Chapter 217


    "You could always opt for n B, you know - snag yourself a reliable hubby. That way, you won''t


    have to slog away on your own anymore." Ines said.


    "Can you stop with that? Is it a prerequisite for all knocked-up women to be this naggy? If I were


    really strapped for cash, I''d rather mooch off my folks back home than bust my hump out here."


    Phoebe said.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Ines knew Phoebe hadn''t asked her parents for help in years. To Phoebe, taking money from them


    meant kissing her freedom goodbye. At least now, she was making her own dough and still had


    some semnce of freedom. And just as she''d hoped, her parents could huff and puff all they want,


    but they couldn’t put an economic squeeze on her. All they could do was watch helplessly as she


    made a spectacle of herself at matchmaking dinners.


    "I know you''ve got your pride." Ines mulled over how to broach the subject of the man she saw at


    the hospital earlier. She tentatively asked, "Phoebe, have things not progressed with Noel?"


    At that moment, Phoebe was loungingfortably on a deck chair. Upon hearing Ines''s question,


    she grumbled, "Why are you always harping on about Noel? Did he pay you a wad of cash to be his


    mouthpiece or something?"


    "I ask because I''m worried about you. Stop dodging the question." Ines retorted sternly.


    "Ines, Noel and I haven''t known each other for very long. We''re not exactly going to be making


    leaps and bounds here." Phoebe said.


    Upon hearing this, Ines bluntly said, "I saw someone at the hospital today with Ethan. He was


    asking about you."


    Phoebe''s heart suddenly clenched. It took her a while to respond, "Enough, Ines."


    Ines felt that the only reason Phoebe hadn’t moved forward was because of that man. Now that he


    was back, it was time to untangle the past so she could begin anew.


    "Phoebe, you probably already guessed who I''m talking about. His name is Samuel." Ines said.


    Phoebe closed her eyes in anguish. It took her a while to speak up. Ines knew she hadn''t hung up;


    Phoebe was just trying to regain herposure. Eventually, she heard her chuckle bitterly, "You


    know what? The reason I haven''t taken that step is that I know once I do, there''s no turning back.


    There''s no room for what-ifs." She wasn’t heartless. She could feel Noel''s affection, but she couldn''t


    get past her own barrier.


    Ines understood. All these years, Phoebe had numerous suitors, including the eligible bachelors her


    mother set her up with, yet she never wavered. Ines wasn''t sure if it was stubbornness or a deep-


    seated love that couldn''t be shaken.


    "You should meet him and clear things up so you can make a decision. Don''t let the people around


    you down." Ines said.


    "Okay." Phoebe muttered reluctantly.


    After hanging up, a worried look washed over Ines''s face. Seeing her like this, Cam couldn''t


    resist saying, "Izzy, you need to keep your spirits up. Don''t overthink it. Your friend''s problems are


    for her to solve."


    "It''s alright, Cam. I''m just unsure of how tofort her. I feel like I can''t do anything for her.


    She''s my best friend. Even though I''ve forgotten her, she''s always stuck by me." Ines replied,


    "Ethan always says I''m too soft-hearted. Matters of the rtionships can''t be meddled with by


    outsiders. Once we get through this rough patch, everything will fall into ce. You''ll understand


    when you reach my age. Love isn''t the be-all and end-all. What''s important is having someone to


    chat with and stroll with when you''re old and frail." Cam advised earnestly.


    "Perhaps you''re right." Ines said.


    Seeing Ines rx, Cam resumed packing. Suddenly, Ines asked, "Cam, can you bring the


    photo albums from our bedroom too? I''m afraid we might not be able to return until after the baby is


    born."


    Cam agreed with a smile, "Sure."


    Ines pondered again, then asked Cam to pack some of her usual items as well. Cam


    emerged from the bedroom with the photo albums, saying with a grin, "Izzy, your parents really love


    you. They''ve done a great job of coting and organizing your photos from over the years. I flipped


    through them briefly just now. Each picture was meticulously chosen. They might not document any


    major events, but it''s the little things that are hardest to keep up with. And they''ve done it for over a


    decade. It''s really something. When my daughter was little, even though times were tough, we often


    took her to get her picture taken. But we just tossed the photos aside. Now, when we want to find


    them, we can barely scrape together a few. Who knows where we lost them. Seeing your neatly


    organized albums now, I can''t help but be amazed."


    Cam was busy packing the albums into a box and didn''t notice Ines''s change in mood.


    Ines was stunned for a moment. When Cam looked up, she noticed Ines''s dazed expression and


    couldn''t help but ask, "What''s the matter, Izzy? Did I say something wrong?"


    Ines knew Cam was unaware of her rtionship with Hunter, so she wasn''t angry. She shook her


    head, "It''s nothing, Cam. I was just lost in thought."


    Cam chuckled, "That''s a relief. I''m old and tend to ramble. I was afraid I might have said


    something that upset you."


    Ethan came home from work to find Ines dozing off on the couch with her hand under her chin,


    while Cam was cooking in the kitchen.


    He walked over and gently tapped Ines''s face, chiding her, "I''ve told you countless times, why are


    you napping on the couch again? Aren''t you afraid of catching a cold?"


    "You''re back." Ines opened her eyes and smiled, wrapping her arms around Ethan''s neck.


    Ethan put down his briefcase and sat down next to Ines, asking, "Howe you''re back so early


    today?"


    "Ss wanted me to hand over my work to him today. That person ising back the day after


    tomorrow, so there''s not much left for me to do. I asked Cam to start packing in advance. I''m


    nning to move to the Meyer Mansion tomorrow. With them around, you won''t have to worry so


    much." Ines said.


    Ethan nodded and affectionately pinched her face, "No matter where you are, I''ll always worry."


    "You''re such a worrywart," Ines crinkled her nose.


    "Well, it''s inevitable. How could I not worry about my own wife and child?" Ethan said.


    "By the way, I told Cam not to take your stuff. When you''re busy, you can stay here, and when


    you''re not, you can go back to grandpa''s. I saw some of your clothes there, should be enough for


    you.” Ines said.


    "I''ll go with your n." Ethan said.