Evie held the phone but still hesitated to dial. Her mother kept urging her.
"Don't wait until after work. Go get it now!"
Evie had no choice. She called her sister, Victoria.
"Vic, are you free right now? Can you come to my place? Mom and I need to see you," Evie said reluctantly.
"Evie, what's going on?" Victoria asked, surprised on the other end.
"Nothing serious. Just drive safe, okay?" Evie explained.
"I don't know what this is about," Victoria muttered.
After Evie hung up, she put the phone down and walked over to sit with her mother.
"Mom, it's not as bad as you think. If you and Dad get involved, Alexander and I won't be able to handle it," Evie said softly.
"What's there to handle? Just tell Alexander to break up with that woman!" Amelia snapped.
"Mom, Alexander has nothing going on with Grace. There's nothing to break up!" Evie replied, embarrassed.
"I didn't do anything wrong to you. What did you mean by what you said to that girl earlier?" Amelia stared at her daughter suspiciously.
"Because Grace is leaving. Her family immigrated years ago. That night, a few friends had dinner together. It just so happened that Vic and I were eating at that same restaurant, so we ran into them.
Grace was afraid I'd misunderstand, so she called to explain. I was a little jealous. My tone wasn't great when I talked to her."
"That's it?" Amelia asked hesitantly.
"If you don't believe me, ask Vic!
Anyway, it's not what you think. Alexander never had a relationship with Grace. They broke up years ago.
I just... I minded a little.
If I go back with you now, it won't help anything. It'll only make things more complicated. It won't solve a thing!"
"How did I raise such a foolish daughter!" Amelia said, looking at her with a mix of anger and pity.
"Mom, I'm not foolish. I just overthink sometimes."
"No, I won't let some mistress bully you!"
"Mom, there's no mistress. Alexander hasn't done anything wrong to me!
Mom, you've worried about me since I was little. I know I've caused you a lot of worry. You always think I'm small and stupid.
But I've grown up now. I'm married. I'm about to become a mother myself. I'm not that fragile anymore. I know how to handle this.
To be honest, I don't want to live my whole life confused. But I also don't want to ruin my relationship with Alexander on impulse.
Mom, I know you're angry. You feel like I've been bullied. You can't stand it.
At the end of the day, you're doing this for my own good.
But it's not what you think. Alexander hasn't done anything wrong to me. He just wants to live a good life with me.
Mom, just pretend nothing happened. Let me handle this myself, okay?" Evie pleaded.
"What are you struggling with? What's wrong with them?"
"I know. I'm just jealous."
"I really can't with you. You're pregnant and too idle. You think about food all day long!"
"Maybe!" Evie nodded and smiled.
Amelia finally let out a frustrated laugh.
"Just now, I got so worked up that I didn't even let you explain. You're fine, right?"
"I'm fine! Mom, you don't have to worry about me."
"I'm only doing this for you!" Amelia sighed and continued, "Evie, do you feel insecure? Do you not trust Alexander because our family pushed you into this marriage for the money?"
Evie looked at her mother, stunned, before finally speaking.
"Mom, it's okay. It'll get better slowly."
"Evie, back then, your father and I were a mess. We didn't think things through. We just wanted to take care of the family. Your father and I thought you'd have a good life if you married him, and it would help us through our troubles. So we agreed. You should blame us."
"Mom, don't think like that. Alexander is really good to me. And my mother-in-law is wonderful. Honestly, I'm very lucky!" Evie comforted her mother instead.
"All along, I've interfered in your and your sister's marriages. But in the end, it seems I haven't done anything right," Amelia sighed.
"Mom, don't say that. Vic and I both know you're doing this for our good! But we're adults now. Mom, you need to give us some space and trust!" Evie hugged her mother's shoulder and smiled.
"If you and your sister can live well, I won't worry."
"Don't worry. We'll take care of ourselves! I'll call Vic and tell her she doesn't have to come," Evie asked carefully.
"Why don't I just go back?" Amelia said.
"Mom, just let the driver take you back. That way you don't have to run back and forth!" Evie continued to persuade.
"Forget it. Forget it. Do whatever you want!" Amelia waved her hand.
Evie picked up the phone and called her sister, telling her she didn't need to come pick them up.
"Evie, you're messing with me. I already left the office!" Victoria growled on the other end.
"Sorry, Vic. I'll treat you to a meal another day, okay?" Evie appeased.
"If you think you have time to invite me, then I'll have time for you to invite me!"
"Then I'll wait until you're free! Don't be mad, Vic. Getting angry makes you old!"
"Old my head. What happened just now?"
"Nothing, Vic. Don't worry. If you want dessert, I'll order some and send it to you!"
"No need to be nice. No need to cheat or steal! Okay, if you're fine, I'm going back to work!"
"Mom, I've already talked to Vic. The driver will take you back later."
"I don't need your driver. I have my own driver," Amelia said, then started looking for her phone.
"Mom, are you still angry?" Evie asked.
"What's there to be angry about? Getting angry makes you old!" Amelia echoed Evie's words.
Evie laughed immediately. She grabbed her mother's hand, stopping her from looking for her phone, and changed the subject.
"Mom, what did you talk about with my mother-in-law just now?"
"I just wanted to know how you've been lately. Whether you've caused any trouble for the family," Amelia replied without expression.
"What did my mother-in-law say?"
"The children our family raised are, of course, top-notch. Your mother-in-law is very satisfied with her daughter-in-law," Amelia replied proudly.
"Mom, what were you worried about?" Evie asked with a smile.
"It's not like you misled her just now!" Amelia gave her a dirty look and asked, "Does Alexander really have nothing to do with that girl?"