Chapter 2

Three hours later, Celine returned home while clutching her belly.

After resting for a day, she looked at her pale face in the mirror and tremblingly picked up her lipstick. After doing a simple makeup look, her complexion returned to normal, but she was still sweating coldly due to the pain.

She wrapped herself in a blanket and lay on the couch. She called the housekeeper over. "Sort out all the jewelry and bags in the display cabinet and send them to the auction house for sale. All proceeds will be donated to the impoverished mountainous areas."

Harry heard that just as he pushed the door open and froze instantly. "Celine, why do you suddenly want to sell these things?"

Celine lowered her eyes and avoided his gaze, "I want to donate them because I don't like them. Consider it as doing a good deed for the baby's sake."

Fortunately, Harry did not think much of it and walked over, hugging her and soothing her. "That's good. I'll take you to an auction in a couple of days, you can pick out things you like, and we'll gradually fill the empty display cabinets, okay?"

His tone sounded like comforting a child. Celine did not reply but changed the topic. "Have you finished your work?"

"Yes, I know you've been working hard recently. How about I stay home and accompany you and the baby for the coming week?"

Harry reached out to touch her belly, yet she promptly held his hand.

He looked down and noticed her belly seemed a little flatter. His brows furrowed slightly. Just as he was about to ask, Celine's phone rang.

Seeing the word 'Uncle' on the phone screen, she answered.

"Celine, your aunt came back yesterday. Everyone's discussing having a meal at the old house. Are you coming?"

"I'm not feeling well, so I'll pass..."

Before she could finish, Harry snatched the phone from her. "I'll be there on time with Celine."

Seeing his eagerness to agree to the dinner, Celine's heart skipped a beat. She could not help but think of the 99 failed phone calls she made on the day her father died.

It turned out he seized every opportunity to see the person he truly loved when it came to her. He disregarded her wishes, nor did he care about her recent grief. He simply followed his heart to love and meet the person he loved.

After hanging up, Harry saw the expression on Celine's face and realized he had just lost his composure. He held her cold hand and explained, "Celine, I know you're upset, but you're pregnant after all. You can't wallow in pain. I'll accompany you back to the old house to see your family and clear your head."

Celine forced a smile but said nothing.

The couple arrived at the old house at 7:00 pm.

Before entering, Harry handed Celine a gift. "Your uncle said you and your Aunt Juniper haven't seen each other for years, so we should prepare a gift."

In the past, Celine would have thought him considerate. Now, she knew he just wanted to use her to give a gift to someone he liked. She did not expose him and stepped into the bustling hall.

Hearing the voice, Juniper, who was chatting with someone, turned around and saw Celine and Harry, who was holding Celine's hand. She paused for a moment before asking hesitantly, "Celine, who's this?"

Celine did not answer, unsure how to respond.

Harry remained silent, but the relatives nearby warmly introduced them, "Juniper, you've been abroad for three years and didn't come back for the wedding, so it's normal you don't know him. This is Celine's husband, Harry Slate, the president of Slate Group..."

Juniper swayed slightly, a flash of shock in her eyes. However, having seen many grand occasions, she quickly came to herself and stepped forward to shake his hand.

The two exchanged polite greetings as if it were their first meeting.

Only Celine could see the subtle tension between them. She handed the gift to Juniper, saying only one sentence, "Aunt Juniper, welcome back."

"I'm only back for a month. I'll go back to Palto after this."

Harry's expression visibly turned grim.

Juniper pretended not to notice and smiled as she unwrapped the gift. When she saw the dazzling gemstone necklace, admiration appeared in her eyes. "Celine, you have such good taste! I've had my eye on this necklace for ages."

Celine took in both of their expressions, her tone indifferent. "Harry picked it out. He has always had good taste."

Harry barely ate anything during the meal, spending most of his time drinking and helping Celine with the food.

Relatives and friends smiled dotingly and teased, "Celine is so lucky to have married such a good husband. Look how loving they are!"

Celine forced a smile, looking at the beef and lamb in her bowl without touching her cutlery. After she became pregnant, she suffered from severe nausea and could not eat any meat.

Harry knew this and had been on a vegetarian diet with her for a month. Today, he forgot all about it. He was busy changing plates to bring all the fish and shrimp on the table to Juniper.

Juniper had loved seafood since she was a child.