A cough from her mother.
Evelyn startled and awkwardly pulled away from Alexander. Her face flushed. She looked at him like she wanted to swallow him whole.
Alexander acted as if nothing happened. A smile even lingered on his face. He turned to greet his mother-in-law naturally.
"It's late. Go to bed. The night nurse will take the baby." Amelia said.
"No, I'll take him!" Evelyn answered quickly.
If Alexander stayed, and the baby was with the nanny, things would be even more awkward between them.
"Yes, Mom. I'll take care of Evelyn!" Alexander put his arm around Evelyn's shoulder and echoed.
Evelyn wanted to say, go back to your own home!
The hateful thing was that her mother was right there. She couldn't even say a harsh word.
In the end, Alexander had to go upstairs.
After entering the bedroom, Evelyn said directly,
"Tonight, I sleep on one side with the baby. You sleep on the other side!"
"Okay!" Alexander agreed readily.
Evelyn was a little surprised he was so easy to talk to.
But since he promised, she couldn't say anything more.
So the baby lay on the bed. Evelyn took her pajamas into the bathroom to change. She specifically chose a long-sleeved, long-pants set.
Alexander went into the bathroom to shower after Evelyn lay down.
After Alexander showered, Evelyn wasn't asleep. In fact, she was still on guard. She couldn't sleep at all.
After she felt Alexander lie down at the other end of the bed, Evelyn turned off the light and tried to sleep peacefully.
She woke up the next day, only to find Alexander lying right next to her. He was clinging to her like an octopus.
"Alexander, Alexander, get up!" Evelyn pushed him.
"Wife, I'm so sleepy. Can I sleep a little longer?" Alexander finished speaking and nuzzled into Evelyn's neck. He held her even tighter.
Evelyn was too angry to speak.
She didn't give Alexander a good look all morning.
That night, Alexander didn't come home. He was on a business trip.
Evelyn felt relieved.
Alexander called her every night to ask about the baby and chat with her.
Evelyn would respond. Sometimes she asked him what the weather was like there. Was everything going well?
One day, Alexander said pitifully on the phone that it was cold where he was. And he didn't have her to hold.
Evelyn was speechless. Did she look like a heater?
"Isn't it easy for you to want that?" Evelyn teased.
"Is it easy? Will you come and keep me company on my business trip?" Alexander deliberately misinterpreted her words and asked with a smile.
"No time!" Evelyn answered directly.
"I really don't have time. I still have a son to take care of. I knew I shouldn't have had a child so early.
We could have continued living a sweet life for two." Alexander sighed and replied.
"Yes, if we didn't have a child so early, maybe things would be easier." Evelyn echoed.
If there were no child now, it would be just her and Alexander. Then things would become simple.
They wouldn't have to worry so much. Their divorce would be relatively clean and free.
Alexander understood Evelyn's meaning.
"Evelyn, if we didn't have a baby now, maybe you would leave without looking back."
Alexander gave a bitter smile.
Evelyn didn't respond to his words. In fact, she didn't want to go back now either.
"Evelyn, if I could turn back time, maybe I would let you go. Let you continue studying and live the life you want happily.
No family. No baby. No me.
It's a pity time can't go back. It's a pity I can't live without you!" Alexander said slowly on the other end of the phone.
Evelyn pursed her lips and couldn't speak.
"I know you feel wronged now. I failed you!
Most of the time, people only realize how precious what they once had is when they lose it.
When we got married, I never thought about divorce.
So I never thought that one day you would leave me." Alexander continued.
"Alexander, it's not as bad as you think. Maybe you just can't accept the divorce itself.
After a while, you won't feel anything.
Besides, after our divorce, we can have our own lives. We can start all over again. We won't be tied to each other anymore." Evelyn responded.
"But I don't want to start all over again. I just want you!" Alexander shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Alexander. I tried!" Evelyn answered quietly.
"I know it's my fault!" Alexander responded.
"There's no way for a marriage to continue. There's a reason for both of us. You're not the only one to blame.
Like you said, we can't be husband and wife. But we can still be friends.
It might not be as serious as we think." Evelyn comforted him.
"Okay. Take your time."
Like friends, the two chatted peacefully for over half an hour.
Later, Evelyn heard Alexander cough on the other end of the phone.
"Do you have a cold?" Evelyn asked.
"No. I just choked on some water."
"If not, take care of yourself!"
"Okay. Take care of yourself too. And our son will trouble you!"
"No. That's what I should do!" Evelyn answered.
After chatting with Alexander, Evelyn got up and went to the bedside. She put her phone on the nightstand and went into the bathroom to wash up.
That night, Evelyn tossed and turned. She couldn't sleep.
It was like she was infected by Alexander. Without him, she started to lose sleep.
Dependence and habit are not good things!
She finally fell asleep just before dawn. But soon after, the baby woke up and started crying.
Evelyn had to get up to check the baby's diaper. After confirming it wasn't a diaper problem, she looked at the time. It was almost time to feed the baby. The baby must be hungry.
After preparing the formula, Evelyn held the baby and hummed a lullaby while feeding him.
The baby wasn't willing to drink his milk obediently. He kept grabbing the pacifier. Then he showed Evelyn a smiling face.
Evelyn couldn't help laughing. She thought the baby woke up and just wanted her to play with him!
Evelyn was very sleepy, but she played with her baby for a while. After feeding him, she went downstairs to take care of him.
She went back to the bedroom and didn't feel like it. After she lay down, she didn't get up until nearly noon. But she still didn't have much energy. She looked very tired.
"What's wrong? Did you go out thieving last night?" Amelia looked at her daughter and asked.
"I lost sleep. I only fell asleep at dawn. Then the baby woke up again. I had to play with him!" Evelyn rubbed her forehead and answered.
"Now you know it's not easy to take care of a child!" Amelia joked.
"Mom, it wasn't easy for you to take care of me and my sister before!" Evelyn responded with a smile.
"That's right. Hmph, you know how to change the subject and flatter me at the same time!" Amelia glanced at Evelyn and teased her.