Chapter 682

Katelyn's words weren't exactly wrong, but they did reveal her possessive nature over the baby. Salma, completely unaware of the underlying tension, cheerfully said, "Oh, what could possibly go wrong? I'll just dedicate myself to babysitting for Ana." Pattie walked over to Herman, who was cradling little Sammy. She wanted to see her baby brother and was instantly smitten by his cuteness.

Seeing Pattie's affection, Herman asked, "Want to hold your brother?"

Pattie nodded eagerly, her excitement palpable as she reached out.

Katelyn, feeling anxious, quickly interjected, "Pattie is still a child herself; she doesn't really know how to hold a baby. What if she drops him?"

Pattie's hands hovered uncertainly, unsure of what to do next.

"It's okay," Herman assured her.

He encouraged Pattie to hold the baby, "Go ahead, hold your brother."

With Herman's encouragement, Pattie mustered the courage. She carefully cradled her brother, beaming with delight, "Dad, he's so calm, and he's sticking his tongue out at me. How cute!" Pattie was over the moon.

Herman, with a playful tone, remarked, "Remember, you should treat them equally. After holding your brother, you should also hold your sister."

He said this deliberately, so Katelyn would hear. Being a savvy businessman, Herman was attuned to the subtle dynamics at play.

Some issues might seem trivial, but if they fester, they can strain relationships and plant seeds of discord.

Katelyn didn't quite catch the full meaning behind Herman's comment but chose not to challenge his decision.

After cuddling her brother, Pattie went on to hold her sister, making her even happier.

Anastasia felt relieved watching Herman handle things so smoothly. Some matters could be resolved without her intervention, and Herman knew how to manage them.

After all, stepping in might not always lead to the best outcome and could even ignite tensions between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

A daughter-in-law may never replace the bond of a son.

Anastasia had thought she wouldn't face in-law issues but realized that with the birth of children, changes were bound to happen.

She remembered how Alessia's mother-in-law was also quite possessive about the grandchildren.

Aside from this, Katelyn seemed fine.

When the babies got hungry after playing, Katelyn quickly asked the nanny to prepare formula. Pattie watched with curiosity.

Anastasia, holding Sammy, fed him for the first time. Watching him feed contentedly in her arms melted her heart.

Choosing to hold her son first stemmed from the memory of a child she had lost; holding Sammy felt like having her lost child back. The thought brought tears to her eyes.

Herman, understanding her unspoken feelings, stood beside her, resting his hand on her shoulder. Without words, they were perfectly in sync. Anastasia, eyes glistening, gently pressed her cheek against her son's.

After feeding, the babies soon drifted off to sleep. With the day getting late, Katelyn suggested taking the babies home.

Herman saw them to the car, and as they were leaving, Katelyn said, "Herman, go back to Ana. Don't worry about the kids; I'll take care of them."

"Mom," Herman said firmly, "You don't have to be so strict about all the baby care stuff. They don't need to be pampered to that extent. Let's not make everything about sterilization, it just causes unnecessary stress. When Anastasia comes home in a few days, bring the kids back."

Katelyn's face fell at this, "Herman, we can't be careless with the kids. Are you upset about the whole sterilization thing? I'm only thinking of their safety. You're young and lack experience. And Pattie, she's just a kid; Emmie and Sammy are still so fragile, their bones and skulls not fully developed. If something happened, we'd never forgive ourselves."

"You care about the kids, and so do I. I'm their dad; do you think I'd ever harm them?" Herman replied sternly, "Let's drop the sterilization talk."