Chapter 6 The Warmth of Family
Back then, when he had stomach problems, she went to his office three times a day to bring him meals, rain or shine, and kept it up for three years!
But when she nearly got hit by a car, he didn't show the slightest bit of concern!
Yet now he couldn't bear to see Grace suffer even a little.
This was the difference between love and indifference!
Alex let out a cold laugh, his indifferent gaze falling on her suitcase. "I'd advise you to quit while you're ahead. We have nothing to do with each other anymore, and there's no need to let others know!"
"Don't try to get close to Grace. If anything happens to her pregnancy, you can't afford the consequences."
"Don't worry," Emily's voice was soft. "I'll leave when the time comes, and I won't make a fool of myself."
"Before that, you'd better handle things with Grandma first, so the divorce doesn't get delayed."
She wanted to leave this place more than anyone.
With that, she walked straight into the villa with her suitcase.
From start to finish, she didn't even bother to glance at either of them.
Alex watched her retreating figure, his dark eyes narrowing, feeling even more irritated.
So indifferent?
And she seemed eager to get divorced.
When did Emily change?
Before, when she looked at him, there was always light in her eyes.
She would carefully try to please him, would be happy all day over a single word from him.
But now, when she looked at him, there was no warmth at all, like he was a stranger.
Just as his thoughts deepened, Grace came over, her voice so gentle it could melt. "Alex, is Emily upset? Maybe I should go back to the hospital."
A cold aura emanated from Alex. He suppressed his irritation and softened his tone a bit. "She's just someone unimportant. Don't worry about her."
"Your room is ready. Come on, I'll take you to rest."
Seeing this, Grace smiled even more sweetly. "Alex, you're so good to me."
Emily, who had just entered the villa, caught every word of Alex's "just someone unimportant." Her face went pale, tears sliding uncontrollably down her cheeks, her whole body swaying.
After years of marriage, to him she was just someone unimportant.
Emily felt truly pathetic!
Worried that negative emotions would affect the baby in her belly, Emily took a deep breath, forcing herself not to be sad.
As soon as she went upstairs, she locked her bedroom door, not wanting to go out and humiliate herself again.
She was halfway through her design sketch when she heard her phone ring.
When she turned her head, her eyes lit up. "Hello, Dad?"
"Emmie, have you been eating well lately?" Andrew Johnson's smiling voice came through, full of gentle affection. "Mom made your favorite pot roast. If Alex is free, you two should come over together."
Through the phone, Andrew's loving voice almost made Emily cry. She held back. "Dad, Alex is busy with work. I'll come by myself."
As for Alex, since their wedding day, he had never gone back with her.
Naturally, he wouldn't go home with her today either.
Andrew paused, then quickly said. "Okay, then be careful on your way."
Hearing her father's care, Emily's tense nerves finally relaxed.
She immediately got up, eager to go home.
She missed Mom and Dad so much...
Emily changed her clothes, and when she went downstairs, she happened to see Grace having servants bring flowers to her room.
She couldn't be bothered to look and took a taxi straight to the Johnson family home, where Andrew sat in the living room reading an economic report. "Oh, our little princess is home. Let Dad see if you've gotten thinner."
Emily didn't know whether to laugh or cry, quickly sitting on the sofa. "I could smell the aroma before even entering the house. Mom and Dad are the best."
Mom Lillian was just bringing out cut fruit, giving her a playful glare. "You child, acting spoiled at your age. Isn't Alex good to you?"
Emily froze, lowering her eyes to hide the sting of pain, pretending to be relaxed. "He's good to me too."
Then Lillian brought the steaming pot roast to the table. "Try it quick, I specially stewed it for two hours. It's nice and tender."
Emily picked up a spoon, scooped some into her mouth. "It's delicious."
So delicious it made her want to cry.
This was her favorite taste since childhood. Only Mom could stew it to this perfect texture.
In three years at the Baker family, no one knew she loved these things.
Andrew sat nearby, looking at her pale face, his eyes full of affection. "Eat slowly, no one's competing with you."
He paused, unable to help asking, "Emmie, you and Alex... how have things been lately? Dad thinks you've gotten thinner."
Emily's hand paused while scooping the soup. She lowered her eyes, her voice light. "Nothing much, just some small friction. It'll be fine in a while."
She really didn't want her parents to worry, much less let them know she and Alex were already on the verge of divorce.
"Small friction?" Andrew frowned. "What married couple doesn't argue? But Alex, that boy, his personality is a bit too cold. You need to be more understanding."
"But men, sometimes they're just bad with words. That doesn't mean he doesn't care about you."
The two didn't know Emily's real situation at the Baker family.
She always shared good news but not bad.
Lillian also shook her head helplessly, saying with concern, "Emmie, marriage is like this—mutual compromise, mutual understanding."
"Don't be too stubborn. When you should give in, give in. Alex still cares about you in his heart."
Give in... she'd been soft as a pushover these three years.
Emily nodded perfunctorily, hiding the bitterness in her eyes.
Alex cared about her?
If he really did, he wouldn't have chosen someone else when she needed him most, much less discarded her like trash.
"By the way, Dad," Emily changed the subject, "I've noticed you're always at the company lately. Is the family business having cash flow problems?"
Andrew's eyes flickered, and he quickly waved his hand. "It's nothing, just a small issue. Already solved."
"You don't need to worry about these things. Just take good care of yourself, or your mom and I won't be at ease."
He spoke lightly, but Emily felt something wasn't right.
The Johnson family company wasn't small, but it was facing competitive transformation, and projects were harder to come by now...
Clearly it wasn't as simple as a small issue.
But since Andrew didn't say more, she didn't ask.
Before leaving, the two elders held her hands. "Emmie, as people who've been through it, we still need to remind you."
"Dad, go ahead." Emily looked at her father's graying temples, her heart aching.
"You and Alex have been married three years without having a child." Andrew sighed. "A family like the Bakers ultimately values heirs."
"If you could get pregnant with Alex's child, things would be easier for you."
Emily's whole body stiffened. Her hand unconsciously moved to her lower abdomen, a flash of complexity in her eyes.
A child... she already had one.
But how could she tell her father that this child came at such an inopportune time?
And the child's father had eyes and heart only for someone else?
"Dad, I know you mean well." Emily's voice was hoarse. "But having a child depends on fate. It can't be forced."
Andrew shook his head helplessly, turning to pack two boxes of supplements for her. "I know it can't be forced, but you need to take it seriously, silly child."
"Dad's not trying to pressure you, I just feel bad for you. You're all alone at the Baker family. With a child by your side, you'd at least have something to hold onto."
Emily held back the tears in her eyes and nodded. "Dad, I understand. I'll think about it."