Six months later —
"Mr. Jones, you can take away the rest. I am already full, and I might not have more," Arwen said, gently pushing away the bowl of fresh fruit salad.
Mr. Jones looked at her and smiled patiently. "Madam, but sir had asked me to make sure that you finish this up."
"I know he did," Arwen said with a soft sigh, nodding. "And it’s completely fine. He doesn’t need to know that I have only eaten half. I have had enough, and you know it, don’t you?"
She blinked her eyes mischievously at him, and the old butler’s expression softened into a knowing smile. He gestured for a maid to step forward and take the bowl away.
As the maid followed his order, Arwen smiled back at him.
Over the past six months, Aiden’s anxiousness hadn’t eased even a little. If anything, it had grown more obsessed with looking after her. He would stay home most of the time, and when she finally forced him to leave for work, he would leave behind a full page of instructions about how she should be cared for in his absence.
He fretted over every minor thing —especially her diet, her rest, her mood swings, and even the number of steps she took in a day. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
But Arwen had long stopped trying to reason with his worries. Instead, she had teamed up with everyone in the house —Mr. Jones, Neil, and even Emyr —to help keep Aiden’s protectiveness in check.
After all, there was only so much smothering she could endure before she started feeling like a fragile porcelain doll instead of a pregnant woman.
As the maid walked away with the bowl, a family voice echoed from the hallway, laced with amusement.
"Don’t you feel guilty for betraying your husband’s love and care, Wenna?"
Arwen turned towards the doorway, finding Gianna walking in, her arms crossed and eyes narrowed as though she had caught a thief red-handed.
"My uncle loves you so much, and this is how you treat him —by working with others to fool him. Tell me, have you finally gotten bored by his antics?"
Arwen pursed her lips, trying to hide her laugh. "Can I really get bored by your uncle’s antics?"
Gianna shrugged with nonchalance. "How would I know?" she said, continuing, "Given how you are tricking him into believing you are the most obedient wife at home, it does seem like you are done with his usual nagging."
"If you feel so," Arwen said, wagging her finger lightly, "then you don’t know me enough, Anna. Even Ide’s nagging over the little things sounds like my favourite music to my ears. I could never get bored with it. If anything, I feel getting more and more accustomed to his recent ritual. I feel terrible every time I feel that he might get back to how he used to be after the baby comes into this world."
"Really?" Gianna asked, raising a brow, clearly unconvinced.
Arwen smiled wistfully. "Of course. Or else, why do you think I accept all his rules so easily when I could easily refuse them?" Aiden would never force her into anything. Not even in his own set of rules. As long as she asks, he will try to make changes for her.
"Why?"
"Because I love it when he cares about me," Arwen said softly, her hand instinctively brushing over her growing belly. "It reminds me every day how much I mean to him. How could I ever get bored or tired of a love like that? Everything I have ever wanted has always been him —just him and his love."
Gianna watched him in silence for a few moments, her teasing fading into quiet fondness. "Who would believe you are talking about your husband of more than a year. You sound like a love-struck teenager talking about her first crush."
Arwen chuckled, not defending herself. "I don’t mind looking like a love-struck teenager. He has all the charms and abilities to attract me that way. And he had kept me attracted."
"Yeah, and that’s very evident," She then checked the time on her watch before speaking again. "Now, if you have forgotten our appointment, let me remind you that we need to go to decide on the wedding dress. You need to help me decide."
"Who said I have forgotten it?" Arwen asked, shaking her head and reaching to take the support of the armrest to stand up. "I haven’t forgotten that my friend is going to be a bride next month. Nor did I forget that I need to accompany you to the appointment with Veil & Vow. I was sitting all ready, waiting for you."
Gianna smiled, her cheeks flushing in a shade of subtle red. "Great, then let’s not wait more. Let’s go," she said, hooking her arm carefully with Arwen before slowly taking her.
Mr. Jones, who had left earlier, returned. "Madam," he spoke politely, "Alfred is waiting with the car outside. He will be taking you and Young Miss to the store."
Before Arwen could nod to him, Gianna spoke with a slight frown. "There is no need for him to take us, Mr. Jones. I have brought my car. I can drive."
Mr. Jones’s gaze darted to Arwen briefly before he said, "Sir has already instructed Alfred. He would be taking you two; otherwise, Madam won’t be going."
"Seriously?" Gianna turned to Arwen.


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