When His Nauseous Sweetheart Frowns, the Tycoon's Family Takes Turns Pampering Her-Chapter 18: Luna, Wise Up

In the car, Luna Axton and Joy Coleman were sitting in the back seat. Caleb raised the partition, giving the two of them some privacy.

Luna linked her arm through Joy Coleman’s, just like the close friends they were. "So, can we get that grape-flavored fruit tea you like this time?"

Joy refused. "Grapes are super sour this time of year. I’m not drinking that."

"Then what should we do?" Joy had always been the fun-loving one, ever since they were kids.

Joy’s life was always vibrant and exciting, while hers was much more monotonous.

Joy was the one who introduced her to all the best food and the most fun activities. It was even Joy who’d led the way when they climbed a tree to pick wild fruit for the first time.

"First, let’s get something good to eat. Then, I’ll take you to a pottery class I booked with an instructor. Don’t you like those ceramic mugs with the four-leaf clovers? I’ll make one for you."

"I already asked the owner about the ceramic mugs and checked the studio’s credentials. They’re a supplier for a lot of brands. The mugs they fire are food-safe, so you can drink out of them."

It was always great being with Joy. She was the best at making plans; all she had to do was follow her lead.

"Okay! But... for lunch, that man said we have to go to a restaurant he picks."

"That’s pathetic," Joy said sympathetically. To have someone following you around, and not even be able to choose what you want to eat...

Luna spread her hands, frowning and shaking her head with a helpless expression. She knocked on the partition and raised her voice, telling Caleb where they were going to eat.

"What can I do? He’s insistent on having a ’healthy and robust’ baby. I feel like he’s a total control freak, especially about anything related to the baby."

Joy pinched her cheek. "You silly girl, wake up! It was a flash marriage. What feelings could he possibly have for you? It’s obviously all about the baby!"

She has a bodyguard when she goes out, and the car is a Cullinan worth millions. The guy’s family must be seriously well-off.

The richer people are, the more clear-headed they are about their goals. They never waste a second of time or a single cent on people they don’t need.

"Luna, you need to watch out for yourself. Don’t let him divorce you right after you have the baby. The child won’t be yours, and it’ll be hard to even see them."

Luna knew there was a very high probability of things turning out exactly that way. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

When she signed the agreement with Kyle, she saw it only mentioned child support. She knew then that if she divorced Blaze Fairchild, all she would get was money.

But she had been in such a rush to save her mother that she’d signed the agreement without considering anything else.

Besides, she still have four years until she graduates. Even if she got custody of the child, she was not sure she could support them.

She can’t let him divorce her... but what can she do to stop it?

With Joy pointing it out, Luna couldn’t think of a solution. Worry creased her brow as she replied listlessly, "I know."

Seeing the mood turn heavy, Joy didn’t want to let things that hadn’t even happened yet ruin Luna’s day. "Luna, don’t be scared. You’ve got me. And if I’m not enough, I’ll find the best divorce lawyer from my college to fight your case."

Luna thought of Blaze Fairchild’s cold face. He had that huge estate in Valoria, where every inch of land is worth a fortune. He could summon the director of the Hepatology Hospital on a whim, and a government bureau chief had personally handled their marriage license. The Fairchild Family’s influence in Valoria had to be immense.

The gap between her and Blaze Fairchild was so vast that a divorce wouldn’t be a discussion; she’d just be informed it was happening.

But she didn’t want to disappoint Joy. "Okay. If it really comes to that, then I’ll be counting on you, Attorney Coleman."

"Hahaha..."

Joy was thrilled to be called "Attorney Coleman." After all, at work, everyone just called her Cole.

"By the way, something crazy happened. I’m starting to think Lucky isn’t just your lucky star, but mine, too."

"Oh?" Luna hummed, waiting for Joy to continue.

"So, the day before yesterday I was complaining to you about working overtime, right? Well, yesterday, there was electrical maintenance in the building, and the whole company was told to save their work and leave on the dot. Then the company announced a new policy: a performance-based ranking and elimination system for department heads.

"The policy basically says that if a team can’t finish its work during office hours, it’s considered a failure of the manager’s ability to manage and delegate. They’ll be the ones getting eliminated.

"Those managers are always saying, ’If you can’t handle it, there are plenty of other people who can.’ Now the big boss is coming down on them directly. They’ll be too busy trying to save their own jobs to bother us. The heavens are just!"

For the first time in a long while, Joy didn’t have to work overtime last night. After her shift, she took a shower and lay down in her tiny, one-hundred-and-something-square-foot apartment, feeling a happiness she hadn’t felt in ages.

Not working overtime should be a basic right, but somehow it’s become a luxury.

Luna remembered the night Joy had said she wouldn’t stay at Evergrow Group after her internship ended.

"So, if you get an offer to stay on after your internship, will you take it? At Evergrow Group, I mean."

Evergrow Group was the company Joy had been desperate to get into, precisely because its benefits for female employees were so comprehensive.

It offered three days of menstrual leave per month, along with a stipend.

Maternity leave was paid, with your position held for a year. Nursing mothers were given private "pod" offices, making it convenient for them to pump milk or avoid awkward situations.

Unless they requested it, mothers returning from maternity leave were guaranteed no change in position for one year and no reduction in salary for two years.

Most importantly, the children of female employees at the Evergrow Group headquarters could attend Evergrow’s affiliated schools completely free of charge.

As Joy had put it, with all these benefits, getting a job at Evergrow Group would solve most of the problems a woman faced living in Valoria.

You wouldn’t have to worry about being unable to return to your career after marriage and childbirth. The company provided a safety net for the first three years postpartum. After that, your child could attend an Evergrow-affiliated kindergarten, and you could dive back into your career.

It was the best possible benefits package for a working woman.

Joy didn’t care about what she’d said in anger while working overtime. You had to be flexible to make a living.

"Of course I’m staying. I’d feel like I was giving up if I went back to Kensing, and I’d never find another company with benefits this good."

"You’ve got this! I know you can do it." Luna believed in Joy. Law was Joy’s passion, and that passion fueled her drive and dedication.

Joy’s passion was infectious. Luna felt a renewed determination to secure her own internship opportunity.

As they talked, the car arrived at the restaurant.

A waiter led them to their table. Caleb spoke a few words to the host at the front, then came to Luna’s side. "Young Madam, I’ve ordered your meal according to the Young Master’s instructions. Your friend can order for herself. I’ll be waiting for you outside."

"Why don’t you eat with us? You need to eat, too." Blaze isn’t here to see, anyway, she thought.

A flicker of surprise crossed Caleb’s eyes before he said respectfully, "Thank you, Young Madam, but we have our regulations."

"Oh. Well, go get something to eat, then. Take your time, there’s no rush."

"Yes, Young Madam."

After Caleb left, Joy clicked her tongue. "Wow, Luna. I didn’t realize you had the ’Young Madam’ act down so well."

"Not at all. You know Caleb—he’s a bodyguard, but he’s also that man’s eyes and ears."

A waiter came over with water to take their order. He glanced at Luna, then turned to Joy. "What can I get for you, miss?"

Joy was a foodie at heart, and just looking at the pictures of the dishes in the menu made her mouth water. She ordered two dishes, then stopped, worried she wouldn’t be able to finish them and that it would be wasteful.

Throughout the meal, Luna had to stare at the delicious dishes in front of Joy just to get through the "nutritious meal" Caleb had ordered for her.

After they finished eating, they hurried off to their pottery class.

It was the first time either Luna or Joy had tried pottery. The instructor was a pretty young woman with deft hands.

Luna watched, wide-eyed, as a lump of clay in the instructor’s hands transformed into the shape of a cup. She decided to copy the technique and make a pen holder for Joy. Later, she would paint two cute girls on it to represent the two of them.

It might be a little cheesy, but it would be with Joy every day. A testament to their lasting friendship.

Caleb took a photo, and Luna, knowing it was for his report to Blaze Fairchild.

Focusing all her attention and energy on the clay in her hands and living in the moment, she felt a sense of ease she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

By the time they finished painting their creations, three hours had passed.

The pottery needed to dry before being fired, so Joy left her address and phone number to have the finished pieces mailed to her.

Luna arrived back at Fairchild Estate at exactly five in the afternoon. Her happiness was evident in the lightness of her steps.

"Did you have a nice time, Young Madam?" Mrs. Creed, knowing she’d be looking for a drink, handed her a freshly filled glass of water.

"Thank you, Mrs. Creed. I had a lot of fun."

"Keeping a good mood is good for you and for the little one."

"Yes. Mrs. Creed, I’m going to go take a shower first." She had gotten some muddy clay on her pant leg during the pottery class.

Mrs. Creed advised her, "The Young Master is with the Old Master right now. After your shower, you should also go to Pinehurst Estate for dinner."

Luna agreed, her good mood improving even more at the news that Blaze Fairchild wasn’t around.