Chapter Eighty-Three

Chapter Eighty-Three

As soon as Max finished speaking, he immediately stepped into the living room. Although this wasn't his first time visiting his father-in-law's mansion, each visit always brought an invisible pressure that tightly bound him.

“Father, we’re here.” Max gently knocked on the door.

Mr. James, who was reading a document, looked up with an expressionless face. He glanced at Max, “You came alone? Where’s Bella?”

“Here I am!” Bella cheerfully walked in, quickly choosing a seat next to her father and handed him a prepared gift box. “Dad, look at this, it’s the high-grade tea that you really like. I went through a lot of trouble to get it.”

In contrast to his reaction to Max, Mr. James beamed with joy upon seeing his daughter, his face bright with happiness. Max, trying to appear cheerful, sat down opposite them. Despite being married to Bella for four years, in his father-in-law’s eyes, he was still an outsider.

“Father, why did you call Bella and me here?” Max didn't want to stay too long, so he quickly got to the point.

Mr. James sighed and said, “You two have been married for four years. Why haven't you considered having children yet? Don’t you plan on having kids?”

Bella had anticipated that her father would bring up this issue. Although he had never previously interfered in her and her husband’s personal lives, she knew he had always hoped for a grandchild.

“Well...” Max was at a loss for words. He couldn’t say that he hadn’t touched Bella in the past four years, and therefore, she couldn’t possibly be pregnant. Max glanced at Bella, worried she might reveal the truth to Mr. James.

“What’s the matter? Is there... an issue with one of you? Max, you’re Bella’s husband. You tell me.” Mr. James sternly looked directly at Max, his eyes filled with suspicion.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense. Max didn’t know how to respond in a way that would satisfy his father-in-law. He couldn’t blame anyone else, nor could he admit fault himself.

Bella raised an eyebrow at Max, curious to see how he would explain the situation. Max’s evasive behavior under her father’s questioning only increased her disdain for him. Just a moment ago, he had been loudly asserting his authority in front of the servants, but now he seemed like a timid turtle, anxious and uneasy.

Max forced a smile and said, “Father, both Bella and I still feel too young to have children. As for myself, my career isn’t stable enough yet, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to take care of both my wife and our child. Moreover, Bella also feels it’s too early for children; she doesn’t want to have a baby just yet. Father, having a child should be a mutual decision. Even if I want one, I can’t force her if she isn’t ready.”

Mr. James turned to Bella, “Is that true? Why don’t you want children?” He remembered that his daughter once expressed a strong desire to have a child, so her current reluctance puzzled him.

Bella hadn’t expected Max to involve her in deflecting the issue, but what he said wasn’t untrue.

“Yes, Dad. I also think it’s too early for a baby. I’m not ready to be tied down by such a responsibility,” Bella said.

Mr. James sighed wearily. He was too old to continue managing the company and wanted to retire to care for his grandchildren. At the very least, he wished to see his grandchildren before he passed away.

“Do you really feel that way, Bella?” Mr. James asked once more, understanding that regardless of his own hopes, the decision ultimately rested with his daughter and son-in-law. He couldn’t interfere too deeply.

Bella nodded without hesitation. She knew what her father was hoping for, but unfortunately, she had to disappoint him.

“Of course, Dad. You don’t need to worry so much.” Bella tried to ignore the disappointment and worry in her father's eyes.

Due to Bella’s avoidance, the conversation shifted to other topics. Before Max and Bella left, Mr. James, still concerned, said, “I’ll arrange a comprehensive medical examination for both of you. Make sure to be there on time.”

“Father, there’s no need—”

“This is mandatory. Can't say it's not necessary.” Mr. James cut Max off firmly. Under his father-in-law’s pressure, Max didn’t dare to argue further.

In the car, Max irritably asked, “Why didn’t you refuse when your father said he’d arrange a comprehensive examination for us?”

Bella raised an eyebrow and responded, "Why refuse? Father wants what's best for us. Besides, the issue is with you, not me. Don’t blame me for not wanting it or for us being young. For the three years after we got married, you never touched me. Only this past year, because I wanted to focus on my career, did I stop thinking about having a child."

If Bella told her father that Max hadn't touched her in the three years following their marriage, her father would surely think that Max had an embarrassing problem. The truth was that in those three years, Max hadn't touched Bella because he was having an affair with a hot mistress who served him every night, making him uninterested in his wife. But to those who didn't know this, they would think that either Bella or Max had a health problem that prevented them from having children.

Max couldn't refute Bella's words. Her father likely thought that Max had a health issue, which was why he had arranged for a comprehensive health check-up.

Max suddenly thought of something and softened his tone, "You see, Father is really looking forward to having a grandchild. Don’t you see his disappointment and sadness when you talk about it? To put his mind at ease, I think we should still have a child. If you want to continue working, you can return to your job or do whatever you want after giving birth. I'll hire four or five maids to take care of our child."

Before coming here, Max hadn’t anticipated that his father-in-law would bring up the issue of children. However, with his father-in-law's mention, Max now had a legitimate reason to be close to his wife and an opportunity to be intimate with her.

Max's words clearly showed that he wasn't forcing Bella; on the contrary, he respected and cared about her career ambitions.

But Bella only smiled mockingly and held him in contempt. She knew exactly what Max wanted: her father's assets and company, not a perfect family. Max's constant pressure on her to have a child was one of his most unusual behaviors recently.

"The matter of having children, it's my body, and I have the right to decide. Besides, three years ago, I could wait for you; now you should know to wait for me. Don’t be so selfish," Bella said lightly, emphasizing Max’s indifference in the three years after their marriage.

Hearing this, Max felt confused, his eyes evading hers, and he didn’t mention having children with Bella again.

"I need to go to the office now. What about you?" Max changed the subject.

Bella thought for a moment before replying, "I want to go shopping. Maybe the items I bought in Hawaii will arrive today."

Max drove Bella to the shopping mall. Before getting out of the car, Bella extended her hand toward him, confusing him.

"Huh?"

"Your card, give it to me. Do you expect me to spend my own money on shopping?" Bella said casually, as if she had done this many times before.

Max's face turned ashen. Remembering the large amount Bella spent in Hawaii, he hesitated but under her gaze and urging, he reluctantly handed her the card.

"Last time, you spent a lot of money. I'm not forbidding you from spending or buying expensive items, but—"

"I’ve only spent your money once on what I wanted, and you’re already upset, bringing it up again and again. If you think I spend too much of your money, then I'll ask my father for money," Bella said irritably, reaching for her phone to call her father, but Max stopped her.

Max sighed, "Alright, spend as much as you want. I need to get to the office now."

Bella smirked as she watched her husband's car drive away. “I have to spend all your money before I throw you away. How could I miss this wonderful thing?”

As soon as he entered his office, Max angrily kicked a nearby chair. "Damn it! When did she start daring to talk to me like that? She was never like this with me before. Why?"

Max couldn't understand why his wife was acting this way. He vaguely sensed Bella’s resentment and annoyance towards him. Moreover, her words today seemed aimed at belittling him, even comparing him to the lowly servants at her father's mansion, driving him mad.

"Max, what's wrong? Where did you go this morning?" A gentle, sweet voice came from behind Max.

Max waved his hand dismissively, "This morning, Mr. James called and wanted to meet with Bella and me. He brought up the issue of having children because it’s been four years since our marriage, and we still don't have any, so he suspects that either Bella or I have a health problem."

Pearl stayed silent, listening, and helped Max relax with a massage.

Max sighed and continued, "Bella also said she doesn’t want to have children right now. So, even if I want her to have a child, I can't. She always avoids physical contact with me, so having a child is out of the question. Mr. James was a bit disappointed but didn’t oppose Bella's decision."

Hearing Max, Pearl smiled slightly, sensing that he had given up on the idea of having a child with Bella.

"So... the medicine I gave you, did you give it to Bella?" Pearl asked cautiously.

Max nodded without hesitation, "I mixed it into her milk, and she drank it. Mr. James has arranged a comprehensive health check-up for both Bella and me next week. Is there any way to make Bella lose her ability to conceive in just a week?"

"You just need to increase the dosage of the medicine for her. Although I can't guarantee 100%, it will damage her uterus more severely and quickly. Don't worry, as long as she continues to take the medicine I gave you, even if she had ten uteruses, she wouldn't be able to get pregnant," Pearl said lightly, without feeling that this was a dreadful thing at all.