Iris Hart felt embarrassed for Evie.
“You two did well in front of me, trying to put my mind at ease. But I’m just a passerby! Why can’t you see that?”
“Iris, please don’t be upset. I’m just embarrassed with Gray.” Evie didn’t know how to explain.
“Evie, you have your worries. I understand. Men fear choosing the wrong path, women fear marrying the wrong man. That saying holds true. I was with the wrong person back then, and that’s why I ended up like this.” Iris sighed.
“Iris, don’t say that!” Evie wanted to comfort her but didn’t know how.
“You’re a good child! I didn’t really like you much before. I thought you were too young, and it wasn’t suitable for you to be with Gray. Don’t look at how successful Gray is now. He’s suffered a lot. Deep down, I still hoped he’d find someone older, someone who knows how to take care of him and stay with him. That way, Gray would have an easier life. But now I see I was wrong. Being young doesn’t mean you can’t love someone. You’ve done a great job. Gray has been very happy since he’s been with you. It’s just that Gray, being so affectionate, has a problem. Sometimes he can’t let go. So sometimes he can’t move on from past people and things. That’s really unfair to you. But Evie, can we give Gray some time to deal with these things? Gray is smart. He’ll know what to do!” Iris looked at Evie and continued.
Evie lowered her head and said nothing.
“It’s hard on you. Gray has completely let you down.”
“Iris, don’t worry about me and Gray. We’ll handle it.” After a moment, Evie looked up at Iris and said.
“Talk it through. Don’t rush into a divorce!”
“I understand!” Evie nodded.
Later, after eating, Evie wanted to take Iris to the mall and buy her some clothes. But when they got to the mall, Iris bought several gifts for the baby and nothing for herself.
“Evie, the things here aren’t suitable for me. Besides, I can make my own clothes. Don’t waste your money.” Iris advised Evie not to buy clothes for her.
“Iris, then buy something else. A scarf, a hat, or a jade bracelet. Jade bracelets are very popular now!” Evie insisted.
“Evie, I know you mean well, but don’t buy blindly. I’m always working in the fields. It’s not convenient to wear jewelry. Let’s go back. The baby must miss her mother now!”
“Iris—”
“Let’s go back! I miss the baby too!” Iris said, pulling Evie along.
In the end, Evie couldn’t persuade Iris and had to go back with her.
When they entered the house, they didn’t hear the baby crying. Evie went inside and saw the nanny soothing the baby. She asked, “Is the baby hungry?”
“She’s a little gassy. I’ve put some ointment on her. She’ll feel better soon.” The nanny explained.
“Oh!” Evie responded, feeling relieved.
After handing her bag and the purchased items to Lily, Evie told Iris to rest and wash her hands first.
Evie came out after washing her hands and saw Iris holding the baby. The baby’s crying had subsided. Iris hummed a little song while holding the baby.
Evie watched Iris hold her baby. She thought about how Iris had lost her own child back then. She felt that Iris’s life had been hard. People without children wouldn’t understand. A child is a piece of a mother’s heart. Losing a child is like hollowing out a mother’s heart. So it was understandable that Iris cared so much for Gray. She truly loved her children and had transferred that love to Gray, whom she had taken care of back then.
“Iris, please rest! Let the nanny take the baby!” Evie came over and said.
“It’s okay. Let me hold her a little longer!” Iris was reluctant to let go.
Evie didn’t say anything more. She looked down at the baby. The baby was staring at Iris curiously, as if she had forgotten the pain of gas.
“This child will be smart. She can already recognize people.” Iris said with a smile.
“Really?” Evie laughed and agreed.
“Look, as soon as you came over, she turned to look at you. She knows you’re her mother!” Iris continued, then handed the baby to Evie. “She misses her mother. Hold her more so she’ll be close to you later!”
“Thank you, Iris!” Evie held the baby and replied.
Iris went into the house. When she came out, she had changed into a new outfit. It was clear she had taken a bath and changed clothes.
At that moment, the baby fell asleep. Evie asked the nanny to take the baby to sleep. She had already told Lily to cook some seafood porridge for Iris, worried that the food here didn’t suit her taste.
“Iris, I asked Lily to cook some seafood porridge. Eat it while it’s hot. I don’t think you ate much at noon!”
“You’re not hungry? Go eat some first!” Iris replied.
“Let’s eat together. I’m not hungry either. I’ll have some too!”
Iris couldn’t refuse, so she went into the dining room. Lily brought out the seafood porridge and shared a bowl with them.
“Evie, don’t eat too many crabs. Crabs are cold. Just eat a little. I steamed them with wine to remove the coldness. It’s fine to eat some.” Iris explained.
“Thank you, Iris. It’s okay. Some places even eat seafood during confinement!” Evie comforted Iris.
“Customs really differ from place to place!”
“Yes, and I won’t eat much. Iris, you can rest assured!” Evie replied with a smile.
Iris nodded and said nothing more.
Gray left work early in the evening and went back to Sterling Manor for dinner. The dinner was prepared by Iris. Lily had nothing to do instead. Iris said she rarely came here, so she wanted to cook more meals. When Gray was a child, he loved the food she cooked. Now that he was grown up and not around, he had fewer chances to eat it.
Evie let Lily rest, and she became Iris’s assistant. She knew that Iris really wanted to do a lot for Gray, but she wasn’t strong enough. Most of the time, the elderly didn’t ask for much. It was satisfying enough to cook some delicious food for the children and watch them happily eat.
As Iris cooked, she chatted with Evie. Talking about Gray’s past, her face was full of laughter. Clearly, Gray had always been Iris’s pride! Iris remembered Gray clearly, even the smallest things.