Chapter 686
“So, how am I supposed to pay you back for all this?” I asked with a light laugh.
“Just stay with me,” Edward said again, his tone as earnest as ever.
I smiled at my reflection in the mirror. Right now, I looked beautiful, elegant, and gentle. But I know how it goes–when beauty fades, love fades too. No one stays eighteen forever, but there will always be someone who is eighteen. Someday, as I get older, I’ll be outshined by some innocent or alluring face. I didn’t want to get into deep talks about human nature in such a beautiful moment. I just gave him a small smile and stayed quiet.
I only chose to wear the necklace, leaving the earrings and bracelet in the box. Once I was dressed, Edward brought in a pro to get me ready–hair and makeup took about half an hour. When everything was finally done, Edward took my hand and led me toward the elevator.
The third-floor banquet hall was already buzzing with activity. Guests from all backgrounds were mingling, chatting in small groups. There were young people and some old-money types, too. The host was surrounded by well-wishers, receiving everyone’s congratulations. Edward led me over, and after a few polite words, the host smiled and said, “Your wife is beautiful.”
Edward glanced over at me, his gaze warm and full of tenderness. I felt a bit self-conscious, and right at that moment, a group of young men walked in. One of them immediately caught my eye–his face was almost unreal in its flawless handsomeness. For a guy, having features that refined was seriously attractive. I recognized him instantly. He was the supermodel Elaine had her eye on.
When Edward saw him, his expression shifted a bit. As I glanced over, he gently pulled me aside. “Come on, let me introduce you to a few hotel moguls.”
I followed him into a small circle, and one older gentleman instantly made my eyes light up. Just a few days ago, I’d been flipping through his biography and one of his books, and my professor kept praising him in class. I never expected to actually meet this founder here.
Edward grinned right away. “Do you want to get a photo with him?”
I nodded eagerly. “Can I?”
When you’ve got power and money on your side, things that seem impossible to everyone else suddenly become a walk in the park. Not only did I get a picture with him, I even walked away with his business card.
I was holding a glass of red wine, just about to take a sip, when Edward leaned in close and murmured in my ear, “That first time in the car, we didn’t use any protection. Did you take anything afterwards?”
I froze for a second, looking at him in surprise, my cheeks heating up.
“Maybe hold off on the wine for now. What if you’re pregnant?” Edward gently took the glass from my hand and replaced it with a juice instead.
I let out a soft laugh and snatched the wine back. “Relax, I’m not going to get pregnant that easily.”
Edward’s face clouded over a bit. “I thought maybe you forgot to take the pill.”
“How could I forget something like that?” I arched an eyebrow, then narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t tell me you were hoping I’d get pregnant the very first time.”
Edward looked a little awkward for a few seconds. “No, it’s not that. Having a baby is all about fate… but honestly, I do want us to have a child together someday.”
“Why do men in your family always act like having kids is the top priority?” I couldn’t help getting a bit pissed off.
Edward looked a little deflated, then reached out and gently held my wrist. “Sorry, Victoria. I just…”
“Let me guess, you’re about to say it’s in your DNA, right?” I said with a teasing smile.
Seeing I was letting him off the hook, Edward burst out laughing. “Alright, guilty as charged. Must be a family flaw.”
I let the topic drop, but made up my mind–every time we get intimate from now on, I’ll make sure we take all the right precautions. The last thing I wanted was to wake up one morning and find myself pregnant again. Sure, the Jennings family had all the power and money in the world, and any kid of theirs would basically be born with a silver spoon in their mouth–but that kind of future just wasn’t in my plans.
I was starting to feel a bit hungry, so while Edward was busy talking with others, I wandered over to check out the buffet. Suddenly, a tall guy came walking toward me. He looked like he was after some food too. Noticing I was Asian, he suddenly switched to Mandarin and asked, “Don’t tell me we’re from the same country?”