"Yes!" Evie nodded eagerly.
Ethan wasn't the only one who could pull off stunts like that.
"Is that true?" Alexander asked, his eyes fixed on her.
Evie froze. She stared back at him, unable to form a response.
"Am I old? Ugly? Short?"
Evie shook her head. Then she whispered, "A little old... but not ugly!"
Alexander saw her shake her head first. He thought she'd finally dismissed Ethan's nonsense.
Then he heard her words. He nearly choked on his own anger.
Evie looked at him innocently. She giggled.
"Stop laughing. It makes you look foolish," Alexander said, annoyed.
"Then don't be mad. Getting angry makes you age faster," Evie replied with a smile.
"..." Alexander was speechless.
After a long moment, Alexander calmed down. He waved for Evie to sit.
Evie instinctively shook her head.
"Are you planning to stand there forever?"
Evie kept shaking her head.
"Come sit down."
"You won't hit me?"
Alexander's face darkened again.
"Evie, we really need to talk. First, your husband has no violent tendencies. Even if I ever did lose my temper, I'd never raise a hand to a woman. Second, I'm not gay. If you need proof, I can give it to you right now."
"How would you prove it?" Evie blurted out.
Alexander stared at her. He didn't answer her question. But his eyes said everything.
Evie suddenly understood. She waved her hands frantically. "No proof needed! No proof needed! I believe you!"
Evie walked back to the sofa and sat down. But Alexander didn't pay her any more attention. He answered a phone call and walked away.
Just then, Lily and Chloe arrived at Sterling Manor with food.
Evie hadn't had an appetite earlier. But after arguing with Alexander and skipping breakfast, she was starving.
Lily and Chloe greeted Evie. They set the food on the table and left.
Evie walked to the dining table. She saw the rich breakfast spread out before her. She couldn't help swallowing.
She turned her head. Alexander was still by the window, talking on the phone.
Should she eat first? Or wait for him to finish?
Forget it. She'd wait.
She couldn't just get married and forget all manners.
Evie felt like she'd waited for an eternity. She could barely sit up straight.
She turned again. Alexander was still on the phone.
Sigh. Would it really matter if she took a couple of bites?
Besides, the food wouldn't taste good cold.
Evie picked up her chopsticks. She put a piece of meat in her mouth. The next second, she felt the atmosphere shift.
She turned her head. She met Alexander's gaze as he walked into the dining room.
Evie froze. The chopsticks holding the meat hung in mid-air. She couldn't put them down or pull them back.
"Don't wait for me. Eat first," Alexander said lightly. He went to wash his hands.
Evie muttered under her breath, "You could have said that earlier."
But since Alexander had given her permission, and he was off the phone now, she could eat in peace.
So Evie put the meat in her mouth. She chewed while sipping her porridge.
One bowl for herself. One bowl for Alexander. She sat down and began to enjoy her meal.
This porridge was really delicious.
Alexander washed his hands and returned to the table. He saw Evie eating happily.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "Didn't you say you had no appetite?"
"I didn't have an appetite before. Now I'm hungry, so I have one," Evie replied calmly. She looked up at him. She wasn't flustered at all.
"What kind of porridge is this?" Alexander asked.
"Delicious porridge," Evie answered.
Alexander glanced at her. He decided not to say anything more.
"This porridge is really good. It's fragrant. The shredded meat and celery go perfectly together," Evie recommended.
"If you like it, I guess you won't be afraid to eat chicken after eating chicken heads."
"..." Evie froze. She looked down at her bowl. She still had half a bowl of porridge left. There was shredded chicken inside.
She finally realized she was eating chicken porridge.
She'd been too hungry earlier. She hadn't thought about it. She just thought it tasted good.
Now that Alexander had mentioned it, Evie felt a dark cloud hanging over her.
She took a deep breath. "Just because I don't dare to eat chicken butts doesn't mean I don't dare to eat chicken. Same logic. Just because I don't dare to eat chicken heads doesn't mean I don't dare to eat chicken."
"You're not usually this sharp," Evie muttered.
"What?" Alexander asked, amused.
"Nothing. Eat more," Evie said with a smile.
Alexander glanced at her. He didn't ask any more questions. He lowered his head and continued eating.
After breakfast, Alexander was busy in his study. Evie stayed on the second floor. She held her laptop and revised the marriage agreement.
The honeymoon trip would have to wait until after they left.
Evie racked her brain trying to figure out how to modify the agreement. Alexander had practically torn her previous version apart.
She didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
But if Alexander didn't approve, her agreement was just worthless paper. So she had to keep thinking.
After revising, Evie printed out the agreement. She planned to take it to Alexander for his signature. She also wanted to ask for his opinion. Because of the morning's trouble, Evie wanted to make it up to him at dinner.
Evie stood at the door of Alexander's study. She knocked.
Alexander looked up at her. "What's up?"
"I was thinking... I'll go to the kitchen later and help prepare dinner," Evie said. She had originally wanted to give Alexander the agreement first. But she lost her nerve. So she talked about dinner instead.
"No. Don't go. Mom won't let you cook," Alexander replied.
"Oh," Evie answered, a little dejected.
She really hadn't meant anything by it this morning.
Alexander looked at her. He continued, "It has nothing to do with this morning. Mom probably misunderstood. She thinks you're pregnant."
"What?" Evie's eyes widened. She stared at Alexander in shock. "Why didn't you explain it to her?"
"How could I explain it? I don't even know if you're pregnant or not."
Evie was furious. "We haven't even been together. How could I be pregnant? Do you think I'm a hermaphrodite? Or the Virgin Mary? Can I reproduce without sex?"
Alexander rarely saw Evie get so worked up. He couldn't help but smile. "Don't get so excited. It's just... it's better to be sure about some things before explaining them."
"What's there to be sure about?" Evie's face was red. Not from embarrassment. From anger.
"I'm not doubting you. They didn't say it clearly. I couldn't explain anything. But seeing Mom's reaction, it's probably a misunderstanding," Alexander said, trying to calm her down.
"Then you're responsible for explaining it to your mother," Evie said gloomily.