Chapter 358 Our Third Child (Part 1)
It was super late.
The black SUV cruised down the road, and the kids, totally wiped out, were slumped in the back seat.
Frederick glanced over at Charlotte.
She was leaning back, quietly staring out the window.
"Still mad?" Frederick gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
Charlotte gave a faint smile. "Just keep your eyes on the road!"
Frederick let go and focused ahead. After a while, he murmured, "Charlotte, you know, Andrew and Chloe's relationship hasn't been a walk in the park."
They could've been just two random people.
It could've been a one-night thing.
After savoring the taste of something good, no one would settle for less. Same with him and Charlotte.
Maybe it was Ethan's death that made him realize how unpredictable life was, making him cherish this marriage and relationship. Charlotte was reserved in her feelings towards him, and he chose to be accommodating.
The car rolled up to the villa.
Charlotte got out, and Frederick unbuttoned his coat. "You take Lola and Johnny inside first!"
He wrapped Kingsley in his coat and carried him out.
Kingsley, still a baby, had a flushed little face, sleeping soundly on his dad's shoulder.
He couldn't resist kissing him.
Since Johnny moved in, Lola had become more independent and tidy. The little girl didn't need much adult attention, and Johnny took care of some small stuff for her.
Charlotte often worried if this was a good thing.
When Frederick got back to the bedroom, she had finished her bath and was putting on skincare at the vanity.
Their relationship had been good lately, and they had been getting close more often.
Frederick naturally hugged her slim waist from behind, sliding his hands up and down, his warm breath on the back of her ear. "Why've you put on a bit of weight?"
Charlotte gently pushed his fingers away, a bit annoyed. "Then go touch someone who hasn't!"
Frederick chuckled.
He leaned to the side, watching her apply her skincare.
Actually, he liked the bit of softness. When Charlotte loosened her robe to apply lotion to her lower abdomen, he couldn't help but help her, squeezing some lotion and gently rubbing it on her fair skin, while nibbling on her shoulder. "We've been pretty close lately; maybe you're pregnant."
Charlotte was stunned.
She thought about her cycle; it seemed like it had been more than one and a half months since her last period.
She pushed him away.
But Frederick was in the moment, his mind full of that thought, unable to stop.
Charlotte had to grab his hair and pull him away, panting. "I haven't had my period for a month and a half."
Frederick was visibly stunned.
He slowly looked up at her. "Really?"
Charlotte nodded, placing her hand on her lower abdomen, feeling a bit emotional.
Was she really pregnant again?
Frederick squatted down.
His face pressed against her lower abdomen, his voice filled with excitement. "Is there really my kid in here?"
Charlotte was initially a bit panicked.
Seeing his reaction, her heart calmed down. She gently stroked his hair, her tone half-coquettish and very gentle. "It's not your first time being a dad. Why so excited?"
Frederick reached out and gently wrapped her robe around her.
He still pressed against her lower abdomen, whispering, "The first two times don't count; this one is our kid!"
Charlotte stroked his face again. "Lola and Kingsley would be sad if they heard that."
Frederick said softly, "I love them just the same! But this one is different."
She stroked his face, bent down slightly, and kissed him.
That night was super tender.
Early the next morning, Frederick took Charlotte to the hospital.
After the check-up, it was confirmed that she was pregnant.
The doctor, who knew the Hawkins family well, smiled and said, "Frederick, congrats. This is your third time being a dad!"
Frederick pretended to be nonchalant. "Third time; no big deal."
The female doc chuckled.
She handed Charlotte some folic acid and calcium tablets.
After leaving the consultation room, Charlotte chilled in the lobby while Frederick hit up the pharmacy for the meds.
Perhaps because she was in her first trimester, Charlotte felt a bit woozy and swayed a little. She held her forehead, looking for a seat, but someone caught her. Thinking it was Frederick, she smiled faintly and said, "I'm good! Just a bit dizzy, probably some pregnancy anemia."
No response.
Charlotte looked over, puzzled, and then froze.
It was Gabriel, with a middle-aged woman who had delicate features—his mom, Heather Hall. Charlotte recognized her.
She was Ethan's sister-in-law.
During the four years when she and Ethan were dating, they had met often.
The vibe between them was awkward.
Gabriel helped Charlotte to a seat, his eyes kinda complicated. She was pregnant again.
She really loved Frederick. A woman wouldn't carry a man's child if she didn't love him.
To Charlotte, Gabriel was kinda like a junior. She nodded and smiled faintly at Gabriel's mom. "Long time no see!"
Heather's feelings were even more mixed.
Back then, she had seen Charlotte and Ethan's relationship up close.
She hadn't expected to run into Charlotte again after Ethan's death.
She couldn't help but feel a sense of pity and softly said, "You seem happy."
Charlotte gave a faint smile, which was a silent agreement.
Just then, Frederick came over with the meds. He looked at the Cooper family duo, then at Charlotte, and asked considerately, "You feeling okay?"
Charlotte nodded. "Maybe a bit anemic."
Frederick put his arm around her shoulder and thanked them. He had an impressive demeanor, and Gabriel's mom watched him closely.
After they left, she said to her son, "He seems really good! No wonder Charlotte didn't get back with Ethan."
She seemed to have liked Ethan a lot and said wistfully, "Ethan thought of her until his death! But we can't blame her; it was Ethan who didn't cherish her."
Gabriel didn't say anything, his gaze deep.
After a long pause, he said, "Mom, let's go register."
In the car, Frederick handed Charlotte a water cup and peeled a candy for her.
It was one Lola had left in the car.
Charlotte felt a bit better.
Frederick turned to her, stroking her cheek, and said softly, "I'll get a nutritionist for you tomorrow! We can't have you suffering while having a baby; women look better when they're well-nourished."
Because of the pregnancy, Charlotte felt very soft.
She gently leaned her face into his palm and whispered, "You said last night that I had some fat on my belly."
Frederick's gaze was unreadable.
After a moment, he said in a slightly hoarse voice, "A bit of fat is more sexy! I like it."
Hearing this, Charlotte's face turned a bit red.
Frederick gently pulled her over, half-hugging her against his chest.
In the winter, his body was warm.
Charlotte leaned against him, listening to him call home. "Dad, Charlotte's pregnant."
On the other end, Patrick was still in a meeting.
Charlotte was pregnant again?
He calculated that there were already four kids at home, and now with another one, that would make five! Johnny seemed to be a bringer of fortune for their family; they had another family member coming just after he arrived.
Patrick immediately made a decision. "Charlotte's pregnant and needs care! So, bring your wife and kids home. Your mom and I will take care of them every day. Don't worry about Lola and Johnny; just focus on running Vertex Innovations Group and the Hawkins Group well."
Frederick chuckled. "Dad, it's MY wife who's pregnant."
Patrick laughed and scolded, "She's also my daughter-in-law! Can't I care for her?"
Frederick lowered his head, gently pinching his wife's cheek. "I'll take care of my own wife."
With that, he hung up the phone.
On the other end, Patrick was fuming.
But as he fumed, he started to laugh. Frederick finally seemed to be acting like a husband!
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