"It's different!" Evelyn glanced at Alexander and said. Then she got into the car without another word.
Alexander sighed. It seemed his position in the family was about to drop.
Right now, his feelings were a mess.
He truly loved kids. But he hated that Evelyn put all her attention on them.
She was his wife!
He wanted to be the only one in her heart.
Evelyn thought Alexander was getting more clingy and childish by the day. Sometimes she just didn't want to argue with him.
Now that she was pregnant with their second child, half her energy went to their son. The other half went to the baby growing inside her.
As for Alexander, he often got pushed aside.
Sometimes, before she fell asleep, he would complain to her. Evelyn would just smile and say,
"If I don't bother you, aren't you freer? How many men would envy that?"
"Who cares who envies it? I'd rather you pay more attention to me. Otherwise, I'll end up ownerless soon!"
"Better to be ownerless. Free and unrestrained!"
"Do you think a pet dog lives better, or a stray dog?" Alexander asked.
"Huh?" Evelyn didn't follow.
"If you don't pay me more attention, I won't eat well or dress warmly. One day I'll be malnourished, my immune system will crash. I'll be just like a stray dog!"
Evelyn laughed and shot back,
"You're not a dog!"
"If you don't care about me more, my life will be worse than a dog's!"
Evelyn shook with laughter.
She never expected Alexander to compare himself to a dog.
She'd only heard of single dogs. She'd never heard that a man without a wife was a stray dog. Today, she'd learned something new.
After Alexander's protest, Evelyn did put a bit more thought into him.
Truth was, she'd never really neglected him. She just did things for him quietly, keeping his life comfortable.
It was just that they had less time alone together.
And Alexander felt his quality of life had dropped sharply since their son was born and she got pregnant again. His sense of balance was completely thrown off.
Evelyn used to take walks in the evening. Now she took them in the afternoon, and Alexander always came along.
On one hand, he needed the exercise. On the other, they could chat while walking, so he wouldn't feel completely ignored.
Alexander told her he had a business trip for over a week. He asked if she wanted to come.
"You're on a business trip. Why would I come?" Evelyn asked with a smile.
"It's boring for you at home alone. Come out with me."
"No. My belly is too big now. It's not convenient to travel!" Evelyn refused outright.
"Are you really okay with me going alone?" Alexander asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Evelyn smiled.
"I'm going to Seattle on business!" Alexander looked at her meaningfully.
"Oh," Evelyn replied after a long pause.
"Come with me!" Alexander grinned immediately.
"No interest!" Evelyn shook her head again.
Now she understood. This business trip, he kept pushing her to come along.
Because Grace was in Seattle too.
"Do you really trust me that much?" Alexander asked, dejected.
"Alexander, if you really wanted to do something, it wouldn't matter if I watched you 24/7. If you have me in your heart, you don't need me to watch you. You know what to do and what not to do."
"I'd rather you watch me 24/7!" Alexander muttered.
Evelyn shook her head, half laughing, half crying.
"Before, when I didn't trust you, you always said I didn't trust you. Now I give you freedom, and you think I don't care. Why are you so hard to please?"
"You don't have to please me. I'll please you!" Alexander immediately flattered her.
"I don't need you to please me!" Evelyn said with a smile.
"I need it once in a while. It makes me feel important!" Alexander coaxed.
Evelyn's smile grew brighter.
"Once in a while" had become Alexander's catchphrase.
Now he was sometimes so childish, it was hard to handle.
He acted like a baby who hadn't been weaned!
The night before Alexander's business trip, he asked Evelyn again,
"Are you sure you won't come with me?"
"No. It's not convenient for me to travel so far with the baby. Besides, you're going on business, not for fun. If I follow you, I'll just be in the way."
"I'll make time to take you sightseeing!"
"It's better to wait until the kids are older. We'll take them on a trip together!"
Alexander didn't push her anymore.
The next morning, Evelyn helped him tie his tie.
While she was tying the Windsor knot, she said,
"Alexander, I believe you don't have any other thoughts now. Just because I'm not going with you doesn't mean I don't care about you. I just don't think it's necessary. Besides, I'm pregnant now, and it's not very convenient to go out. I'd better stay home and take care of the kids. I'll wait for you to come back."
"Okay!" Alexander replied, bending down to kiss her.
On one hand, he wanted to take her out for a change of scenery. On the other, he was really afraid of being bitten by the same snake twice.
In Seattle, because of his work, he might not be able to avoid meeting Grace. Even though he was sure he wouldn't have any other thoughts, he was still worried about unnecessary misunderstandings.
As for the trip, if Evelyn had been willing to come, he would have made sure she was comfortable and safe. But she didn't want to go, and he didn't want to force her.
After all, she was pregnant now, and her body was more delicate. Even though he could control things as much as possible, he wanted to be safe.
"I'll be back as soon as I can!" Alexander promised.
"Take your time. Don't worry about home. I'll handle everything!" Evelyn said with a smile.
"I know. You always do well. I'll miss you, so I'll want to come back early. Well, before I even leave, I already want to come back." Alexander sighed.
"Like a child!" Evelyn laughed. "Work is more important!"
"No matter how important it is, it's not as important as you."
"But you have to work. Otherwise, how will you provide a good life for me and the kids?"
"Alright. I'm responsible. Wish me luck!"
"Good luck!" Evelyn smiled and agreed.
Alexander went to the company first. He would leave for the airport in the afternoon.
Evelyn would have to wait until he came back from his business trip to see him again.
Even though she always said work was more important and that he should focus on business, honestly, every time he went on a business trip, she worried.
On one hand, she worried he wouldn't sleep well because he was used to his own bed. On the other hand, she worried he would forget to eat when he was busy and wouldn't take care of himself.
Evelyn felt like she worried about Alexander like an old lady sometimes. But she couldn't help it.