Chapter 434 Do You Have to Mock Me?
The Peterson family's expressions shifted.
Elysia said what she said, but deep down, she was definitely not thrilled about Francis marrying Elissa.
She had seen the truth and knew that Francis couldn't live without Elissa.
She also knew that Francis was already beyond control.
But having it bluntly pointed out still made her heart ache.
"What do you mean by that?" Rainey pressed.
Teddy simply replied, "That's all I can say. I'm only saying this because of our past relationship. After all, I have to follow Mr. Francis Peterson's orders now."
The room fell silent for a long time.
Elysia broke the silence with a light laugh.
She looked at Rainey and said, "You say he doesn't care about you as his mother, but he could have quietly gotten the marriage license without us knowing. Instead, he had Teddy inform us."
Rainey didn't immediately understand.
Elysia explained, "He specifically had Teddy tell you."
Teddy nodded, "Mrs. Peterson sees things clearly."
Rainey was stunned for a moment, seemingly understanding.
Francis had deliberately informed her.
There were two reasons.
One, he didn't care if she knew because she couldn't stop him anyway.
Two, he still cared about their mother-son relationship but resented her for sending Elissa to that dark place, almost causing a tragedy. Her surgery due to anger from Elissa was a form of retribution.
In any case, he was determined to marry Elissa.
Rainey suddenly felt extremely tired, not knowing how things had come to this point.
It had all started according to their plan.
They had been prepared to eliminate any threats from the beginning.
"I'm old and can't handle this anymore." Elysia stood up and took Wesley's arm, "We can't worry about this anymore. Let's just wait peacefully to hold our great-grandchild."
With that, they left.
Teddy also left the room.
The room was left with just the couple.
Jacob patted Rainey's shoulder. "There's no point in opposing it any longer."
His retirement was enough to indicate the situation.
He added, "Instead of continuing this stalemate, we should use this time to train her. That way, she can support Francis."
Rainey let out a cold laugh, "You were just saying you disagreed, and now you're switching sides. I never realized how much you listen to your mother. Too bad Francis isn't like you.
Jacob sighed, "The doctor advised you to rest more. Don't think about these things for now."
Rainey, however, was thinking about something else.
Could a man really love a woman so much that he experiences morning sickness for her?
She remembered Jerry loving Hope for so many years, from childhood to adulthood, but even during Hope's pregnancy, he didn't have such a strong reaction as Francis.
But she didn't know.
During that time, they had gone through so many harrowing experiences.
The baby had been on the verge of miscarriage multiple times.
There was no energy left to experience morning sickness.
When Jerry almost tore down the hospital, she hadn't seen it.
Elissa picked up Anne from the hotel.
Anne gave a light-hearted complaint.
But after complaining, she smiled and tentatively reached towards Elissa's belly. "Willard said you have a baby."
Elissa smiled, "Yes, but it's just an embryo now, not a baby yet."
Anne carefully withdrew her hand, holding back her curiosity, "Then I won't touch it."
She took out a photo album from her backpack. "I made this myself. You can show it to the baby later."
Elissa took it and opened it, exclaiming in surprise, "These are all the landscapes and animals you've photographed over the years!"
"Yeah, I don't have much to give, but I thought the kid could see these first. When they grow up, they can see them in person."
"You're so thoughtful. I'll thank you on behalf of my baby."
Elissa loved the album and, after flipping through it, handed it back. But she forgot that when Anne got in the car, Francis had already moved to the car behind. So she placed it in the front seat's storage compartment.
She asked Anne about her recent experiences.
Anne said, "Nothing much, everything went smoothly. I gave the photos to the media, hoping to raise awareness and help more girls. That place is hell for girls."
Elissa nodded. "You did a great job."
After praising her, she asked, "What do you want to eat?"
"Let's go to the same restaurant as last time. There were some dishes I didn't get to try."
"Okay."
Elissa informed Hope, and Felix started the car.
In the car behind, Willard noticed Francis looking unwell and asked, "Your family still hasn't agreed, even though you have a child?"
Francis wasn't feeling well because of that. He opened a bottle of lemon water and took a sip to suppress his nausea. It was strange; he was getting car sick now.
"When did you start drinking this carbonated drink?"
"This isn't." Francis shook the bottle, "My wife made me drink it because I've been feeling car sick lately."
Willard scoffed.
Francis found that not talking made the nausea worse, so he spoke up, "Still getting a divorce?"
Willard rubbed his tired eyes. "Yeah."
Francis mocked him, "You've been together every day for a month without anyone bothering you. How come you haven't managed to win her over?"
Willard was also frustrated. All the meetings in the world hadn't made him this anxious.
Francis glanced at his face, unreadable. He said indifferently, "If you knew it would come to this, why did you do it in the first place?"
Willard regretted it, but what could he do?
"Can't you ask your wife to help?"
Francis refused decisively, "My wife is very precious now. She doesn't have time for your mess."
Willard's voice turned cold, "I've helped you so much. Why can't you help me? Isn't this also doing a good deed for your wife and child?"
"That's why I didn't ruin your marriage. You should thank me for that. How can you expect me to help you?"
Willard fell silent. Fortunately, the journey wasn't long. In the back, the two men didn't speak again.
Anne, however, talked the whole way.
When they got out of the car, Hope was already at the restaurant entrance.
Anne called out, "Hope, how do you always get here before us?"
Hope replied, "I was on the way. Elissa had to pick you up from the hotel, which took a bit longer, and you got stuck in traffic on the highway."
Anne turned to Elissa. "Next time, I'll come by myself. You don't need to go out of your way to pick me up."
Elissa smiled. "It's fine. It wasn't that far out of the way."
Francis and Willard walked over together.
Jerry saw Francis and raised an eyebrow, teasing him, "I heard you've been having morning sickness."
Francis was speechless.
Willard immediately sided with Jerry, "What's going on?"
Jerry smirked, "I just heard about it. Why don't we let Francis explain?"
Francis took Elissa's hand and led her inside. "It's cold out here. Let's talk inside."
Elissa gave Hope a look. Hope lagged behind and pulled Jerry back. Anne followed suit.
Willard felt a surge of excitement but didn't show it. It was a habit from being in a high position.
"What's up?" Willard's voice was deep and warm.
"Look at you, pretending. If you're happy, just smile. Why put on a front?" Jerry was now happy and content. Seeing others' troubles, he couldn't help but tease, "No wonder you can't win Anne over."
Anne didn't want to be part of the conversation and quickly ran off.
Jerry teased, "Look at that, your wife ran off again."
Willard clenched his teeth.
These happy couples just loved to mess with him.
Willard huffed, "If you're not gonna help, at least don't make things worse."
Jerry smirked, "You sound pretty bitter."
Hope, holding onto Jerry's arm, tried to smooth things over. "Alright, Jerry, stop rubbing salt in the wound."
Willard was speechless.
Hope added, "And don't mention Francis's morning sickness. It's a sign of his love."
Jerry laughed, "If it's a sign of love, we should talk about it more so Elissa knows just how much Francis loves her."
"Elissa already knows, she doesn't need your reminders." Hope threatened him, "If I hear you mention it again, you're sleeping on the couch."
Jerry wasn't fazed. "Sure, I like the couch just fine..."
Hope quickly covered his mouth.
He really didn't know when to stop.
Willard turned away, expressionless.
Hope pointed. "See, you've hurt his feelings."
Jerry led Hope inside. "I'm just pushing him to do better. He's almost thirty-five and still not making an effort. f he doesn't hurry, he might not be able to reconcile with his wife."
Hope sighed, "Pushing him won't help. Anne's heart is broken, she's determined to get a divorce. Maybe he should try a different approach."
Jerry laughed, "Great minds think alike."
The group gradually took their seats.
Francis naturally sat next to Elissa, and Anne also sat next to Elissa.
When Willard tried to sit down, Jerry blocked him. "Move over, Hope wants to sit here."
If Hope sat next to Anne, then Jerry would sit next to Hope, leaving Willard next to Jerry, making it hard for him to serve Anne food.
Before he could protest, Jerry had already pushed him aside and sat down.
Jerry said, "Please, Willard, you standing makes us feel bad. You're the most important one here."
Willard hadn't been getting along well with Anne these past few days.
They barely spoke.
She clearly didn't want to deal with him.
Since she had asked his parents for help at the Larson Villa, he didn't want to push her too hard.
These days, he just quietly followed her, helping out where he could.
But there wasn't much he could do.
Now, with so many people around, it was a good opportunity, but Jerry and his wife had taken it away.
"Do you have to mock me?" he whispered to Jerry.
Jerry chuckled, "Not at all, I'm genuinely trying to help you. And Francis is much closer to you than I am. Look, is he paying any attention to you?"
Willard glanced over. Francis was sterilizing utensils for Elissa, wiping them clean with a sterile napkin.
Then he poured her a cup of hot water.
Worried that Elissa might be uncomfortable on the wooden chair, he placed a cushion on the seat and another behind her back.
He was thorough and attentive.
So different from the man he used to know.
Jerry put an arm around Willard's shoulder and whispered a suggestion. "When one path doesn't work, try another."
There were examples of love after marriage in their circle.
Most marriages in their circle started out as arrangements for mutual benefit, with little affection at the beginning.
But as the families grew closer, feelings developed over time.
His mistake was those three years of neglect.
Even when he knew she was struggling, he didn't help.
He wanted her to forget her feelings for him.
But when she really did, it broke his heart.
Willard hesitsted, "If we don't even have a marriage certificate anymore, I'm afraid..."
It was the first time Jerry had heard Willard admit he was afraid.
The Larson family was a prestigious family. While others were still starting businesses, they had almost monopolized the shipping industry and expanded into other sectors.
Willard, the eldest son, was not only showered with love but also bore the responsibility of the Larson family's continued success.
He had always kept his emotions in check, outsmarting everyone.
His journey had been smooth and successful.
He wouldn't even blink if a gun was pointed at his head.
Afraid?
What was there to be afraid of?
Willard hadn't expected to feel fear either.
He had pushed her away, and now he feared she wouldn't come back.
Jerry had someone open a bottle of wine and poured Willard a glass.
Jerry said, "You've been holding it in too long. Get drunk and think things over."
Willard rarely drank. At his level, he didn't need to.
Even at social events, he drank tea while others drank alcohol.
He had cleared his schedule for tonight, so he could afford to get drunk.
Anne, having finished ordering, saw Willard and Jerry already drinking.
She quietly asked Hope, "Hope, since when are Jerry and Willard so close? Didn't they only meet because of Francis?"
Hope replied, "When Jerry wants to get close to someone, he does it quickly."
Anne smiled, "They say daughters take after their fathers."
She had met Elsa, who wasn't shy at all.
Anne added, "Being good at socializing is great, but don't let her get tricked."
Hope shook her head. "That won't happen."
Elsa was a clever little thing, almost a carbon copy of Jerry.
She knew who was good and who wasn't.
Anne glanced to the side and said to Hope, "I'm envious. You and your husbands have such great relationships."
It seemed she and Willard were still at an impasse.
Hope genuinely liked Anne.
Though she couldn't interfere with their divorce, she could try to mediate.
Life was too short to waste three years at a time.
Time flew by, and before you knew it, years had passed.
Watching Elsa grow from a babbling baby to almost talking now,
She felt like time had sped up.
Even Elissa, who had sworn off marriage and children, now had a child.
So, she asked, "Anne, do you have someone you like?"
Her voice was just loud enough.
The room was quiet, everyone could hear.
Willard's gaze, slightly blurred from the alcohol, was intense.
Anne didn't know why, but when Hope asked, she looked up at him.
She met his gaze, blushing and flustered.
She stammered, "Hope, you... I... What are you talking about? I didn't hear you."
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