Chapter 325
By her second month of pregnancy, mornings had turned into a battle for Dorothea. She barely glanced at her favorite fish noodle soup before nausea rolled over her. She rushed to the bathroom, clutching her stomach, and spent a long, miserable while dry-heaving.
Latham spotted her as he came out of the gym. He hurried after her, kneeling down and rubbing her back gently.
“What set you off?” he asked, already guessing her morning sickness was in full swing.
Dorothea leaned on his arm as she tried to steady herself. “Fish. The smell is just too much p>
“I don’t want to eat anything,” she muttered.
Latham immediately asked Linda to bring her a different breakfast, but that didn’t help. Dorothea kept throwing up. In the end, the only thing she could keep down was plain rice porridge. If they added anything, even a sprinkle of salt, it would just come right back up.
Linda hadn’t realized how bad Dorothea’s morning sickness was and felt a stab of guilt. “Latham, I’m so sorry. I must’ve done something wrong p>
“It’s not your fault, Linda,” Latham reassured her. “Let’s have someone else take over the kitchen for now p>
He called in a series of professional chefs, but it made no difference. Ten chefs later, Dorothea was still sick every time she tried to eat.
Within just two weeks, she looked noticeably thinner. Her cheeks were hollow, her jawline sharper. Latham felt helpless and worried. Nothing seemed to work.
Pauline was worried too. She started collecting home remedies, hoping something would help.
“Dorothea, how can morning sickness be this bad?” Pauline asked, wringing her hands.
Dorothea was so uncomfortable she hadn’t even gone to work. “Grandma, pregnancy is just awful p>
“Oh, my dear, I wish I could help. Your grandpa always cooked for you when you felt sick. His food always made you feel better. Pity I never picked up his recipes p>
Latham sat at the table, flipping through a thick stack of chef resumes the butler had brought him. “None of these are right. Find a housekeeper who can cook, someone with experience looking after pregnant women if possible p>
Elise walked into The Stephens Group holding a big thermos. “Hi, I’m here to see Latham p>
“Do you have an appointment, ma’am?” the receptionist asked politely.
Elise hesitated, then gave a small, awkward smile. “No appointment, but he’s my son-in-law p>
“If you could just let him know I’m here, he’ll want to see me,” she added.
The receptionist didn’t know if it was true, but didn’t dare turn her away. “Alright, please wait just a moment p>
Latham was already stressed when his secretary called to say Elise was downstairs. He frowned. “I’m not seeing her p>
Whenever Elise showed up, it was never for anything good. She’d probably realized Dorothea wouldn’t listen to her, so she wanted to try her luck with him.
Latham disliked Elise as much as anyone could. He’d never met such a selfish, irresponsible mother. She was the source of most of
Dorothea’s pain. She only canet?
about herself and played favorites without shame. She hadn’t even been allowed to attend his and
Dorothea’s wedding. How could she call him her son-in-law?
He hurried off to meet another round of housekeeper candidates, not expecting to
find Elise waiting by his car in the parking lot.
“Latham, I know you don’t like me, and I know Dorothea is pregnant can’t do much, but made her some soup it’s a recipe learned from her grandfather. Please, just give it to her to try p>
“I promise there’s nothing wrong with it,” she insisted.
To prove it, Elise poured out some soup right there and took a big sip.
“See? I drank it myself. It’s safe p>
Latham narrowed his eyes,
skeptical. “What if it’s only a problem
for pregnant women? appreciate
the gesture but we have plenty
chefs at home. There’s no need for you to get involved p>
He wasn’t about to accept anything from Elise.
It wasn’t until the fifth housekeeper that Latham finally found someone who seemed promising. He didn’t tell Dorothea the soup was from the new hire.
Dorothea eyed the clear radish and pork rib soup. The smell didn’t turn her stomach, but she was afraid to try it, certain she’d just throw up again.
She’d started dreading every meal.
Latham sat beside her, his voice soft. “Just try a little. I tasted it earlier, it’s really not bad. It’s light, not greasy at all, and the radish gives it a nice subtle sweetness p>
Reluctantly, Dorothea took a spoonful and let it touch her tongue.
It wasn’t bad at all.
She took another sip, then another, and before she knew it, the little bowl was
empty. For the first time in weeks, she actually felt full and let out a small, satisfied
burp.