Chapter 7

Upon returning home from the hospital, Luca and Sapphire looked at Melanie with more affection in their eyes. Earlier, they had even asked Edward to help her into the car. "Melanie, you're really a lucky star. If it hadn't been for this good news, I'm afraid Xavier might not have made it. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were blessed. Just focus on resting and bringing these little ones into the world. You'll have done a great job," Sapphire said in a soft tone. But beneath her words lay a hint of condescension—it wasn't exactly out of disdain, but it was shaped by her perception of Melanie's humble background. Being a woman from the countryside with no formal education, Melanie had no advantages other than her beauty. Even if they wanted to find her a job, there wasn't much she could take on without a diploma. And, of course, they couldn't let Melanie take on a poor job, as she was their daughter-in-law. If people found out, it would be embarrassing. Luca and Sapphire shared the same thoughts. Melanie might not have any skills, but she was carrying twins. She could help with household chores and take care of the children, even if she couldn't contribute much else. Melanie wasn't foolish. She understood the underlying meaning behind Sapphire's words. However, she didn't really care. She knew the Grayson family had already gone out of their way to accept her. She had no right to expect anyone to go beyond that. However, she couldn't accept the idea of just being a housewife and caring for her children. She wasn't someone who could easily stay idle. But since she had just arrived, she chose not to argue or cause trouble. She would plan her future later. By the time they returned home, Sophie had already heard the news that Melanie was carrying twins. She couldn't help but mock Melanie, saying, "Some people think they're so special just because they can have children. It's not exactly a skill, is it? Women can stand strong on their own. If you can't do that and just rely on others, you're no better than a parasite." Sapphire glared at Sophie upon hearing this. Sophie pursed her lips and rolled her eyes at Melanie. Then, she walked away. Melanie acted as if she hadn't heard a thing and went to find Nellie. Nellie had been scared and nervous at first, but she had become less timid after spending a few hours with Sapphire. After all, Sapphire and Luca treated Nellie well since she was their granddaughter. During dinner, Yaeger kept sneaking glances at Melanie. She didn't seem like an ordinary woman from the countryside. Although she had grown up in the countryside, she showed no signs of nervousness in her new surroundings. Instead, she remained calm and composed, as if nothing around her was worthy of her attention. During the meal, Sapphire kept adding food to Melanie's plate and encouraged her to eat more. Watching this, Sophie couldn't help but complain. "Mom, how come you're only giving her food? What about me?" Before Sapphire could respond, Edward frowned. "Sophie, if you can't behave at the table, go back to your room!" Edward rarely got angry and seldom scolded his siblings, but when he did, even Sapphire and Luca would tremble with fear, let alone Sophie and Yaeger. Sophie felt wronged but didn't dare to say anything. She wiped away her tears and picked at her food. Melanie, however, continued eating slowly, as if the situation had nothing to do with her. She didn't even spare Sophie a glance. Edward got some vegetables and placed them on Melanie's plate. "Eat more vegetables." Sapphire and Luca had only been serving meat to help Melanie boost her nutrition for the sake of their precious grandsons. However, a diet consisting solely of meat was too rich. Edward had noticed that, so he placed some vegetables on her plate. His considerate gesture caught everyone off guard. He had never served food to anyone before, not even his parents. Yet here he was, serving Melanie and speaking to her softly. It was unbelievable. Sophie stopped eating, staring at the scene in astonishment. Yaeger was also dumbfounded. Wasn't Edward marrying Melanie out of responsibility? How could his actions seem so natural and caring toward her? Although Sophie and Yaeger didn't understand the reason, Sapphire and Luca knew. Melanie was carrying Edward's children. Of course, he would care. But they weren't about to reveal this. Sophie and Yaeger couldn't be trusted to keep the secret. If the news got out, it would harm their reputations. Although Edward had been framed, he had been intimate with Melanie while Elijah had still been alive, which could be seen as adultery. Melanie quietly thanked Edward and began eating after Nellie had finished her meal. Nellie had eaten a lot of meat. Back in the countryside, her meals had usually just been simple vegetables and potatoes. Now, she couldn't resist such a table full of delicious food. After eating two plates of food, she let out a satisfied burp. Sapphire couldn't help but praise her. "Nellie, you're quite the little eater! Are you still hungry? I'll peel an apple for you." Nellie shook her head, then hesitated and nodded shyly. Although she was quite full, the sweet and fragrant apple was hard to resist. She looked at Melanie as if asking for permission. Melanie gave her a warm smile and nodded. Nellie then hopped off her chair and hurried over to Sapphire. "Grandma, I'd love an apple." Hearing this, Sapphire's heart melted. She immediately lifted Nellie onto her lap. "Alright, I'll peel an apple for you." Sapphire took an apple and carefully peeled it. Then, she handed it to Nellie. Nellie looked up at her, then suddenly leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Then, she blushed and took a bite of the apple. Seeing this, Luca couldn't help but feel a bit envious. "Hey, no playing favorites. If you give your grandma a kiss, you have to give one to me too!" With that, he leaned in and offered his cheek to Nellie. Without hesitation, Nellie gave him a kiss on the cheek as well, making the old couple smile with joy. Melanie had been worried that Nellie might not feel comfortable in the Grayson family, but she was pleasantly surprised to see that Nellie fit right in. It was a relief to see that the Grayson family loved her. After dinner, Sapphire gathered up the dishes and went to wash them. Although the Grayson family was wealthy, their political background made them hesitant to hire a maid; after all, they wanted to avoid being criticized. They usually took care of the household chores themselves, with Sapphire handling most of the cooking. Melanie was hesitant, wondering if she should offer to help. She didn't want to come across as overeager, but she also didn't want to take advantage of their hospitality. After all, she was used to cooking and cleaning at her home.