Alexander Valentine remained silent for a long moment before speaking in a low voice, "I'll consider it carefully. Thank you for the reminder."

Ethan Sullivan's lips curved slightly. "Just doing my part."

The call ended.

Sophia Laurent couldn't help asking, "What illness did Alexander have as a child? How could it affect fertility?"

Ethan casually placed his phone on the coffee table. "Acute lymphoblastic leukemia."

Sophia's heart clenched. "Blood cancer? That serious?"

"Yes. He was only three when diagnosed and urgently needed a bone marrow transplant. The donor registry had no matches, so his mother Evelyn became pregnant again to use the umbilical cord blood. Fortunately, his sister's cord blood was a match. After the transplant, he spent over a month in sterile isolation. When he came out, his sister had died, and his mother had lost her mind."

Sophia felt her chest tighten.

An inexplicable sorrow welled up inside her.

Ethan gently stroked her hair. "After discharge, no one dared tell him the truth—they just said his mother had taken his sister traveling. A four-year-old boy with a mentally ill mother and a remarried father, shuttling between grandparents' homes. That experience made him hesitate with Natalie."

Tears streamed down Sophia's face before she realized it.

Her heart ached as if being slowly carved by a blunt knife.

She covered her eyes with trembling hands.

Ethan handed her a tissue. "Why are you crying so hard?"

Sophia pressed the tissue to her eyes. "I don't know. I just feel so heartbroken for him."

He pulled her into his arms, patting her back. "Don't cry—your eyes will swell. If I'd known you'd react like this, I wouldn't have told you."

He kissed her reddened eyelids.

If not for Vincent Laurent's warning, he would have told her: That's the bond of blood calling.

The next day, Ethan stayed an extra day to evaluate a new company after the deal with Jack Goldman fell through.

By afternoon, the contract was signed.

He flew back to New York with Sophia.

As soon as they got in the car at the airport, Vincent called, summoning him to the office.

Ethan dropped Sophia home first.

Alone, he headed to Laurent Corporation.

The moment he sat down, an envelope was thrown in front of him.

Vincent's face was icy. "I thought you were different. How disappointingly ordinary."

Ethan opened the envelope.

Inside were photos of a seductive woman entering his hotel suite.

The photographer had cunningly captured only her entrance, not her exit.

Ethan looked up. "What are you implying, Father-in-law?"

Vincent scoffed. "Don't call me that. How could I let Sophia remarry you after this?"

Ethan's lips quirked.

This was Theodore Valentine's ploy to drive a wedge.

Fortunately, Alexander had intervened.

He tossed the photos back onto the table. "This was staged. Sophia was there—you can ask her."

After calling to confirm, Vincent's expression softened slightly.

"Don't hurt Sophia," he warned.

Ethan smiled deeper. "I care for her more than you know."

That weekend, Sophia invited Natalie Sullivan and Alexander Valentine over for dinner.

She woke early to shop for the freshest ingredients with Maggie.

After hours of cooking, a feast was prepared.

During the meal, Natalie chattered nonstop.

Alexander gazed at her tenderly, serving her dishes and refilling her soup.

He barely ate himself, piling Natalie's plate high.

Sophia watched quietly.

This affection had been hidden for years.

Ethan suddenly took her hand.

Had she grown up in the Valentine family, perhaps she'd be as radiant as Natalie?

After Maggie left to take a call, Sophia went to the kitchen for more soup.

She slipped on a wet spot.

The soup bowl shattered.

Ethan was the first to rush in.

Natalie and Alexander followed close behind.

"Where are you hurt?" Ethan helped her up.

Sophia winced. "It's nothing. I'll be fine in a minute."

Ethan wanted to carry her to the hospital.

"Really, it's okay," Sophia leaned against the wall.

Her clothes were splattered with chicken soup.

Ethan brought ice.

Natalie fetched a towel.

Alexander knelt to wipe her feet with a paper towel.

Everyone froze.

Ethan and Natalie helping made sense.

But Alexander's action...

He awkwardly withdrew his hand. "I..."

Natalie giggled. "I'm not overthinking it."

Sophia glanced at Ethan.

Surprisingly, he just said, "At least the soup wasn't scalding."

Sophia was stunned by his magnanimity.

Little did she know—Ethan already understood Alexander was her blood brother.

Why would he be jealous of family?