Chapter 60 Awkward
The pasta had just started cooking when Nora received a video call from Olivia.
Nora answered, "Hey, Olivia."
Olivia's face appeared on the screen, looking a bit pale.
Concerned, Nora asked, "Olivia, are you feeling okay? You look kinda off."
Olivia shook her head gently and began to recount the events of the past few days. "You know Jasmine had her baby, right?"
"Yeah, I heard." Nora nodded, stirred the pasta in the pot, and sat down at the dining table.
At that moment, Steven emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed in casual clothes. He sat across from her, holding his phone between his long fingers.
Nora glanced up at him. He looked incredibly handsome, appearing younger in casual clothes compared to his usual suits, but still very attractive.
"Is that Steven?" Olivia asked about the video.
"Yeah." Nora angled her phone to show Steven's striking features.
Steven raised his gray eyes slightly and greeted, "Hey, Olivia."
He actually greeted Olivia!
Nora was a bit surprised.
Olivia was also quite taken aback. He had never called her by name before, always referring to her as "your sister" or not addressing her at all, making every interaction awkward.
This time, Steven's greeting was quite natural.
Nora went into the kitchen to stir the pasta, which was now cooked. She turned off the stove and brought it out.
Seeing Nora was on a video call with Olivia, Steven didn't interrupt and quietly ate his pasta with elegance.
Nora continued talking with Olivia about the past few days.
Olivia sighed, "Dad's been yelling at me non-stop."
"Why's he yelling at you?" Nora washed an apple and started eating it slowly.
"He said I didn't help at all with Jasmine's baby, just kept calling me useless." Olivia sighed deeply.
"Didn't you lend Tanner some money?"
"Yeah, I gave all the money I had to the family, but he still wasn't satisfied, probably thought it wasn't enough." Olivia's mood worsened as she talked about it. "Being broke is tough. Tanner called the other day, and I told Willie about it, hoping he could lend some money since it's for a newborn baby. Guess what he said?"
Olivia looked at Nora on the screen, her face composed after two days of sorting through her feelings. "He said he'd be happy if Jasmine couldn't deliver the baby, that she always looked down on him because of a gift he gave during a holiday years ago. He said not only wouldn't he lend money, but he'd also cheer if things went wrong."
Olivia felt a chill in her heart hearing those words.
She never expected her husband to be so petty.
Years ago, Willie hadn't made it big yet. He brought a gift to visit her parents, and Jasmine looked at him coldly. She even scanned the gift's price with her phone right in front of him, saw it was cheap, and handed it back, telling him to take it home because no one wanted it.
Willie had held onto that grudge ever since. Whenever something happened with her family, he'd bring it up, saying the Adams family looked down on him and he'd never help them.
Olivia said, "We've been giving each other the silent treatment for two days now, not talking at all."
Nora sighed softly, "Jasmine was definitely in the wrong back then."
Jasmine had a sharp tongue and a childish personality, often offending people with her words.
"Yeah, Jasmine was wrong, but Willie isn't handling this well either. He makes good money now, but won't help with even a small favor. Nora, I'm feeling really disheartened." Olivia confided everything to Nora.
In the past two months, Willie had not only treated Olivia poorly but also showed no respect to her family.
"Olivia, I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling..." Olivia suddenly frowned and cried out in pain.
"What's wrong, Olivia?" Nora's heart tightened, staring at Olivia on the screen.
Olivia winced, "The baby kicked me. I've been having frequent false contractions lately, probably because of all the stress."
Hearing this, Nora didn't dare bring up Willie's infidelity. If anything happened to Olivia, Nora would never be at peace.
Nora tried to comfort her, "Olivia, let it go. If Willie won't help, he won't help. The issue is resolved anyway. Don't be too upset; I'm mainly worried about your baby. During your pregnancy, try not to dwell on stressful things, as it could affect the baby. Ignore Dad's calls, just block him. He never says anything nice."
Steven overheard Nora comforting Olivia and raised his eyebrows. She genuinely cared for Olivia.
Olivia felt comforted by Nora's words. That's why she felt so close to Nora, who always supported and encouraged her.
Olivia smiled, "I know. This baby wasn't easy to conceive. I'll stay strong for the baby."
The sisters chatted for a while before Olivia ended the call.
Steven had finished his pasta but remained seated, watching Nora.
"Is there something else?" Nora held her phone, thinking of heading to her room.
"Olivia argued with Willie?" Steven suddenly asked.
Nora had just gotten up but sat back down upon hearing Steven's question, "Yeah, they've been giving each other the silent treatment for two days."
"Over Jasmine's baby?"
"Yeah."
Steven hadn't realized that ordinary families had so many trivial issues.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "Shouldn't you visit your sister-in-law at the hospital?"
"I can't get in," Nora replied, "With the global pandemic, hospitals don't allow visitors. Only one family member can stay, and my nephew is in the incubator, so no visits are allowed."
So that's how it was. Steven nodded.
Nora continued, "I'll visit when she gets discharged."
It's been three days already. With a C-section, she'll be discharged in a week. In a few days, Nora will visit her at home, bringing some gifts and flowers.
Money sure flows out like water lately.
Nora didn't invite Steven to join her for the visit.
Steven frowned.
He thought she'd want him to meet her family, but she didn't mention it at all.
The next morning.
Steven saw Nora sitting on the couch, reading a book, with a latte next to her. She hugged a pillow, engrossed in her book.
She was reading about investments.
Steven raised his eyebrows and couldn't help asking, "Are you interested in investing?"
"No." Nora smiled bashfully, "I just don't understand it well, so I'm reading up."
Previously, at social events, she only understood bits and pieces. Nora felt that luck wouldn't always be on her side, allowing her to stumble upon wealth secrets every time.
So she decided to learn and master some skills. Maybe next time, she'd understand better.
Saying she had no interest was a lie.
Having tasted success, she naturally wanted to profit again.
It's human nature.
After all, who doesn't like money?