Chapter 249: Chapter 249 We Have A Kid

In the living room of the Miller residence, David magnanimously said while pointing to Alfred’s mother, “This is Grandma!”

Berthold seemed shy.

Nevertheless, he still approached Lucia and threw himself into her arms. Holding the adorable boy, Lucia felt troubled.

Rather than joy, she felt a sense of guilt.

She was already quite old, but she still insisted on holding Berthold, and she even gave him a kiss.

She initially brought gifts to try to fish in troubled waters and bring up marriage on behalf of her son. With the current circumstances, it was a given that all the gifts were for her grandson now.

Alfred sat beside Lucia, his gaze fixed on the child. After a moment, he looked at Melora sitting across from him.

Melora didn’t deny it. “Yes, we have a child together.”

Alfred gently closed his eyes.

He calculated the timeline and realized he must have gotten her pregnant the last time he visited Barnwood.

Moreover, she must have discovered she was pregnant when she went to Coldbridge.

In what state of mind was she in when we broke up back then?

Alfred desperately tried to think but found that they were trapped at a dead end.

He was no longer a naive young man. Other than her love for the child, she must have resented him for her to leave home for two years and raise a child alone..

Alfred’s gaze darkened.

Suddenly, he remembered what Henry once said, “How well can an unmarried woman in her thirties who doesn’t come home do?”

While he was lost in thought, Henry returned with Crystal.

Looking at the lively living room, Henry chuckled. “What’s the occasion? Why is everyone here?”

He walked over to ruffle Berthold’s hair and greeted Lucia.

Lucia was fond of him, not to mention she needed his help now. She couldn’t help but favor him even more at the moment.

Henry brought Crystal to take their seats.

He glanced at his father.

David looked at his son too.

They were trying to pass the ball to each other. Neither of them wanted to play the villain in this situation! In the end, Julia called out tearfully, “David!”

David didn’t want to lose face in front of his wife. Taking a sip of coffee, he smiled and said to Lucia, “The kids are too immature.

Let’s see what they have to say.”

Lucia gradually stood up to speak her mind.

Crystal thought she shouldn’t be there, so she brought Berthold outside to play.

With the child gone, Lucia found it much easier to act.

Alfred was incredibly respectful toward her.

Lucia said sternly, “Alfred, the Millers and the Lodges are in-laws. Not to mention Melora is your junior. She usually addresses you as Mr. Alfred. How could you do such a thing? The kid is already so big, but our family had no clue! Is this how I have taught you to conduct yourself all these years?”

Alfred felt ashamed. “I’m very sorry.”

Lucia waved her hand. “You should be apologizing to Melora. Do you need me to tell you what to do?”

Alfred was momentarily stunned.

Without further delay, he approached David and his wife, then knelt down.

The couple was shocked.

They didn’t expect Alfred to be so straightforward.

Someone of his status usually wouldn’t even apologize, let alone kneel.

David wasn’t a stubborn person.

He knew his daughter well. If she hadn’t genuinely liked Alfred, why would she go through all the hardships and secretly give birth to Berthold?

Moreover, Henry had already confronted him.

David didn’t know what to say, so he gave his wife a look.

Julia didn’t want to ruin their relationship. She helped Alfred up and said politely, “Now that you and Melora have Berthold, you two should decide your future on your own.”

Lucia felt even more ashamed.

Henry turned to look at his sister. “Melora, what’s your opinion?”

Melora calmly stared at Alfred, and he stared back at her.

She knew that he would no longer use their incompatibility as an excuse now that they had Berthold. Through the efforts of both families, he would be willing to marry her.

However, she didn’t want to marry him.

Why should she marry him?

Melora’s lips twitched, and Alfred guessed what she wanted to say. He immediately cut her off, “Let’s talk privately!”

Melora looked at Henry.

Henry took a sip of coffee and chuckled. “Sure, go ahead. He won’t do anything to you. Besides, he’s not that young anymore to do anything to you!”

Henry was indeed sharp-tongued.

Melora agreed.

It was true that talking in front of the elders wasn’t comfortable.

The two of them had their conversation in the small reception room.

Melora stood by the window with her back facing Alfred. She said softly, “I got pregnant the last time we did it. I only found out after we broke up.”

Alfred gazed at her back.

He shook his head gently. “You’re lying, Melora. You found out before we broke up, didn’t you?”

Melora took in a shallow breath.

After calming herself down, she said, “Nothing can escape your eyes, Mr. Lodge. Yes, I found out the night we broke up. I wanted to tell you, but you said we weren’t suitable for each other.”

In fact, she already knew it was impossible to date him, even if he didn’t make it clear.

She still had her dignity.

Alfred didn’t lack charming women. How could a little girl like her win his heart? It was wishful thinking!

Melora turned around and smiled faintly. “Crystal once told me she’s only staying with my brother for Skyler’s sake. After all, Skyler needs a father. But Mr. Lodge, Berthold has never had a father, and he’s perfectly fine. We don’t need to force ourselves to be together for the child.”

She was much more rational than before. “You can visit him in Barnwood anytime you want. I won’t stop you.”

Nonetheless, taking Berthold to Coldbridge with her was out of the question.

She would never go to Coldbridge again in this lifetime.

She talked for quite some time.

On the other hand, Alfred remained silent the whole time. He sat on the couch and smoked.

Unlike his mother, he didn’t think having a child would make things better. He knew that precisely. because of the child, Melora hated him more and was even less willing to forgive him.

Alfred had experienced a lot in life. He wasn’t an impulsive person.

Even in the face of relationships, the woman he loved, and his own flesh and blood, he could remain composed.

That was because he had too many things to consider!

After finishing a cigarette, he seemed to have figured out everything. He asked her softly, “Have you made. your decision?”

Melora responded with a hum.

Alfred approached her and lifted his hand, wanting to caress her hair like he used to. Yet, in the end, he hesitated, and his hand remained suspended in the air....

After a long while, he finally said hoarsely, “I bet you had a tough time over the past two years.”

She nodded. “Yes.”

Alfred didn’t say anything further. He pulled her into his embrace.

He didn’t feel any desire, not even a trace of romantic sentiment. It was more like an elder comforting someone younger. He held her silently, soothing her.

His tenderness was like poison to her.

Melora didn’t want to lose herself in it. She gently pushed him away, saying, “In the future, we are only Berthold’s parents, nothing more.”

Alfred didn’t force her.

He spoke softly under the shade of the curtain. “Melora, when I was with you, I never had another woman.”

Melora was momentarily stunned, but she smiled faintly in the end. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Alfred and Melora made up their minds and announced their decision.

Lucia was furious. She thought her son was being irresponsible.

On the other hand, the Millers remained relatively calm.

David accepted Alfred’s compensation on behalf of Melora, as well as the child support for Berthold. These were things a responsible man should do.

He said to Lucia, “The kids have their own opinions, and that’s normal. Besides, I don’t think they have feelings for each other anymore after all this time. In the future, we’ll still be relatives, and we won’t stop you if you want to see Berthold.”

Lucia seemed somewhat disappointed.

The kind Julia persuaded Lucia to stay with them at Barnwood for a few more days.

As for Alfred, he was busy with work and had to return to Coldbridge in the afternoon.

This matter was settled for now.

In the afternoon, Crystal sat in the passenger seat when they were out to pick up Skyler. She was lost in thought.

Henry smiled faintly. “This is pretty expected. Melora is soft-hearted. If she hadn’t been hurt deeply, she would’ve gone back to him two years ago.”

He continued in his deep voice, “She has changed quite a bit in these two years.”

Crystal’s heart softened.

She turned her head and teased him intentionally, “Melora sure is courageous. It seems like our efforts for our child...”

Henry gave her a sidelong glance.

He lightly stepped on the accelerator and drove a distance before smiling. “Did we make up? It’s been two months, but we haven’t had any intimate moments. Do you call this making up?”

Crystal remained silent.

Engaging in a battle of wits with him definitely wouldn’t bring her any good.

Both of them fell silent again. They never found closure from what happened in the past.

At a red light at the intersection, Henry gently held her hand and murmured, “Dress up nicely for our anniversary. Do it for me, okay?”

Crystal responded with a soft hum.

She wasn’t devoid of feelings. She could sense that Henry had changed significantly.

The way he treated her and their child, including the way he handled Alfred and Melora’s matters, showed that he had a lot of self-restraint now.

Now that they were living together and had a child, Crystal was willing to treat him slightly better. Hence, even though she could clearly sense his intentions for their anniversary night, she still agreed.

As for what happened before this, she decided to leave the past in the hands of time.

Crystal didn’t realize how important her soft response was to Henry.

It wasn’t like he couldn’t hold himself back when he had managed to get through three years without a woman-not to mention he was seeing her every day now. What mattered the most was her willingness. her willingness to open herself up to him and trust him!