Chapter 151: Protect Hilla
Hilla quickly looked away with a guilty face, plucking at the corner of her clothes and saying in a low voice, "I just want to get it ready in advance."
Her handbag was too small. Besides a pregnancy test, there were two boxes of condoms in it. Although she did not intend to take the medicine, she took it to prepare some contingencies.
She didn’t think otherwise, so Bruce got her wrong.
Hilla secretly looked at him, only to see that he remained silent and was staring at her handbag, deep in thought.
She pursed her lips and reached out to pull on the shoulder strap. She said with a forced smile, "Are you angry?"
Bruce kept quiet, which gave Hilla a feeling that there was a knife on her neck. She almost lost her nerve.
She muttered and was afraid that Bruce did misunderstand her. She liked kids very much, but she wanted to get pregnant a few years later.
Bruce looked back at Hilla as calmly as before. After zipping the handbag up, he gave it back to her.
"Let’s go inside!" he said in a steady voice.
Hilla was surprised that he didn’t ask her about the pregnancy test or other things in her handbag.
She wondered whether he did not see it or he did not want to ask. What was worse, he probably did not care about whether she was pregnant at all!
Bruce didn’t say anything to her, so Hilla felt a little strange. She surreptitiously looked him up and down and pursed her lips, asking in a low voice, "Why did you come here?"
"I am just passing by."
He gave a bouquet of roses to her and said in a flat voice, "Happy graduation."
Hilla was shocked.
She wondered if he would give her other gifts.
It was strange for Bruce, a super wealthy man, to give her nothing but a bouquet of roses.
Hilla was flustered again. She realized there was something wrong with him. He must hide something from her.
He probably decided to punish her at home instead of in public.
Thus, Hilla was a little worried, but, seeing Bruce’s calm face, she couldn’t say anything. She had no choice but to take the roses and held the handbag in her arms.
"Can I explain it to you when we get home?"
After a while, she couldn’t help asking in a low voice. She lowered her head, like a child who had done something wrong.
Bruce smiled, "Margaret will be at home tonight. I’m afraid she won’t give you time to explain. Just go back to school. The graduation ceremony is about to begin. Be careful of the crowd and don’t get hurt."
<What did Bruce mean? Why is he so calm?
Is he angry with me? Why is he so kind?>
Hilla was a little confused. She nodded in a trance and answered at once, "Got it!"
With roses in hand, she slowly entered the school. However, she was a little frightened, so she couldn’t help looking back in Bruce’s direction and didn’t know what to do.
What was worse, she even did not know what frightened her.
She always felt that Bruce looked scary when speaking to her in such a pleasant and amicable manner.
No sooner had Lily seen Hilla than she snatched the roses from Hilla and gave Hilla a gown. Lily urged, "Why are you so late? Margaret has changed her clothes and went to take photos. Hurry up, they are waiting outside."
As the cutest girl at River University, Hilla was well-known. Although she always kept a low profile, she attracted much attention.
After all, beauties were the focus wherever they went, not to mention that Hilla did well academically and was almost the most talented in fashion design.
"The roses smell great. How beautiful! Who are they from? You have a boyfriend, so you shouldn’t get flowers from anyone else."
As Hilla’s good friend, Lily suggested in a friendly tone.
Hilla took the gown and put it on, answering, "I know. They’re from Bruce."
"Mr. Anderson? Are you coming with him? Did he get in?"
The Anderson Group recruited a large number of outstanding talents at River University, which benefited many graduates.
Thanks to Hilla, the Anderson Group provided more jobs than before. After all, Bruce must support his wife’s university! "He was just passing by, so he has left."
Hearing this, Lily frowned slightly. She heard that the school leaders invited many big companies’ executives to attend the ceremony. If Bruce didn’t come, who would come on behalf of the Anderson Group?
What a pity. She had hoped to see how Bruce showed his love to Hilla, but now her
hope was lost.
Bruce even disdained to come and show his love to Hilla before others.
It seemed Lily had the slimmest chance to see those powerful people!
Dressed in the gown, Hilla followed Lily out of the dormitory and met Margaret in the garden. Margaret immediately asked Hilla to take photos with her.
Lily’s lips twitched as she said, "You are family, and you almost see each other every day, so you needn’t take photos with each other."
"We should create a ritual. We seldom have a chance to wear such a gown. Besides, Bruce wants a photo of Hilla when she is in the gown."
Hilla said, "You are so loyal to him!"
"It’s a pity that he doesn’t come. I even reminded him about the graduation ceremony last night, but he is too careless."
After Margaret finished speaking, she subconsciously glanced at Hilla’s belly. Hilla was startled, so she couldn’t help rubbing her belly.
Somehow, Hilla felt that her belly was getting bigger, which was terrifying.
She had spent much time persuading Margaret to keep this secret. She even promised that she would tell Bruce as a surprise after it was confirmed by the doctor.
However, considering Margaret’s personality, Hilla couldn’t be relieved. "Mr. Anderson came just now. He gave these roses to Hilla."
Lily refuted at once. Hilla nearly freaked out and she didn’t want them to mention Bruce anymore.
She got panicked because of the way Bruce had looked at her at the gate, and she even wondered whether she got a heart attack at such a young age.
As expected, Margaret stared at the roses with envious eyes, and then said angrily, "What a partial man! Does he remember I’m also here? I’ve never heard he is too poor to buy me some roses. Hilla, you must tell him to double my allowance."
Hearing this, Hilla quickly threw the roses to Margaret. "Here you go. I don’t want them at all!"
Hilla thought, ’How dare you want a double allowance. What a greedy girl!’
...
Margaret held the rose in her hand and frowned. Hilla was as stingy as Bruce. They thought everything paled when compared with money.
It seemed Margaret would suffer from being their family. "Hilla, our love for each other needn’t be proved by flowers." "It doesn’t matter. These are for you."
Hearing this, Hilla smiled brightly and pulled Margaret to the clothing room. Margaret was sad that her families were all misers even though she was born into a wealthy family.
She had lived a little better than ordinary people since she was a child, but she had never lived like a princess.
Life was never perfect!
After taking photos with her classmates, Hilla was called over by the dean.
Margaret held the roses in her arms and constantly pulled off their petals in a bad mood, waiting for Hilla with boredom.
"Is there something wrong with your dean? He even gives Hilla a lecture today. Why not ask her to work in River University?"
Lily and Margaret sat on the stone steps. Looking at the petals on the ground, Lily felt a little sorry for them.
These roses were expensive. Nonetheless, Margaret didn’t cherish them and even pulled off the petals.
"He mentioned that with Hilla, but Hilla didn’t agree. He may well talk to her about studying abroad. Only Rigel and she get picked. She is going to Pinecastle. Many designers dream of going there. I think Hilla should be very tempted."
Lily frowned and thought, "It’s once in a lifetime opportunity. If Hilla had not got married, she would not miss it."
Thinking of this, Lily glanced at Margaret and saw her strange expression, so Lily sighed with a shrug.
The Andersons would not allow Hilla to go abroad. After all, such a wealthy family especially valued the reputation. Moreover, as Bruce’s wife, Hilla didn’t need to do anything other than spending money, so she didn’t have to study further. Anyhow, the Anderson family didn’t need a designer.
"Do you mean Hilla will go abroad? She never mentioned it."
"Our dean has talked to her about it, but Hilla insisted she won’t go. She will completely miss this chance after she graduates, so he is in such a hurry to talk to her again."
It was not easy for the university to get such a talented and capable student.
Moreover, Hilla came from a long line of costume designers.
The Holts were partial to traditional costumes. Growing up in this kind of family, Hilla was exposed to traditional costumes and was well educated.
"I don’t understand why everyone wants to go abroad. With vast land, abundant resources, and hard-working people, our country is the best in the world. Besides, the ancient buildings overseas are not as beautiful as those in our country."
Margaret rolled her eyes. In any case, she would never go abroad. Even if she was compelled to go, she wouldn’t compromise.
But on second thought, she realized Bruce would be left alone if Hilla went abroad with the baby.
He had been single for thirty years before he met Hilla. If he was left alone, he would continue his tragic life.
As his biological sister, she could not watch him die alone.
"Don’t worry. With me here, Hilla will not go abroad. Besides, she is now pregnant with Bruce’s baby. Even if she wants to go, she should ask it for advice."
"Really? Do you mean Hilla is..." Lily looked at Margaret in horror and pointed at her own belly with eyes wide open.
Lily was amazed at Bruce’s efficiency. To prevent Hilla from going abroad, he did everything he could. However, Lily felt extreme pity for Hilla and hoped she could be as talented as Hilla.
Hilla’s talents would be wasted on just being a full-time homemaker.
"Don’t tell anyone, but maybe it doesn’t matter. Anyway, she’s graduated. You need to work, but she will rest at home."
When the baby came, Bruce would reward Margaret, and Orlenna would turn to her as well.
However, with the baby coming, Margaret would have a lower position in the family, but she must try her best to make money.
After all, it was often said that it was the easiest to swindle money from women and children, especially newborns.
On second thoughts, Margaret frowned and decided to get trained as a babysitter before the baby came. Then, she would be more professional and get more money.
"I really envy Hilla. She is talented and beautiful. When we are struggling to make a living, she’s married into a wealthy family and will enjoy a wonderful life with a handsome husband and a coming baby. Comparison always kills my joy."
Lily said as she put her head between her hands. She didn’t expect Hilla to be pregnant. Now that Hilla was going to have her baby, Hilla would not go abroad, even if many people wanted such a chance.
Margaret sighed as well. She was born with a silver spoon, but she kept going down
over the years.
When they were waiting for Hilla, they saw that the members of the Art Society were taking photos. Lily saw Rigel at a glance. He would have his postgraduate study at River University, so he was here to take photos with the graduates.
"Where is Hilla?"
Linus glanced behind Lily and said with concern. As the head of the Art Society, he, as well as other club members, was deliberately coming to take photos with Hilla.
"Hilla was called over by the dean. She’s out now!"
No sooner had Lily raised his head than she saw that Hilla was walking out. She immediately ran to Hilla happily and stopped with a meaningful look at Hilla’s belly.
In the past, Lily had paid little attention to it. However, a close look revealed that Hilla’s belly was a little bigger than before!
Hilla walked past Lily with curious eyes, but Margaret stood between them the next second.
Margaret glared at Rigel, who was staring at Hilla. As Bruce’s sister, she would try her best to protect Hilla.
"Linus, why are you here?"
"To take photos with you. You’re graduating, so it will be harder to do this in the future."
Linus smiled and asked the members of the Art Society to walk closer. Some of them were newcomers. They had heard a lot about Hilla, the most popular girl in not only River University but also River City. Therefore, they all cast covetous eyes on her.
Hilla nodded. "Alright, let’s take a photo together!"
Hardly had she finished speaking when Lily and Margaret stepped forward, placing themselves in front of Hilla.
Lily thought, ’I must protect Hilla and her belly!’
Margaret thought, ’Hilla is my brother’s wife. How dare you salivate at her!’