IN LOVE WITH A SOLDIER, VOLUME 2 - Season 11 Episode 11

“Come over, Mandy, have some fruits,” Cherry said as she handed over an apple to Amanda.

“Thank you so much, Aunt Cherry,” Amanda said sweetly and took the apple from her hand. She had been to Chu family several times and she indeed liked the atmosphere of this big family. Both Uncle Jackson and Aunt Cherry were very amiable and agreeable. Though the family was a prestigious one, most people thought that they were arrogant by nature. However, only after she started mixing up with them did she realize that they were quite down to earth! Everyone was affectionate and emotional and that could explain why they had close relationships with each other from one generation to another.

She loved the atmosphere of being a part of such a loving and huge family.

“Mandy is really a very good girl! Mike, you are so blessed to have such a good wife,” Amy too praised Amanda

“I am really fortunate to have her as my wife. That’s has been the biggest achievement in my life! Am I right, Mandy?” Mike quipped.

Blushing, Amanda just lowered her head and smiled, without saying a word.

“You brat, you are still behaving like a child, it seems you have not grown up yet. Do you know that you have been married now?” Soren rebuked him, even though he felt pleased in his heart.

“All these young people are the same! So are Lawrence and Violet! All three often play and tease each other as if they were small children,” Cherry said, smilingly.

“They will forever be small children in our eyes,” Derek added. Nowadays, when they sat together, what they talked about most was their children. In Derek’s eyes, Alice was also a small girl, who needed his care and concern.

“Fortunately, I’ve grown up!” Austin muttered confidently.

But even though he said it in a very low voice, he was heard by Cherry.

“Austin, come back home tomorrow itself! I have no idea what you are doing in the hotel when you have a home there.” Cherry ordered, in a serious voice.

“Oh, Aunt, you really got me wrong! I leave for work every morning on time. I’ve never been late. Lawrence, am I right? You can testify it,” Austin hastily explained as he winked at Lawrence for his help. “Lawrence, please tell Aunt what I said is true!”

“Well, it’s true that you come to work and get off work on time! But I have no idea what you do after work is over,” Lawrence spoke frankly.

“Oh, my! Lawrence, can’t you just say something nice for me in front of the elders? Why are you embarrassing me?” exclaimed Austin with a hurt expression.
“I will do that if you don’t tease Violet anymore,” Lawrence said after pretending to think for a while.

Everyone laughed at Lawrence’s remark, especially Violet. All the elders beamed with big smiles seeing the playful banter among their kids.

“You are really something, Lawrence!” Austin had been defeated. After rolling his eyes, Austin turned to Cherry and begged, “My dear Aunt, I can promise you that I will come home for a few days, okay?”

Seeing his grief -stricken eyes, Cherry softened her stand immediately. She helplessly shook her head and compromised, “Fine.”

“Oh, yeah! I love you so much, Aunt!” Austin screamed, looking thrilled now. If he had known that his Aunt would agree with him so easily, he wouldn’t have asked Lawrence for any help.

The big family talked with each other happily and the pleasant sound of laughter resonated in their house.

When it was dinner time, everyone sat around the table and enjoyed the food. After seeing the table full of dishes, Austin couldn’t help but admire, “Hmmm, it smells so pleasant and I can’t wait to taste and eat all.”

“Haha, you brat! We all know that Lily is the best cook in the world,” Violet said.

“Let’s start eating!” Cherry announced. Everyone picked up their chopsticks as they did not want to wait anymore.

But Violet was struggling with her appetite and didn’t feel like eating anything at all.

“What do you want to eat, if not this?” Greg asked her after noticing that she hadn’t picked up anything.

“Nothing,” Violet replied in a very low voice. She didn’t want to let others know that she had a poor appetite today since everyone seemed so happy. Not feeling comfortable, Violet felt stuffy inside, just like she had a pile of cotton crammed inside her.

“How about having something light?” Greg continued to ask her as he didn’t find anything unusual.

“Okay,” Violet nodded her head. She had to eat something, or her father would certainly notice and ask her about what happened because he was sitting beside her.

Greg then picked up some vegetables into her bowl.

Before Violet could even put the spinach into her mouth and take a bite, she smelled the sesame oil and her uncomfortable feeling increased.

She immediately put down the chopsticks, covered her mouth and rushed to the toilet located not far away.
Surprised, Greg too put down his chopsticks and walked into the toilet to check what was going on. ‘It must be something wrong as she is not feeling good,” Greg thought.

“What happened?” Mike was totally confused, not knowing what was going on.

Austin’s smile too turned into a frown immediately. With deep worries in his eyes, he darted to the toilet. ‘What’s wrong with Violet?’ he wondered.

Lawrence was more anxious and worried about his sister than anyone else and he too rose up and strode towards the toilet.

In the toilet, Violet lied on her stomach on the stool. She tried to vomit but nothing came out though the feeling persisted.

Greg squatted beside her and patted on her back gently, trying to reduce her discomfort. He thought that she must be sick and wasn’t feeling comfortable.

“Are you okay?” Austin asked Violet, nervousness could be easily seen on his face.

Greg lifted his head to take one look at Austin and motioned for him not to ask her any question at the moment.

Standing at the door of the toilet, Lawrence too had worry lines on his forehead. All of his attention was focused on Violet and he was anxious to know what was going on with his sister.

It took her a while before Violet took a deep breath and feel much better. Supported by Greg, she slowly rose up.

When she turned her back she saw the three of them standing in front of her watching her with signs of deep anxiety in their eyes.

“Are you feeling better now?” Greg asked apprehensively.

Violet nodded her head and replied, “I am much better now. I don’t know why I want to throw up when I smell the food, especially the smell of oil is bothering me too much.”

“What did you eat for lunch?” Greg asked.

“Just some rice, nothing else. I didn’t eat any food and I still don’t feel like eating anything,” Violet replied.

Greg immediately realized something and he looked at Austin first and then at Lawrence and it seemed that all the three had understood what was wrong.
“What’s wrong with you guys? Why are you looking at me like that?” Violet asked, feeling very confused. It seemed that they were exchanging some information through eye contact.

“Little one, you are pregnant!” Austin directly told her.

“What?” Violet opened her mouth, surprised. She then turned to look at her brother Lawrence but got no response from him. She then looked at Greg.

“Austin is probably right!” Greg nodded in approval. The symptom Violet had was exactly like when she was pregnant. “We will take an examination tomorrow,” he suggested.

Violet was a little dumbstruck as this news was so unexpected. Though she indeed wanted to have a baby of her own, she felt nervous after hearing the news.

“It’s good news! This is what we have been looking forward to,” Greg consoled Violet while caressing her back.

“Darling, it is so sudden and I am really very surprised,” Violet cried, snuggling into her husband’s arms.

“It will be fine. Take it easy!” Greg held her tightly in response.

After Violet had become calm, they got back to the dining room and sat down.

“What’s wrong, Violet?” Cherry asked her, with concern. All the other people too stared at her and waited for her reply.

Violet shared a look with Greg and saw the encouraging smile on his face.

Knowing that Violet may be too shy to speak it out, Greg turned to his parents-in-law.

“Father, mother, Violet may be pregnant though we are not so sure,” he declared.
For an instant, all of them looked at Violet surprisingly.

“What good news! I am finally going to have my grandson,” Cherry said beaming while looking at Jackson.

Jackson also felt happy and a big smile was plastered on his lips could be seen on his face.

“Congratulations, Violet!” Amy smiled at her.

“Mother, it hasn’t been confirmed yet. I will take an examination tomorrow and let us see the results,” Violet said blushing.

“Take it easy! Relax, it’s good news to have a baby. Your parents have been looking forward to it for a long time,” Derek said, smilingly.

“Violet, congratulations!” Amanda also said sincerely.

“Thank you, Mandy!” Violet said a cute smile on her face. Seeing that so many people were feeling so happy for her and sending their best wishes to her, she really considered herself the luckiest and happiest girl in the world.

Greg put his hand around Violet’s waist to protect and encourage her. Violet looked at her husband and her eyes softened as tears appeared in them.

How she wished that time passed swiftly and it were tomorrow and she could take the examination and know the result.

After dinner, everyone bid goodbye to each other and left. Violet and Greg decided not to go back to the Xiao family house and stayed at Chu Villa.

Austin also didn’t go to the hotel. Since he had promised his aunt to stay at home for several days, he did that.

In the living room, Violet snuggled into her mother’s chest quietly like a docile cat.

“Mom, I am so afraid that I wouldn’t be a good mother. I am still like a child myself. What would I do?” Violet asked her mother apprehensively.

“My silly girl, everyone learns as they keep growing. How would you know that you wouldn’t be a good mother as you haven’t experienced it?” Cherry then continued, “Do you know how hard life was when I took care of your brother alone abroad? I was also very young and had no experience at all. But I tried my best to devote all my love to my child to give him the best growing environment and enough love. It’s the nature of a mother to care for her baby, look after him and give all the best she has. I am sure you will be a great mother!”

“Thank you, mom!” Violet nodded with confidence. “Actually, Greg and I also wanted to have a baby of our own.”

“Violet, don’t think too much! Go to the hospital to take an examination tomorrow. If it is confirmed, you’d stay at home. Greg is a caring person and I am sure he will take good care of you. If he is too busy, come to us and we will look after you. We as a family could take care of the baby together,” Cherry comforted her and gave her an encouraging smile.

“Okay, mom, I will,” Violet nodded firmly.

Austin and Greg sat in the corridor gazing at the starry sky.

“Where is Lawrence?” asked Greg.

“He is working in the study,” Austin replied. He was not acting funny as he used to be but looked serious tonight.

“Austin, do you have something to talk to me about?” Greg could tell from his serious expression that there must be something going on in his mind.

“Greg, though I trust your love to Violet, I still want to say, please be good to her, care for her, love her, love your baby and make her life happy, okay?” Austin said.

He sincerely hoped that his innocent and carefree Violet could be happy. She had once suffered a lot and she deserved a happy life now. It was good to see that she had married Greg and was living a happy life now. He just wished that their happiness could be kept forever.

“I surely will,” Greg replied with a resolute expression. “She is my life.

Loving her is the most important thing I have to do and will do it all my life. No matter what happens, I will love her and keep treating her like a precious princess.”