Married at First Sight

Even though the Du and York families were somewhat distant, offending the Du family would create unnecessary trouble. The Yorks, especially the old lady, wanted to build ties with the Du family, not make them enemies. Evan furrowed his brow in deep thought.

Serenity noticed he was finally processing the situation. She said, "There's a delicious smell coming from outside. I think the barbecue's ready. I'll go grab a few skewers to satisfy my craving. You keep thinking it over." Seeing Evan getting the message, Serenity left the conversation and headed outside to enjoy the barbecue. It had been a long time since she'd had some.

Since becoming pregnant, she'd been mindful of her diet, even though no one monitored her as strictly as Jasmine. Still, she avoided foods that weren't recommended. Liberty regularly called to remind her to stay cautious. As soon as Serenity stepped outside, Zachary handed her a plate of barbecue, saying, "I used fewer seasonings on these, so you can enjoy them without worry." "Is Sonny asleep?" Zachary asked.

"Yes, he went to bed early after having so much fun today," Serenity replied.

She greeted everyone, sat next to Zachary, and started eating.

Jasmine, whose mouth was already full of barbecue, was being pampered by Josh. Her belly was noticeably larger than Serenity's, as she was a little over a month further along in her pregnancy. Jasmine ate and slept well, which made her face rounder too. "No one's watching us tonight, Seren! I'm eating to my heart's content," Jasmine chuckled.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Serenity, worried about Liberty and Zachary, was more thoughtful and hadn't gained as much weight.

"Just be careful not to overdo it. We had dinner not long ago. You don't want to regret it if you get heartburn later," Serenity advised, taking a small bite of a grilled wing. Wiltspoon's warm climate made people prone to overheat when eating highcalorie foods. Locals often joked about constantly needing to cool down and drink herbal teas. Josh joined in, "She gets hungry quickly. She'll be full now, walk around a bit, and get hungry again when we get home."

Jasmine laughed and said, "Why does that make me feel like I'm turning into a pig?"

Josh smiled warmly, "Even if you do, I'll love you just the same."

His playful comment earned him a quick pinch from Jasmine. Josh winced but kept smiling.

Evan, feeling left out, joked, "Could you two stop flaunting your love in front of a single guy like me? Everyone's paired up, and here I am, still alone."

Trenton chimed in, smiling, "Don't worry, Brother Evan. I'm single too, so you've got company."

Elian teased, "Trenton, you're still a kid. We're already in our twenties."

Elian, who would turn twenty-seven after the New Year, was nearly a decade older than Trenton.

Serenity turned to Elian with a grin, "So, when are you going to introduce your girlfriend to us?"

Elian's expression softened, and he replied, "When the time is right, I'll bring her over. Things aren't quite ready yet."

From the look on his face, it was clear that his relationship was progressing well.