The next day, Jas and Caryn had already arrived at the Imperial City. The couple ca to see Natalie, who was once more chilling with Julia.
"Grandma, is he going to make stay ho like this always?" Natalie asked in a complaining tone.
"Aren’t you overthinking?" Julia asked. "Is he the kind of man who wouldn’t support his wife in her work and career? Ask yourself."
Natalie knew it well that Justin was not that kind of man, but the boredom of sitting at ho was getting the better of her. Justin had warned her strictly not to go to the office or anywhere that could exhaust her.
"He’s just worried about you now that you’re pregnant," Julia said. "After the first trister is over, I’m sure he’ll allow you to do whatever you want."
"The way he acts these days, so strict with all the ti, it seems unlikely. It feels like my old Justin is lost sowhere, and what is left behind is a dictator, not a husband," Natalie complained as she frowned in displeasure.
Julia laughed at her reaction and said, "Your parents are coming here."
"Have they returned?" Natalie asked.
Julia humd. "Jas finally has introduced Caryn to our entire family, formally. He even took her to so business parties."
"My father is kind of showy when it cos to his wife," Natalie chuckled. "He can’t wait to introduce everyone to his wife."
Just then, the servant inford, "Madam, Mr. and Mrs. Harper are here."
The couple entered the ho. This ti, Natalie saw her mother walking inside the ho instead of coming in the wheelchair. Jas, walking by her side, was careful in case Caryn needed his support. It was good to see her like this.
"Oh, you are able to walk without support now?" Julia said with delight.
"I am trying to," Caryn replied politely.
Natalie could see her arrogant mother was now turning a little soft, and she was especially soft and respectful towards Julia always. She realised her mother must like the old woman a lot.
Before sitting on the sofa, Caryn handed over a small shopping bag to Natalie. "This is for you."
Though surprised, Natalie accepted it and looked inside the bag. "A gift for ?"
Caryn humd and sat on the sofa.
Natalie pulled out a beautiful jewelry box and opened it. There was a beautiful bracelet in it, which had a very significant tiny pendant attached to it. It was shaped like a woman holding a baby.
"It’s beautiful," Natalie said and pulled it out to put it on her wrist. Caryn, who was sitting next to her, offered to help, seeing her daughter’s struggle to hook it.
Natalie accepted the help and looked at Caryn, who used to do these things for her when she was a kid. mories from the past surfaced in her mind—when, in her eyes, her mother was the best person in the world. She wished they were like before, but things still felt distant, though she had now started to call her "mother."
Julia praised the gift as well and said, "It’s like a protection for a mother and her babies. You should always wear it."
Natalie humd and looked at Caryn. "Thank you... Mom."
Caryn simply humd and said, "You should take better care of yourself."
Just then, Justin arrived at the drawing room, as he was talking about sothing with the butler, and the servants had started to move so things around.
"What’s happening?" Natalie asked him just as she reached them.
"We are shifting our room downstairs," Justin inford.
"What? But why? I like our room," she asked.
"During your pregnancy, you are not allowed to climb the stairs," he replied. "More like, you literally run the stairs."
"Aren’t you overdoing it?" she asked, clearly displeased with his decisions these days that were against her will. "Those are just a few stairs, not a mountain."
"We are moving. That’s final," he replied in a serious tone.
Natalie gritted her teeth and looked at Jas. "Dad, can I move to your ho? I might just suffocate here under his dictatorship. He won’t even let go to the office. I hate idling around."
Jas stayed quiet for a while, then looked at Justin, who was overly serious and not willing to give up. "Maybe you should listen to Justin. He is just looking out for you."
"Dad... you are the sa as him," Natalie said angrily. It was the first ti she talked with Jas this way, without any formalities or hesitation. She was just his daughter.
Jas smiled, as he liked it. But he could see pregnancy was making her cranky.
Natalie turned to Caryn. "Mom. You were working when you were pregnant with . Will you tell this man I am pregnant and not sick, for him to behave this way?"
Caryn looked at her calmly. "These months of pregnancy are precious. You should rest and enjoy all the pampering you receive from everyone. Back then I wished there was soone to look after but...." she stopped, "You are fortunate to have us all. Once you give birth, you are free to work as much as you want. No one’s going to stop you."
Natalie sighed as her mother sided with Justin and looked at Julia, who had the sa opinion.
Natalie folded her hands in front of her chest and looked at Justin. "I don’t like what you are doing and how everyone is by your side. I don’t want to be confined to ho."
"Then you should have taken good care of yourself when I was asking you after your bone marrow donation, but all you did was behave like a superwoman," Justin countered, his tone and gaze serious. "You have to take care of your body, and now you have two babies who are going to weaken your body further. Better rest than let scold you for your recklessness this ti."
As Justin said it, she could say nothing. She was indeed ignorant back then; the doctor had even warned her that she might harm her body more.
"We have to go for the doctor’s visit," Justin said. "Get ready. Your things are moved to the second guest room downstairs."
Natalie quietly stood up and went to the room.
Julia looked at him. "Justin, you can tell her this nicely as well."
"If I am nice, she won’t listen anymore. You know well how stubborn she can be when things won’t go her way," Justin said in a serious tone and stood up. "I am taking her to the hospital," he added, and walked away.
Julia observed him walking away and said, "Is sothing wrong with him these days? He has been like this since he returned from the Eastern country."
"If he is being strict with Natalie, then there must be his reasons and concern," Jas said. "He is not the kind to cage soone."
"Or he is just possessed by Aeldric Riverdale," Julia comnted and looked at Caryn. "What are you thinking?"
"Maybe she has not recovered entirely after donating her bone marrow?" Caryn sounded a little guilty and concerned. "I rember those days—all she was doing was fighting against the Fords, alone."
"Don’t bla yourself," Jas said. "I am sure she is fine."
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