Meanwhile, Julia, unaware of these developments, emerged from the bathroom, wearing loose pajamas and sporting half-wet hair. Max passed by, catching a glimpse of her, and their eyes met briefly.
"Well, a little," Max said, just as the house was suddenly plunged into darkness. Julia, being nearsighted, was now almost blind in the absence of light. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. Max swiftly activated the flashlight on his phone and declared in a deep, reassuring tone, "I'll investigate, stay put." Julia obeyed, and Max ventured into the corridor to assess the situation. Noticing the corridor lights were still on, he ruled out the possibility of a power outage. Returning to Julia, he suggested, "Perhaps we overlooked paying the bill." When he had asked Sean to purchase the house, he was in a hurry and hadn't inquired about utility bills or learned how to pay them. Julia, having experienced a power outage before, inquired, "Do you know the account details?" This question stumped Max, as he was unfamiliar with such matters, being the president of the Darius Group. His mind raced, and he admitted, "I can't recall the passcode; I need time to think." Julia proposed a solution, "The homeowner might assist. You can request the homeowner to settle the bill initially." Max, being the homeowner himself, would reveal his secrets if he made the call. He said solemnly, "It's too late; I apologize. I don't like disturbing others; we have candles at home; let's light them." Julia thought he was too hesitant to contact the homeowner.
Julia didn't give it much thought, assuming it was just a minor issue. Max, however, retrieved a candle from the drawer, lit it, and placed it at the center of the dining table. The warm, golden glow illuminated the room, casting a cozy ambiance as they sat opposite each other. Julia remarked with a smile, "This feels like an intimate candlelight dinner on a special occasion." Max suddenly addressed her, "Anita." She responded, "Yes?" "I have a gift for you," he said, pulling out a jewelry box from a drawer and presenting it to her. Julia's curiosity was roused, "What's the occasion? Why the gift?" As she opened the box, she discovered a pair of rings inside. Glancing at Max, she immediately understood the significance. He explained, "I didn't have the chance to purchase wedding rings when we got married, so here they are." Julia was moved, "When did you buy them?" Max's thoughtful gesture touched her heart, even though she hadn't been concerned about having a wedding ring.
Max revealed, "I purchased them yesterday." He then took her hand, selected the woman's ring from the box, and gently placed it on her finger. The candle, ring, and spaghetti created a romantic atmosphere. Max expressed his sincere hope, "Julia, I wish our marriage to last forever." There were no flowery declarations or sweet nothing's, just a genuine desire. In a whirlwind marriage, they had formed a family, and, naturally, they both hoped for a long and lasting union. Julia nodded in agreement, "Yes." Max smiled, took out the man's ring, and put it on himself, "Shall we eat? The spaghetti will get cold if we wait too long."
Perhaps it was the rings or the alluring ambiance, but Julia savored the spaghetti as the most delectable she had ever tasted. At that moment, she felt that living with Max in such harmony was utterly perfect. Max was gentle and considerate, making her feel exceedingly comfortable in his presence. The next morning, Julia arose early, intending to visit the supermarket to procure ingredients for lunch. As she prepared to depart, Max stirred, inquiring, "Where are you off to so early?" "The supermarket," she replied, "My mother and the others are joining us for lunch, so I must acquire the necessary provisions. Oh, and did you invite your relatives?" Max assured her, "I called them yesterday. Wait, I'll change and accompany you." With the prospect of numerous purchases, Julia welcomed his assistance. Together, they ventured out, first acquiring breakfast essentials and then proceeding to the supermarket. Julia was well-acquainted with the nearby market, navigating directly to the desired items while Max followed, collecting the goods. For him, this was an unprecedented experience, as he was not used to the bustling and cacophonous atmosphere of the supermarket. After completing their shopping, they hastened back to initiate cooking preparations. Meanwhile, Max resolved the power outage issue by contacting Sean. As Julia cooked in the kitchen, Max assisted, demonstrating his capabilities despite being born into affluence. At approximately half past ten, the doorbell rang. With Julia occupied by steaming beef, Max answered the door, revealing his brother and mother, who momentarily froze upon seeing him donning an apron.
His mother exclaimed, "Son, you cook?" Sean looked astonished, giving Max a thumbs up, "Brother, you're a modern husband indeed!" Max signaled Sean to sit and rest in the living room. The kitchen was spacious enough.
As the guests arrived, Samantha and Mrs. Robin were surprised to see Max, the billionaire CEO, helping in the kitchen. Samantha quietly observed Mrs Georgina's attitude towards Julia and how generous and kind she acted towards her.
As they sat down to enjoy the elaborate meal, prepared by Julia with Max's assistance, Mrs. Georgina smiled, "Sorry for the wait; let's dine. This should suit your taste." Her gaze fell on Julia, and Samantha understood the unspoken meaning. Not only did the food satisfy her appetite, but her daughter-in-law had also won her heart. Julia, however, remained oblivious to the deeper significance. Samantha felt reassured, knowing Julia had passed the test of winning over her wealthy mother-in-law. She seized the opportunity to present a gift, saying with a smile, "Julia, here's my wedding gift to you. Wishing you a joyous life and a soon-to-arrive bundle of joy."
"Awww, Samantha," Julia said, graciously accepting the gift with a smile. "Thank you." She then added, "Now that you're married, you can start preparing for a baby. The earlier you conceive, the better, don't you think, Mrs. Robin?" Due to the occasion, Mrs. Robin echoed her sentiment. "Indeed, it's time to prepare." Julia blushed at the mention, casting a sideways glance at Max.
Max noticed the way Julia stared at him and he knew she needed saving. He smiled softly, "As for the baby, let's take things as they come." His words put an end to further discussion on the matter. Samantha asked tentatively, "Max, aren't you ready? I thought men of your caliber would be eager to start a family. Everyone instantly turned to Samantha with a shocked expression, wondering what she meant by men of his caliber. Even Max was shocked. Samantha noticed everyone's shocked expression and quickly spoke up to ease the tension that was already brewing. Oh, by that I mean men who just got married, would probably be thinking of starting a family. Everyone's expression suddenly relaxed, and Samantha thought to herself, that was a narrow escape.
Max just said gently, we're not in a hurry.
However, this response seemed too nonchalant for Samantha, who worried that Max was only temporarily interested in Julia.
Julia changed the topic with a smile, "Let's eat! Mom, you should drink more of this soup, Auntie Sean, please help yourselves." Sean feigned calmness, responding with a smile, "Thank you." The atmosphere remained harmonious. Mrs. Georgina was very warm towards Mrs. Robin and they chatted about family life, sharing stories about Julia's childhood. Georgina, naturally curious about her son's wife, learned that Mrs. Mrs Robin once worked in a hotel as a cleaner, and felt sympathetic towards her tough life experiences. She admired her hard work and zealousness greatly, and they chatted more, eventually addressing each other by their first names.
After dinner, Max took the initiative to clean up, allowing Julia to rest. He enlisted Sean's help in the kitchen. When Sean put the dishes in the sink he frowned, "I don't know how to wash dishes!"
Max leaned against the refrigerator, exuding calmness, and said, "As long as you're not intellectually challenged, you can manage." Sean had no choice but to accept, donned the gloves, and began washing dishes. "Why not hire a nanny or send one from home?" Max retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator and replied, "how can a mere employee afford such luxuries?." Sean was perplexed, whispering, "Why pretend to be so poor? This small apartment, it's not even as spacious as our swimming pool." Max glanced at Julia in the living room and explained, "She's distinct from other women. What she desires is a partner who shares her socioeconomic status and world view." Sean swiftly asked, "The world of poverty?" Julia and Max hailed from different worlds. In Julia's eyes, the programmer, Max, was a kindred spirit. Only those from the same world were equals. A woman who even split living expenses was an independent individual who never took advantage of others.