Chapter 11

"I absolutely don’t agree with you moving Amelia to the apartment."  

After previously protesting because she overheard a conversation between her husband and his new wife, Flora continued her rant once they were in the bedroom. She was firmly against Ethan putting Amelia in an apartment, separated from her.  

Flora gave many reasons for her objection. One of them was that she would feel lonely if Amelia left the house where she and Ethan currently lived.  

"Besides, there’s no rule that says the first and second wives can’t live in the same house. So why are you trying to separate us? Are you purposely trying to create a barrier between me and Amelia?"  

Ethan shook his head. Why was Flora overthinking this? His intentions were good. He didn’t want jealousy or discomfort between his two wives if they lived under the same roof.  

Right now, Flora might not feel anything, but it was entirely possible that problems or awkwardness could arise in the future. Ethan wanted to prevent that, as his father had advised.  

"It’s not like that, honey. I’m not trying to separate you from Amelia. I’m just trying to be fair to her. Didn’t you also tell me to be fair? You have your own living space, so it’s only fair that Amelia has hers too. Besides, it’s just an apartment."  

"If we live separately, does that mean you’ll be apart from me?"  

Ethan frowned, puzzled by Flora’s question.  

"Apart how?"  

"Don’t act like you don’t understand," Flora retorted. "As per our original agreement, Amelia and I already have a schedule for spending time with you, right? If Amelia and I live apart, it means for three nights, I won’t see you at all. It’s a different story if we all live in the same house. Even if you sleep in Amelia’s room, I can still see you around the house."  

Ethan let out a deep sigh. He was confused about how to make Flora understand. She was the one who had pushed him to get married again and to be fair. And now? When he was trying to implement fairness step by step, she was hesitant.  

"But my intentions are good, Flora. I feel bad for Amelia too. She deserves her own privacy. I also don’t want you to end up feeling uncomfortable in the future."  

Flora stayed silent. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she got up and walked toward the bathroom, possibly to change her clothes.  

Meanwhile, Ethan remained seated on the bed, deep in thought about what else he could do to make his wife agree with his decision. Fundamentally, it was better for Amelia and Flora to live separately than together.  

Besides, Flora often behaved affectionately and clingy toward Ethan without considering the setting. While that was perfectly normal, he couldn’t help but feel bad if Amelia had to witness it.  

"I’ll agree to you placing Amelia in the Park Avenue apartment."  

Flora, who had just come out of the bathroom after changing clothes, initiated the conversation. With firm resolve, she finally made a decision.  

"Thank goodness. I’ll take Amelia to see the apartment as soon as possible. You’re welcome to come along too."  

Flora smiled, walking closer and sitting beside Ethan once again.  

"But if you want to place Amelia in her own apartment, separate from me, there’s a condition, Ethan."  

Ethan raised his eyebrows. He had just exhaled a sigh of relief, but now his wife was making him feel anxious with her new demand.  

"Oh Lord, Flora, now you’re setting conditions?"  

"Of course. You’re free to move Amelia out, but only if you agree to my request this time."  

"What do you want now?"  

Flora reached out her hand, gently caressing Ethan’s cheeks. Smiling, she revealed her demand.  

"Once Amelia moves into the apartment, I want you to start having a physical relationship with her. I want to hear the news that Amelia is pregnant with your child soon. How do you expect her to get pregnant if you never even attempt to be intimate with her?"  

"Flora…" Ethan sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. His wife hadn’t forgotten her original goal of forcing him to marry Amelia.  

"Children are God’s will. No matter how much I try, if God hasn’t decided to bless us, the result will still be nothing."  

"At least make an effort. It’s better than not trying at all. And I’m certain that up until now, you and Amelia haven’t really tried, have you?"  

Ethan said nothing. What could he say? Flora’s accusation was true. He hadn’t even shared a bed with Amelia, let alone anything else.  

"So? The decision is yours. I’ll let Amelia live in her apartment if you agree to my condition—one I’ve already mentioned from the start."  

Ethan took a deep breath for what felt like the hundredth time. Agreeing to Flora’s demand wasn’t easy. He knew the purpose of marrying Amelia was to have a child, but doing it so soon felt overwhelming. Just a few days ago, he had asked Amelia for more time to adjust.  

"Ethan," Flora called again, seeing her husband sitting silently, lost in thought. "Come on, what’s it going to be? I’m tired. Make your decision quickly."  

Ethan closed his eyes dramatically, weighing his options. Could he meet Flora’s demand and make Amelia pregnant in the near future?  

"Okay," Ethan finally said softly. "I’ll agree to what you asked for."  

He had made his decision. After all, whether he accepted or rejected Flora’s request, the goal remained the same—he had to have a child with Amelia. Now, it was just a matter of convincing himself when he would be ready to fulfill his responsibility to his second wife.  

"Thank God. Finally, I can sleep soundly. Let’s go to bed. Tomorrow, I’ll let Amelia know to start preparing for the move."