Chapter 177 Pregnancy Bonus
Alexander stared at Shae, his eyes intense and serious.
Shae squirmed under his gaze, her eyes darting around. "Alexander, why are you looking at me like that? Just spit it out."
Alexander sighed and said, "Alright, I'll be blunt."
He took a deep breath. "Shae, Lily and I have a child now. I've moved on from the past. It doesn't mean I've forgotten Amy, but I'm not stuck in the past anymore. I cherish her memory quietly."
Shae stared at a spot on the floor, silent.
Alexander's tone was firm. "I hope you won't mess up again. I don't want to meddle in your work at the company, but your attitude towards Lily has to change."
"Alexander, I didn't do anything!" Shae protested.
Alexander raised a hand to stop her. "Shae, out of respect for Amy, I've been looking out for you. I don't want to see you erase the kindness Amy left for you."
Shae, feeling both ashamed and angry, bit her lip, tears welling up.
"Alexander, you only love Amy, not me. All these years, you've never really seen me. Your kindness to me is all because of her, right?" she said, her voice breaking.
"I love Amy. Even though you remind me of her a bit, I still see you as a sister," Alexander said. "Shae, I never made it clear before. I thought you wouldn't like me, and that's on me. From now on, we need to keep our distance."
"Alexander, what do you mean? Do you want me to stay away from you?" Shae asked, her tone softening in panic. "Alexander, I promise I won't cause any more trouble. Just let me stay by your side."
"What are you going to do by my side, Shae? You can't focus all your attention on me. You need your own life," he paused. "Live well, even if it's for Amy, okay?"
Tears streamed down Shae's face, and after a long moment, she reluctantly nodded. "Fine, I'll do what you say. I get it now. If you wanted me to stay away from Lillian, why not just say it directly instead of all this grandstanding?"
"These are my sincere feelings," Alexander admitted. "I genuinely don't want you near Lily. Consider this your warning."
Shae's tears fell anew, and with a teary-eyed look, she said defiantly, "Okay, you don't have to worry. I won't go near her again. Whatever happens to her from now on, it won't be my concern!"
Alexander's expression darkened slightly. He stood up and said, "I'll have Kevin drive you home later."
Watching him go upstairs, Shae, now visibly angry, threw the cushion she was holding onto the floor. The tearful, helpless demeanor she had displayed earlier vanished, replaced by a cold smirk.
She thought, 'Does he really think this will make me back down? If Alexander and Lillian are growing closer, I'll just have to make sure they drift apart even more.'
By evening, Alexander drove home with Lillian and Luke. Kelly, having been informed earlier, had prepared dinner and was eagerly waiting for their return.
As the car pulled into the driveway, Kelly hurried out to open the car door and help Lillian out.
"Kelly, I'm fine, you don't need to fuss like this," Lillian said with a cheerful laugh, her spirits lifting.
"The progesterone pills Kevin brought back scared me half to death," Kelly said. "Why are you on those all of a sudden? I'm glad Mrs. Sinclair Senior went back to Sinclair Villa, or I'd be worried sick."
"Grandma went back?" Lillian asked.
"Yes, she went to visit a close friend who's seriously ill," Kelly explained. "It seems her friend is dying, so she went to say her final goodbyes."
"I see. Grandma must be heartbroken."
"At her age, she's seen it all. She's come to terms with these things."
The delicious aroma of dinner wafting from the kitchen made Lillian take a deep breath. "Kelly, I've really missed your cooking."
Alexander, standing behind her, asked with a hint of annoyance, "What, you don't like my cooking?"
Kelly looked surprised and turned her head with a smile. "Alexander cooked for Lillian at the villa?"
"Yes, and it turned out pretty good," Lillian replied.
Alexander smiled slightly and said, "You should head back to your room."
Dinner was lively as the three of them enjoyed their meal together. Afterward, Lillian spent some time playing games with Luke before heading to bed.
As Lillian was tucking Luke in, Alexander quietly said, "Don't go to sleep just yet. I have something for you."
Lillian propped her head on her hand and asked curiously, "What's that?"
Alexander pulled a card from under the pillow, got up, and handed it to her. "Here, this is for you. It's a little bonus for your pregnancy."
Lillian's eyes widened in surprise, and she joked, "I thought you forgot about it since you never mentioned it. I'm glad you remembered."
Alexander chuckled. "Am I someone who breaks promises? Just take it."
Not one to be shy, Lillian took the card and asked, "How much is on this card?"
"You can check it out yourself. It should cover Oscar's surgery, your wedding, and buying a house," Alexander said.
Lillian was momentarily taken aback. Clearly, it was a significant amount, and she wasn't sure how to react.
"Go ahead and get some rest," Alexander said, closing his eyes.
Lillian slowly turned over, placing the card under her pillow, her thoughts a bit tangled. Though it was meant as a pregnancy bonus, talking about money made it feel a bit transactional.
But then she considered their relationship and realized it was just like any other marriage—when a wife was pregnant, her husband usually gave her gifts. This thought made her feel better, and she decided to just accept it. After all, she had contributed, too.
The next morning, which was a weekend, the three of them slept in until they woke up naturally.
The sun was shining brightly outside. Lillian stood by the window, stretched lazily, and said, "The weather is gorgeous today."
"Lillian, you promised to take me out. When are we going?" Luke asked, rubbing his head against the pillow.
Alexander replied, "I'll handle the plans today. Luke, we're going to visit Dr. Thompson. It's been a while since you saw her, and she's been missing you. Then we'll hit the amusement park and grab a big meal afterward. Sound good?"
"Great!" Lillian and Luke cheered in unison.
Alexander sighed, knowing it was best to avoid crowded places with Lillian pregnant. But since she and Luke wanted to go out, he figured it was best to bring extra help along.
