Chapter 754
Elsie was just about to say something when she suddenly turned her head and started coughing. After a moment, she said with an apologetic smile, “I’ve been dealing with it for years. I was cooking just now, and that’s why the mask.”
Aria grinned. “That explains the amazing smell. Well, I’m dying to eat already.”
Aria and Deangelo sat on the couch, and Owen stood up. “Mrs. Reed, let me help you.”
Elsie immediately shook her head. “No way. You’re a guest here.”
Owen rolled up his sleeves and lowered his voice. “Mrs. Reed, I’m actually good at cooking. I just don’t get many chances to show off in front of my girlfriend.”
Elsie glanced at Aria and smiled. “Alright, come join me in the kitchen then.” Then she turned to Deangelo. “The coffee is ready.”
Deangelo nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”
Aria got up to clean her hands and went into the kitchen with Elsie. Owen hung back for a bit, helping Deangelo with the coffee.
Aria turned on the faucet and glanced at Elsie. “Mrs. Reed, you’re pregnant, right?”
Elsie paused, a little startled. “Did you notice that?”
Aria nodded.
Elsie shot a quick look toward the living room and lowered her voice. “Aria, could you keep this between us? I don’t want Deangelo to know yet.”
Aria said, “Mr. Reed cares a lot about you, and that’s why he asked me to check on you. I’m pretty skilled at what I do. You can trust me. I’ll do my best to keep it from him.”
Maybe because they were both women, Elsie trusted Aria immediately. “Thank you.”
Just then, Deangelo came in to get several cups. Aria finished cleaning her hands and was about to leave the kitchen. Seeing Owen putting on his apron, she tried to help.
“I can do it,” Owen said, tying the apron himself.
“Alright,” Aria replied and walked out.
Deangelo came out with two cups of coffee, and Aria asked, “Mr. Reed, could you tell me more about Mrs. Reed’s condition?”
Deangelo’s face grew more serious. “Elsie has been in poor health. She had a miscarriage years ago, and things only got worse. Now she’s forty, and that makes her a high-risk case. That’s why I need you to persuade her to give up the child.”
Deangelo already knew about Elsie’s pregnancy, but since she wanted to keep it under wraps, he just played along and pretended he didn’t know a thing.
Aria’s eyes grew complicated as she looked at him. “Mr. Reed, why-”
Deangelo said, “You’re wondering why I let Elsie get pregnant, right?”
Aria nodded gently.
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Chapter 754
Deangelo sighed. “She wanted a child so badly that it’s crossed into something dangerous. She even said I could have one with another woman and that she would raise it like her own. I was scared she would hurt herself, so I didn’t stop it.”
Deangelo had once tried to get a vasectomy, but when Elsie found out, she got so furious that she fell seriously ill.
Deangelo explained, “Her childhood was a mess. She has a lot of emotional scars.”
“I understand. I’ll give her a thorough check-up later,” Aria said.
“Thank you. We’ve seen so many doctors, and none of them had any good news. Now that she’s pregnant, she refuses to see any doctor at all,” Deangelo replied.
Half an hour later, the four of them sat down at the dining table. Elsie poured Aria a cup of milk and said, “Owen cooked most of the dishes.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Reed,” Aria said.
Elsie felt another cough coming and stood up instinctively. “Sorry. I’ll be back soon.”
Aria gently held her hand and pressed a few spots on her arm. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine now.”
Sure enough, the coughing stopped. Elsie’s eyes lit up, and she thought that maybe this girl really could fix her.
They had a happy dinner. After the meal, Aria was checking on Elsie when someone knocked on the door.
Deangelo stood up. “I’ll take a look.”
Owen looked toward the door as it opened. A man stood there, wearing a cap and mask.