Chapter 72 Ranking Fourteenth
Blake and Rena's room was similar in size to Lillian's, but the layout was slightly different.
Rena was very enthusiastic. She pulled her to sit down and pushed the fruit plate in front of her, smiling and saying, "Lillian, have some fruit. This coconut was just picked from the tree. It's delicious!"
Lillian picked a grape and chewed slowly, saying, "You should eat more fruits, too. It's good for your baby."
"I have been eating them. But right now, I really want to eat an orange, but Blake won't let me. He's afraid I'll feel uncomfortable after eating it. I even saw a servant carrying an orange to Samantha's room just now."
Lillian nodded and smiled without saying a word.
At that moment, a servant knocked on the door, holding a fruit plate, and said, "Lillian, should I put the fruits in your room or Rena's room?"
"Oh, there are oranges!" Rena exclaimed in surprise.
Lillian took a look and said to the servant, "Put them here."
The servant placed the fruits down and left.
"Lillian, can I have an orange? I really want one," Rena asked before Lillian could respond.
Lillian said, "Then have a small one to satisfy your craving. Blake won't let you eat it, and he'll get mad if he finds out."
Rena nodded and quickly picked up an orange, took a big bite, and swallowed it down. She said, "Since I got pregnant, I have been restricted in everything. I'm not allowed to do anything. It's driving me crazy!"
"When you are pregnant, it's better to be more careful," Lillian said, stabbing a piece of watermelon with a small fork.
"Lillian, you're so generous, much better than Leah!" Rena said.
Lillian smiled as she ate her fruit. Rena's enthusiasm towards her always felt fake to her. Even though she was smiling, it seemed like she was plotting something.
"I knew you were badmouthing me behind my back!" Leah stood angrily at the door, saying in frustration.
Rena picked up another orange and smiled, saying, "Leah, did you misunderstand? Lillian and I were having a normal conversation. We didn't badmouth you."
Leah glared at her and said to Lillian, "Alexander asks us to go to Oakwood Lodge."
"Should I go as well?" Rena asked.
"You are already married to Blake, so of course you need to go," Leah said as she turned away.
Samantha and Beatrice were already waiting. Two scooters similar to those on a golf course were parked at the door, but they were slightly larger and looked more comfortable.
"Beatrice, let's go," Rena said, linking her arm with Beatrice's and smiling.
Beatrice wrinkled her brow as she caught a whiff of the orange scent from Rena's mouth and asked accusingly, "Did you eat an orange? Blake specifically told you not to."
Rena quickly covered her mouth with her hand and muttered, "I just had a small one."
In a stern tone, Beatrice said, "Even a small one is not allowed! How can you be so greedy? The child is more important than the oranges."
"Beatrice, It's my fault." Rena bowed her head and admitted her mistake.
"Beatrice, let's not dwell on it for now. She already ate it, and Ethan is waiting," Samantha said.
"Samantha. After I return, I'll figure out which servant gave Rena the oranges!" Beatrice, who usually had a cheerful demeanor, had a fiery temper when provoked.
Upon hearing this, Lillian spoke up, "Beatrice, Rena had the oranges at my place. I saw that she really wanted to eat them, so I gave her two."
Samantha turned her head and stared at Lillian, thinking, 'When did she become so close to Rena?'
Beatrice was momentarily stunned, then glanced at Samantha. Like magic, her anger disappeared, and she smiled faintly, saying softly, "Lillian, I know you have a kind heart, but Rena cannot eat whatever she wants right now. A nutritionist carefully plans her diet, and she can't just eat anything."
"I'm sorry, Beatrice. I won't do it next time." Lillian felt like she had done something well-intentioned but ended up causing trouble.
Samantha said sternly, "Enough, let's get in the car."
Just as Lillian was about to take the front passenger seat, Samantha pulled her to the back seat to sit with her.
The car headed towards Oakwood Lodge, and Lillian, sitting next to Samantha, felt a bit nervous.
"Why did you go to Rena's room?" Samantha asked in a lowered voice.
Lillian told the truth, "I was out on the balcony, enjoying the breeze, when Rena happened to be there too. She asked me to come over and chat. At that moment, a servant brought me some fruits, including oranges. She said she wanted one, so I gave her a small piece. That's how it happened."
Samantha's expression turned serious as she instructed Lillian, "When we come back, you stay inside your room and don't go anywhere, understand?"
"I understand," Lillian said, growing nervous by Samantha's demeanor.
Suddenly, Lillian had a feeling that this Christmas Day trip to Aetherland might not be as peaceful as it seemed on the surface. She sensed a sinister force plotting something. 'Could there be a conspiracy?' Lillian thought, widening her eyes and starting to speculate.
The car drove for over ten minutes and arrived at the Oakwood Lodge. Lillian entered with a few people.
Thomas, the most respected elder in the family, was in his nineties but still in good spirits. He was neither deaf nor blind, spoke with confidence, and had a commanding presence.
"Thomas, this is Blake's wife, Rena, who is five months pregnant," Ethan said with a smile on his face.
Thomas was sitting in the hall and didn't seem very pleased. He said, "Their child can't be recorded in the family lineage."
This statement made Rena and Blake feel awkward, but they didn't care about such outdated matters. Beatrice was even less concerned about the family lineage and instead focused on whether she could get shares in Ethan's company. Obtaining shares in the Whale Group and gaining control was much more important to her than being recorded in the family lineage.
Thomas's words made Samantha happy, and she couldn't help but laugh, considering Blake and Rena's family lowly.
Ethan smiled without saying a word and introduced Lillian, saying, "This is Alexander's newly wedded wife, not yet made public."
Thomas raised his chin slightly and squinted as he looked over, saying, "I see, come here closer."
Lillian instinctively glanced at Alexander and got up to go over.
"Hello, Thomas," she stood in front of the old man and respectfully greeted him.
Thomas examined her for a moment and complimented, "You will have good luck in the future and will have many children."
"Thank you for your praise, Thomas!" Samantha exclaimed happily.
Thomas then instructed Lillian, "You have married Alexander, who is the fourteenth child in the family. You must treat him well. He is very stubborn, so you need to get along well with him, understand?"
"I understand, Thomas," Lillian replied, and she thought to herself, 'So Alexander ranks fourteenth in the family.'
Afterward, Thomas gave Lillian and Rena each a gift as a token of their meeting.
