Chapter 359 Our Third Child (Part 2)
Frederick took Charlotte back home.
He wasn't feeling the whole office vibe; he just wanted to chill with Charlotte, but she wasn't having it.
Frederick plopped her down on the couch, finally feeling some peace. The housemaids probably figured out what was up and started congratulating them left and right.
Frederick, being the generous guy he is, handed out some cash.
The winter sun was pretty warm.
Charlotte was sipping on some hot milk, watching Frederick boss the maids around outside. Later, he strolled over to the parking lot, and as he opened the car door, he glanced back and caught Charlotte's eye.
Their eyes locked; no words were needed.
With his kid in her belly, that was sweet enough.
In the evening, Frederick picked up Lola and Johnny.
He shut the car door and just stood there, watching.
After a bit, he followed the kids into the hall.
The place was packed with all sorts of fancy supplements and gifts.
Frederick shrugged off his coat and casually asked, "A lot of people drop by?"
Charlotte shook her head. "Just Mom, Dad, and Chloe! They brought a ton of stuff."
She added, "Let's keep the pregnancy on the down-low for now."
Seeing her all obedient, Frederick snaked his arm around her waist from behind and gently said, "You're right; a pregnant woman shouldn't overdo it."
Charlotte felt a bit uneasy.
The three kids were home, and he was still so shameless.
Frederick just smiled.
He went over to pick up Kingsley.
Frederick thought, 'Maybe we should have another daughter!'
Lola looked at Dad, then at Mom. She probably figured something out, so she ran over and gently touched her Mom's belly.
Lola waved. "Johnny, come here!"
Johnny slowly shuffled over.
Lola had him touch Charlotte's belly and whispered, "Johnny, you're gonna be a big brother. Excited?"
Johnny pressed his ear to Charlotte's belly.
Charlotte patted his head.
Johnny smiled, but there were tears in his eyes. Ever since he could remember, his parents were always fighting, and he lost his mom young. He hadn't felt a woman's gentleness in a long time.
She bent down and kissed him, whispering, "Johnny, you can call me Mom too."
But Johnny, being a 7-year-old boy, felt shy.
Charlotte didn't push him. She always respected the kids. She had planned to make dinner for them, but Frederick sent her to rest. She was pretty helpless. "It's just pregnancy. I'm not that fragile!"
Frederick wrapped his arm around her waist and softly said, "I'll cook for you."
His cooking skills weren't as good as Charlotte's, but he made it fun by getting the kids involved.
At night, Charlotte got hungry.
She turned over, snuggled up to Frederick, and looked at him.
Frederick woke up.
He looked at her, his voice all groggy from just waking up. "What time is it? You hungry?"
The bed was cozy, and usually, Charlotte wouldn't want him to get up and fuss. This pregnancy wasn't making her nauseous or anything, and her appetite was even off the charts.
Frederick threw on a sweater and headed downstairs to whip something up. Charlotte stayed in the warm bedroom. She couldn't sleep, so she got up and started going through Lola and Johnny's homework.
There were a bunch of kids at home, but she took each one seriously.
She also knew that with another kid on the way, expanding her career was gonna be tough, but the income from the studio and restaurant was already solid. Maybe she could throw some cash into a movie or two!
An hour later, Frederick came back with a tray of corn chowder, bringing a gust of cold wind with him.
He set the tray on the table and watched Charlotte eat.
"Tastes good." She smiled at him.
Frederick touched her face. "Glad you like it!"
After a bit, he pulled out a cigarette and said softly, "I'm going outside for a smoke. I've been holding off all day!"
Charlotte nodded.
She wouldn't ask him to quit. Guys in business had their social obligations.
As long as he didn't smoke around the kids, it was cool.
Frederick went out to smoke. The study wasn't heated, and he opened the window, so it was pretty chilly.
But his heart had never felt warmer.
Charlotte was pregnant. The feeling this kid brought him was something no one else could get.
He loved her.
But their memories together were still blank. Maybe to others, Frederick was a strong guy. But in matters of the heart, there were no strong men.
He could be vulnerable and worried too. For a long time after Ethan's death, he worried that Charlotte still held Ethan in her heart, maybe even more than him.
Then the third kid came.
Frederick felt immense gratitude.
In the early morning, Charlotte got up.
Frederick had already helped Lola and Johnny get up and dressed, who were munching on breakfast. Their small backpacks were neatly placed on the sofa.
Frederick had a package in his hand.
Charlotte was curious. "Is it for me?"
"Nope!" He said calmly, then started to toss the package back into the storage room. Charlotte stopped him. "I wanna see it."
Frederick cleared his throat. "It's a mistake!"
Charlotte didn't buy it.
She insisted on seeing it, and as she expected, it was from Brenda.
Seeing that signature again, Charlotte felt a bit dazed and kinda emotional. She looked at Frederick. "You said it was a mistake!"
He smiled faintly. "I didn't want you to be upset."
Charlotte started to open the package, calmly saying, "There's nothing to be upset about!"
What really bugged Charlotte about Brenda was that she was Katherine's sister.
Charlotte thought to herself, she was still being kinda petty.
Frederick quietly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and whispered, "Charlotte, I never liked her."
"Yeah, I know." Charlotte couldn't help but think of that lipstick mark.
Not to mention liking her, even if he had any desire back then, she and Frederick wouldn't be where they are today. But his test back then was really infuriating.
Charlotte glared at him. "I've decided; we should sleep in separate beds for a while."
He gently coaxed, "If we sleep apart, who's gonna get up to make you food if you get hungry at night?"
Charlotte thought about it and gave in.
Frederick smiled as he adjusted his tie and said to the kids, "Get in the car! I'll take you to preschool."
Lola and Johnny grabbed their small backpacks.
Charlotte stood at the door, quietly watching them leave the house. The sunlight felt warm on her, and the dining table still had her favorite breakfast and Kingsley's mashed potatoes.
There was no denying that Frederick was a good husband.
Charlotte turned around, and the maid brought Kingsley downstairs. She kissed her son.
At noon, she got a call from Chloe.
Turns out, Andrew's project hit some snags, and the launch had to be pushed to the end of the year. Andrew was super busy and might not make it to Syeattel for a while.
On the phone, Chloe was choked up. "I actually haven't made up my mind."
After hanging up, Charlotte specifically asked Andrew.
Andrew was swamped.
But he was in a good mood, so the issue probably wasn't too serious. He knew Charlotte was pregnant and gently said, "Next time I come to Syeattel, I'll bring you some gifts."
Charlotte nodded and hung up the phone.
Days passed, and Charlotte's belly slowly grew.
She planned a shopping trip to a baby store with Lily. The baby clothes made Lily's heart itch. As she picked out clothes, she whispered, "Bradley and I have been trying for another one for years, but it just hasn't happened! Charlotte, how do you and Frederick have kids so easily?"
Lily laughed and added, "Is it because he refuses to wear condoms?"
Charlotte thought carefully and softly said, "This child was planned."
Lily was super envious.
She not only picked out clothes for Charlotte's baby but also secretly bought two sets of pink baby clothes for herself, hoping to use them in the future.
Charlotte said, "Kids need a lot of care. They will limit your freedom to some extent."
Lily sighed but still wanted one.
They chatted, not noticing that behind a glass partition, Tina was silently watching them.
Tina was even thinner than before. She quietly watched Charlotte's belly, which was already slightly rounded, and Charlotte's expression was particularly gentle.
She must be very happy!
Tina was jealous, but she could handle that. What she couldn't handle was that Ethan died in a car accident because of Charlotte. How could Charlotte enjoy happiness so guilt-free?
Shouldn't she feel remorse?
It was as if Ethan's existence was meaningless!
At that moment, another familiar face popped up in the baby store—it was Gabriel and his mom, Heather.
Seeing Charlotte again, they were both a bit surprised.
Looking at Charlotte's rounded belly, Gabriel said, "Congrats, Ms. Russell."
Charlotte smiled slightly.
Although Heather felt a bit uneasy because of Charlotte and Ethan's past, she knew that the Hawkins family was at its peak, and it wouldn't hurt to keep a good relationship with them.
She picked out a very nice set of baby items and handed them to Charlotte.
Charlotte thought for a moment and accepted it.
Lily watched Gabriel from the side, stunned. He really looked like a young Ethan.
When getting into the car, Gabriel graciously opened the door for them.
Heather was a bit worried. "Gabriel! She's married, and she and her husband are about to have their third child."
Gabriel supported his mom, speaking gently, "Mom! Don't worry. I won't be like Ethan."
He admitted he liked Charlotte.
But this liking was complicated, with admiration, romantic feelings, and a deep remembrance of Ethan. He thought that what Ethan couldn't let go of before he died was probably Charlotte.
Heather patted his hand, feeling very comforted.
As soon as Charlotte got in the car, Lily asked her, "Does he have feelings for you?"
Charlotte smiled helplessly. "Do you think that's a good thing?"
Lily thought for a moment. "He seems like a good person!"
Charlotte leaned back in the seat.
After a long time, she softly said, "Before he died, I really hated him, but once he is gone, all the hatred disappears!"
Lily knew she had a hard time and squeezed her hand.
Charlotte smiled faintly. "I'm fine! It's just that sometimes I still dream of him, dream of our college days. Lily, I always feel that Ethan hasn't gone far; he's still around me."
At that moment, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Jenna: [Ms. Russell, our movie premiere is next week. Will you be attending?]
Charlotte didn't even think about it; she would definitely attend.
Next to her, Lily said, "I want a ticket too. I still don't have Grace's autograph! She's quite proud; ordinary people can't get it! I think only Andrew can handle her."
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