The Ugly Wife’s Stunning Comeback novel Chapter 1099

"I gave birth to her. How could she not take after me?" Felicia said matter-of-factly.

Max nodded in agreement. "Fair point."

Felicia turned her gaze away from him and lay back flat on the grass, watching the shifting white clouds drift across the azure sky. Max remained seated quietly beside her. There was no need for words. The only sound was the wind whispering through the trees, slowly lulling her turbulent emotions into a profound state of calm.

She lost track of time as she lay there, eventually drifting off into a deep, peaceful sleep. Max lowered his eyes to study the sleeping woman. The dappled sunlight cast a faint, rosy flush across her cheeks. It seemed that only in these rare, unguarded moments beside him could she ever truly be this serene and gentle.

When Felicia finally woke, she found herself staring at the ceiling of an unfamiliar room. She slowly pushed herself upright and leaned against the headboard, taking a moment to gather her bearings. Reaching for her phone on the nightstand, she checked the time. It was five thirty in the evening. Tossing the covers aside, she slipped out of bed.

Just as she stood up, Max pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing her at the edge of the mattress, he offered a warm look. "Awake?"

Felicia nodded, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "We need to go pick up Anne."

Max murmured his agreement. "There is no rush. I already called Professor Schneider to let him know we would be running a little late. Go wash your face first."

Taking his advice, Felicia stepped into the en-suite bathroom to freshen up. Meanwhile, Max arranged for some snacks to be packed for their journey back. When she emerged from the bathroom, Max was waiting.

"Let's go." He took her hand and led her out of the equestrian estate. Once they were settled in the car, he handed her a small paper bag. "I had the kitchen bake some cake. It will have to do for now."

Felicia accepted the bag gratefully, her stomach grumbling right on cue.

The drive back to the city was fast, taking roughly forty minutes. Upon arriving to collect Anne, Max spent over ten minutes speaking with Professor Schneider to check on her academic progress.

The chauffeur drove them directly back to the Oakridge Estate. Since Anne had expressed a desire to sleep at home tonight, Felicia didn't raise any objections. Dinner was already prepared by the time they stepped into the grand villa.

"The nanny can help Anne bathe and change," Max suggested as he removed his jacket. "You should head upstairs and freshen up too. There are clean clothes for you in the closet." Considering she had broken a sweat riding and had lain in the grass, she desperately needed to clean up. Felicia led Anne upstairs, with the nanny following close behind.

"I am going to take my bath, Mom. You hurry up too," Anne called out cheerfully.

"Sure," Felicia promised. She watched her daughter disappear into her bedroom. After lingering in the hallway for a moment, she finally pushed open the door to the master suite. The room looked virtually untouched from the day she had moved out.

Stepping into the massive walk-in closet, she found her old wardrobe exactly as she had left it. There was even an entire row of brand-new, unworn garments still in their garment bags, which Max had previously ordered for her and apparently never bothered to clear out. Most of the pieces were the sleek, form-fitting styles she used to wear to the office. Digging past them, she finally selected a flowing beige maxi dress accented with ultramarine patterns. It came with a matching belt, but leaving it untied offered the perfect, relaxed fit she needed.

Retreating into the luxurious bathroom, she opted against a full shower. Instead, she soaked a plush towel in warm water, wrung it out, and gave herself a thorough sponge bath. Once she was clean, she stood before the grand vanity mirror and turned sideways to inspect her stomach. The slight curve of her lower belly looked like nothing more than the natural bloat following a heavy meal. She placed her hand flat over her abdomen. She wasn't showing yet, and to any outsider, she certainly didn't look like a pregnant woman.