?


    After dinner, Gregory and I made our way to the hospital.


    I had packed some dinner for my mom, but when we got to the room, she wasn''t there.


    Ramona was already asleep, nothing pressing there.


    Now, everything hinged on whether Victor could pull through.


    Gregory led me straight to the ICU.


    There, I spotted Be and approached her, saying, "Hey, Mom."


    Be looked at me, and I braced myself for her to get emotional, but her face was unreadable, devoid of emotion.


    I didn''t pry, instead, I just sat her down and said, "Eat something, will you?"


    Be asked, "Gregory told you everything, right?"


    I nodded.


    Be cursed under her breath, "He''s a menace. If he''d just listened to Ramona for once, it wouldn''t havee to this. I do wish he pulls through, just to see his beloved Pearl cozying up with someone else, and to realize that the daughter he raised with so much care all these years... well, she was never really his."


    "That would serve him right."N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    I turned to Gregory, "You told my mom all this?"


    Gregory just raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "I tell Mom what she wants to know."


    I couldn''t help butugh. "Anyone would think she''s your mom."


    Gregory raised an eyebrow, "Well, yeah, give it some time."


    Then he patted my head, "Alright, no use sticking around here. Go home with Be; I''ll let you know if there''s any news."


    Staying did seem pointless, so I headed home with my mom.


    Gregory went off to thepany after dropping us off. He had just taken full control, and with thepany''s stability at stake, any slip-up could be a major loss for the Ford family.


    Not to mention, it could be fodder for gossip.


    ...


    The next day, Be had a photo shoot, leaving me at home working on some design drafts.


    Around noon, Christine showed up with a bag of gourmet food from who knows where, "Gregory sent you, didn''t he?"


    "Not entirely. I missed you too."


    I let out a surprised sound, taking the insted bag from her, "You''re getting sweeter by the day."


    After setting the food on the coffee table, we sat down on the carpet to eat.


    She filled me in on the recent happenings at thepany.


    Eventually, her gazended on the design drafts I had set aside. She quirked an eyebrow, "Why don''t you, while your belly''s still manageable, design your dress?"


    "I am working on it," I replied, taking a sip of my juice. "I''m worried that by the time, I''m in theter stages of pregnancy, I won''t have the energy. I want to finish all the custom orders I have on hand."


    Designing might seem free-wheeling, but it''s actually pretty draining.


    Christine tapped my forehead, "Are you dumb? Is that what I meant?"


    I paused, then realized she was talking about my and Gregory''s wedding dress, andughed, "That''s not urgent, is it?"


    With so many unresolved issues, who knew when the wedding could happen.


    Christine sighed, "That''s exactly what you should be prioritizing. All the wedding prep can be handled by a wedding nner. They''re professionals, they can get things done fast."


    "The dress is the only thing left, or are you telling me you don''t want to wear a dress you''ve designed yourself?" "Of course, I do."


    "You really have it all figured out,"


    Christine raised her eyebrows, finding my n sensible but also a bit worried for me, "You''re okay with just getting the license and having a baby, without a proper wedding?"


    I pondered for a moment before saying earnestly, "With someone else, maybe I''d mind. But with him, not at all."