"Did Wren come back to the house today?" Clara asked Alexander, her tone cautious.

Alexander, who had slept in until almost noon, shook his head after a moment of thought. "No, I didn't see him."

Then, as if something clicked in his memory, he added, "But I did hear a car earlier. It didn't stop at your place, though."

Longfield might have been a small, underdeveloped town, but it wasn't so isolated that cars were a rare sight. Hearing a car in the area wasn't unusual.

"Got it. Thanks." Clara nodded, walking up to her door. She inserted her key but paused before turning it. Glancing back at Alexander, she asked, "Why don't you come over for dinner tonight?"

Alexander's eyes brightened briefly, a subtle smile curving his lips. "Sure. I'll even help out in the kitchen. That way, you can show me how to cook something decent. I can't stomach another plate of plain pasta."

The last part of his sentence carried a hint of playful complaint, almost childlike in its delivery.

Clara froze for a second, then let out a soft laugh.

"Alright," she agreed.

...

Thanks to Carlisle, the family conflict in the Zachman residence had settled-for now.

Although Martha still couldn't stand the sight of Shirley and Ivy, she'd stopped openly voicing her desire to kick them out. However, her disdain for them remained as clear as ever, and she continued to treat them with cold indifference.

Shirley, ever the patient opportunist, chose to swallow her pride. She knew better than to stir up drama. After all, no matter how much Carlisle indulged her, everyone had their limits. She spent her days trying to curry favor with Martha to avoid falling out of favor, hoping to improve their strained relationship.

But Martha found Shirley insufferable. No matter how hard Shirley tried, her efforts were met with nothing more than a dismissive glance.

That didn't mean Martha wasn't keeping herself busy.

For Katrina, life hadn't been much easier. Martha had come across some natural supplements, claiming they would "help Katrina get healthier" so she could have a baby for the Zachman family.

Barely half an hour after dinner, Martha had the freshly brewed concoction brought to Katrina.

"The director of the traditional medicine hospital prescribed this," Martha said with a tone that left no room for argument.

"Once your health is in better shape, you and Carlisle should focus on having a baby. I've been patient with you, but for years, you've prioritized the company over starting a family. I've asked you about it multiple times, and you've brushed me off every time. But now..."

Her gaze flicked briefly to where Shirley lingered in the corner, pretending not to eavesdrop.

Then, she turned back, her voice low and laced with meaning. "You need to think about your future. Having a baby would secure your place in this family. Even if Carlisle gets distracted by... her, he won't dare leave you." Martha's dissatisfaction with Katrina had always stemmed from one glaring issue: despite being married into the family for years, Katrina had yet to give birth to a child.

What frustrated her even more was that Katrina's medical reports showed no problems with her fertility. Apart from being

overworked and under constand net

stress, there was nothing physically preventing her from having children. noveldrama

Martha had spent years wondering why Katrina had never gotten pregnant, but at this point, she was less concerned with the "why" and more focused on ensuring it finally happened. She saw this as the only way to tether Carlisle back to the family and solidify his loyalty.

If she couldn't personally drive Shirley and Ivy out, then this was the next best strategy.

Katrina stared at the dark, foul-smelling concoction in front of her, her brows furrowing deeply. She hadn't thought Martha was serious when she mentioned this plan the other day. "What are you waiting for? Drink it before it gets cold," Martha urged impatiently.

"I'm not drinking it." Katrina pushed the bowl away, her tone steady and firm.

"What did you just say?" Martha looked at her, stunned, almost as if she hadn't heard her correctly. Katrina had never defied her before.

Her expression hardened as she said, "Don't tell me you're still refusing to have a child. Do you think your brother-in-law is still alive and that the Salford family can back you up?

"Katrina, I only agreed to let you marry into this family because you were obedient and sensible. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can act like those other women who don't know their place."