"Sweetheart, I'm joking. If you actually kick me, I can't promise you'll be happy later!" Alexander Sterling hugged Evelyn and said with a grin.
"..." Evelyn didn't want to deal with Alexander anymore.
She used to think he had a split personality. At the office, he was so cold that everyone thought he was furious with the world.
When he got home, he often turned into a playful puppy.
Now she realized he didn't just have two sides. He had countless sides, including being weird, shameless, and completely inappropriate!
At breakfast, Iris Hart saw Alexander's face full of joy and a big smile. But Evelyn beside him looked cold. The way she looked at Alexander was full of disgust.
It seemed the problem between the couple was really serious.
Iris decided she had to find a way to help them fix things. She couldn't let the situation get worse.
After all, Alexander and Evelyn were married now. They had children together. Their relationship had always been good. She couldn't let such a happy marriage fall apart over a small misunderstanding.
Iris decided to find a chance to talk with Evelyn.
That day, Iris was in the kitchen cooking a tonic soup for Evelyn.
Lily Thompson was cleaning the living room.
Iris asked Lily, "Lily, does Evelyn sleep in this late every day?"
"Madam hasn't been sleeping well lately, so she's been getting up a bit late. Mr. Sterling told me not to wake her for breakfast. He said to let her sleep until she wakes up naturally," Lily answered.
Iris nodded.
"Iris, don't worry. When Madam gets up later, she'll come down for breakfast," Lily added.
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating so late is bad for your health!" Iris muttered.
"Iris, sleep is more important for Madam right now! You don't know, she couldn't sleep a while ago. She lost a lot of weight. Mr. Sterling was so worried she couldn't eat that he called a doctor to see her.
Then he asked me to cook more nourishing soups for her.
It's not easy. Madam is finally sleeping better now," Lily continued.
"I see!"
"Yes, so don't worry, Iris."
Iris nodded and said nothing more.
Soon, Evelyn got up.
She washed up and came downstairs for breakfast.
When she saw Iris, she greeted her and asked if she had eaten yet.
Iris said she had eaten early in the morning, but Evelyn hadn't.
Evelyn felt embarrassed to say she had been sleeping late.
Yesterday morning, she barely managed to get up and have breakfast with Alexander. Today, she overslept without meaning to.
"It's fine. Lily said you haven't been sleeping well. It's hard for you to fall asleep. You should sleep more," Iris said. Then she started helping Evelyn with breakfast.
"Iris, I can do it myself!" Evelyn felt a little awkward.
"It's okay, let me do it!" Iris said with a smile.
Evelyn had to sit at the table.
"Evelyn, do you have any plans today?"
"Just taking care of the kids at home. Nothing else. What's up, Iris?" Evelyn looked at Iris and asked.
"I was thinking, if you don't have anything special, maybe you could go out with me later. I haven't been here in years. I don't know what it's like now!"
"Sure!" Evelyn replied with a smile. "I was planning to take you out for a walk when Alexander was free on the weekend. But we can go out later!"
After that, Evelyn finished breakfast, went to see the baby, explained things to Lily, and went out with Iris.
Evelyn specially asked the driver to drive slowly. She introduced the city's buildings and scenic spots to Iris along the way.
"It's changed so much. I can barely recognize it. It used to be all small houses!" Iris said with emotion.
"Yes, it's changed a lot over the years. It's very different from when I was a child," Evelyn replied with a smile.
Later, Iris said they should find a quiet place to sit down and have a drink.
Evelyn took Iris to a nice tea house.
After ordering, Evelyn said, "Iris, I don't know your taste. If you don't like what I ordered, we can change it later."
"It's fine. I like what you ordered!" Iris said gently.
Evelyn smiled. She thought the Iris who came this time was different from the Iris she met when she went to Misty Isle.
The Iris on Misty Isle was a bit strict. She wasn't very satisfied with Evelyn.
But the Iris who came this time was easy to get along with.
Just like Alexander said, Iris was actually someone who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
If you spent time with her, you would know she was good.
"Evelyn, you're still young!" Iris asked.
"Twenty-two. Almost twenty-three," Evelyn answered honestly.
"That's really young. When I was about your age, I had just gone to the Sterling family to take care of Alexander!" Iris said with emotion.
"Alexander told me that if it weren't for you back then, he might not be who he is now."
"Alexander is exaggerating!
This is his life. Even without me, there would be someone else to help him.
It's not so much that I helped Alexander. It's more that he brought me a lot of comfort and happiness.
At that time, I had lost my own child. I thought about my child all day. I was going crazy.
Without Alexander, I would have become a mad woman.
Later, the old lady agreed to let me take Alexander to live on Misty Isle.
Alexander was like my own child. As he grew up day by day and became healthier, I gradually forgot the pain of the past.
Even though Alexander now has a family and a business, he's no longer that child from back then.
But I still worry about whether he takes care of himself. Whether he has enough to eat and wear. Whether he's been bullied by others."
"Iris, I understand how you feel. Because I'm a mother now. I feel the same way," Evelyn replied.
"Yes, you can only understand it when you become a mother.
Evelyn, I came this time to see the baby. But also to see you and Alexander.
Seeing that you're together and happy. That the couple has a good relationship.
I think this trip wasn't in vain!" Iris continued.
Evelyn felt embarrassed when she heard Iris's words.
It was even harder to tell Iris that she and Alexander were getting a divorce!
"Evelyn, Iris is speaking from experience.
If there's no conflict between a husband and wife, and they live peacefully, they are husband and wife.
Teeth can fight with the tongue. Let alone two people.
If there's a problem, we solve it.
When there's a conflict, we resolve it.
Don't think about running away when things happen.
That habit is not good!" Iris looked at Evelyn and said softly.