Chapter 208

Sarah's POV

The shrill ring of my phone interrupted my afternoon rest. Betty's name flashed on the screen, pulling me from my half-sleep. I fumbled for the device, instantly alert despite my drowsiness.

"Sarah!" Her voice bubbled with excitement through the speaker."I did it!"

"What happened?" I immediately sat upright on the chaise lounge,my heart racing with anticipation though I already had an inkling of what she meant.

"Philip had the surgery!" Betty's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper,as if someone might be eavesdropping. "Let's meet to discuss. The usual place,thirty minutes."

I ended the call, unable to suppress the smile spreading across my face.I squeezed the phone in my hand, savoring the sweet tasteof victory on my tongue. Oh Philip, you finally couldn't escape my grasp after all.

Rising from the lounge, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The designer maternity dress hugged my still-slim figure perfectly, barely showing any sign of the pregnancy I was using as leverage. I traced my fingers over my abdomen, feeling a strange mixture of triumph and something else I couldn't quite name.

Pushing open the door to Café Laurent, I immediately spotted Betty at our usual corner table. The upscale café on Madison Avenue was one of her favorites-quiet enough for private conversations yet public enough to maintain appearances. She sat perfectly poised, her Hermes scarf artfully arranged, sipping tea with practiced elegance.

Betty had proven to be the perfect accomplice. Who would have thought she'd force her own son to undergo sterilization surgery just to ensure I would carry this baby to term? The irony wasn't lost on me.

"How did you manage it?" I asked eagerly as I slid into the seat across from her. Just this morning. Philip had been shouting his refusal at me,and I had wanted nothing more than to slap that self-righteous look off his face.

Betty took a deliberate sip of her Earl Grey, purposely drawing out the moment. "I threatened to jump from the rooftop."

"You're joking, right?" I blinked in disbelief, finding it hard to imagine this impeccably dressed woman standing at the edge of a building.

"You should have seen his face." Betty shook her head with a slight smile,a glimmer of cunning in her eyes. "He's hardly ever defied me his entire life,and thistime was no exception."

"Then what happened?" I leaned forward,completely captivated by her story.

"He agreed immediately," Betty continued, setting down her teacup with precision. "I supervised the whole process via video call, watched him walk into the hospital, and saw the procedure completed."

I nodded, a satisfied smile curling at the corners of my lips. Success! Now Philip could never have children with anyone else. The baby in my womb would be the sole heir to the Baker family fortune. Let's see him try to mistreat me now. Betty truly was the perfect ally-I never imagined she would force her own son to undergo a vasectomy just to ensure I would give birth to this child. How ironic.

"However," Betty's brow furrowed, her voice suddenly tinged with confusion, "he said something strange afterward."

"What was it?" I asked,curiosity piqued.

"He said, 'From today on, I am no longer your son.'" Betty shook her head in disbelief. "How could that be possible? How could I not be his mother?"

"Perhaps he was just speaking out of anger?" I suggested tentatively,mentally calculating whether this might affect my plans.

"Certainly," Betty waved dismissively, brushing past the subject. "He'll come around once he calms down."

I was about to respond when a familiar wave of nausea rose from my stomach, my throat tightening. Damn morning sickness, always striking at the most inconvenient moments.

"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," I rose hurriedly, my hand instinctively covering my mouth.

In the cold, marble-tiled bathroom, I had just locked the stall door when my phone rang again. Philip's name flashed on the screen, my heart suddenly racing as if anticipating something ominous.

"Hello?" I worked to keep my voice steady.

"Sarah." Philip's voice was unnaturally calm, which unsettled me more than if he'd been shouting. "Very clever, bringing my mother into this when you couldn't manage me yourself."

I bit my lip, wondering how he had figured it out. "I was only thinking of the baby."

"Oh?" He let ouit a cold laugh. "Should I congratulate you on your ingenuity?"

My stomach dropped. How did he know? Had Betty told him? No.impossible. "I don't know what you're talking about," I feigned confusion,though my heart was pounding faster by the second.

"Stop pretending." Philip's voice was as cold as ice. "Did you think I wouldn't figure it out?"

I bit my lip harder, scrambling for an appropriate response in my paníc.

Damn it. I hadn't expected him to conect the dots so quickly.

"I was only thinking of the baby," I repeated lamely, already strategizing my next move.

I remained silent. Sometimes silence is the best defense. I couldn't risk saying anything that might give him more ammunition.

"I've been thinking," Philip suddenly said, "if I hadn't given up Annie for you, I wouldn't be in this mess."

Annie's name pierced my heart like a thorn. Even now, he couldn't forget her! That supposedly perfect wife, perfect mother. I hated how he always compared me to her.

"It's too late for regrets," I managed to control my tone, though internally I was seething. "You can't turn back now."

′′Iknow," Philip said, his voice carrying a strange tranquility. "But what I don't understand is why my own mother would side with you against me."

"Maybe I'm just more likable," I couldn't help but say smugly. This was my charm-I could always make people take my side.

"Well, starting today," his voice suddenly turned glacial, "I won't be giving her another cent for living expenses, and you won't be getting any either."

Those words hit me like a bucket of ice water. I froze, my brain temporarily unable to process this information.

"What... what did you say?" I could barely believe my ears.

"If she needs money, she can ask you for it." Philip continued, each word like an ice cube. "It's no longer my concern."

My heart sank. The plan had gone awry. In my scenario, after the surgery,Philip should have valued the child in my womb even more, not become more detached.

"She's your mother." I played my final card.

"I don't care about her anymore," Philip stated calmly. "I still have Brian.Worst case, I'll apologize to him and seek his forgiveness."

Brian... that name again. I hated how he always mentioned Brian, as if that child were some kind of treasure. In reality, Philip had never properly cared for Brian, yet now he was pretending to be a concerned father?Such hypocrisy!

"What? You can't do this!" I exclaimed in shock, momentarily at a loss for words.

On the other end, Philip coldly hung up, leaving me standing alone in the bathroom stall,utterly bewildered.

Deep breaths, Sarah, stay calm. I told myself. The situation wasn't out of control yet; it just required a strategy adjustmnent. After all, I still carried his child, and I still had Betty as my trump card.

Having composed myself. I pushed open the bathroom door. Betty was still waiting at the table, her expression inquisitive. It was time to tell her about Philip's decision, though I had no idea how she would react...