Mr. Kane Got Blacklisted

Keegan paused his writing and asked in a calm voice, “Do you want her to come?”

Aurora hesitated before softly replying, “I don’t want her to, but if she insists, we can’t really stop her.”

Keegan looked up, “If you don’t want her there, she won’t be. Just focus on your engagement with Aldor. I’ll handle her calls and anything else.”

Aurora wanted to ask how he planned to handle it but decided to stay quiet and just nodded in agreement.

After Aldor left, Stella washed up, lay on the bed, and browsed her phone. Bored, she moved over to Keegan’s side to look at the books he had been reading lately.

Since Stella got pregnant, Keegan’s bedside reading had shifted from his usual professional materials to popular science books about motherhood and babies.

Keegan was the type who, when he committed to something, did it thoroughly. He read books, researched online, and even took notes. He often shared what he learned with Stella, who appreciated his dedication. She knew the bond between a mother and child is natural, but a father’s connection takes time to develop. Keegan, however, was already proving to be more involved than she had expected, which made her happy.

She reached into the drawer to grab a pen to correct a note Keegan had made.

Inside, she found a notepad with a pen clipped to it. As she took the pen, she glanced at the notebook and paused when she read the entries.

[131 days: Same as yesterday. No vomiting. Morning sickness has eased, but she cried after dreaming the baby was ugly. Luckily, it wasn’t a nightmare about me being unfaithful or violent, or I’d be kicked out of the bedroom again. Frequent bathroom trips; blood sugar normal. The doctor said it’s likely due to the uterus pressing on the bladder, and it’ll get worse later.]

The comma was dark, as if Keegan had paused there before writing the next sentence: [It’s tough—need to get her more exercise.]

Stella bit her lip and turned back a few pages.

a long time in front of the mirror with her favorite clothes. I told her she still looks good even if she’s gained weight. She ignored me all

First fetal

medicine, worried about the baby. The doctor advised cooling down physically first. She sweated through the night and muttered in her sleep. The fever broke at dawn. She was weak and pale but proudly said she’s tough. If it

appetite but still

Still vomiting

How could I choose? I just

days: Big changes in appetite; still

[81 days: Vomiting heavily.]

days: Baby’s the size of a soybean and

[77 days: Hahahahahaha, twins!]

help but laugh. It was rare for Keegan to express his emotions so openly, and his joy

in different ink, likely added later:

each prenatal checkup but ended up recording more

far more attentive and

Stella quickly closed the notebook and

his hair. Seeing her leaning against the headboard, he walked over and sat beside her. “Aren’t

for you,” Stella

patted her hand, “I’ll be right back

“Okay.”

later, Keegan returned to bed. Stella leaned into his arms, “Are

trouble,” Keegan said, gently stroking her shoulder. “She’s always tried to control Aurora. Even though Aurora seems spoiled, she’s actually quite timid and