For a split second, the man appeared slightly dejected at the mention of this issue, but he quickly regained his composure and said, “Don’t worry. Trust me, I’ll definitely find a suitable one.”
I knew he had been asking around, but I was overcome with anxiety about Summer’s condition. Though she had gone through a few rounds of chemotherapy, the result was not ideal. Each therapy was a torment for her. Feeling that I was undeniably responsible for her illness, I didn’t even have the courage to see her now.
Even if I threw a fit in front of Anthony, it wouldn’t help a thing. Pulling myself together, I looked at him. “What happened just now? Hasn’t Joe been very caring towards Rylee? What’s with the sudden change of attitude? What’s going on?”
He pulled me into a hug. “I guess he ran out of patience. Rylee is unwilling to marry him, yet she depends on and clings to him. Both men and women naturally become worried when they reach a certain age. Joe’s parents have been urging him to get married, and he himself becomes anxious as well since he has waited for years.
“In fact, Joe’s a conservative man on the inside, so he’s of the same mind as his parents. He feels everyone should do what they’re supposed to at the right time. He isn’t young anymore, but Rylee keeps wasting his time and refuses to tie the knot with him. That makes him feel even more restless than he already is. Besides, I just told him that you’re pregnant, which means everyone around him is settling down and starting a family.”
As I listened to his words, a sudden realization hit me. Anthony seemed to have become a different man. Previously, he was driven by dreams and ambitions, aspired to scale new heights. He was like an emperor who was eager to expand his territory. But now he put all his heart and love into this little family of ours.
Seeing me staring blankly at him, he rubbed the tip of his nose bashfully. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
I chuckled. “I’m just thinking that I have to be a good mom, and I can’t be as wayward and reckless as I used to be.”
He chuckled. “Hmm? Are you going to be a good mom only?”
“Of course, an amazing wife too!” I snuggled up to him. “Just wait till Summer recovers, and the baby is born. I am sure everything will be fine”
We had been waiting for things to fall into place. Other than waiting, there was nothing else we could do.
Thinking of Joe again, I asked, “After chasing Rylee away, is Joe going to look for a socialite in K City and get married?”
Anthony kept quiet for a moment. Suddenly, his expression grew solemn as he gazed at me and said, “Sometimes, love and marriage are entirely two different things to men.”
Stupefied for a few seconds, I grasped the meaning of his words. He was right. No matter how much Joe loved Rylee, there was no way she could be one of the Quinns because of her background. We could never deny that in marriage, both parties had to be a good match.
Other than love, there was nothing useful that Rylee could offer. His family wouldn’t be able to accept her, let alone the ambitious man himself. She was like a toy which a child had. Once he grew up, the toy would be put away, regardless of how good it was.
Without a word, I lifted my head and gazed intently at Anthony.
As my eyes were glued to him for quite some time, the man became uneasy and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Pressing my lips together, I asked in a serious tone, “How about your love for me? What is it based on?” I believe in utilitarianism. There was no way for two people to get together solely out of love. There must be other determining factors as well.
With his dark gaze riveted on me, the man didn’t utter a word, deep in contemplation. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke. “I feel lucky to have you. When I was in my twenties, I thought that love could last forever. Whether you’re an orphan or a daughter of the Moore family, I’m fine with it as long as it’s you. But now I think differently. I love you, because you’re the one I fell for since I was young, and you’re my wife. I’m grateful for your birth and your identity. If it weren’t for these, we would’ve to face countless hurdles and troubles. Because of whom you are, we’re able to spend the rest of our lives loving and taking care of each other in peace. Other than that, others will look up to and find us an enviable couple. You’re exceptional, and I’m pretty good too. That’s enough for us to live this life together.”
If love was getting together against all odds when we were young, then marriage was deciding to go through every trivial and mundane matter in life together. However, some had a chaotic married life, while the others treat one another with respect.
Anthony and I were the latter. Treating one another with respect was the best way to show that we cherished our marriage.
Leaning against his chest, I smiled faintly. “Anthony, moving forward, I need your guidance.”
He gave me a warm, gentle smile. “Please bear with me too, Mrs. Featherstone.”
After leaving the hospital, Anthony and I went to the office. Every day, the man ran around between the office and the hospital. He barely had time to rest because of work and Summer’s condition.
Arriving in front of the office, I got out of the car and waited for him in the lobby while he parked the car.
It was lunchtime, so the lobby was crowded. At the entrance, a striking red sports car pulled over, drawing the attention of countless women nearby.
I couldn’t resist glancing at it too. The woman who got out of the sports car was none other than Rachel, whom I had not seen in a while. Thinking that she was still in A City, I didn’t expect that she was back.
The gorgeous woman and the sports car were an extremely eye-catching combination. The man in the car was dressed casually, looking like someone from a wealthy family in K City.
Rachel’s outfit was unusually seductive today. A black midi dress with a pair of boots made her legs appear long and slender. She also wore a luxurious and stylish white coat, looking alluring yet elegant.
She seemed to have gone out for lunch with that man. Getting out of the car, she brazenly strode over to the driver’s seat and kissed the man on the lips. After that, she gracefully sauntered into the office.
I was surprised that Rachel found a new boyfriend.
Though we were not enemies, I didn’t really want to see her. Holding a leather bag in her hand, she raised her brows and said, “Are you here to see Mr. Featherstone? I think he’s not in the office.”
I nodded. “We just came back.”
“I heard about your daughter. I guess you got a lot on your plate recently,” she said with a shrug.
Instead of denying it, I hummed in response, not wanting to tell her more about it.
With her brows raised, the woman seemed carefree as she explained, “You don’t need to be so defensive in front of me. Like I said, if we’re no longer love rivals, I’ll admire you a lot. The man in the car is my boyfriend. Let me introduce him to you one day. Don’t be so antagonistic toward me. Although your husband is outstanding, he has no feelings for me, so I better keep my options open.”
Her words surprised me, but I remained silent. Nonetheless, she seemed unfazed by my aloofness. “I guess you need more time, but please don’t stay at odds with me. We woman shouldn’t be against each other, am I right?”
I pouted my lips, thinking about it briefly before replying, “You know I couldn’t care less whether you love Anthony. I’m absolutely confident that he will love me forever. It’s just that I’m surprised to see you getting a new boyfriend so soon.”
She shrugged nonchalantly. “What’s so surprising about that? Every woman has a dream of marrying into a wealthy family, and the same goes for me. Other than the Featherstones, there’re many wealthy families in K City, so I changed my target. He’s the third son of the Quinn family. Though the Quinn Corporation is no match for Anthony, it isn’t too bad. He’s the one who gave me all my branded clothes, house, and car. After experiencing a lavish lifestyle, I’ve come to the conclusion that one must make as much money as possible, especially a beautiful woman, who can make a fast buck with her beauty.”
My brows knitted together. I couldn’t bring myself to agree with her principles, so I kept quiet.
With her eyes fixed on me, she asked nonchalantly, “Do you look down on women like me?”
I shook my head. “Everyone has their own ambitions and pursuits, so I have no right to comment on yours.”
Pursing her lips, she shrugged. “Alright, you’re not as annoying as I thought. I’m not going to snatch your man away from you, so you don’t have to put your guard up against me.”
I just shrugged in reply, not wanting to say more.
As I watched her walk gracefully into the elevator, I couldn’t help but muse over the life she had made for herself. For someone as ambitious as Rachel, even if she weren’t born with a silver spoon, she’d have done everything in her power to get ahead in life.
Even though one might find some of her methods morally ambiguous, the fact remained that she had both beauty and brains to help in the pursuit of her ambitions.
She was very similar to Cameron in that respect. Everyone had their reasons for chasing money. Some did it purely for the thrill, while others did it so their descendants could live better lives. As long as you were capable and weren’t using illegal or ruthless means to obtain your wealth, there was no reason not to be a little more ambitious than your peers.
“Mrs. Featherstone, you’re here!” A chirpy voice behind me pulled my wandering mind back. I smiled when I saw Stella walking toward me. “Yes, I came with Anthony. Have you just had lunch?”
Stella nodded eagerly. “Have you and Mr. Featherstone eaten too?”
“Not yet. We came straight from the hospital.”
Just then, Anthony came back from parking his car and ushered me to follow him.
Stella quickly stepped in and said, “Mr. Featherstone, since you haven’t had lunch, shall I buy some back? Mrs. Featherstone, what would you like to eat? Let me know, and I’ll get it for you!”
I shook my head meekly as her enthusiasm and offer took me back by surprise.
“Don’t be a stranger, Mrs. Featherstone! As Mr. Featherstone’s secretary, this is all part of my job scope. Isn’t that right, Mr. Featherstone?” she said as she smiled at Anthony.
As someone who never talked much to acquaintances, Anthony just hummed in response and looked at me. “Let Stella get it. What would you like to eat?”
Even though my mind was a complete blank, I didn’t want to disappoint Stella. “Anything’s fine. Thank you, Stella!”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply