Lucy Taylor felt that she was clever, thinking about what could bring in big money.
"That’s settled then, I’ll give you the money," Lucy Taylor waved her hand grandly, "Your nutrition fee, childbirth fee, maternity center, nanny fee, and all sorts of miscellaneous fees, I’ll cover them all!"
Elara was montarily speechless, thinking Lucy Taylor might be feeling embarrassed. Lucy pulled her close and said, "Let tell you, don’t think just because Zion has money you shouldn’t ask for anything. You must take what you should, whether it’s from or from Zion, and save it as your private funds. When you spend, just get reimbursed by Zion. You’re in love now, but what if things aren’t good between you later? Right?"
It was the first ti Elara saw a mother-in-law teaching a daughter-in-law to keep things to herself.
And she was so adorable.
Seeing Lucy already planning for her post-childbirth life, Elara hesitated but still said, "Actually, Zion and I are planning to divorce."
Lucy widened her eyes in disbelief, like she had heard sothing horrifying, "What did you say? Divorce? Why? Did Zion cheat?"
Elara found it funny and frustrating, that’s quite a leap.
"No, he didn’t cheat. We just feel we’re not compatible." Elara carefully chose her words and continued, "I don’t have the confidence to stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder."
Lucy showed an understanding look, "Oh, I get it. You’re afraid of handling the complex relationships that co with identity."
Elara nodded, "That’s right."
She expected Lucy to try to persuade or convince her, but instead, Lucy just patted her shoulder, saying, "You’re quite wise; these worries are not without reason. Back then, when the old man gave money, I agreed without hesitation for the sa reason, thinking it’s better to take the money since we’re parting ways anyway."
At this point, she leaned closer, gossiping, "Did Zion give you money? Do you have a prenuptial agreent? If you divorce, can you get any of his money?"
Elara thought she was worried about Zion’s assets, quickly responding, "I don’t want his money; I’ll return what I’ve already received."
Upon hearing this, Lucy sharply tapped her forehead, exasperatedly saying, "Stupid! Why not?! Why shouldn’t you take it? You’re legally married; a divorce ans splitting assets. At his level, splitting his assets might not be realistic, but you should at least get a significant amount, otherwise why are you having two kids for him?!"
Elara never imagined Lucy, as a mother-in-law, Zion’s biological mother, would encourage her to take money from her son.
"I..."
Lucy frowned at her, "Why don’t you want it? Did he make you sign so baffling agreent before marriage? If that’s the case, I’ll stand up for you, make sure he gives you at least a few million!"
Elara quickly responded, "I’ll negotiate with him myself later."
She feared Lucy might actually go trouble Zion, making her seem to be instigating things.
Lucy instructed with concern, "Ask for more, okay? A woman goes through one marriage, and it’s tougher afterwards than for n. If you don’t secure enough for the rest of your life, you’ll find yourself in a tough position when money runs short. Anyway, he has money, and the Fitzwilliam family won’t miss a few bucks."
Elara suddenly recalled her divorce with Mason Jacobs, where she left with nothing, realizing she might really have been foolish.
Though she and Mason signed a prenuptial agreent, before and after the divorce, Mason offered her compensation. Though not much, only a million, it was truly a lifesaving amount for her at the ti.
But she didn’t accept it.
It wasn’t entirely because of pride, but also because she wanted to cut ties with the Jacobs family.
Seeing Mason now relentlessly wanting to remarry her, she’s just glad she took no money, severing ties cleanly.
Not far away, Zion Fitzwilliam and Damian Fitzwilliam walked one after the other, watching the two won whispering together, smiles subtly playing on their faces.
Damian suddenly stopped, turning to him, "Have you picked the child’s na yet?"
Zion chuckled, "Yes, I’ve prepared many. I’m planning to let Elara pick two when the ti is right."
Damian acknowledged, "You can check the gender early."
Zion frowned, "Why?"
To him, there seed no need to check the gender, as he would love any child Elara gives birth to.
Damian coughed, "So you can prepare clothes ahead of ti."
Zion was indifferent, "Buying after the birth is still tily. If necessary, I’ll prepare for both boys and girls."
Damian seed disappointed, pouting slightly, turning to continue forward.
Zion pondered for a mont, then hesitantly asked, "Are you coveting my daughter?"
Damian, exposed, responded awkwardly, "What do you an coveting your daughter? Your daughter is also my granddaughter, okay?"
Zion was speechless.
"I heard from my mom that you wanted a daughter when she was pregnant with , but ended up having a son, and you didn’t hold for days out of disappointnt."
Damian rubbed his nose, saying nothing.
It was clear, he agreed.
Zion looked at him skeptically, "Dad, I never understood. You love mom so much; shouldn’t you love any child she has regardless of gender? Why favor a daughter and not want a son? Does that an you don’t love her as much as you say, you just fancy her daughter?"
Damian’s expression changed, instinctively glancing towards Lucy, relieved to see her still carefree talking with Elara, returning his gaze to Zion sharply, "What nonsense are you talking? Of course, I love your mom. I love her the most! Are sons and daughters the sa? Sons are like stones in a latrine, slly and hard. Look at my friends who have daughters; they’re soft and sweet even at thirty!"
Zion rarely shows emotion, but at this mont, he couldn’t help rolling his eyes.
"You yourself favor daughters over sons, yet bla it on your son."
Damian snorted, "It’s you who lacked the drive. Among so many sperm, why was it you who won the race?"
Zion sneered, "If it wasn’t who won, you’d still be held by grandpa, not knowing if mom can be swayed back."
The father and son exchanged banter, just as they have throughout years of interactions.
Damian continued forward with a tense face, Zion asked, "Since you love daughters so much, why don’t you and mom have another one?"
Damian scoffed, "Do you know how painful childbirth is? Pregnancy is tough, childbirth is tough, breastfeeding is tough too; this arduous process, I can’t bear to make her go through it again."
He glanced at Zion, "Why don’t you have a few more?"
Zion was expressionless, "You feel for your wife, shouldn’t I feel for mine?"
Damian suddenly turned back, with a curious expression, "I think I heard your wife saying to my wife she’s getting a divorce?"
Zion Fitzwilliam said coldly, "Thanks for your concern, but there’s no chance of a divorce."
Damian Fitzwilliam chuckled, "It seems you’re not as good as your old man was back in the day."
Zion Fitzwilliam walked past him expressionlessly, mocking rcilessly, "Wasn’t it you who was chasing after my mom, crying and begging her to love you again?"
Damian Fitzwilliam was furious, "Who told you that?! Was it your mom?!"
Zion Fitzwilliam turned back with a faint smile, "Just tell if it’s true or not."
Damian Fitzwilliam fell silent.
When Zion Fitzwilliam and Damian Fitzwilliam caught up with Elara Hale and the others, Elara had just been forced to listen to Lucy Taylor’s "inheritance battle" experience, and she looked at Zion with a face full of helplessness.
Zion Fitzwilliam didn’t know exactly what the two had talked about, but he could figure with his toe that his unreliable mom wouldn’t have said anything nice.
"What’s for dinner?" he asked.
Elara, pregnant with twins, had only eaten a little on the plane at noon, and hadn’t eaten anything since; she must be starving.
Thanks to his dad, he now had his mind full of the hardships of pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing, and even regretted letting Elara get pregnant.
His mom had suffered so much just giving birth to him, and Elara was so thin — giving birth to two, who knew how much more she’d have to suffer.
Damian Fitzwilliam said, "I’ve invited a friend for dinner; let’s have a barbeque, I’ve already asked the servants to prepare it."
Zion Fitzwilliam asked, "A friend?"
Lucy Taylor giggled, hooking Damian Fitzwilliam’s arm, and boasted, "I’ve recently beco fond of Cadieux’s designs, so my husband invited Cadieux’s chief designer over. I’m going to have an in-depth discussion about Cadieux’s new styles for next season."
Elara Hale was utterly astonished. Cadieux is an international luxury brand, and they could be invited like this, just to indulge Lucy Taylor.
This easygoing father-in-law of hers, is he thoughtlessly spoiling his wife?
In the evening, the servants set up all sorts of barbeque equipnt on the grass, moved out sofas and picnic chairs. Everywhere in sight was lush green grass; in the distance, a cream-colored fence, by the fence stood a few cows eating grass peacefully; farther away, the sunset with red clouds filled the sky.
Elara Hale was captivated by the breathtaking scenery.
Lucy Taylor said, "Beautiful, isn’t it? My husband and I looked at so many, many, many places before we found this romantic spot to settle down."
Elara Hale subconsciously glanced at Damian Fitzwilliam and Zion Fitzwilliam who were busy barbequing. She finally understood where Zion Fitzwilliam learned his amazing culinary skills and tender, ticulous habits towards the woman he loves.
With such loving parents, it’s hard not to be subtly influenced, right?
Before long, the designer from Cadieux arrived, a middle-aged man with blonde hair and blue eyes, skinny and fashionably dressed. From far away, Elara could sll his perfu, finding it a bit overbearing and stood a bit further away.
Damian Fitzwilliam introduced them, "Zion, Elara, this is Ron, Cadieux’s chief designer. Ron, this is my son Zion and my daughter-in-law Elara."
Ron greeted them in sowhat broken Chinese and went off to discuss new designs with Lucy Taylor.
Initially chatting with Lucy Taylor, now that Lucy was busy, while Zion Fitzwilliam and Damian Fitzwilliam were barbequing, Elara Hale found herself gazing idly at the distant scenery, her eyes gradually becoming empty.
While talking with Lucy Taylor, Ron inadvertently looked up and was amazed by what he saw, "An authentic Valerim girl, serene, elegant, with a face tinged with lancholy..."
He suddenly stopped, frowning, and watched for a while, then asked Lucy Taylor, "Does your daughter-in-law Elara have a ntal illness?"
Lucy Taylor was startled, then imdiately retorted, "It’s you who’s ill! Nonsense! My daughter-in-law is perfectly fine!"
Ron observed Elara Hale carefully for a mont and still felt sothing was off, "I’m not a professional psychologist, just interested in psychology, so I’ve been learning and researching. Mrs. Fitzwilliam, forgive my honesty, but your daughter-in-law doesn’t seem to be in a good ntal state."
He paused, lowered his voice, and solemnly said, "She might have depression."
Lucy Taylor glanced at Elara Hale again, spat unhappily, glaring at Ron, "What’s wrong with you? My daughter-in-law is perfectly fine, how does she look like she has an illness? If you keep spouting nonsense and cursing my daughter-in-law, I’ll have my husband beat you up!"
Ron imdiately shut his mouth, "Alright, I won’t say anything more."
Lucy Taylor snorted, feeling sowhat uneasy and looked at Elara Hale again, but not seeing any signs of depression, she felt relieved.
It was all Ron’s fault for scaring her for nothing.
She didn’t believe any psychologist could diagnose a patient’s ntal illness just from the surface without any examination, let alone Ron, a half-baked psychology enthusiast.
As the chief designer for a luxury brand, he must be very busy—whether he has systematically studied psychology is uncertain.
Lucy Taylor didn’t take it to heart and soon forgot about it.
After dinner and seeing Ron off, Elara Hale and Zion Fitzwilliam returned to the room Lucy Taylor had prepared for them to rest.
In the estate, there’s a large castle, brightly lit, looking beautifully serene on this grassy land.
Back in the room, Elara Hale relaxed her nerves, took a shower, and ca out curious, asking, "Has this castle been here for many years?"
Foreign castles are usually like this, with a long history.
Unexpectedly, Zion Fitzwilliam shook his head, "No, it was just built the year before last."
Elara Hale was surprised, her mouth slightly agape, "Oh?"
Zion Fitzwilliam found her expression adorable; his mouth acting faster than his mind, he kissed her before realizing it.
A quick, gentle kiss, Elara was caught off guard, and Zion Fitzwilliam backed away.
Leaving Elara stiff-backed, montarily unsure of what to do.
"I told you, you can’t just kiss ..."
Zion Fitzwilliam smiled, "I wasn’t kissing you casually, it was a serious kiss, and I didn’t agree last night either."
Elara Hale thought for a mont, realizing he indeed acted shalessly last night, and now didn’t know what to say.
Zion Fitzwilliam embraced her from the side, swaying as they walked to the sofa and sat down.
Zion Fitzwilliam held her in his arms, explaining, "My mom wanted to be a princess, so my dad built this castle for her, and thus at forty-six, my mom successfully beca a princess."
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