Chapter 282 Finally Warming Up
Chapter 282 Finally Warming Up
Leila's POV
Embarrassed at being caught staring, I turned to the window. The sight took my breath away—endless blue sky meeting the glittering ocean in the distance, the city sprawled below like a miniature model.
For the next hour, we soared through clouds, Theron occasionally pointing out landmarks and sharing interesting facts about helicopter aviation.
When we landed, everyone was buzzing with excitement from the experience. Zack had arranged lunch on the club's patio, complete with a five-star hotel chef preparing a gourmet meal on the lawn. The atmosphere was warm and lively as we shared our flying experiences and enjoyed the delicious food.
By late afternoon, we were ready to head home. I was completely exhausted, the combination of pregnancy, excitement, and the day's activities draining every ounce of my energy. Back at home, I could barely keep my eyes open as Theron helped me to the bedroom.
"If you're tired, take a nap," he said softly, pulling the covers over me. "I'll stay right beside you."
I mumbled a sleepy "Mmm..." before drifting off, secure in his presence.
---
A few days later, I woke to my phone buzzing incessantly with notifications from our family group chat. Nathan had sent a photo with a message: [This morning, the boss took Miss Grey to watch the sunrise. Their embrace in the sunlight was quite atmospheric!]
The picture showed Adam and Sophia on a hilltop, silhouetted against the dawn sky, standing incredibly close.
Jude immediately responded: [Well, well! Adam is finally showing some game!]
Brandon and I chimed in simultaneously: [Looks like we might have a new addition to the family soon!]
My parents' excitement was palpable: [Adam is finally warming up! Do we have hope for grandchildren now?]
Nathan, clearly encouraged by the positive reception, offered more details: [The boss seems genuinely interested in Miss Grey... I mean, who takes a woman to watch the sunrise at 3-4 AM unless they're interested?]
My father's response made me laugh out loud: [Good point! I never thought my son had such a romantic side!]
My mother, ever the planner, began suggesting when they should formally meet Sophia. Brandon wisely cautioned that pushing too hard might backfire.
My mother's final message contained a thinly veiled threat: [He'd better not mess this up! If he does, he'll have me to deal with...]
Later that day, I noticed Sophia had posted on Instagram. The photo showed her swollen ankle with the caption: [Silver linings! #mishaps]
I immediately texted her: [What happened? Are you hurt again?]
She replied me, complaining about Kane, the intern at her office who had accidentally knocked her down while rushing with files. I decided to check on her in person.
[I'm worried about you. I'm coming over tonight!] I texted.
Then I contacted Adam: "I'm coming over for dinner tonight. It's been ages since I had your cooking."
Adam sounded surprised but pleased. "Any specific requests? I'll have Nathan get the ingredients."
I reeled off a list of my current cravings: grilled meat, steak, salt-baked seafood, and several side dishes. By the time I finished, Adam was laughing.
When I arrived at Adam's place that evening, Sophia was already there, her foot propped up on a cushion. She watched in amazement as I demolished plate after plate of Adam's delicious cooking.
"Wow! Laylie, do you eat this much at every meal now? How are you not gaining weight everywhere except your belly?" she asked incredulously.
I grinned, feeling rather smug. "High metabolism. Jealous?"
Adam frowned as he watched me devour another piece of steak. "Doesn't Theron feed you properly at home?"
I felt a flash of guilt. The truth was, Theron had been limiting my meat intake based on my doctor's recommendations after my recent digestive issues. But the food smelled so good, and I was eating for two...
"Grilling party tonight, I see?" Theron's voice suddenly came from the doorway.
Before I could explain, Theron was beside me, smoothly removing the plate of meat from in front of me.
"Wait, wait!" I pleaded, eyeing the delicious steak. "Just a little more! Just one more bite!"
Adam looked between us with narrowed eyes. "She married you and now she's being starved?"
Theron sighed, placing the plate out of my reach. "I'm only looking out for her health. Laylie recently—"
"I'm fine now!" I interrupted. "I can eat normally! I'm a doctor, I know best!"
"No," Theron said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Be good and listen. Your digestive system just recovered. Give it two more days, and then you can eat whatever you want."
I looked at the plate longingly. "Can't I have just a tiny bit more? Just one bite..."
Adam, apparently understanding the situation now that he'd heard Theron's explanation, turned his attention to me. "You're going to be a mother. You should know better about self-discipline."
I pouted, feeling ganged up on. "It's not my fault! I'm eating for two now. The baby needs nutrients, that's why I'm always hungry..."
"Try smaller, more frequent meals instead of loading up all at once," Adam suggested. "You've had plenty of protein tonight—have some vegetables now."
Reluctantly, I turned to the salad, knowing they were right but still resenting being told what to eat.
After dinner, Theron and Adam retreated to the living room to discuss some business matters, leaving Sophia and me to entertain ourselves.
Since we didn't share their interest in financial markets, we moved to the adjacent room to watch a movie.