Avery stumbled over her words, clearly crossing a line with Lena.
"What did I just say? Speaking is like being a person, don't be afraid. What are you afraid of?" Lena's displeasure was written all over her face, her tone becoming increasingly cold.
"Speak properly. You don't owe anyone, and no one owes you. Don't always look like an easy target. Do you hear me?"
"Understood ma'am." Avery had never been spoken to so strictly before and was frightened.
As soon as Lena finished speaking, she glared at Avery and warned in a cold voice, "What do you mean' understood '? Are you stuttering? Stand up straight and speak clearly."
Since they arrived, Ethan had been holding Avery and hadn't let her go.
Now, while his aunt was scolding Avery, he didn't interrupt and was busy directing the doctor to move the bed to the other side of Julian's room.
During these few seconds, Avery was scared by Lena's cold tone.
She was nestled in Ethan's arms, unsure whether to get down or continue to stay there.
When Lena's stern voice fell, she had to straighten her back and honestly reply, "Yes, Auntie, I understand. I won't do it again."
At this point, Lena's face improved slightly.
She looked at her watch and said, "It's six o'clock. I'm going back now. Avery, listen to me. Starting tomorrow, I'll come and teach you how to be a lady whenever I have time."
After speaking, she gave Avery a final cold glance.
Avery was almost scared to death by Lena's last sentence. She knew that Lena was acknowledging her, but not completely.
Seeing that Lena was about to leave, she quickly said, "Auntie, thank you."
Lena paused for a moment and turned back when he heard Avery's words. He asked, "What are you thanking me for?"
Lu Shiqian replied, "I... thank you for acknowledging me. I know I'm a bit stupid and may not meet your expectations, but I will try my best to make you approve of me."
She said this with at least twelve points of confidence.
Even if she had no feelings for Ethan, the ice-cold man, she would still try to gain Lena's approval for Julian's sake.
As she spoke, she even raised her left hand, looking full of confidence.
Unexpectedly, her words immediately annoyed Lena, who interrupted her impatiently, "When did I acknowledge you? Avery, you'd better not be too happy too soon. I'll give you three months. If you don't perform well in these three months and fail to satisfy me, I'll consider finding a new candidate for my nephew's wife."
"..."
Avery suddenly felt as if ten thousand horses were galloping over her head. It turned out that Lena had not yet acknowledged her.
However, at least the other party did not make things difficult for her anymore. She was still very satisfied to have this opportunity to prove herself.
"Auntie, you can rest assured that I will be a good wife."
"Not only do you have to be a good wife to Ethan, but also a good mother." Yes, Auntie, you're right. I will strive to be a good wife and mother."
No matter what Lena said, Avery agreed to it.
She didn't say these words just to please Lena. It was rare for someone to stand up for her, and these words came from her heart.
Seeing that Avery had a good attitude, Lena did not make things difficult for her anymore and left.
After Lena left, the new hospital bed was set up by the doctors' busy hands. The nurse brought new sheets and blankets and spread them over the bed. Only after the bed was made, Ethan carefully placed Lu Shiqi on the bed and asked, "Where's the caretaker?" "Mr. Blackwood, I'm here." Hearing the sound, Rose didn't dare to delay for a second. She quickly walked up, ready to accept punishment at any time.
But Ethan didn't show any displeasure towards her. His deep gaze swept between Julian and Avery ,and he said softly, "I have to go on a business trip tomorrow. It will probably take three to five days. While I'm away, you'll be responsible for taking care of them. If you find it difficult, I'll send some more nurses to help later."
"Yes sir." Rose nodded quickly in agreement.
After that, Ethan didn't say anything else. He moved a chair and sat in the middle of the two hospital beds. Soon, Chad brought the notebook that Ethan needed for work, and he began to work silently.
Chad and Rose went out to buy dinner. When they came back, Julian had just woken up. Avery was going to get up and feed Julian but Gu Hansheng refused directly.
He looked at her from head to toe, paying special attention to the wounds where she had applied medicine. "You don't need to worry about Julian. Take care of yourself first, and then take care of Zhi Zhi."
"Okay." Avery had to go back to bed.
She picked up the bowl and chopsticks handed to her by Rose and ate with her head down. From time to time, she glanced at Ethan's back with the corner of her eye. He was fully focused on Julian. Before feeding him, he would blow away the hot air to make sure there were no problems. His movements were so skilled that it didn't look like it was the first or second time he had done it.
It seemed that she had misunderstood him before.
Avery felt a bit depressed. She had a big fight with Ethan before because of Julian, and she thought that Ice-Face was not a qualified father. While eating, she accidentally met Julian's gaze. She thought he would immediately look away, but he didn't. The little guy blinked at her as if to say "thank you." Avery suddenly remembered the "sister" she heard when carrying him upstairs. That night, Ethan stayed in the hospital. Before Avery went to bed, she saw him still busy working with his head down. When she woke up in the middle of the night, he was still working. The next morning, he had already left. Rose told her that he left at around six o'clock, probably because the Blackwood family had been busy recently and he had been working until dawn. He didn't wait for them to wake up and left early. Avery listened and looked at Julian ,who was still asleep, and saw the red rash on his face, which made her more convinced of one thing. She must obtain her aunt's approval within three months, not only for Ice-Face's protection of her at the old house that night, but also for Julian. Today, she still didn't have to go to school, so she stayed in the hospital for a day. Lena came in the morning, and before she arrived, Avery took the initiative to feed Julian. The child was very cooperative, although he still didn't speak, he didn't reject the food she fed him.
Even when changing or taking medicine, she was very obedient. Sometimes he would feel itchy or painful and couldn't resist the urge to scratch, but when Lu Shiqian said, "Julian, be good. Scratching will make it worse. Don't scratch," the little one would obediently retract his hand and endure without scratching again.
Avery would even praise him with a reward, "You're so good. When you get better, sister will take you to eat lots of delicious food."
Watching Avery carefully taking care of Julian and speaking to him in a gentle voice, Lena stood outside the window and took it all in.