Sophia, Bianca will be leaving soon

Each movement was like a slap on my face. My bones ached along with it. 

I had imagined this scene countless times. 

Though I was clearly at home, yet I felt I was frozen to my soul. 

"Sophia, did you wake up?" 

Bianca turned around and greeted me with a smile, 

"Try Richard's cooking, guaranteed to be delicious."

 As she spoke, she served dishes on the table, like the lady of the house. I took a deep breath, ignored her, and asked Richard directly, "Why is she at our home?" Richard plated the last dish, took off his apron, and said, "She's leaving after this meal."

 "Do you have a conscience? Really making me leave?" Bianca glared at him. 

" Bianca, quit while you're ahead! Stop causing me trouble!" Richard's face was stern as if his patience was at an end.

 "Stingy." 

Bianca murmured and pulled me to dinner.

 As if it was not her who was crying and pleading for my husband to divorce me yesterday. 

As if it was not her who schemed to take away my husband. 

Richard's cooking was excellent, with five dishes and a soup, all flavorsome and fragrant. "I may not be hungry, but the child in my belly is." 

"She has no shame, so what should I be afraid of?" With that, I simply sat down to eat. 

Bianca softly inquired, "Does the food taste good?" I chuckled lightly, saying, "His cooking is indeed delightful. 

If he's home, he always insists on cooking personally." Of course, this wasn't true. 

It's just a way to mark my territory with this low-level tactic. "..." Bianca gazed at Richard and casually said, "Who would have thought you're also this kind to others?"

 "Can't you shut up even when you're eating?" Richard coldly chuckled, serving me a rib.

 Bianca murmured dismissively and told me, "Do you know why he can cook? I taught him.

 Particularly the scrambled eggs with tomato, that's my favorite dish.

 He pours his heart into cooking it! He also makes delicious tomato egg noodles, but there was a time when he would cook it every day for me.

 I got fed up. 

Later, he would only cook it when he wanted to save time." ... I held my spoon so tightly that my fingertips turned white, my nails digging into my flesh. 

So, even the egg noodles that I delightedly indulged in were something others have grown tired of.

 I recall the night of our wedding anniversary. I asked him where he learned to cook, and he was lost in thought for half a minute. 

That half-minute. What was he thinking about? Was he thinking of Bianca, or recalling the many memories he had of cooking with Bianca?

 "Speaking of which, you have to thank me. If not for me, how would you have such a husband who can cater to both high society and domestic culinary?" 

Bianca said relentlessly in a soft tone. 

I suddenly put down my chopsticks, absolutely disgusted, and faked a smile, "Is that so?

 So, because your marriage is not fortunate, you want him to take over?" 

"Richard, I never thought you have a penchant for being a fallback guy or a waste bin." I said with a light, nonchalant gaze on Richard. 

"Sophia Jim, what do you mean?!" Bianca was extremely irritated, her eyes red as she looked towards Richard. ", we are family after all. 

After your marriage, are you going to tell me that you can't even have family around you?" 

"Have you had enough? I'll have John take you home."

 Richard spoke without any emotion, not sparing her an additional glance. 

"So you are joining her in bullying me too?" 

Bianca's tears rolled down in an instant, her face full of disbelief and a pitiable look. 

"So, you're sure you don't want me anymore?" Richard responded indifferently. 

"Remember what you promised me.

 If you need help in the future, you can contact John directly."

 Bianca's shoulders trembled slightly, as if she had been greatly hurt. 

Looking at Richard, his expression didn't ease at all. 

She laughed and declared defiantly, 

"Alright, I get it.

 I won't bother you anymore.

 Whether I live or die from here on, it has nothing to do with you." 

She got up, did not hesitate and left dragging her suitcase with her. 

John was waiting for her in the car. 

Seeing this, he quickly got off to help her with her luggage. ... Richard didn't look once at her throughout the whole ordeal. 

I was surprised by how quickly he marked his boundaries. Just last night, I found out about his relationship with Bianca and now, today they've broken all ties. 

It happened so fast that I couldn't believe it."What are you thinking about? Eat your food."

 Richard ruffled my hair, pulling me back from my thoughts. It felt like there was no barrier between us at all. 

For the first time ever, he spent the entire day with me.

 I went to the courtyard for a walk, he followed. 

I went to feed the fishes, he followed. 

I was working on a design, and he was working on his things by my side.

 He didn't say it, but it was evident that he was placating me.

 After taking a bath at night and coming out, my phone alarm rang just in time. 

I took out a pill of medicine for pregnancy preservation and put it into my mouth. Richard walked in with a warm glass of milk, "Why are you taking medicine?" "

Just health supplements."

 I looked at his profound eyes and said, "Can you spare some time next Saturday to accompany me to the hospital? I want to have a check-up.

 And there's a place I'd like you to accompany me to."

 It's time for a follow-up visit at the hospital. 

He is willing to cut ties with Bianca, which is making a choice in itself. 

But I am still not at peace, fearing uncertainty, so I don't want to tell him about the pregnancy yet. 

If nothing goes wrong, he will find out the day of the check-up. 

He will personally take out the ultrasound report from the machine, and see with his own eyes that he is going to be a father. 

He will know that we are having a child.

 Thinking about it, I can't help but get excited again. 

"Okay, do you still have a stomachache? If so, don't wait until Saturday, let's go to the hospital tomorrow." 

"No need, it's not a big issue." 

Since starting the medication, my stomach has almost stopped hurting, there is no sign of miscarriage, so it should be okay to have the scan as per the doctor's instructions.

 Hearing this, Richard didn't say anything else.

 He placed the cup of milk on the bedside table, took me into his arms and said, "You've been wronged these past days. 

You're not angry anymore, right?"

 It felt like I was a cat, being stroked gently.

 I couldn't resist being soothed by him in such a manner, the anger within me subsiding.

 I curtly said, "I can choose to not be angry, but Richard, there will be no next time." 

If there was a next time... We would be doomed. ... The following afternoon, Amelia dropped by my office to hang out. 

"Isn't the marketing department busy?"

 I put my work aside to glance at her, teasingly. She was wearing a V-neck silk blouse and a beige fishtail skirt today.

 Walking in with her high heels, she was radiating with appeal, catching everyone's attention. "What's the matter, can't the boss lady allow her employees to catch a breather?" 

She quirked her red lips, holding two cups of milk tea. 

She placed one cup in front of me, babbling non-stop, "Relax, no tea leaves were used. 

I asked a doctor friend, and they said pregnant women should drink less tea. 

But there are too many precautions, I'll send you on Whatsapp later, don't you slack off.

 Pregnancy is a big deal, you know..."

 "Amelia."

 I interrupted her, and couldn't help but laugh as I watched her puzzled expression.

 "You sound a lot like my mother."

 My parents passed away because our family went bankrupt.

 Creditors had blocked my school gates, hoping to use me as leverage for my father to repay them.

 My parents were terrified. Hurrying over, they were involved in a serious car accident due to an oncoming vehicle. 

I was only eight years old then. 

For many years, I was mired in guilt and self-blame, believing they died because of me.

 Later, Amelia told me, it was because they loved me. Indeed, in my increasingly dim memory, they gave me so much love. 

Our family business was vast, but no matter how busy, my father would spend every weekend at home with me and my mother. 

My uncle urged them to have a second child, stating that our large family business needed a male successor. 

My mom immediately retorted, "Who made the rule that only a son could inherit?

 They wouldn't let anyone take what was rightfully mine, be it love or wealth, it was all mine." 

Had it not been for that car accident, my mom would have taken meticulous care upon learning about my pregnancy. 

"Do you miss uncle and auntie?" 

Amelia was taken aback, "I seem to recall the death anniversary is approaching."

 After a slight pause, she glanced at her phone, "Indeed, it's nearing. 

This year, would you like to take Richard with you to visit them?"

 "Well, that's the plan." Come to think of it, I haven't brought Richard to see my parents in the three years we've been married.

 One, he was busy. 

Two, there always seemed to be something missing, so I never brought it up.