Chapter 82 We Will Have Kids
Regina, playing with the kids, vaguely heard their conversation from afar.
She glanced at Douglas, looking a bit troubled.
Douglas, deep in thought, said, "If we never have kids, people might think I'm not treating you well or that I have some issue."
'Is it really that serious?' she wondered.
"But it's okay," Douglas said, staying calm. "It's your choice. If you don't want kids, we won't have them."
The more he said this, the guiltier Regina felt.
"We will have kids," she whispered in his ear. "I just need some time to prepare."
"Alright."
He didn't ask what kind of preparation or how long it would take. He just agreed.
But the truth was, Douglas could see all of this without her saying a word.
Regina's parents had a tumultuous relationship from her early years, with constant arguments that eventually led to affairs and divorce. As they moved on and started new families, they left her behind, a residual wound that would be hard for her to heal for a long time.
Choosing marriage and Douglas was already a big step for her.
Douglas wanted more but didn't want to push her.
This was the liveliest and most harmonious Christmas Regina had ever experienced.
The gift-giving session alone lasted over an hour.
So many expensive gifts were handed to her that she looked to Douglas for help.
Douglas reassured her, "These are heartfelt gifts. Accept them, or you'll hurt their feelings. Just like if you prepared a gift and it wasn't accepted, you'd feel bad too."
Regina wanted to say more but, seeing everyone's joyful eyes, she held back.
She carefully accepted the gifts.
After dinner, the young folks took the kids to play in the snow and set off fireworks in the fountain square.
"Kids love playing in the snow, so we didn't clear that area. Want to check it out?" Douglas asked Regina.
Regina nodded.
Remembering she had just recovered from a cold, Douglas went inside and brought out a thick shawl for her. "Let's go, just for a bit."
As they walked toward the bustling square, they instantly became the center of attention.
From a distance, Douglas spotted something intriguing. He reached out to take a sparkler from his cousin Tom Semona's hand. Just as he was about to turn to Regina, Tom cleared his throat. "Douglas, that's for my daughter."
At the same time, Douglas felt a tug on his pant leg.
He looked down to see a cute little girl, Nancy Semona, staring up at him, pouting.
"Uncle, give it back!" Nancy demanded in her sweet voice.
Douglas chuckled, bent down, and pinched her cheek. "Nancy, your aunt likes playing with this. Can she have it for a bit?"
Regina, blushing at being called "aunt," said, "No, I don't want it."
She didn't want to take something from a child.
But Douglas ignored her and negotiated with the four-year-old, "If your aunt has fun, I'll buy you some candy later, okay?"
Nancy shook her head, sniffling, with tears in her eyes.
"No, I just want my sparkler."
"How about I buy you an amusement park?"
He wasn't taking her to an amusement park, but buying her one!
Everyone stared in shock at Douglas' extreme methods to get Nancy's sparkler.
"How about I build a princess castle for you at your house?"
Nancy, who was about to cry over her sparkler, suddenly lit up. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"I want a huge, beautiful castle!"
"Deal." Douglas shook the sparkler. "Can your aunt play with this now?"
Nancy nodded eagerly.
Douglas walked over to Regina with the sparkler. "I brought a lighter this time."
He lit the sparkler and handed it to her.
Regina, a bit late to the moment, took the lit sparkler from Douglas' hand. The sparks illuminated her delicate features, and a genuine smile spread across her flushed face, her eyes sparkling with joy.
Onlookers stood in stunned silence, watching the interaction between Douglas and Regina with a mix of awe and admiration.
No wonder Nicole said when Douglas gets romantic, any woman would fall for him!
Douglas took out his phone and snapped a photo of Regina. The angle and composition were perfect, like a pro's work.
Regina glanced at him and, on a whim, asked Nicole, "Nicole, could you take a photo of us?"
'Us?' Nicole thought.
Nicole quickly took her phone, and everyone realized what she meant. Even Douglas, usually sharp, was a bit slow to catch on until Regina walked over, linking her arm with his.
Nicole quickly took a photo of them.
She quietly looked at the photo on the screen. In the snowy landscape, under the fireworks, Regina held the sparkler, smiling sweetly, while Douglas looked down at her with a focused, affectionate gaze.
What a beautiful scene!
But such a scene should have happened years ago.
Nicole suddenly remembered the winter of their junior year in college when Douglas visited her.
They went to a Dubbing Club event together. Douglas sat in a corner of the school auditorium. Unlike three years ago, when there were only a few people, this time, the event was packed.
So he blended in, and even without a mask, Regina, on stage, couldn't spot him.
After three years of growth, the Dubbing Club had gained significant fame at the school.
Some people came for the beautiful voices, while others were drawn by the president's striking looks.
This time, Douglas didn't fall asleep.
He watched from start to finish and saw Regina's boyfriend, Philip, come on stage to present flowers.
They held hands, hugged, and took photos amid cheers.
Regina, standing beside Philip, had a radiant smile that outshone even the red roses she was holding.
Douglas knew Regina wasn't his moonlight, but for a moment, her light shone on him.
Love at first sight was real, but the fact that they had no future at that time seemed real too.
The young people played until midnight. After the grand fireworks display at twelve, they gradually headed back to rest.
Regina naturally followed Douglas.
The Semona family's estate was large, and Douglas had his own villa there.
Although he didn't stay there often, the house was kept very clean.
"Do you want to sleep in the same room with me?" Before Regina could answer, he added, "If you're not afraid to sleep alone, you can sleep wherever you want."
Regina thought for a moment and said, "I'll sleep in your room."
