only stood there, displeased.

"I thought you all knew me better," I sighed in disappointment. "You know I hate drama—especially the kind that disrupts my emotional balance. Not only did you all betray me by excluding me from something this huge, but you only decided to tell me now because you thought I might be useful."

"Violet!" Mrs. Silverfang called my name, her voice laced with guilt.

"I never expected much from any of you. Just a little respect," I said, my voice sharp. "You always said relationships are fragile, yet you treated me like an outsider. And Knox—you disappointed me the most. I didn’t know I mattered so little to you."

I turned on my heels, ready to leave, but my steps faltered when Sarah suddenly walked forward, blocking my way.

"I’m calling off the wedding," she declared, tears streaming down her face.

"Excuse me?" I scowled. "That’s not my business."

"It is!" she insisted, looking utterly defeated. "It was my fault—I emotionally blackmailed everyone into not telling you about us. It was my fault that I rejected other surrogates because I didn’t trust them."

So they had consulted other surrogates. Hah! What an unpleasant day.

"But—" she raised her eyes, locking onto mine with surprising sincerity—"Knox…"

"Sarah, what are you doing?" Knox tried to approach us, his eyes flashing with panic.

"Knox said he wanted a child like you. Intelligent, beautiful, perfect… and compassionate."

My breath caught.

I turned to Knox, but he ran his fingers through his hair, avoiding my gaze like the plague.

"I felt jealous," Sarah continued, her voice trembling. "My previous serious boyfriend was so attached to his girl best friend that he cheated on me, claiming I was just a side piece."

Something in my chest tightened. Maybe it was relief—relief that I had never confessed my feelings for Knox.

"But after seeing you at different parties, I realized you were more than what Knox had told me," she admitted. "The way you present yourself, the way you talk, the way you carry yourself… I decided to give it a chance. I apologize for the scene I made. But don’t worry—I won’t be a stepmother like the ones in fairy tales. I won’t even call myself a stepmother. All I ask is that you find it in your heart to give Knox the child he wants so badly. He truly wants to be a father."

"You don’t?" I asked, meeting her eyes.

"You will be the mother, But-," she said, her sincerity making me hesitate. "I heard you aren’t interested in marriage or dating. So, I don’t think you’ll lose anything by giving up your rights."

"That’s not the question," I countered. "If I become the surrogate, that means I won’t have—"

"There are a few conditions," Sarah cut in, making me furrow my brows.

"What do you mean?" I asked, following her gaze as she turned toward the family members.

My mother let out a deep sigh. "How about we talk properly? This time, we won’t force you into anything. It will be your choice."