And an unpaid one at that!


    Octavia expertly soothed the baby back to sleep, grinding her teeth in frustration. "Are you two even human? I''m a young woman in the prime of my life! You''ve turned me into a house mother!"


    Silence was her only answer. She felt like she was the one who was going to get postpartum depression.


    Jarrod and Elodie did have ns to see a movie, but first, they were meeting friends for dinner.


    The gathering was organized by Alexander.


    After they arrived, Esmeralda blew in like a whirlwind, immediately grabbing a cup of hot water and gulping it down.


    "The temperature dropped so fast, I was shivering just getting out of the car," she said, rubbing her hands together. Then her eyes fell on Jarrod, who was adjusting Elodie''s scarf.


    She couldn''t help but make a sound of disgust. "Look at you two, all lovey-dovey. You''re like an old married couple, but you''re really leaning into it."


    Elodie just smiled.


    Jarrod looked up nonchntly. "It''s not bad. And I''m already holding back."


    Esmeralda rolled her eyes. She never knew Jarrod could be so smug.


    "What? Are you jealous?" Alexander said,ing in and pping Esmeralda on the back of the head.


    Esmeralda clutched her head and red at him. "So what if I am? I could go to a club tonight and hire eight male models to serve me tea and give me massages!"


    Elodie smirked.


    Alexander shot her a look. "All bark and no bite. A real paper tiger."


    Esmeralda fell silent. "..."


    "He''s not wrong," Elodie said, exchanging a look of agreement with Alexander.


    Esmeralda was all talk. On the inside, she was as innocent as they came. Putting on a brave face was her specialty.


    "Hey, hey, this isn''t a roast of me, okay? Let''s get back to the point," Esmeralda said, banging the table in protest.


    Alexander finally shrugged and leaned back in his chair. "My old man is trying to force me into arranged dates."


    His words were like a bomb dropping. Even Elodie was surprised. Charlie was already pushing for marriage?


    Jarrod, on the other hand, wasn''t particrly interested in the topic He figured a talented young man like Alexander wouldn''t stay single for long, but strangely, there had never been any rumors about his love life.


    Esmeralda was cracking sunflower seeds and snorted withughter. "You? Getting married?"


    Alexander red at her grinning face. "This time, it seems like he''s serious. The old man has already shortlisted a bunch of candidates and wants me to meet them one by one."


    "Wow, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, huh? Do you even get a day off?"


    Alexander reached out and snatched the sunflower seeds from her hand. "You think this is a show? Have you sorted out your own mess?"


    His words were like a chokehold. Esmeralda couldn''t even eat her sunflower seeds anymore. Because... she really hadn''t sorted it out.


    Elodie sensed something was wrong and asked, "What''s going on?"


    Alexander paused and looked at Esmeralda. "You haven''t told her?"


    Esmeralda scratched her head. "I... I''m nning to break off my engagement with Fleming."


    Elodie was stunned. Hearing those words from Esmeralda''s mouth felt like a hallucination. Esmeralda had waited for Fleming for so many years t had practically been long-distance rtionship, even when she couldn''t see him Now that he was back, she wanted to call


    off the wedding?


    "Did something happen?"


    Even Jarrod gave Esmeralda a thoughtful look.


    Esmeralda had been avoiding the topic, not wanting to even think about it. But eventually, she had to deal with it.


    "I just feel like when the feelings


    aren''t mutual, it''s not fair to anyone," she said, forcing a casual smile, not wanting them to see how much it hurt He''s not happy and I''


    iserable. I guess you really cant force love."