Chapter 273

Chapter 273

After they stepped into the private dining room.

Nina sidled up to her father, her round, curious eyes fixed on Jelena, “Madam, are you a fox in disguise?”

Jelena blinked, taken aback, “What makes you think I look like a fox?"

Nina made a face, “My mommy said all the women around my daddy are foxes who'll snatch him away."

Fredric choked and thought, “Damn it, Sheryl! Is that how you're been teaching Nina?”

“Nina, don't listen to your mom's nonsense. She's just scaring you. There are no foxes around me. Auntie Jelena is my assistant.”

Jelena gently patted Nina's head, smiling, “Your dad is very busy, Nina. I'm here to help him out so he can have more time to spend with you and your sister.”

Nina pouted, “But Daddy hasn't been home for a long time.”

“I'll be home today,” Fredric said, placing a piece of meat on her plate.

Aurelia watched the father-daughter interaction, a sigh escaping her heart. It was always the kids who suffered most when parents were at odds.

Aurelia sighed, thinking, “Without me, would my children be unhappy? Would they be hurt by a stepmother?”

The mere thought upset her.

Arnold served her a bow! of soup, “You're due soon, and you can't overwork yourself. Take a break from work until the baby arrives.”

“I know.” Aurelia nodded. Her due date was around the 10th of next month, just two weeks away. She and Leopold had decided to work for one more week before moving into the maternity ward. Jolin laughed, “She's having an easy pregnancy. She's almost due, but there are no swelling or stretch marks. When I was pregnant with Avery, my legs were so swollen they looked like elephant legs and my belly was

covered in stretch marks.”

Jelena gave a light-hearted laugh, “That's because she’s been doing the prenatal yoga I recommended. It not only helps balance her hormones, but it also calms her mind.”

Aurelia brushed a stray hair away from her face, not wanting to dwell on baby talk, she changed the subject, “Arno, don't you have three brothers? I don't think I've ever met your second eldest brother.”

“He lives overseas, and only comes home for the holidays,” Arnold responded with a sad tone. Fredric took a sip of his beer, adding quietly, “His mother isn't doing so well, physically or ment*lly, so she's getting treatment abroad. He stays there to keep her company.”

He revealed a strange smile, “Out of all the women in our Dad's life, my mom was the most carefree. After she had me, she remarried a foreigner.”

Armno’s implied meaning wasn't lost on Aurelia, and she figured that the second son's mother must've suffered a ment*l breakdown after being forced to give birth overseas and then abandoned by Mr. Chad.

It seemed to be the mistress was risky, and they needed to be strong.

She shot an instinctive glance towards Jelena, who remained unfazed, probably still unfamiliar with the rules of the Stirling family.

Aurelia smiled, "We Hawthorne women are quite carefree, too. There are so many men in the world, and

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Chapter 273

there's no need to cling to one man's love.”

“Indeed.” Aurelia nodded vigorously in agreement.

Arnold lightly patted her head, his gaze soft yet intriguing, “Are you that carefree?”

She smiled, “Letting go isn't about giving up, but it's about freeing myself.”

Arnold had once thought of himself as carefree, wanting to live like a cloud, unbound by emotions. But now, he was constantly anxious and unwilling to let her go, always afraid of losing her.

Being carefree was merely a state before truly falling in love.

As he pondered, he felt upset. He knew that Aurelia hadn't fallen in love with him yet. She wasn't the type to easily fall in love with a man. Fortunately, she wasn't in love with Leopold either. He still had a chance.

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