Chapter 407 They Have Children, I Don't
Only Thalia would be like this. If it were any other woman, having a big shot like William by her side, she would've been desperate to hold on tight.
Girls born into wealthy families, raised in luxury, and nurtured by money don't care about these things. Thalia has everything William has, so naturally, she doesn't want to waste time flattering men.
In Layla's view, William was lucky to find Thalia. If he'd found someone else, he definitely couldn't escape being dragged around by his partner's connections. Whether they were from a wealthy family or an ordinary one, he couldn't avoid all those relatives and social obligations. But Thalia is different. With Hayden dead, she only has Grace left. As for Chase and those half-siblings, none of them are worth a single expression from her, let alone any favors.
By marrying Thalia, William saved himself so much trouble.
"That's not necessary."
Youth representative, it is then. Thalia really isn't doing as well as William.
"You really won't reconsider? The sponsor for this charity awards ceremony is the Celestia Group. If you attend as Mrs. Brown, who in Emerald City would dare disrespect you?"
"And I believe Mr. Brown would be happy about this."
William has wanted to go public for ages, but because Thalia has always wanted to keep the marriage private, he had no choice but to maintain a cooperative mindset.
"Right now in Emerald City, who dares disrespect me?"
"It's different. Your current influence is limited to elite circles. As Mrs. Brown, you could command respect throughout all of Emerald City."
"Thanks, but I'm not interested. Don't schedule anything for me tomorrow." Thalia didn't want to hear this annoying talk.
That evening, Thalia waited and waited at Mistwood Hill for William. Seeing it was almost eleven o'clock, she came out of the downstairs care room and called out to Fallon, who was about to go rest.
"Where's William?"
"Mr. Brown hasn't come back yet."
"Where did he go?" Thalia asked.
Fallon shook her head with a confused look, indicating she didn't know.
Thalia waved her hand. "Go rest."
While heading upstairs, she pulled out her phone and messaged William: [No reasonstaying out all night, fifty thousand dollar fine. Accept or reject.]
On the other end, William had just left the dinner table. His black Maybach was parked nearby. Just as he was about to get in the car, a message came through on his phone. He took a look and paused.
The man who'd been in a hurry to get home suddenly wasn't in such a rush after receiving Thalia's message.
He thought Thalia didn't care about him at all?
Since she cares, let her care a bit longer.
William: [What's the difference between accepting and rejecting?]
Thalia: [The right to enter the bedroom.]
As soon as Thalia sent that, William's transfer came through.
A hundred thousand dollars?
Really rich, huh? Should've asked for more.
William: [What do you want to eat?]
Thalia: [Barbecue.]
As soon as someone asked what she wanted to eat, Thalia figured he was probably coming back. She tossed her phone aside and went to shower.
Sure enough, just as Thalia thought, she'd just finished showering and came out in a bathrobe when car lights shone into the yard.
William came in carrying barbecue, just in time to see Thalia coming downstairs.
"Where should we eat?"
"Living room."
In the living room, Thalia turned on the TV and put on a cartoon, opening up the barbecue in front of her one by one.
She told William to get her a beer.
"Layla lets you eat like this?"
Female celebrities' body management is almost obsessive. Thalia's occasional indulgences are getting pretty frequent.
Thalia didn't care. "I'll just run 3 miles tomorrow morning."
William was speechless.
The man loosened the tie around his neck and tossed it on a nearby chair, then took off his suit jacket.
Next, he undid the cufflinks on his shirt one by one. The whole process and posture were clearly about relaxing his body, finding the most comfortable position to lean back in the chair.
Thalia ate her barbecue while watching cartoons.
William made himself a cup of coffee and sat to Thalia's right, holding the coffee in one hand while the other rested on Thalia's waist, stroking it on and off, like petting an extremely obedient cat.
The atmosphere between them was quiet and harmonious, like a loving newlywed couple.
"Have you ever been to the media room downstairs?"
"I have."
"Don't like it?"
"Not exactly," Thalia thought about it. "It's a bit far."
William paused mid-sip of his coffee, amused by Thalia's answer. "It's in the same house, how far can it be? The elevator goes straight there."
"Still far."
Thalia stuck to her opinion.
William got it now. He nodded, not wanting to ruin the harmonious atmosphere.
It was really rare to sit together with Thalia so peacefully. Turns out she only stops being confrontational when she's eating.
"Should I install a screen in the bedroom for you?"
Thalia thought about it and nodded. "Okay."
"Want some?"
William shook his head. "Business dinner, already ate. You go ahead."
Angelina always said that William only talks more when he's around Thalia. Usually, after drinking he becomes quiet and withdrawn. When he goes home, there's no one there except that shedding cat that can't talk. Plus, his entrepreneurial journey took off fast, which meant the process was inevitably full of hardships and ups and downs, creating his quiet nature.
Thalia had solved these problems he'd accumulated over the years. She deserved credit for that.
"Who did you have dinner with today?"
"Business partners."
"Can't you let the other vice presidents handle these things? Do you have to attend every business dinner?"
"It wasn't just any dinner. Besides, the vice presidents all have families. Why make it hard for them?"
Thalia took a sip of beer. "You don't have a family?"
"They have kids. I don't." As William said this, his gaze locked onto Thalia, like an abyss, a cage, wanting to trap Thalia for life.
Making it impossible for Thalia to escape.
What's he getting at? Have a kid?
The atmosphere around William suddenly dropped. The air felt oppressiveas Thalia fell silent. A crack appeared in their harmonious atmosphere, about to shatter.
William could've kept pressing, but after thinking about it, he let it go.
He took the initiative to ease the tension. "The people working for me aren't that old. The oldest kids are in middle school, the youngest just born. Those who could stay have stayed."
"Oh," Thalia responded flatly, not wanting to continue this topic with William. "I'm going to Peace Church tomorrow morning. Are you coming?"
"I don't believe in that stuff."
Thalia understood and nodded. "Then I'll..."
"But I can go with you."