"Sister-in-law, I'm married to Alexander now!" Evelyn carefully watched her sister-in-law's expression and explained awkwardly.
"Oh, my memory is so bad. I completely forgot you married Gray!" Isabella smiled and replied.
Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, her sister-in-law didn't react strangely when she said that. If she had triggered something, it would have been a disaster.
"How is Gray doing?" Isabella continued asking.
"He's good." Evelyn nodded.
"That's good. Gray was always a good kid. I never had to worry about him growing up." Isabella said with a relieved sigh.
Evelyn started to feel confused again. Was this woman talking about Ethan or Alexander?
But she didn't want to dwell on it. She just changed the subject and chatted with her sister-in-law.
"It's been so cold lately. With the rain today, it feels even worse."
"You're sensitive to the cold?" Isabella turned to look at Evelyn.
"Yes, I really hate the cold." Evelyn nodded.
Actually, Alexander hated the cold even more than she did. Every night when they slept, he treated her like a personal heater. Sometimes she could barely stand it.
But Alexander was strange. No matter how cold it got, he never wore more than three layers. She never knew if it was for style, warmth, or some other reason.
"Gray hates the cold too. Ever since he was little, he could never stay warm. He caught colds all the time." Isabella murmured softly.
"Did Alexander get sick often?" Evelyn asked curiously.
"Yes, his constitution was never strong. He was always catching colds as a child. I'll feel relieved knowing you're taking care of him now."
Evelyn could only force a giggle in response.
Thinking about Alexander, he did seem to have a weak constitution. Ethan was like a paper man too. One gust of wind and he'd fall over.
They returned to Rose Garden Villa.
Violet had just come in from outside. When she saw the young mistress, she let out a breath of relief.
"Young mistress, where did you go? I was looking everywhere for you!"
"I didn't go anywhere. I just stepped outside for some air. Don't make such a fuss. Go make a cup of goji berry and longan tea to warm the young lady up." Isabella explained.
Violet finally noticed Evelyn.
"Hello, young lady!"
"Hello, Violet." Evelyn nodded in reply.
"Young lady, please have a seat. I'll make the tea."
"Thank you."
Violet walked away. Evelyn sat with Isabella and continued chatting.
Isabella said the weather was truly terrible. The rain wasn't heavy, but everything was wet. It made the cold feel damp and miserable.
Evelyn nodded and agreed. She didn't dare say she actually liked this kind of light rain.
If it were raining like this, it would be nice to sit outside and drink tea.
Violet soon returned with two cups of hot tea.
One cup of goji berry and longan tea for Evelyn. One cup of calming tea for Isabella.
"Evelyn, drink some tea to warm yourself up." Isabella said.
"Okay, thank you, sister-in-law!" Evelyn replied.
She held the teacup, gently blew on it, and took a small sip. It tasted really good.
"Once you're pregnant, you can't drink this kind of tea. It promotes blood circulation and isn't good for the baby." Isabella continued.
Evelyn was so embarrassed she choked on her tea and started coughing.
Isabella got up and patted Evelyn's back.
After Evelyn caught her breath, she apologized.
"I accidentally choked!"
"Just take your time. There's no rush." Isabella returned to her seat.
"No rush." Evelyn shook her head.
She hadn't told Alexander she was coming here. She wondered if he would come looking for her.
But Alexander knew she had gone to the main house. He probably wouldn't bother searching.
So Evelyn stayed with her sister-in-law, drinking tea and chatting. Outside the window, the night grew darker.
Alexander saw the rain falling outside.
Evelyn still hadn't returned to Sterling Manor. He wondered if his mother had kept her for dinner.
But thinking about it, if his mother had kept her, she would have called to invite him too.
So he picked up the phone to call the main house and ask.
After a moment of thought, he put the phone down. He decided to go to the main house and pick Evelyn up himself. That way, the girl wouldn't get lost again.
Alexander went downstairs, grabbed an umbrella from under the eaves, and walked toward the main house.
He saw Chloe at the entrance of the main hall.
"Chloe, is the young lady inside?"
Just as Chloe was about to say the young lady was in Rose Garden Villa, the old lady's voice came from inside the room.
"What? Looking for your wife? She came to see your mother. I haven't seen her in a while. What's wrong, three months is too long?"
Alexander was teased by his mother, but he wasn't embarrassed.
"Mom, is that what you think?"
"It's true. When I asked you to get married, it was like forcing you to go to梁山. Now you finally know Evelyn is good, and you realize your mother worked hard for you!" Eleanor Sterling never missed a chance to tease her son.
"I know, Mom. You did it for my own good. And who hasn't been young and rebellious? Mom, are you going to hold this over my head forever?"
"If I could hold it over your head forever, I'm afraid you wouldn't be here. Why are you looking for your daughter-in-law now?"
"Yes, Mom. Where did you hide my daughter-in-law?" Alexander played along with his mother's joke and smiled.
Eleanor gave her son a direct look.
"She's with your sister-in-law. Good thing you realized your daughter-in-law was missing and came to find her. Otherwise, I would have thought you didn't even know she was gone."
"How could that be? Since she's my wife, I have to hold her in the palm of my hand."
"Stop being glib. Your sister-in-law hasn't been very stable lately. I've been keeping an eye on her. She happened to like Evelyn, and I just heard Chloe say Evelyn went to Rose Garden Villa. So I didn't ask you to bring her back. I figured they were still talking. It's perfect that you came to pick her up."
"I understand, Mom. I'll go get Evelyn now."
"Go ahead." Eleanor nodded.
Alexander walked out of the main room, holding his umbrella, and headed toward Rose Garden Villa.
He used to go there often. Back then, his brother was still alive. His sister-in-law was in good spirits. She always saved some delicious food for him and Ethan.
Whenever he was tired and hungry, instead of going back to the main house, he would go to Rose Garden Villa. Because he could always get what he wanted to eat right away.
Sometimes Ethan would get jealous. He would say his mother liked his little uncle more than him. His sister-in-law would gently fill Ethan's bowl and coax him in a soft voice. Ethan would protest, but as soon as he had food, he would forget all his unhappiness.
But in recent years, Alexander rarely went to Rose Garden Villa.
On one hand, he didn't want to see things and remember people. On the other hand, he didn't want to disturb his sister-in-law. Every time he went, she insisted on cooking something special for him.
If his brother were still alive, the family would be much warmer and livelier than it was now.
Alexander sighed at the thought.
"Fourth young master?" Harper was surprised to see Alexander. But she quickly recovered.
She greeted him and turned to report.
"Young mistress, young mistress! Fourth young master is here!"