Chapter 254: Chapter 264: You’re Not Even Tempted by a Buy 1, Get 2 Free Deal?

About half an hour later, Holly Winslow met up with Anna Willow. The moment they saw each other, Anna reached out and patted Holly’s belly, which had gotten a little chubby lately.

"Holly, with a belly like that, I wouldn’t believe you if you told me you weren’t pregnant."

She added with a grin, "Hey, goddaughter, call me Auntie. Auntie will buy you pretty floral dresses."

Holly was exasperated. She slapped the back of Anna’s hand and shot her a glare. "What goddaughter? How about I go steal one for you?"

Anna couldn’t hold back her laughter. "I’m fine with a stolen one, but they have to be as pretty as you and as handsome as your dashing husband."

Holly couldn’t picture a daughter who looked like both her and Mortimer. "I can’t imagine it."

"You’ll know once you have one."

Anna gave her a mischievous nudge. "Seriously, Holly, won’t you consider having one? The government is even promoting marrying and having kids young. You’ve got the ’marrying young’ part down, so you might as well get a head start on the ’kids’ part, too."

Holly: "..."

She was at a loss for words. "Anna, say one more word and our friendship is over."

Anna affectionately linked arms with her, waving her other hand dismissively. "Okay, okay, I’ll stop! I know pregnant women can be moody. Don’t get mad, it’s not good for the baby." With that, she took off running.

"Anna Willow!! You’re so dead."

Holly chased her down and "mercilessly" tickled her. Anna was doubled over with laughter, surrendering with her hands in the air. "Holly! HAHAHA! Be careful! You don’t want to upset the baby!"

"We’re done!" Holly’s tickling became even more vicious.

Meanwhile, Zeke Zane sent Mortimer Quincy a text: Heard your wife is pregnant?

A minute or two later, Mortimer casually replied: Being jealous won’t do you any good.

Zeke: "..."

’Mortimer, I’m starting to realize just how shameless you’ve gotten lately.’

Mortimer: I’m married.

Zeke: "..."

Damn it!

’As if anyone doesn’t know you’re married.’

...

Mortimer got off work at five o’clock sharp that day. When he arrived, Holly wasn’t home yet. After changing into some comfortable clothes, he gave Zeke Zane a call.

He found out Zeke was in his dorm, so it was a safe bet that his wife had gone shopping with Anna Willow. With that, he picked up a book and started to read.

Holly didn’t get back until six-thirty, laden with shopping bags. Seeing Mortimer sitting on the sofa, she asked while changing into her slippers, "Honey, how come you’re home from work so early?"

"I heard my wife is pregnant, so I came home early to take care of her." Mortimer set down his book, getting up to take the bags from her hands.

Holly shot him a glare and pouted. "It’s all your fault. If you weren’t always so over-the-top, why would everyone be spreading rumors that I’m pregnant?"

She stuck out her stomach, joking at her own expense, "Does this look pregnant? This is clearly a food baby."

Mortimer chuckled. After setting down her bags, he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Then let’s have one for real and give them something to see."

He paused for a moment before adding, "We have to live up to their expectations."

With age, the man’s features had only grown more deep-set and dashing, carrying a hint of masculine allure.

Holly swallowed hard, then pushed away his handsome face as he leaned in closer. "Don’t try to tempt me. It won’t work."

"I’m the unattainable pixie you can never have."

Mortimer let out another low chuckle, nuzzling her neck. "My unattainable pixie is so heartless?"

"Kisses, cuddles, and making love... it’s a buy-one-get-two-free deal. You’re not even a little tempted?"

Holly’s almond-shaped eyes darted playfully. "I’m only interested in a man who can recite pi from memory in a single breath."

Mortimer remained perfectly calm, letting out an amused "Oh?" "Honey, believe it or not, I can recite pi in half a breath."

"I don’t believe you." Her expression was one of clear disbelief.

Mortimer raised an eyebrow. "Wanna bet?"

"You’re on. The loser has to bark like a puppy." Holly lifted her chin, full of confidence.

"Deal. Listen closely, honey."

Mortimer uttered a single word: "Pi."

Holly: "..."

She stared at him, her expression clearly saying, ’If you dare make me bark like a puppy, you are a dead man.’

Mortimer: "..."

...

After their teacher’s certification exams, Mortimer and Holly had a three-day break from classes, so they packed their bags and headed home.

The moment they got out of the car, Mortimer realized a problem: he and his wife were about to be "separated."

He tried to negotiate. "Honey, how about one night at each of our family’s places?"

"In your dreams. We’re staying at our own family homes," Holly rejected him heartlessly.

Mortimer pretended not to hear her. "Okay, so we’re staying at my wife’s place."

Holly: "..."

She stared at him with a sly grin. "Aren’t you afraid of my dad’s death glare?"

"I’d die a happy man in my wife’s bed," Mortimer, ever the smooth-talker, replied.

Holly: "..."

Wyatt Winslow wasn’t home.

Holly gave him a call and learned he had gone to City B for a "business trip."

She opened a window to air the place out. "Dad, I’m home."

"Okay. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done here."

The voice on the other end of the line answered calmly.

A thin layer of dust had settled over the house, especially in the kitchen, which looked like it hadn’t been used in a while.

The two of them cleaned the house from top to bottom, washing all the bedding in Wyatt’s room.

While emptying the trash, Holly found cigarette butts again. She didn’t know if he was smoking more because of work, or for some other reason.

She bent down, took out the trash, put in a new bag, and finished by spraying some air freshener.

After cleaning, the two went out to buy groceries, then started preparing dinner in the kitchen.

It was a familiar, domestic scene: Mortimer was the head chef while Holly helped with the prep work. Her phone was playing music, and she hummed along to the lyrics, "I love you too much..."

Washing the vegetables, Mortimer chimed in as usual, "I love you too much, too."

Holly: "..."

She picked up a scallion and lightly "smacked" him with it. "Quincy the Puppy, if you don’t know the lyrics, don’t just make them up."

Mortimer raised an eyebrow. "I do know them."

"Baby, baby, I love you, just like Mortimer loves Holly."

Holly: "..."

A second later, she was bent over laughing. "Honey, are you trying to pioneer a new trend in the music world?"

"It’s all thanks to my wife’s excellent guidance."

Seeing her eyes crinkle with laughter, Mortimer leaned over and planted a loud kiss on her cheek.

Suddenly, they heard the front door open. The two of them immediately straightened up. Holly put down the vegetables she was holding and ran out, exclaiming happily, "Dad, you’re back!"

She reached out to take the things he was carrying.

Wyatt didn’t let her. "They’re too heavy," he said with a simple "Mm."

After putting the things on the table, he added, "Take these and eat them."

Holly glanced at the clock on the wall. It was a few minutes past six. Less than six hours had passed since she had called him.

She understood everything. She hugged his arm and said affectionately, "Dad, I missed you so much."

"Mm." Wyatt started to raise his hand, but then stopped.

’His daughter was grown up now. He couldn’t treat her like she was still a little girl.’

"Dad, you rest for a bit. I’ll go make dinner," Holly said, not noticing his hesitation.

Wyatt shook his head, his voice low. "I’ll do it. We got a new gas stove; you won’t know how to use it."

When he entered the kitchen and saw Mortimer, his expression grew much more serious. Mortimer, his sleeves rolled up, greeted him respectfully, "Dad."

"Mm."

Wyatt, who had intended to cook, was in the kitchen for less than half a minute before he walked out.

Mortimer, who had overheard the conversation between Wyatt and Holly, was left speechless. "..."

Perhaps because Mortimer was there, the already quiet Wyatt became even more taciturn.

After dinner, Holly brought out the family’s Chinese chess set, hoping to improve the bond between her father and her husband. "Dad, you should play a game with Quincy the—ahem, with Mortimer."

"He always wins a ton of money off me when we play. Dad, you have to win it back for me."