Both Lydia and Quincy decided to keep the pregnancy a secret for now, especially from her parents. Lydia was particularly anxious. She feared that if her mother found out, she might cause a scene at Quincy’s company. But Lydia’s frequent absences from home, along with her early departure from the Ford family banquet, had made her mother increasingly worried.One evening, her parents had a discussion and decided to call her back home.In the Fay family living room, Mr. Fay sat on the sofa, glasses perched on his nose, pretending to read a newspaper. In reality, he was glancing toward the door, tapping his fingers as if waiting for someone.“Now, Hubby, remember what we talked about. You can’t lose your temper this time! You promised to speak kindly to our daughter, no yelling. We don’t want another argument,” Mrs. Fay reminded him.“I know, I know. Let’s wait until she’s back,” he responded, somewhat dismissively. After so many years together, Mrs. Fay was used to her husband’s
Quincy let out a sigh, gently helping Lydia sit down. "You don’t need to talk to me like that. If your dad wants to meet, I’ll go."Although Mr. Fay hadn’t formally acknowledged him, Quincy had already started seeing him as his future father-in-law. And in his mind, a father-in-law was like a second father. How could he refuse?Quincy planned to visit Fay Corporation at noon to meet her father. Lydia, worried, wanted to go with him, but he refused, insisting she stay at the company. After a bit of back and forth, Lydia finally agreed.As Quincy stepped out of the car in front of the towering Fay Corporation building, a wave of unexpected nerves hit him. He had been in plenty of meetings with high-profile companies and CEOs, especially when working alongside Nash, and by comparison, the Fay Corporation wasn’t even that big.Yet, the tension remained.Adjusting his tie, he took a deep breath and walked inside.The receptionist greeted him with a polite smile. “Good afternoon, sir
"Who told you to go off on your own without me? Do you dare try that again next time?" Lydia playfully scolded.Quincy could only chuckle in resignation. He glanced at her stomach, thinking, "Well, I definitely won't be taking any chances now." Lydia had become his top priority, and he knew he had to be extra careful from now on.The two of them understood the situation perfectly, but from Mr. Fay’s perspective, it looked quite different. His daughter had just run into Quincy’s arms without a second thought."Lydia, get up! Look at yourself!" Mr. Fay’s angry voice cut through the air, jolting Lydia back to reality. She immediately remembered her father was watching and quickly pulled away from Quincy.“Dad…”“Whenever I ask you to come to the company, you always find excuses. But when it’s to bring Quincy here, you’re here in no time,” Mr. Fay said coldly.Lydia was at a loss for words.Mr. Fay let out a heavy sigh, clearly displeased with Quincy, but he couldn’t go back on what
Mr. Fay maintained outward respect for Quincy in front of the business partner, formally introducing him, though he didn’t mention that Quincy was his future son-in-law.“So, this is one of Mr. Fay’s younger associates, huh? He certainly looks capable!” the business partner praised.“You’re too kind,” Quincy replied modestly.Despite the polite introduction, both Quincy and the business partner sensed the subtle distance in Mr. Fay’s tone when referring to him. This led the business partner to form a somewhat mixed impression of Quincy.Still, Quincy remained calm and composed. After a brief round of small talk, they sat down for dinner. The meal, served in a luxurious five-star hotel, was abundant. However, Quincy’s mind was elsewhere, focused on Lydia.He knew she had been struggling with morning sickness lately, and he was usually the one making sure she ate properly. He couldn’t help but wonder how she was managing on her own.Quincy discreetly pulled out his phone under the
“But I just can’t shake this feeling.” Lydia murmured, anxiety gnawing at her.“Unfortunately, you can’t reach Mr. Quincy right now unless you have someone who can get in touch with him,” her secretary suggested.Lydia’s eyes lit up. Why hadn’t she thought of that? She could call her father!Without wasting another moment, she dialed her father’s number, heart pounding with worry for both Quincy and her dad. As the phone rang, each second felt like an eternity, and she silently prayed that nothing had happened.Finally, the call connected.“Hello… signal’s bad here…” came Mr. Fay’s voice, crackling with interference.The signal was awful, and Lydia’s heart leapt back into her throat. Raising her voice, she tried to make herself heard. “Dad, where are you? I saw a video saying there might be an earthquake in Salt City!”“What? I can’t… hear you clearly,” Mr. Fay’s voice came in and out, making it hard to communicate.“I said there might be an earthquake where you are! Don’t go o
Mr. Fay lay under the blanket, listening to Mrs. Fay’s conversation with the doctor outside. From the sound of it, Lydia could tell her father had injured his leg, but she didn’t dare pull back the blanket to see for herself.Unconsciously, tears welled up in her eyes and began to soak the edge of the blanket. Lydia leaned against the hospital bed, overcome with guilt for her past stubbornness, for always defying her father. “Dad, I was wrong. I’ve really been so wrong.”“Why are you crying? I’m not dead or crippled,” came a strong voice from above her.Surprised, Lydia looked up to see her father, his face flushed with color. He was still as stern as ever, his thick brows knitted together, looking as if he could find fault with her at any moment. But this time, Lydia felt no defiance. Her eyes red from crying, she hugged her father tightly. “Dad, I’m so sorry I got here late.”“It’s just a little earthquake,” Mr. Fay said, clearly flustered by her display of affection, unsure
Lydia immediately toned down her excitement, unsure whether to let go of Quincy’s hand or not, worried her father might catch on. Feeling nervous, she shot a pleading look toward Quincy for help.Luckily, Quincy understood.With Mrs. Fay staying at the hospital to care for Mr. Fay, the two didn’t linger and left soon after. Since the biggest hurdle had been Mr. Fay’s disapproval of their relationship, Lydia wanted to secure everything while things were still in their favor. She had brought all the necessary documents with her just in case, so they decided to head to the courthouse and get their marriage license right away.A short while later, holding their official marriage license in her hands, Lydia’s face lit up with a radiant smile.She extended her hand toward Quincy and playfully said, “Hello, Mr. Quincy. From today onwards, let’s take care of each other.”Quincy’s charming smile, warm and intoxicating like the finest wine, softened his features. Seeing that no one was
Lydia instinctively wanted to decline, but Mrs. Ford seemed to anticipate her response. "It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other," she said. "I still remember when you were just a little girl, and now look at you. You’re not going to get distant with me, are you?"With Mrs. Ford putting it that way, Lydia couldn’t refuse without seeming ungrateful, so she reluctantly agreed.After hanging up, she realized she hadn’t asked if Eugene would be attending the charity gala, and a wave of regret washed over her. She wasn’t eager to see him again. But now that she had accepted, calling back would feel too deliberate.Sighing, Lydia murmured to herself, "I guess it’s better to just clear the air when I see him."Meanwhile, at the Ford family’s living room, Mrs. Ford set down the phone and looked over to the side. "I’ve made the call for you. The rest is up to you."Next to her sat a man dressed in a dark gray outfit, his silver-framed glasses and casual clothing giving him an approac