Chapter 245: Return to Imperial City 2
After leaving Blair's office, Mia returned to her own office and told her secretary to pull out all the files on the Imperial City branch.
The secretary quickly brought over the materials, and Mia threw herself into preparing for the Imperial City trip.
Time flew by when she was busy.
Evening, end of the workday.
Normally, Mia might have continued working overtime, but this morning before Fox dropped her off at work, he had specifically reminded her to leave on time tonight.
She didn't want to break her word to Fox.
She tidied up the unfinished documents, grabbed her bag from the side, got up and left the office, then drove home.
......
A standalone villa, evening, with the setting sun streaming through the large floor-to-ceiling windows into the living room.
In the kitchen, a handsome and cute little boy stood on a chair.
Holding a piping bag, he had an eight-inch cake in front of him that was almost finished.
Daddy said that if he personally wrote "Happy Birthday Mommy" on Mommy's birthday cake, Mommy would be happy when she saw it.
So he had secretly practiced for a long time.
The little guy looked serious, carefully squeezing chocolate sauce onto the cake bit by bit.
As his little hand moved, the words "Happy Birthday" slowly appeared on the cake.
The little guy felt very accomplished and looked up excitedly toward the man in the living room, calling out: "Daddy, look."
His big eyes were full of anticipation.
Anticipating Daddy's praise.
"Your mommy will be home from work soon, and you're still dawdling there? Hurry up."
Uri looked up, his gaze coldly sweeping toward Fox.
His words and expression were like a bucket of cold water, chilling Fox to the bone.
He had been too happy and momentarily forgotten that when Mommy wasn't around, Daddy would never praise him.
The light in Fox's eyes quickly dimmed.
He lowered his head, his eyes quietly reddening.
Feeling down, his hand holding the piping bag shook, and chocolate sauce squeezed out, leaving a long mark.
Seeing this, the little guy's face instantly turned very ugly, his reddening eyes filled with panic.
Standing on the chair at a loss, he had ruined the birthday cake that Daddy had gotten up early to prepare for Mommy.
Everything for Mommy had to be perfect.
The cake for Mommy too!
But he had actually made the cake flawed.
Fox panicked, his small body trembling uncontrollably from panic and fear.
"Didn't you hear me?"
Uri's cold voice sounded again. Seeing him walking this way, Fox's small body tensed up more and more.
He carefully looked up and timidly apologized, "Daddy, I'm sorry."
He was useless, couldn't even do such a small thing right.
Uri walked closer, saw the mistake on the cake, and his gaze fell on Fox.
He didn't speak, but his gaze alone was too much for Fox to bear, his small body instantly trembling like a willow in the wind.
Just as the atmosphere was freezing, a car drove in and stopped at the parking spot on the lawn.
The car door opened, and Mia's figure appeared in their line of sight.
The moment she appeared, Uri's expression changed instantly, from the dead of winter to warm spring.
Before turning around, his gaze swept over Fox with a warning.
Fox immediately lowered his head and quickly wiped away the tears that had almost been scared out of him. When he looked up again, his handsome and cute little face wore an obedient and endearing smile.
This quick emotional shift showed he had been through this many times before.
Soon, Mia's slender and graceful figure appeared in their sight.
Although four years had passed, time had left no trace on Mia's face. Her features had become even more delicate and beautiful, and her every movement carried a charming grace.
"Mommy."
As soon as she appeared, Fox obediently called out to her.
"Baby, what are you doing?"
Mia walked to the open kitchen. Seeing Fox, her eyes became even gentler, full of affection, and she bent down to hug him.
"Mommy, I'm already a three-year-old adult!"
Fox avoided Mia's hug.
He didn't dare.
Even though he actually really wanted Mia to hug him.
But Uri would get angry.
Fox took the initiative to grab Mia's hand and pull her into the kitchen.
"Mommy, I'm sorry, I ruined the birthday cake Daddy prepared for you."
Once in the kitchen, Fox took the initiative to apologize to Mia.
"Fox made this himself?"
Fox being so sensible made her heart ache.
Mia took the initiative to change the subject.
"But..."
"Baby, you're so amazing."
Mia didn't let Fox finish, gently praising him.
After praising him, she lowered her head and kissed his face, "I really love this surprise."
Fox's little face instantly turned red as he looked at the gently smiling Mia.
Mia was smiling so sweetly, Uri shouldn't be angry anymore, right?
He secretly stole a glance at Uri.
He found Uri looking at Mia with a gentle expression. Fox quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
From the moment Mia appeared, Uri only had eyes for her.
Seeing her kiss Fox's face.
He suddenly leaned over, brought his face close to hers, tilted it slightly, and gently asked for a kiss with tender eyes, "What about me?"
Mia was clearly stunned.
Uri only wanted a cheek kiss.
Abroad, this was considered basic etiquette.
But—
She didn't know why, but even though he was someone very close to her, she just couldn't be intimate with him, even if it was just an ordinary cheek kiss.
However, in the current atmosphere, she didn't know how to refuse.
He had already been very accommodating to her.
Just as Mia was in a difficult position.
"Mia, you're back. Dinner is almost ready, just need a few more hot dishes."
Orla came out from another kitchen with a beaming smile.
Hearing Orla's voice, Mia was obviously relieved.
"Orla."
She quickly turned around to look at Orla, naturally avoiding Uri's request for a kiss.
Uri slowly straightened up, looked up, his gaze falling on the "timely" appearing Orla, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
The smile on Orla's face didn't change, but the blood in her body froze instantly.
She noticed Uri's gaze, but she didn't dare look up at him.
Afraid he would see through her.
She had appeared on purpose.
She knew she had no right, but she couldn't control herself.
She had watched him take the initiative to ask Mia for a kiss.
At that moment, only one thought remained in her mind.
She couldn't just watch him be intimate with another woman in front of her.
She really couldn't do it.
So she came out.
Knowing it would anger him.
Mia accidentally touched Orla's hand and immediately held it, asking with concern: "Orla, what's wrong? Your hand is so cold. Are you feeling unwell?"
Hearing Mia say Orla's hand was cold and she wasn't feeling well.
Fox's little face showed anxiety, and he immediately let go of Mia's hand, "Orla—"
He was about to grab Orla's hand to warm it for her.
Suddenly he instinctively glanced at Uri, saw his gloomy expression, and froze in place, not daring to move.
Uri didn't like him being too close to Orla.
"It's nothing, I just touched some ice while making dessert, so it's a bit cold."
Orla said this to Mia, but also to Fox.
To put his mind at ease.
Seeing Fox relax from the corner of her eye, Orla spoke again, naturally changing the subject, "When will Lily and the others arrive?"
"Speak of the devil and she appears."
Mia looked at the car driving in. The car door opened, and a little girl pushed open the door herself and jumped out.
She was wearing a beautiful princess dress and didn't wait for the adults in the car, just rushed inside on her own.
Seeing Mia from afar, she was already calling out sweetly, "Mia."
Mia took Fox's hand and went to meet her.
Orla waved to the woman getting out of the car through the floor-to-ceiling window, then turned and went into the kitchen to cook.
As soon as the door closed, thinking of Fox's appearance just now, her eyes instantly reddened.
Outside, Mia crouched down halfway to catch the child rushing into her arms.
Celestia hugged Mia's neck and enthusiastically kissed her on both cheeks, "I missed you."
"You're the only one who knows what to say."
Lily walked over carrying birthday gifts.
Looking at Celestia, she reached out and pinched her little face.
"Mommy, are you jealous? Don't worry, I still love you the most."
Celestia's sweet talk came easily.
"Still love me the most if I don't make you desserts?"
Lily looked at Celestia.
"Then it might be a little bit less."
Celestia had one arm around Mia's neck, and with the other hand used two fingers to seriously show Lily how much less.
Lily didn't want to deal with Celestia and looked at Mia, "Mia, happy birthday."
Mia smiled at Lily standing in front of her.
Three years ago, Lily had luckily avoided that plane crash.
Afterward, she took the next flight to find her.
She stayed here for half a month, and Orla noticed something was wrong with Lily. After checking, they found she was pregnant.
Lily ultimately chose to have the baby.
Lily was very talented in design. While pregnant with Celestia, she went for further training.
Now at a young age, she was already an excellent jewelry designer.
The group went inside. Lily saw Uri, "Uri."
"Mr. Smith."
Celestia saw him and called out softly, without her earlier liveliness.
Lily wanted her to be more enthusiastic, but she was unwilling.
Mia didn't force Celestia, and Uri obviously didn't care either.
Apart from his unconditional indulgence of Mia, he didn't care much about other people.
"I'll go help Orla."
Lily didn't treat herself as a guest. She was full of gratitude toward Mia.
Without her help, she wouldn't have what she had today.
Mia didn't stop her. In her eyes, Orla was half family doctor and nutritionist.
Uri paid her a high salary.
But in her eyes, Orla was also her good friend.
She and the kitchen were really incompatible, so she could only stay away.
With Lily's help, several dishes were quickly ready.
They celebrated Mia's birthday together.
For birthdays, adults just went through the motions, but the happiest were the children.
Especially Celestia.
Seeing the birthday cake, her eyes lit up.
Fox was still a bit shy, but Celestia enthusiastically sang the birthday song.
After singing, her big eyes stared at the cake, "Mia."
Mia cut her a big piece as requested.
Fox didn't particularly like sweets, except for what Orla made.
He sat at a small table facing Celestia with his portion.
As soon as Celestia sat down, she buried her head and started eating.
Soon, the big piece of cake had all gone into her stomach.
She was actually full.
But she was still craving more.
Especially since hers was finished.
Fox still had such a big piece untouched.
"Fox."
Celestia stared at the cake in front of Fox, wanting to share a little bit.
Just as she was using her clever little brain to figure out how to get him to share with her.
She saw Fox take the initiative to push all the cake in front of him over to her.
He switched her empty plate to his side.
"All for me?"
"Don't want it?"
Fox reached out to take it back.
Celestia immediately blocked with her little hand, "Want it."
After saying that, as if afraid Fox would really switch it back, she immediately lowered her head and buried herself in eating.
So delicious!
While eating, she thought: Fox is so good to her, knowing she likes to eat, he gave her all of his.
From now on, she would also share her delicious food with Fox—a little bit.
Fox glanced at Celestia, thinking: Good thing Celestia helped him eat it.
He wanted to save room in his stomach to eat the dessert Orla made for him tonight.
......
Over there, the three women sat together, eating cake and chatting.
"Lily, I'm going back to Imperial City the day after tomorrow to handle some branch office matters. I'll probably stay there for a while before coming back."
Hearing that Mia was going back to Imperial City, Orla instinctively turned her gaze toward Uri, who was sitting not far from them on the small balcony drinking tea.
She saw his action of pouring tea clearly pause.
Lily looked at Mia with some concern.
She remembered how Mia looked when she first came to Aetheria.
Could she go back to Imperial City?
Not daring to let Mia notice, "Remember to bring me back some Imperial City specialties."
"Okay."
The three chatted for a while longer. Mia still had work to catch up on.
After seeing off Lily and Celestia, she returned to her room to continue handling the afternoon's unfinished work.
Just as she opened the files, there was a knock on the bedroom door.
"Come in."
Mia in the room responded, and the bedroom door was pushed open from outside. Uri walked in.