Chapter 792: Not Getting Any Younger

A month later, Jasper was sentenced to five years in prison. The matter involving Jasper's father implicated too many people, and although the investigation was still ongoing, imprisonment was inevitable. Gemma's condition worsened due to the successive troubles with her husband and son.

Edith did not attend the trial; Kian directly informed her of the verdict.

In the office, Edith finished signing a few documents when the phone on her desk rang.

It was the receptionist. "Ms. Astor, Mr. Blackwood is here."

"Let him in." Edith thought for a moment and added, "From now on, just let him in directly when he comes."

"Okay," the receptionist nodded.

A few minutes later, Colin stepped out of the elevator, carrying two lunch boxes.

"Mr. Blackwood is here to bring lunch to Ms. Astor again," an employee greeted Colin.

Edith's assistant, Veda, smiled, "Mr. Blackwood is so good to Ms. Astor."

Colin's handsome face wore a gentle smile as he nodded to everyone.

"Is she in?"

"Yes, Ms. Astor has been in the office all day."

"Great, thank you."

Colin walked straight to Edith's office door and pushed it open.

Edith was sitting at her desk, smiling brightly at him.

After closing the door, Colin walked familiarly to the side table and set down the lunch boxes.

"What are we having today?" Edith got up and walked over, looking expectant.

Colin listed a few dishes, all of which were delicious.

Edith sat on the sofa, and Colin set the table for her. Then he sat beside her, and they ate together.

Since she returned to work a week after being discharged from the hospital, Colin had been bringing her lunch every day and eating with her in the office.

After Colin's second visit, everyone in the company knew him.

Colin said, "Set aside a day for me this weekend."

Edith instinctively asked, "For what?"

Colin replied, "To take you home."

Edith was drinking soup and was so startled by his words that she spat it out.

Colin frowned and quickly grabbed a napkin to help her wipe.

The spray wasn't too wide, mostly landing on Edith herself.

The white professional outfit was stained with oil spots that couldn't be cleaned with a napkin.

"Forget it, I'll wash it properly tonight."

Since she wasn't going out in the afternoon, Edith looked up and asked him, "What did you just say?"

'Did I hear wrong? Did Colin say he wanted to take me home?' Edith thought in mind.

Colin gently wiped the oil from the corner of her mouth and then said slowly, "My parents have been urging me. If I don't take you home, I might not be able to avoid going on blind dates."

Edith's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare!"

Colin chuckled softly and held her hand. "Edith, we're not young anymore. Since I've chosen you, I want to marry you as soon as possible."

Edith was stunned, looking at Colin with a complex expression.

She wasn't afraid of marriage because of being deceived by Jasper; it was just that things were developing a bit too quickly.

A month ago, when she saw Jasper's knife aimed at Colin, she instinctively protected him.

After waking up in the hospital, Colin had stayed by her side for a whole day and night.

She still remembered the panic in his bloodshot eyes as he tightly held her hand.

"Edith, why did you take that knife for me?" Colin asked.

He had seen the surveillance footage; Jasper's target was him.

Still groggy from the anesthesia, she had replied, "I don't know, it was a conditioned reflex."

Colin had hugged her tightly, emotionally. "Edith, don't ever leave me again."

She had nodded almost involuntarily.

After that, Colin had taken care of her in the hospital, and to avoid worrying Una, she had lied about being on a business trip and had Veda help cover for her.

Colin's care was meticulous, and their relationship quickly returned to what it had been, as if they had never been apart.

Seeing Edith not respond for a long time, Colin thought she had some concerns or shadows in her heart. "You don't need to feel burdened."

Edith shook her head vigorously. "I don't feel burdened. I'll make time; you can arrange it."

Colin smiled broadly and hugged her. "Edith, if anything happens, you must tell me."

A flash of pain crossed Edith's eyes, followed by relief. "Okay."

After a while, Edith poked Colin's chest a few times.

Colin looked down at her.

Edith said, "I have a request."

"What request?"

"Let's wait a year after getting married before having kids."

Colin's grip on her tightened, and his glasses slid down his high nose a bit.

"Okay."

His agreement made Edith feel relieved. She explained, "The Astor Group is in a rapid development phase right now. If I get pregnant, I might not be able to manage the company well. After a year, when everything is stable, I can delegate some responsibilities."

"You don't have to have kids if you don't want to."

Children weren't a necessity; being together was enough.

"I want a child. While I still can, I want one." Edith looked up at him, her eyes shining.

If they hadn't been apart for so many years, she might have already married him, and their child would be in elementary school by now.

She loved children, especially the idea of having one with him.

It had been her wish when they were together.

"Okay, if you want a child, we'll have one." Colin agreed.

"Let's have both sets of parents meet this weekend," Edith suggested.

Since they had decided, they might as well be efficient.

Colin was surprised. "You used to be such a procrastinator."

"If I were still a procrastinator, the Astor Group would be finished."

Edith reached out and touched his chin, which was also very attractive.

They hadn't even finished eating, and they were already so sweet together.

On Friday, at the Blackwood Manor, Sophia was urgently called back by Celeste, thinking something had happened to the Blackwood Family.

When Sophia arrived, she saw everyone in the Blackwood family smiling.

"Grandma, Aunt." Sophia walked in, puzzled.

"Sophia, come help me see how this outfit looks," Jennifer said, wearing a beautiful dress.

Jennifer had maintained her figure well for her age and looked very elegant.

"It's beautiful, Aunt. Are you going to a party?" Sophia asked.

Jennifer replied, "Colin is bringing his girlfriend home tomorrow."

Jennifer's laughter was evident in her voice.

Celeste also chuckled. "Yes, Colin is finally bringing his girlfriend home."

"Grandma, did you urgently call me back just to help you and Aunt pick out nice outfits?"

"That's not the main point. The main point is for you to help us choose something nice to wear."

Sophia's eyes crinkled with laughter.

It seemed Colin and Edith had reconciled.

"Aunt, this outfit won't do, but you can wear it at Colin's engagement party."

Jennifer wished tomorrow would be his engagement party.

Although she hadn't met Colin's future wife yet, she trusted Colin's judgment. She wouldn't be disappointed.