Soon, a servant from the kitchen came to inform everyone that dinner was ready, and they all headed to the dining room. The table was laden with an array of exquisite dishes, all made from the freshest ingredients. Rowan had thoughtfully prepared both juice and red wine.
Once everyone was seated, there were no strict dining etiquettes to follow as the family reunited after a long time apart. The conversation soon centered around the two pregnant women, with Catherine personally serving Monica and Claire two bowls of soup.
“Thank you, Mother.”
“You’re welcome,” she replied, then began sharing her experiences of giving birth to Taylor, offering advice on childbirth. “In the late stages of pregnancy, it’s crucial to ensure proper nutrition. Due dates can be very inaccurate, so we need to keep our strength up for labor, especially when contractions start. No matter what, you have to eat something.”
“Mom, there’s no need for you to explain this,” Taylor said with a hint of pride. “We have two doctors here.”
“Doctors?” Catherine glanced at Taylor, ignoring her comment, and turned her gaze to Rowan with a gentle voice. “You two aren’t obstetricians and haven’t given birth yourselves. You don’t have much say in front of someone who’s been through it.”
Monica and Claire couldn’t help but laugh at her remark.
Rowan took it in stride with a warm expression, while Taylor seemed slightly disgruntled. The mother and son bantered back and forth, creating a warm atmosphere.
Bertie looked much better; his complexion was good, and he seemed in high spirits.
The health and safety of parents are the greatest blessings for their children, putting everyone’s minds at ease. Additionally, Lu Layeka’s development was progressing smoothly, with peace and prosperity throughout the nation.
Princess Catherine and Bertie planned to stay in Arkpool City for a while as Claire’s due date approached…
Three days later, the weather turned from sunny to overcast.
It started drizzling early in the morning and gradually intensified by noon.
Around seven in the evening, as darkness fell, the rain showed no signs of stopping, causing water to accumulate in many areas.
Ansel drove out of the school slowly due to the rain. He happened to glance sideways and saw a familiar figure at a bus stop not far away. After thinking for two seconds, he drove towards her and stopped steadily in front of the girl.
When the car window rolled down, Susan Clark, holding a transparent umbrella, saw him sitting in the driver’s seat.
Their eyes met under the soft glow of the streetlamp that added a touch of haziness to her pure beauty.
“Get in; I’ll take you home,” Ansel offered as the rain showed signs of increasing.
The girl looked surprised. She glanced towards where the bus should come from but saw nothing. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she asked, “Is it convenient?”
“Of course,” Ansel replied warmly.
The girl smiled slightly and opened the passenger door. After closing her umbrella, she sat inside. “Thank you, Mr. Johnsons.”
“You’re welcome,” Ansel said as he started the car.
“This is too much trouble for you,” Susan Clark said after giving him an address. She then asked, “Mr. Johnsons, is it on your way?”
“It is,” Ansel assured her as he drove through the increasingly heavy rain. The windshield wipers worked tirelessly against the downpour.
“At this hour during rush hour, it’s hard to catch a bus,” Ansel remarked. “And with this rain, everyone drives slowly which easily causes traffic jams.”
“Yes, I’ve been waiting for almost half an hour,” Susan admitted with some embarrassment.
For some reason, sitting in his passenger seat made Susan Clark feel slightly nervous. Mr. Johnsons was well-known for his intelligence and was quite popular at school.
Many female teachers admired him; Susan had heard some gossip about it.
She looked out the window at the quiet car…
Ansel didn’t say much-no topics were initiated; he was simply giving her a ride home.
“Mr. Johnsons,” she turned to him with a smile and asked softly, “Do you have a girlfriend?”