Evelyn felt lighter after telling Alexander the truth.
She ate well. She slept well. She spent every spare moment with her baby.
Days passed like that, full and steady.
Watching her child grow brought her fresh joy every day.
She and Alexander remained polite.
“Respectful” was the perfect word for them now.
No harsh words. No cold stares. They treated each other kindly, but with distance.
Her mother, Amelia, visited often to see little Victoria.
One day, Amelia hinted, “You’re a mother now. Think before you act. Don’t be impulsive. A good man like that won’t wait forever.”
She meant: don’t divorce Alexander.
Evelyn just smiled. She didn’t argue. She didn’t agree.
That day, her mother grew frustrated.
“Are you even listening to me?” Amelia demanded.
“Yes, Mom,” Evelyn said softly.
“Good. Stop acting like a child. Marriage isn’t a game. You can’t throw around the word ‘divorce’ all the time.”
“I don’t throw it around,” Evelyn replied calmly.
She had only said it once. Formally.
“Alexander is a good man. If you lose him, you’ll regret it,” Amelia warned.
“Didn’t you want me to leave him before?” Evelyn asked with a small smile.
“That was before. I thought he had another woman. Of course you couldn’t stay. But now? Things are different.”
“You’re very clear about what you like and don’t like, Mom,” Evelyn said.
“Don’t joke. Tell me honestly. Why do you want to divorce him?”
“Don’t you think we’re from different worlds?” Evelyn replied, half-joking.
“Nonsense! You live on Earth. Does he live on Mars?” Amelia snapped.
“Maybe I’m the one from another planet,” Evelyn said, tilting her head.
Her ideas were so strange to everyone. She felt like an alien.
“You’re getting worse. I think you read too many books. Alexander is patient with you. Anyone else would have left long ago,” Amelia said, shaking her head.
“He really is amazing,” Evelyn agreed.
“Then what’s your problem?” Amelia shot back.
“Being amazing doesn’t mean he’s right for me,” Evelyn replied.
“You’re driving me crazy. If you don’t stop being so stubborn, don’t call me your mother.”
Evelyn looked at her mother helplessly.
It was the first time Amelia had said something so harsh.
Alexander had completely won her over. Now she chose her son-in-law over her daughter.
Evelyn rested her chin on her hand and stayed quiet.
“Tell me. What good will divorce bring you?”
“Nothing good. Just freedom,” Evelyn said. “No more worrying. No more losing myself.”
“Freedom? What does that even mean?”
“Eating well. Sleeping well. Wearing warm clothes. Buying what I want. Going where I like. That’s freedom.”
“Stop with the unrealistic ideas,” Amelia scoffed.
Evelyn smiled. Her mother wasn’t wrong.
True freedom was rare. It required money, time, and a carefree heart.
“Look at you now. You’re Alexander’s wife. The lady of the Sterling family. Servants at home. Respect everywhere you go. What more could you want?” Amelia continued.
“It’s really good,” Evelyn nodded.
“Then be grateful. If you mention divorce again, cut ties with me first.”
“I mean it,” Amelia said, chin high.
Evelyn said nothing. She just nodded at everything her mother said.
Finally, Amelia tired herself out. She thought she had convinced Evelyn.
Evelyn breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Finally, peace.
Soon, her confinement ended.
She was finally allowed outside.
Alexander offered to take her somewhere nice. She said she didn’t want to get lazy. Just a walk around the neighborhood with Charlotte would be fine.
Alexander didn’t push. He said he’d take her out another time.
After two months indoors, Evelyn felt moldy. She complained to Charlotte.
“Why do we even have this confinement tradition?”
“If you skip it, you’ll regret it when you’re old,” Charlotte said. “Two months of suffering for decades of health. Worth it.”
“True,” Evelyn laughed. “Funny hearing that from you.”
“Why? Do I usually talk nonsense?”
“No. But you always say you’re a modern woman. You hate old traditions.”
“Depends on the tradition. Good ones are wisdom. Five thousand years of experience. Like confinement.”
“Gross,” Charlotte rolled her eyes.
They both burst out laughing.
“What do you want to buy today?”
“Let’s just eat wherever we want.”
“Did Alexander starve you? First thing out of confinement, you want food,” Charlotte teased.
“You don’t know. So many things are forbidden during confinement,” Evelyn sighed.
“You’re so greedy. Come on. I’ll treat you to whatever you want,” Charlotte said boldly.
“Good. I don’t want to suffer anymore.”
They went to Elmwood Lane and ordered classic street snacks.
One dish each. They ate slowly. When full, they walked. When tired, they ate again.
It felt like eating their way through the whole world.