"Well, I'm not going to push you either. You're still young. It's natural to want some time alone together. I understand that. But you need a plan. Having a child is a lifelong commitment. Before you're ready, you have to prepare your body for a while. That's my plan. I'll have Lily Thompson make some nourishing soups for you and Gray. Drink as much as you can. Let's get your health in order first. When you decide the time is right, you'll be ready." Eleanor Sterling spoke with kindness.
"Okay, thank you, Mom!" Evelyn Vance replied sweetly.
Eleanor nodded.
Just then, the cook came in to announce that dinner was ready and invited the lady of the house and the young mistress to the dining room.
"Let's go eat!" Eleanor said to Evelyn.
Evelyn answered and stood up to help the old lady.
Chloe Ward followed behind them.
"Evelyn, you're too thin. You need to eat more!" Eleanor said, patting Evelyn's hand as they walked.
"Mom, I can eat more than Gray. I just don't know where it all goes. After a period of conditioning, I'm sure I'll be plump and chubby!" Evelyn replied with a bright smile.
"I doubt you'll ever get fat. You could use a little more meat on your bones right now!" Eleanor answered with a chuckle.
"Gray says the same thing. He likes me with a bit more weight!" Evelyn echoed.
They washed their hands first. Then Evelyn helped her mother-in-law sit down before taking the seat beside her.
"Mom, the food looks amazing tonight!"
"Chloe mentioned you were coming for dinner, so I asked the cook to prepare a few extra dishes you like. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to eat much myself!"
"Thank you, Mom!" Evelyn replied with a smile.
They chatted while they ate. Evelyn didn't eat fast, but she ate a lot.
She had to slow down to match her mother-in-law's pace, as Eleanor had bad teeth and chewed slowly.
"Evelyn, tell your mother to come over and visit when she's free," Eleanor said.
"Okay!" Evelyn agreed.
"What is your mother doing these days?"
"Nothing too busy. Just some housework and cooking," Evelyn said with a smile. "She used to love playing mahjong, but she doesn't play anymore. She's a completely different person now."
"Playing mahjong is a form of leisure, but it's not good to be too addicted."
"Yes," Evelyn agreed.
She understood all too well. For the longest time, her mother had been obsessed, sometimes not even coming home for meals. She would play from morning until late at night.
Her parents had argued about it more than once.
Her mother would behave for a few days, then fall back into the same old habits.
Luckily, she had given it up on her own. Now her mind was focused on her family and her father. It was a good change.
"Evelyn, eat more!" Eleanor said, using her chopsticks to gesture.
"Mom, I'll help myself. You eat more too!" Evelyn said quickly.
"I'm old now. My appetite isn't what it used to be. Sometimes I only take a few bites of the things I really like. You're young. You have good teeth and a good appetite. You can eat whatever you want," Eleanor replied with a smile.
"Mom, let's eat slowly. I have nothing to do tonight. Let's take our time and you can eat a little more!" Evelyn said.
Eleanor nodded with a smile.
After dinner, Evelyn accompanied her mother-in-law for a walk in the garden.
Instead of using a wheelchair, Evelyn helped her mother-in-law walk slowly.
"Evelyn, are you getting used to living in Sterling Manor?" Eleanor asked as they walked.
"Very much so. Gray and I often sit by the windowsill on the second floor and enjoy the night view. Especially on rainy weekends, sitting there, you can also see the lotus pond in the misty rain. It's beautiful!" Evelyn replied, as if sharing a treasured secret.
Eleanor listened with a smile as Evelyn described the beauty of Sterling Manor.
Her heart was full of joy.
This child was easy to please. She also had a good eye for finding beauty.
At first, when Gray wanted to build Sterling Manor here, she had been extremely opposed.
Before that, the empty lot beside Rose Garden Villa had been specially reserved for building Sterling Manor and giving it to Gray.
But when it came time to build, Gray said he didn't like the location. He insisted on choosing the spot where Sterling Manor now stood.
At the time, he had brought in a geographer. The man said the land was very lucky, but the key was whether Gray's other half could handle it.
If she could, the family would be even more prosperous and glorious in the future. If she couldn't, there would be trouble.
Gray didn't believe in such things. He couldn't be persuaded, so he built Sterling Manor here anyway.
Later, she helped Gray choose his other half. She had placed great importance on the match.
She had hoped to find someone who could help Gray.
Now, looking at Evelyn and thinking about her relationship with Gray after their marriage, Eleanor was very pleased that she hadn't chosen the wrong person for her son.
Evelyn, of course, had no idea what Eleanor was thinking at that moment. She simply answered whatever her mother-in-law asked.
And Sterling Manor was truly a place she loved.
After the walk, Evelyn sent her mother-in-law back to the main house. Then she returned to Sterling Manor.
She walked back with her hands behind her back, humming a tune, feeling happy.
"Who's this little piggy that ran out by accident?"
Evelyn heard Gray's voice behind her.
She stopped, turned her head, looked at him with a smile, and asked, "If I'm a pig, what are you?"
"If you're a pig, then I'm the farmer. I work hard every day, just to earn the feed money and fatten up my little piglet!" Gray came over, put his arm around Evelyn's shoulder, and said.
Evelyn resisted the urge to roll her eyes and asked, "Are you waiting for me to get fat so you can sell me at a good price?"
"If you get fat, I won't sell you. I'm waiting for you to have a litter of piglets!" Gray replied.
"Ugh, you're the one who gives birth to piglets!" Evelyn protested.
Gray smiled. "I really do have to work hard to get you to give birth to piglets!"
Evelyn was speechless. She ignored him.
"Just got back from Mom's?" Gray teased her a few times, then asked seriously.
"Yes. After dinner, I took a walk in the garden with Mom. I just got back. By the way, Mom said something today..." Evelyn stopped mid-sentence, thinking about how to say it better.
"What did she say?" Gray looked down at Evelyn and asked.
"She asked if we were ready to have a baby!" Evelyn lowered her head and answered shyly.
"How did you answer?"
"I said I would be ready to graduate in two months!" Evelyn replied.
"Didn't you tell Mom that I want to spend more time alone with you?" Gray asked with a smile.