Chapter 10

Meanwhile, elsewhere, after finishing all his tasks at his father's office, Ethan decided to head home. This time, Evan, his cousin, joined him on the way back. Evan had to stop by to pick up some important documents related to the business he and Ethan had been working on recently.

"Good evening, Sir," Risma greeted as she opened the door.

"Is Flora home yet?" Ethan asked as he entered the house, with Evan following behind him.

"Mrs. Flora is not home yet, Sir. But Mrs. Amelia is already home and in her room."

Ethan nodded and walked towards his office with his cousin. Before closing the door, Risma took the opportunity to ask him a question.

"Would you like to have dinner with Mr. Evan? Dinner is ready."

"Sure," Ethan replied, nodding. He and Evan had last eaten together with his father earlier that day. "Just set it up. Evan and I will head over soon. Also, call Amelia to join us for dinner."

Risma immediately followed through with Ethan’s instructions. She hurried to the second floor to find Amelia, who had likely finished her Maghrib prayer.

"Mrs. Amelia," Risma called while knocking on the door several times. After a short while, Amelia, neatly dressed in pajamas, opened the door.

"Yes? What’s up?"

"Sorry to bother you. Mr. Ethan asked you to come down to the dining room. He wants to have dinner with you."

Amelia nodded and quickly descended to the first floor. Upon entering the dining room, she found Ethan and a man she recognized as her husband's cousin. They were taking turns serving the fried rice already laid out on the table.

"Hi."

"Hi, Princess."

It was Evan, not Ethan, who greeted Amelia. Just after meeting her, he even dared to give a compliment.

"Hey!" Ethan interrupted, turning to look at Evan. "What’s with the 'Princess'?"

"Well, I’ll change it. How about ‘Fairy’? Beautiful fairy? Amelia is as beautiful as a fairy from heaven."

"Show-off. Like you’ve ever met a fairy."

"I have met one, Ethan. She’s right in front of me."

Ethan snorted in annoyance. Disinterested in his cousin’s banter, he focused on enjoying the fried rice on his plate.

"Risma, where did you get this fried rice from?" Ethan asked as Risma brought a jug of water.

"It’s not from a restaurant, Sir."

"So you made it?"

The housekeeper shook her head quickly. "Not me either."

Hearing this, Ethan frowned. Usually, if it’s not cooked by Flora, she would have Risma buy food from outside.

"If it’s not bought or made by Risma, then who made it?"

"It was Mrs. Amelia who cooked it, Sir."

Ethan was silent for a moment. Nodding, he continued eating. Meanwhile, Evan, enjoying the beef black pepper on his plate, continued to praise the food.

"Amelia is really good at cooking. Can I come here to eat every day?"

"Do you think my house is a restaurant?" Ethan responded. His face showed displeasure, though it was unclear if he was joking or truly annoyed.

"Consider it nutritional therapy, El. You’re really lucky to have such a good cook for a wife."

"Well then, you should get married soon."

Amelia laughed as she watched the two cousins tease each other. Even after dinner, they continued to engage in conversation about various topics.

***

"Amelia."

From outside the room, Amelia heard Ethan knocking on the door and calling her name. Having just finished applying her skincare, she walked over and quickly opened the door.

"Yes, what is it, honey?"

"Can I talk to you for a minute outside?"

Amelia nodded and followed Ethan to the sofa right outside her room. She sat down and waited for him to speak.

"What do you want to discuss?"

"It’s about our living arrangements."

Amelia’s eyebrows shot up. She wondered why her husband suddenly wanted to talk about their living arrangements. Was he having issues with her staying in this house?

"Living arrangements?" Amelia repeated. "What’s wrong with our living arrangements?"

"After thinking it over, I think it would be better for you to live separately from Flora."

"What do you mean? Are you kicking me out?"

"No," Ethan shook his head. "That’s not what I meant. I just think you might feel uncomfortable living under the same roof as Flora. So, I’d like to offer you a separate place to live."

Amelia didn’t answer immediately. She was contemplating and weighing the offer Ethan had just made. Should she live separately or stay as Flora had arranged?

"Don’t worry, the visiting schedule will be the same as the sleeping schedule."

"You mean, three days at my place and three days here?"

Ethan nodded, confirming Amelia’s guess. After receiving a long lecture from his father, he had to carry out the order as soon as possible.

"So, are you willing to move to the place I have arranged for you?"

"Where is Amelia supposed to move to?"

From the stairs, Flora appeared, having just returned home. Hearing snippets of the conversation between her husband and his new wife, she approached and joined the discussion without hesitation.

"Flora, are you done?"

Flora nodded. As she got close to her husband, she hugged him without any hint of awkwardness, right in front of Amelia.

"I missed you so much," she said after releasing him from the hug. "What are you two talking about? Who’s moving?"

Ethan then pulled Flora to stand next to him and tried to explain his plan.

"Amelia is the one moving," Ethan said quietly.

"Moving where? Why move? She’s already your wife."

"Yes," Ethan replied. "It’s not as you think. I plan to move Amelia to an apartment on Park Avenue."

"You mean, Amelia will have her own place? Separate from me?"

Ethan nodded, confirming his wife’s words.

"Yes, Flora. After discussing it with Abi, it seems that it would be better for both of you to live separately and not in the same house to avoid any jealousy."

"No!" Flora shook her head firmly. Her expression clearly showed her disapproval of Ethan's plan. "If Amelia moves out, I’ll be alone again. Why does she have to move at all? Doesn’t Amelia like living here with you and me?"

"That’s not it. I just want you both to have your own privacy."

"I still don’t agree with Amelia moving out of this house."

"Flora..."

Flora ignored Ethan’s call. Instead of responding, she walked away towards her room, leaving Ethan and Amelia behind without saying another word.