Chapter 91 Pressured to Have Children: Preferring a Daughter
"So, what we're guarding against isn't Juliana's incompetence, but what if she actually is competent?" Cecilia asked Theodore. "If she is capable, we have no reason to fire her. If she and Uncle Vincent start causing trouble in the Lockhart Group, we won't be able to handle it."
"Does Juliana have that capability?" Theodore seemed to dismiss Juliana.
After all, Juliana was an illegitimate child, and in high society, illegitimate children were looked down upon. Even someone as cultured and educated as Theodore had a deep-seated bias against Juliana.
Perhaps in their previous life, Cecilia and Theodore's ingrained belief that Juliana was incapable led them to let their guard down.
Little did they know, the ultimate cause of the Lockhart Group's downfall was Juliana.
Now that Cecilia knew everything in advance, she was determined to prepare ahead of time!
"Dad, you can't judge a book by its cover," Cecilia said seriously.
"So what do you suggest?" Theodore still didn't take it too seriously, but seeing Cecilia's seriousness, he decided to go along.
"I'll start working at the company too." Cecilia smiled.
Theodore was surprised, so was Genevieve.
Even Alaric was a bit taken aback. He looked at Cecilia meaningfully, thinking she had indeed changed quite a bit.
"I told you before, I want to help you," Cecilia said, feeling a bit uncomfortable under their gazes.
Theodore quickly snapped out of it. "I'm just so happy. I didn't react right away. Are you really decided on working at the company?"
"Yes, I've decided." Cecilia nodded.
Cecilia had decided long ago, but she had been too busy before.
Now that she was married—well, a fake marriage still counted as marriage—she should start working at the company.
"When will you start?" Theodore was quite enthusiastic.
"Tomorrow..."
"What?" Genevieve suddenly interrupted. "You just got married and you're already thinking about work? That's not proper."
"There's no conflict between getting married and working," Theodore weakly retorted.
"Of course there's a conflict," Genevieve said righteously. "The first thing after getting married is to have children. Cecilia should start planning with Alaric right away to have a child soon. After the first one, they can have a second one in two or three years."
Cecilia almost choked on her own saliva at Genevieve's words.
Genevieve was talking about having children, but she and Alaric had no relationship at all.
Cecilia blushed. "Mom, I'm still so young, and you want me to have kids? I'm still a kid myself."
"Young? You're almost thirty!"
"I'm only 22," Cecilia said, exasperated.
She was 32 in her previous life, but now she was in a 22-year-old body.
She was still so young, with such smooth skin, and Genevieve was saying she was almost thirty.
Genevieve said, "Anyway, having kids early is never wrong. I had you late, and I regret meeting your dad so late. Otherwise, I might have had a second child."
"Mom, are you dissatisfied with me? Wanting a second child?" Cecilia was angry.
"You child!" Genevieve was a bit angry. "What's wrong with me wanting you to have kids early? While your dad and I are still young, we can help you take care of them. What's wrong with that?"
Cecilia said, "If you like kids so much, you and Dad can have another one. I don't mind..."
"Stop talking nonsense," Genevieve interrupted, her face clearly blushing.
Cecilia couldn't help but laugh. She was about to reason with Genevieve when Alaric suddenly spoke up, "25."
Cecilia looked at Alaric.
Genevieve and Theodore also looked at him, puzzled.
"When Cecilia is 25, we'll have kids," Alaric explained.
Cecilia was speechless. Who said she had to have kids at 25?
"I want Cecilia to enjoy being young for a few more years," Alaric said in a doting tone.
Cecilia's face turned red.
Alaric usually made cheeky remarks, but saying this in front of her parents was too much.
Talking about her being young made it seem like he was treating her like his daughter.
Genevieve smiled helplessly, but seeing Alaric doting on Cecilia made her happy, so she compromised a bit.
Alaric then said seriously, "Besides, I've predicted that if Cecilia gets pregnant at 25, she'll have a daughter."
Cecilia glared at Alaric. She didn't plan on having a baby.
And could he really predict the gender of a baby?
"Do you like daughters?" Genevieve was actually convinced by Alaric.
"Yes," Alaric nodded.
"I like daughters too. When I was pregnant with Cecilia, I hoped for a daughter. You don't know how cute Cecilia was as a child, chubby and round. Wait, I have some of Cecilia's childhood photos. I'll get them for you," Genevieve said enthusiastically.
"Okay," Alaric responded, equally enthusiastic.
Cecilia couldn't help but roll her eyes.
When Dominic came over, Genevieve wasn't this enthusiastic.
She decided not to get sidetracked and said seriously to Theodore, "Weren't we talking about me starting at the company? I'll start tomorrow."
"Do you want to take a honeymoon or something?" Theodore, though eager for Cecilia to start, still considered her situation.
"No need, we haven't planned any trips," Cecilia declined directly.
Alaric pressed his lips together. Well, Cecilia had the final say.
"In that case, alright. I'll arrange a position for you tomorrow."
"As Juliana's direct supervisor," Cecilia had already decided.
Theodore was surprised.
"That way, she'll be under my watch. What trouble can she cause?" Cecilia smiled.
Theodore couldn't help but applaud. "Excellent!"
"Then it's settled," Cecilia reminded.
"Just come to work tomorrow," Theodore reassured her.
Cecilia nodded.
Meanwhile, Genevieve came downstairs with a photo album.
She eagerly handed it to Alaric. "These are all photos of Cecilia when she was little."
Alaric opened the album.
At that moment, everyone else was also drawn to the album.
The first photo was of Cecilia as a newborn, and she looked really ugly.
Cecilia felt embarrassed. How could Genevieve keep such old photos?
Alaric seemed to enjoy looking at them.
Fortunately, as they flipped through, Cecilia grew into a beautiful little girl.
"Is this Dominic?" Alaric suddenly asked, his tone seemingly emotionless.
Genevieve quickly explained, "Because of the good relationship between Cecilia's grandfather and Dominic's grandfather, Cecilia and Dominic have known each other since childhood, so there are some photos. I'll take them out later. By the way, who is this little boy?"
At that moment, Alaric turned to a photo.
Cecilia frowned.
She didn't remember knowing this boy.
And the more she looked, the more familiar he seemed.
She couldn't help but glance at Alaric, feeling shocked.
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