Charlotte came home and was blow-drying her hair after a shower. She suddenly gasped.
Isn't Gu's first love named that?
No wonder she always thought the name sounded familiar. Like she'd heard it somewhere before.
Was it just the same name? Or the same person?
Charlotte hesitated, thinking it over.
But in the end, she couldn't resist the gossip. She called her best friend, the one who knew her well.
They chatted for a while. Then she steered the conversation toward Grace.
Finally, she confirmed it. The beautiful woman named Grace she'd met today was indeed her friend's best friend. Alexander's first love.
"Why did you suddenly mention Grace?" the friend asked with a smile.
"I had dinner with my cousin's friend today," Charlotte replied. "I met a new friend named Grace. She's very beautiful. It reminded me that you once told me one of your best friends back home was named Grace. I thought it couldn't be the same person. But it turns out it is!"
"Yes, what a coincidence!" the friend said. "This is fate! How is Grace now? I haven't contacted her for a while."
"She's just as you said," Charlotte complimented. "She's very beautiful and has a warm personality. She's just a little thin."
"She's always been thin," the friend said. "She's always trying to gain weight, but she can't. Not like us, who gain weight just by drinking water!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
After chatting with her friend for a long time, Charlotte found an excuse to hang up.
She sat on the sofa, wondering if she should call Evelyn. Should she tell her that she'd met her rival tonight?
Then she thought about it.
Evelyn was pregnant now. It wouldn't be good to tell her about this. It would only upset her.
Besides, she'd just had a meal with Grace. She hadn't noticed anything suspicious between Alexander and Grace. There was no need to mention it to Evelyn.
She felt silly for even thinking about it.
When Evelyn got home, Lily had already stewed some crucian carp soup. It was ready for her to drink.
Evelyn felt a little nauseous just thinking about fish soup.
Recently, she'd been tired of many foods. She had no appetite when she smelled them.
But she still had to force herself to eat. For the baby's nutritional balance.
Evelyn sat on a chair on the second floor. A bowl of crucian carp soup was on the table. She didn't want to drink it as soon as she took a sip. But she had to force herself to drink a little more.
So she looked at the scenery outside the window. She took a sip every now and then. It was like taking medicine.
When Alexander came back, Evelyn was still in a daze.
"Is the baby good today?" Alexander asked, sitting down in the empty seat beside her.
"He's been very good," Evelyn said, looking back. "But I don't have much appetite."
"Still can't eat?" Alexander asked, looking at her with concern.
"I can't drink the crucian carp soup," Evelyn said, pointing to the bowl on the table. "Do you want to help me drink it?"
"I'll help you drink more than you can," Alexander coaxed her. He picked up the fish soup to feed her. He tasted it first. "It's a little cold. I'd better drink it."
Then he drank up the fish soup.
Evelyn couldn't help laughing. She said with emotion.
"Husband, when I eat in the future, you should be by my side."
"You treat me like a trash can, don't you?" Alexander glanced at her and said with a smile.
"What trash can?" Evelyn refused to admit. "Isn't it better to share together?"
"Pushing me what you don't want to eat," Alexander said. "That's not a trash can?"
"I can also share what I want to eat with you!"
"If you go on like this," Alexander said. "You won't get fat. I'll get fat first!"
"Anyway, you're almost middle-aged," Evelyn said, nodding firmly. "It's time for you to get fat!"
Alexander looked at Evelyn with a mix of tears and laughter.
"You're hurting your husband like this!"
"What's the harm?" Evelyn asked. "Isn't it normal for you to gain weight in middle age?"
"When your husband just turned 30," Alexander said. "You directly classified me as middle-aged. That's not harmful!"
Evelyn laughed and didn't argue.
Alexander looked at her with some tears and laughter. Then he asked.
"How about going out in the afternoon?"
"There's nothing to do for shopping," Evelyn said. "I just went out to eat with Charlotte. I got tired after walking for a while. I don't want to go."
"Do you eat too little?" Alexander asked. "Do you have no physical strength?"
"No," Evelyn said. "I just don't really want to go. My waist always feels sore."
"The doctor said you're a little short of calcium," Alexander said. "Did you take your calcium tablets on time?"
"Yes," Evelyn said, pouting. "I've taken all the calcium tonic soup Lily stewed."
"You also need to get some sun," Alexander said. "And exercise. It helps with absorption."
"Then you can go for a walk with me tomorrow!"
"Yes!" Alexander said. "If you eat well, I'll go for a walk with you!"
"You mean," Evelyn said. "If I don't eat, you won't go for a walk with me?"
"If you don't eat," Alexander replied boldly. "I have to coax you to eat. There's no time to take a walk."
"You're being poor again!" Evelyn said with a smile.
Later, after taking a bath and having dinner, Alexander took Evelyn for a walk in the garden.
Evelyn walked slowly. Alexander slowed down to match her pace.
In the blink of an eye, Evelyn was almost three months pregnant.
After three months, the fetus would be relatively stable. Everyone would be more at ease.
At this time, something happened in the family.
Scarlett took the initiative to tell Eleanor that she wanted to separate the family. Audrey, who was hesitant, didn't make a clear statement. She seemed to be wavering.
Eleanor said that since Scarlett had this intention, she would stick to her previous principle. If someone wanted to separate, she would respect their wishes.
So she planned to hold a family meeting in the coming days. She would announce the separation and listen to everyone's opinions. But the principle remained unchanged. If someone wanted to separate, she would divide the shares according to the proportion mentioned before. They would draw lots to decide who got what.
Alexander came back from the main house and told Evelyn about it.
"Third sister," Evelyn asked. "Why does she want to separate?"
"After the separation," Alexander responded. "If you want to develop, you don't have to be bound by family factors."
"Ah?" Evelyn looked at Alexander blankly. She didn't quite understand what he meant.
"The principle of the Sterling family division," Alexander explained. "The core business of Sterling Group will not be divided. But its subsidiaries will be divided in proportion after accounting.
When the time comes, the four of us siblings will each take a share. We'll draw lots to decide!
Those who get the share will be able to operate independently."
"Oh," Evelyn nodded after a long pause. "It means being your own boss."
"Almost," Alexander said with a smile, stroking her head.
"After the separation," Evelyn asked. "Do you just need to manage our subsidiary?"
"I still have to be responsible for Sterling Group," Alexander explained. "As for the subsidiary companies divided according to shares, except for the shares of Rose and Ethan, I don't need to be responsible."
"Doesn't that mean you become more relaxed?"
"You could say that," Alexander nodded.
"If that's the case," Evelyn said. "I'm quite in favor of the separation!"
She couldn't help sticking out her tongue and laughing.