Evelyn didn't finish her sentence.
Her sister's glare cut her off.
"Evie, are you comforting me or mocking me?" Victoria muttered.
"I'm just analyzing based on common sense!" Evelyn replied innocently.
"I think you've read too many novels!" Victoria said, turning toward the house.
"I only listen to audiobooks!" Evelyn mumbled.
Emily Hart loved novels.
Evelyn used to hear her talk about plots all the time.
But since her internship started, she barely had time for that.
Pfft. Where are you going?
Your sister just got her heart broken!
Evelyn followed her into the room.
At the door, she found Victoria waiting for her.
"Don't tell Mom and Dad about what happened!" Victoria warned.
"Oh!" Evelyn answered after a long pause.
Then she asked, confused.
"Why?"
"I haven't figured things out yet. I need to wait until I'm sure!" Victoria said after a moment.
"But you two already broke up, sis!"
"It's not over until I say it's over!"
"Then why were you so harsh? Wait, I mean your feet!" Evelyn corrected herself.
Kicking someone to death was way too cruel!
"Evie, are you asking for a beating today?"
"You can't hit me. And you definitely can't kick me. I'm pregnant!" Evelyn stepped back quickly, announcing her condition.
Victoria rolled her eyes.
How could she have such a clueless sister when she was so sharp?
She seriously doubted if Evelyn was adopted.
Or maybe she was picked up from a dumpster.
Either way, their genes didn't match.
Evelyn chuckled and followed her sister into the room.
She didn't mean to upset her.
She just worried Victoria would act impulsively and regret it later.
That evening, Alexander Sterling came to pick Evelyn up after work.
Evelyn was reading a parenting book Victoria had bought for her.
When she saw Alexander walk in, she tossed the book aside.
"Let's go home!"
"Of course, I'd love to stay at my parents' house forever!
But Mr. Sterling, would you agree to that?"
"No!" Alexander replied flatly.
"Alright then, let's go. We'll get home early so I can sleep early!" Evelyn said, walking over and taking his arm with a smile.
"Don't you need to pack anything?"
"No, I'll be back in two days anyway!"
"Why are you coming back in two days?"
"To eat the delicious food Mom cooks for me.
I don't have to work now, after all!" Evelyn said triumphantly.
Alexander smiled and habitually ruffled her hair.
"Why do you always touch my head?"
"Your hair is a bit messy. It makes you look cuter!" Alexander said.
Evelyn rolled her eyes.
Then she looked at him seriously.
"Alexander, I need to tell you something!"
"Okay!"
"Come closer. It's a secret!"
Alexander looked at her, a smirk on his lips.
But he still leaned in.
Evelyn reached out and messed up his hair in a rush, then burst out laughing.
Alexander didn't get angry.
He just glanced at his bangs, let out a breath, and smiled.
"As long as you're happy!"
Evelyn responded, a little frustrated.
"You're no fun. I can't mess with you!"
"What do you mean?" Alexander asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as they walked out of the bedroom.
"You should at least act surprised or angry. That way I'd feel accomplished!
Your reaction is so calm, like you already knew I'd do this. It makes me look like an idiot!" Evelyn complained.
"Alright, I'll do better next time," Alexander comforted her.
They went downstairs.
Evelyn paused with Alexander to tell her parents they were leaving.
She said she'd be back in two days.
William and Amelia Vance saw them to the door, reminding Evelyn to take care of herself.
The car drove away from the Vance house.
Evelyn pulled her gaze back and murmured.
"No matter how old you get, in your parents' eyes, you're always a child!"
"Why do you suddenly feel that way?" Alexander asked with a smile.
"I've been living here these past few days. Mom has told me the same thing a thousand times. I'm sick of hearing it.
She never worried about me this much before. Now she treats me like a child who needs constant care!" Evelyn said.
"You're pregnant now. Mom naturally cares more," Alexander replied.
"So I think she loves her grandchild more than me!" Evelyn said with a laugh.
"It's fine. I'll love you double!" Alexander said, patting her head to comfort her.
"Where do you love me?" Evelyn asked, amused.
"After twenty or thirty years of accumulation, how could there not be any?"
"No wonder. It's someone else's," Evelyn blurted out.
The atmosphere in the car seemed to freeze.
After a moment, Evelyn touched her nose and muttered.
"It doesn't matter. As long as you only love me from now on!"
"Jealous?" Alexander asked with a smile.
"A little bit!" Evelyn admitted.
Honestly, when she saw Grace O'Sullivan, she felt a bit jealous.
They were each other's first love.
They had such deep feelings.
It was a relationship she couldn't touch, let alone be part of.
So sometimes, when she felt conflicted, she'd get worked up.
Luckily, that mood only hit her occasionally.
Most of the time, she could let it go.
Otherwise, Alexander would be driven crazy by her.
Today, maybe it was because of meeting Grace.
Or maybe it was because of her sister's broken heart.
Her mood was affected again, and it wavered.
Alexander didn't ask further.
When they got back to Sterling Manor, he told Evelyn to take a bath first.
He went downstairs and asked Lily Thompson to prepare a pot of fruit tea and some snacks, then bring them to the second floor.
He needed to have a good talk with Evelyn.
After Evelyn's bath, she came out of the bathroom.
Alexander had already washed in the other bathroom.
He had been sitting on the sofa for a while.
"You're already done!" Evelyn was surprised.
"Yes!" Alexander said, getting up and walking over.
He picked Evelyn up and carried her out of the bedroom.
"What's going on?" Evelyn asked.
"It's still early. We'll go to bed later!" Alexander said, carrying her to the sofa in the second-floor living room.
"What's so special about today?" Evelyn asked with a smile, looking at the tea on the coffee table.
"Why do you ask?" Alexander said with a smile.
"I think you're a bit different today!" Evelyn answered.
"Really? You haven't been home for a few days. Does it feel strange?" Alexander said.
"How can you be so dramatic?" Evelyn said, amused.
She had only stayed at her parents' house for a few days.
He was the one who suggested it.
She wasn't worried about not being taken care of.
She didn't think it was necessary!
But Alexander was happy, so she went along with it.