Chapter 184: It Only Takes a Year
The next day, she went to visit Orlenna. Now, Orlenna lived alone in the spacious mansion.
Seeing Hilla return, Orlenna stepped forward to hold her hand, her eyes turned red. "It’s good that you’re back. It’s good that you’re back!"
Not long after Tyree passed away, Hilla went to Pinecastle. Orlenna had complained that Hilla didn’t care about the Anderson family, nor did she feel sad for the death of Tyree.
Later, she found out that Hilla ate up all the tonics they gave for her pregnancy. She ate until she vomited. And then she secretly shut herself in the room and cried for two days. When she came out, she seemed to be in a daze.
She had the operation done without telling anyone. After knowing these, Orlenna felt very distressed.
It must have been a hard time for her lying alone in the hospital.
All of them were busy with Tyree’s funeral, and even Bruce had not paid enough attention to Hilla. Orlenna felt sad every time she thought about it.
She was in such a distraught state that she had forgotten about Hilla’s health.
Hilla had been in Pinecastle for a year. For several times, Orlenna wanted to call her back, but held it back after a second thought. Hilla had said that she could only recuperate at home, but Pinecastle gave her a chance to complete her unrealized dream.
"Mom, I’ve worried you for the past year. Sorry!"
When Hilla saw Orlenna, she felt that this year was more like a dream. Because of the sudden death of Tyree, Orlenna emaciated alone in the old mansion.
Orlenna was obviously excited at seeing Hilla.
"Let’s not talk about this. Mom made your favorite dishes. You must have an irregular diet abroad. Their food is not to our taste."
Hilla did have a hard time to adapt foreign food. When she first went to Pinecastle, she had suffered a lot in eating. Moreover, she could not cook at all.
Over the past year, Hilla felt that she had changed a lot. She would try to cook herself and do housework when she felt lonely. She missed the people here very much.
"Thank you, Mom!"
Hilla looked at Orlenna with gratitude. When Tyree passed away, Orlenna gave her Tyree’s belongings, without a word of blame.
She understood it all. She felt a burden. Leaving here was somewhat like escaping.
But she also wanted herself to mature.
They all needed time and space to cool off. Now she came back, they cherished their relationship and feelings even more.
"We are a family. There’s no need to say ’Thanks’. I’m happy that you come back. Stay here in the future. You don’t know how much Bruce had missed you. Mom missed you too."
Hearing Orlenna’s words, Hilla subconsciously look at Bruce, and her face flashed a hint of shyness.
Did Bruce miss her this year? Hilla felt that she missed him more.
"Have a try. Do you still like these dishes? I wonder if your taste has changed this year."
Orlenna said from aside. Hilla looked at the table full of dishes. Her eyes turned red.
It felt nice to sit with her family. The happiness was overwhelming.
This was home, and they were her family. Happiness hid in small things like a family sitting together and eating a meal.
"These are all my favorites. It’s a pity that Margaret has not returned."
Hilla took a bite of the fish. It was as tasty as she remembered.
The pork was also braised to get a very beautiful color, and she also enjoyed it.
Orlenna smiled. "It’s good that Margaret is in Far City. I should be more at ease. She finally found a stable job. If she came back, she would make trouble."
Orlenna’s had never stopped scolding Margaret. However, she had Margaret send a message to her every two days to report her life.
Hilla smiled and nodded, enjoying the enthusiasm of Orlenna and Bruce. She ate twice as much as she usually ate.
"I overeat!"
When they returned to Lakeshore Center at night, Hilla had already wrapped her arms around Bruce’s arm, unwilling to move.
Bruce raised his eyebrows and put his palm on her stomach and gently rubbed it. "Why do you eat so much?"
"Mom cooked a table of my favorite dishes. How can I stop? I know I can’t eat anymore, but my mouth didn’t agree. I wish Mom to cook less delicious food next time."
She had missed homemade food for a year and finally had a taste tonight. It went out of control.
"Can I start to lose weight tomorrow?"
Today, she had already lost her strength.
Bruce raised an eyebrow and mocked, "I’m afraid you won’t want to lose weight
tomorrow. It’s good to be a little fatter."
"What’s so good about being a little fatter? Ugly. Are you looking for a reason to dump me? After all, so many beautiful girls are waiting for you."
"Be honest, during the year I left, have you had an affair behind my back?"
Hilla narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Bruce like a cunning fox, planning to skin him alive.
If he dared to touch another woman, she would stomp his leg. "Do I have the time? Besides, I can’t even keep you by my side." "Of course, you can’t restrain me. But it’s fine, I won’t run."
She was sad when she left this place a year ago, she even thought of divorcing Bruce and asking him to find another girl.
But later, Hilla figured out that she was not suitable for pregnancy for the time being, and it was not that she could not have a baby. Why should she push her husband to another woman?
<It is silly. My man is mine. Why should I let others take advantage? Besides, I am very lucky to find a man who likes me and loves me so much.
I must have lost my sense to give up Bruce for the sake of not being able to pregnant.>
Thinking of this, Hilla directly tore up the divorce agreement. Even if she had to go to Pinecastle to study, she would remain to be Bruce’s wife.
<Let those women who covet Bruce regret!
I, Hilla, wouldn’t let other women have Bruce even I leave him for a while. I’m just that bad!>
"Promise me that you won’t run again."
Bruce went forward, picked her up, and strode to the elevator.
She was indeed a little heavier after eating too much, and he was a little tired holding her.
Hilla held Bruce’s neck with a clear conscience and tilted her head to smile like a sly little fox.
"I definitely won’t run abroad for the time being. Even if I do, it would only be a day or two, for business. But I will still run around the country. I forgot to tell you that I plan to go to the countryside in two days."
Hilla smiled a little embarrassedly. As soon as the elevator closed, she lifted her head and kissed Bruce.
"Halle established a studio there. I’m afraid I’m going to start a business with her." Independent Women were cool! They did not need to rely on men.
Bruce felt that he was so unlucky.
...
Bruce frowned. The moment the elevator door opened, he pulled Hilla out.
As soon as she stepped into the house, Hilla was pressed against the door by Bruce.
The room was dark. In fact, as long as she gave a sound, it would light up.
However, Bruce sealed her mouth tightly. Hilla not only could not speak, but also felt that the air in her chest was about to be sucked out by Bruce.
"No, stop!"
As soon as Hilla spoke, the lights in the room immediately lit up. Hilla raised her head and saw Bruce staring at her with affection and desire.
Hilla blushed. She clutched the shirt on his chest tightly and whispered, "Do you disapprove of me going to the countryside? I can come back once a week."
"You want to live separately from me."
Bruce’s voice was slightly hoarse, and Hilla found it hard to answer.
She opened her mouth and said, "Not really. I said I would come back every week."
"I want you to come back every day."
Bruce said like a willful child, rather than a president of a large company.
He was no more like a thirty-year-old.
But Hilla smiled and liked him for no reason.
She pouted and said, "I have already made an agreement with my sister. It was supposed to start a year ago. If she had not been pregnant and given birth to Emily, maybe we would have our own factory now."
"Can’t I afford you?"
Bruce was a little depressed. He got tens of billions of assets but his wife had no money.
During the past year, Hilla had never used his bank card again. He knew that Hilla had been relying on her own design to support herself.
She was becoming more and more independent, and he was becoming more and more dispensable to her.
It was also a fatal blow to men when his wife did not spend his money. If a wife did not need his money, he felt less valued.
Hilla could throw him aside for a studio that had not yet been opened, and it was very likely that she would throw him aside for other jobs in the future.
Bruce suddenly felt he was abandoned by his wife and was full of disapproval towards Hilla’s decision.
However, it was obvious that Hilla didn’t intend to ask for his opinion.
"Of course, you can afford me. I don’t need much to raise and I won’t add up to your burden. But I want to earn my own money and spend it myself."
"My money is yours."
"That’s different. Of course, your money is mine, and even you are mine. But I just want to earn it myself. And my sister is working hard to raise Emily alone. I want to help her."
Hilla lowered her head and had to use Halle as an excuse. Her little fingers were drawing circles on Bruce’s chest, as if her thoughts could be easily exposed.
Bruce raised an eyebrow, obviously still very dissatisfied. "You help her, but leave me alone."
"You are so grown-up. Why do you need my care? Besides, the countryside is so close to River City."
<Recently, you stay outside every day. I have to sleep myself.
Could it be the same to sleep with a quilt rather than sleep with my wife? That feeling, that temperature... I am really upset.
At first, you said that you would go to Pinecastle to study for a year and not let me disturb you. It’s fine and I have endured it.
Now you finally graduate and come back, you say you want to be with your sister...
How could I endure this?>
"Bruce, don’t be like this. You’re already more than thirty. How can you be like this?"
"Why can’t I?"
"Halle has worked so hard. A career would make her and Emily’s life better. Besides, you also know that most of the assets that the Tyson family gave her when they divorced are real estates, many of which are in remote places in the countryside. They do not worth much money. It’s very expensive to raise a child. She can’t just sit idly by."
And a career could also make Halle more confident.
Although Hilla hadn’t been in the country this year, she knew that it was difficult for Halle to take care of her child alone. She knew that Halle had secretly hidden in the room and cried when Emily was sick.
"I can also support your sister."
Bruce said indifferently. As long as Hilla could be with him, he didn’t mind raising Halle and Emily.
Hilla rolled her eyes at him. "My sister won’t agree. She won’t even marry again. Will she depend on her brother-in-law?"
Halle was so young, even if she had Emily. She was not thirty years old yet. It was not too difficult for her to marry another man with good conditions.
But Halle was unwilling. For so many years she preferred to live in the countryside with Emily.
Although they lived peacefully, Hilla still felt that her sister was very miserable.
"But now she is going to take away my wife."
Bruce facepalmed. Was he so unimportant?
Hilla smiled, "What? We are sisters. She takes away her own sister."
"But you are also my wife. We have been separated for a year. Hilla... a middle-aged man can’t be celibate for so long!"
A year was basically his limit.
"Then I will accompany you for a few more days before leaving."
Hilla smiled mischievously. Bruce got angry immediately.
In the end, he was still inferior to her sister!
Hilla had just stayed in River City for three days, and now she began to pack up her things and planned to go to the countryside. It was very difficult for Halle to take care of the child alone and work in the studio.
"I will come back to see you every week."
Hilla hung herself on Bruce like a kitten, coaxing the man who was obviously very reluctant.
"I can only see my wife once a week."
Bruce forced an insincere smile. Hilla secretly made a grimace. When they were busy, she might not come back for two weeks.
However, she dared not tell Bruce.
"This is only temporary. When the studio is on the right track, I am just a designer. I can also work at home."
Bruce didn’t believe this kind of nonsense.
"Oh, my husband is the best. He loves me the most. He must be the one who understands me the most, right?"
Bruce could never resist Hilla’s request like this. He could only sigh and said reluctantly, "You must come back every week."
Hilla nodded. She was prepared to agree with any condition as long as he let her go.
"I’ll send you there."
Bruce could only compromise. Hilla immediately picked up her luggage happily.
When she went downstairs, she found that there was a person at the door.
After a year, Horton had changed. However, he was still a gentleman with golden-rimmed glasses. He smiled faintly. At the first sight, there was nothing wrong.
But Hilla had a hunch that Horton was more potent now.