Chapter Text
When Rosalyn's pregnancy first became known, Cale had cried so much that it lasted until the next morning.
Rosalyn was embarrassed seeing Cale's reaction, but then again, the two had planned to have a child a year ago. Cale, not wanting his wife to suffer, drastically changed his lifestyle for the better to ensure that her morning sickness wouldn't be terrible.
They first consulted a doctor on what to do if they plan on having a child, and the doctor had advice that preparation for the conception of a child starts three to six months before the actual baby-making.
They were given a list to do and not to do, and Cale diligently followed everything.
He stopped drinking, ate proper nutrition, adopted a healthier diet, and even started going to the gym. It was all to ensure that his wife wouldn't suffer the pain of morning sickness and to ensure that they would have a healthy child.
All their efforts came to fruition. Yes, it was not Cale's efforts alone, but also Rosalyn's, who worked hard for this to happen.
To reward his beloved wife, Cale spent the next few days showering his wife with kisses while promising that he would take good care of her and that he would support her all throughout this pregnancy.
For the most part, he fulfilled that diligently without a hitch. The two lived in this sort of happy bubble they've locked themselves into, joyfully celebrating the child growing in Rosalyn's belly that still appeared flat.
They were told that the belly would start to swell around 12 weeks or so. Though it varies between people. There were some whose stomachs didn't become visibly big, and there are those whose baby bumps are very visible.
It didn't seem like a problem to the couple who were too happy to be worried about such a thing.
The blissful atmosphere continued around them.
Until Rosalyn reached the second half of her first trimester.
Cale was happy when Rosalyn didn't experience any morning sickness. Apparently, the intensity of a woman's morning sickness is due to the father's lifestyle. So seeing as his wife wasn't experiencing any vomiting made Cale so happy.
It was like seeing the fruit of his hard work in real time, plus his beloved wife isn't suffering!
Cale felt like his life was fulfilling.
Of course, his joy didn't really last long when he came home one day and saw his wife with a grumpy look on her face, arms crossed over her torso as she sat alone on the couch.
Cale, still unaware of whatever storm was about to come to him, made a beeline for his wife, dropped his bag on the floor, and plopped beside her, his arms instantly wrapping around her shoulders as his lips came for her cheek.
"Hello, my beautiful wife. I'm back from work. Did you miss me?"
When he was about to start kissing his wife's cheek, he was startled when he felt a sudden smack on his lips.
Cale jumped back, his hand on his mouth, gasping while looking at his wife in shock.
"My love???"
Rosalyn just crossed her arms even more and turned her head away.
"Hmph!"
Cale, concerned that he may have unknowingly done something wrong, "???????????????"
Even though he had no idea what was going on, Cale didn't think twice and just knelt on the floor.
"My wife, I apologize. I promise that I'll make it up to you no matter what. I'm sorry. I—"
"Why are you apologizing?"
Cale was thinking of ways to fix this without making it known that he didn't know why his wife was upset, so he just vaguely answered her question.
"….For making you upset."
"So why am I upset?"
Cale tried not to flinch at his wife's sharp glare.
A cold sweat broke out on his nape.
When a couple fights and the man apologizes without knowing why he's apologizing or what he did wrong, usually, it makes the woman angrier. Cale learned from experience never to admit that he has no idea what he did wrong.
But his wife's sharp glare was like threatening him that if he were found lying, he might as well kiss the ground goodbye before he gets thrown out of their lovely home.
Cale's mind started furiously moving to think of something.
"Uhm… because I ate the cookies on the counter without permission?"
"What?!"
When Rosalyn slammed her hand on the couch, Cale couldn't stop himself from flinching this time. Rosalyn looked even angrier now.
"So it was you who ate all my cookies?!"
…Oops. It seems Cale dug a deeper grave for himself.
Cale quickly tried to reach for her hands and appeased her.
"My wife, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, please forgive me. I'll make new cookies right away, so please don't be angry anymore. I'll even fill three jars. Two for you and one for me, that way I'll never touch your cookies again, okay? Let's make up now, hm?"
But trying to hold her hands seemed to upset her even more. Rosalyn pulled her hands away with force and stomped her feet.
"Ahh!! Get away from me!!!"
Cale was shocked when she suddenly screamed.
"…My love????"
Rosalyn turned her body away and slammed her hands on the couch again, but this time, she looked so angry and distraught that tears seemed to threaten to fall from her eyes.
Cale was immediately alarmed at the sight.
"My love, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Seeing as how Cale looked like he was going to approach her, Rosalyn burst into tears while glaring at him.
"It's because you…!! You!!!"
Maybe she realized trying to put on a strong front was useless, Rosalyn cried helplessly. Cale threw away all other thoughts and immediately held his wife and pressed his hands on her cheek.
His gentleness made Rosalyn cry even more.
"W, When I woke up from my nap, you weren't by my side and- and— sob, sob, I looked for you, but n, no matter how much I looked, I c, couldn't find you anywhere— hic, sob!"
Cale's heart sank at the words she kept trying to say between sobs and hiccups.
"Oh, my love, I'm so sorry for leaving without telling you beforehand. I should have left a message before going to the office. I'm really sorry, it's all my fault. Next time, I'll be sure to tell you before going to the office, okay?"
"NO!"
Cale was once again startled when Rosalyn screeched.
He didn't know she was capable of making such a sound.
Rosalyn glowered at him, her bloodshot eyes seeming to glow, making Cale instinctively tremble.
"You… leaving your pregnant wife alone in this house is not enough? You're even planning to do it again?!"
Cale was terrified.
"Of course not! Who's leaving who?! I'm not going anywhere!"
Cale immediately clung to his wife's leg as if proving his point that he was going to be stuck right by her side.
"How dare I leave my wife alone? Even a scumbag would cry if my wife were left alone!"
"So you admit you're a scumbag?"
At this point, Cale has no human rights.
He shouted without hesitation.
"I'm a scumbag! The biggest scum! I should never have gone out and left my wife on her own! It's a mortal sin! I have wronged you and committed the gravest sin!"
Cale was energetically shouting that he was definitely the worst human known to mankind for leaving his wife, who ended up spending the entire afternoon looking all over for him.
Cale released his hold of her legs and moved slightly, and even though Rosalyn's glare intensified at the loss of contact, Cale quickly raised three fingers and swore solemnly.
"From now on, my life is guided by only three things: my wife's wishes, my wife's demands, and my wife's happiness. My wife's words are absolute. My wife is above heaven, and the earth is only beneath her feet. I will only listen to my wife and no one else."
In other words, if he's ever called to the office again, he wouldn't go. Even if they beg him to, and even if it kills him.
He will only stick to his wife's side.
Or legs, if that makes her feel even better.
Rosalyn's expression finally relaxed, her tears slowly halting. Though her eyes already looked a little swollen, which tugged on Cale's heartstrings.
He could resist leaning forward and hugging his wife.
"I'm sorry, Ro. I'm really sorry. I'll never do this again. If I have to go outside, I'll definitely ask you to come with me. I won't go anywhere else without you. Please don't be upset anymore."
The sight of his wife crying was so painful, it was almost as if his heart would be ripped out of his chest. Now, he was even worried about how it was affecting their child.
A pregnant woman shouldn't be stressed out, no matter how healthy her pregnancy seems. Cale had made a promise after all that he would support Rosalyn throughout the whole journey.
So he shouldn't be making her cry.
Rosalyn hummed, satisfied. She lazily wrapped her arms around Cale's shoulder, resting her cheek on top of his head.
"Mm… I was really hungry earlier, but the cookies were gone."
Cale stiffened briefly before raising his face to kiss her jaw.
"I'm sorry about that, my love. I'll make cookies now. Let's go to the kitchen."
Cale guided Rosalyn to wrap her legs around his hips as he carefully carried her off the couch. Rosalyn didn't protest and even seemed happy while being in Cale's arms.
Cale didn't know at that time that he should have been more careful with the words he said.
Because that was only the beginning of his wife's demands and tantrums.
He should have known better that a pregnant woman can be very demanding.
And scary.
Peace was seemingly restored in the life of a couple who are very much in love.
Well, it only seemed that way for a few days, until something happened again.
It happened randomly, on a perfectly normal night. The two were sitting on the bed, side-by-side, while Cale was reading a book to his beloved wife.
Cale had been engrossed in reading Rosalyn and their baby a bedtime story, when suddenly.
Cale yelped when he felt a sharp pain in his arm.
"??????"
He looked at his wife with startled eyes, but Rosalyn only gazed at his arm intensely.
She grabbed his hand, making him lose his grip on the book as it fell helplessly to the side, and pinned his hand on the mattress while pushing him on his back.
"?!?!?!?!!!"
Cale's face instantly reddened when he found his wife on top of him while she leaned down and—
Cale winced when Rosalyn bit his shoulder this time.
"R, Ro?? Why are you suddenly biting me—"
Rosalyn unceremoniously covered his mouth with her hand. A pout on her lips.
"Shouldn't food be quiet when eaten? Why are you loud?"
Cale, confused and oddly turned on, "?????????????"
Cale was at a loss for words. He also couldn't control his blush from spreading all over his face while his body reacted instinctively to her words.
Rosalyn looked pleased when he fell silent.
She sat comfortably on his lap and let her hand roam under his shirt, freely touching his stomach to his chest, while continuously kissing and biting his shoulder, neck, jaw, and even biting his cheek.
Cale was confused. Very confused. But whatever Rosalyn was doing was also making him react in all sorts of ways. Cale stayed completely still, letting his wife have her way with him, but when Cale thought that things were getting serious between them, Rosalyn suddenly stopped.
"…."
Rosalyn sat on his lap, shifting uncomfortably. Cale noticed this right away.
"W, What's wrong, my love?"
His words came out a little airy, a bit out of breath from trying to remain calm and sane even after his wife had touched him everywhere.
Rosalyn continued to shift uncomfortably, her expression stiff.
"Uhm… I… I don't want it anymore."
Cale, "??????"
What? What is she saying? She looked like she was enjoying herself just now, and now she was saying that she didn't want anything?
Rosalyn teared up.
"Cale… You're too big."
"…."
Cale shut his eyes, his entire face red, his heart fluttering in embarrassment.
That's because his wife is perfectly sitting on his groin, and she could definitely feel his erection beneath her. Plus, they've already had sex before, so she definitely knows what's under his clothes.
She never complained about his size. In fact, she seemed to like it so much.
But now she was saying he's too big for her?
Cale's silence made Rosalyn feel even more uncomfortable, her eyes watering instinctively.
"Because Cale is too big… and we haven't done it in a while… It's going to hurt, and, and, and… It might hurt our baby, too…. hngh… It's scary…"
'Oh god.'
Which man wouldn't feel something at the words this wonderful woman is saying right now? If a man doesn't feel any reaction, they're not a man.
But Cale, of course, controlled himself.
"…I understand. We won't do anything, so don't worry about it."
But his words seem to make her want to cry even more.
Rosalyn held her mouth, looking at Cale guiltily, her shoulders trembling.
"B, But Cale is so hard under me… If we don't do something, won't it be painful?"
Her words were really doing wonders for his heart and body. But Cale would never force her to do anything she didn't like, so he sat up and made sure to look at her, straight in the eye.
"It's— haaaa…." Cale shuddered when she shifted and accidentally hit his groin again. It takes a lot of patience to control himself, but Cale was proud of himself for doing well. "I'll, I'll take care of it. You should rest."
But Rosalyn refused to get off him.
"But, but if you take care of it on your own, where are you going?"
It took a lot in Cale to extend his patience and not kiss her right then and there.
"Bathroom."
This made Rosalyn tear up even more and quickly hugged his torso.
"No… Don't leave me alone…. I'll be lonely!"
'Oh god.'
Cale's arousal was getting worse the more she clung to him and wouldn't let go, but he had to remind himself again and again that his wife is pregnant, and he can't be reckless, and must absolutely not treat her roughly.
Cale gently patted her back, but his hands were seriously trembling from self-restraint.
"I'll be quick. I'll try my best to calm down quickly. It won't take long, so just—"
"No!"
Rosalyn rubbed her face on Cale's chest while shaking her head. Cale's blood pressure was rising from too much arousal.
"…Seriously. You're going to be the death of me someday."
Cale's mutter under his breath was heard by her, making Rosalyn stiffen in shock.
"No… hngh…. Don't die, Cale…"
When Rosalyn leaned back and looked at Cale with tears threatening to fall, he felt bad. But as much as he felt bad, he kept getting turned on by everything she was doing and saying, and his rationality was slowly slipping.
So he decided to take this opportunity to convince her to get off him.
"I won't die as long as you let me go to the bathroom and take care of this erection. So please get off me now."
Rosalyn was frozen for a few seconds. Her eyes were darting across the room, seemingly thinking of something. Finally, she pressed her lips together and gently wiped the side of her eyes.
"Mm… Okay…"
Just when Cale finally relaxed hearing her say that, believing that Rosalyn would finally let him take care of his problem down there, Rosalyn suddenly slumped forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Let's go to the bathroom together."
That night, Cale found out that quietly jerking off was not an option anymore.
From then on, he would have to do it either when his wife is asleep and won't cling to him, or do it in front of her, without being allowed to actually touch her.
Cale started to feel like he was living such a painful life.
Ever since Rosalyn safely reached her second trimester, specifically, being four months pregnant, Cale hasn't slept well the past few days.
Rosalyn would suddenly wake up in the middle of the night, biting him, pulling his hair, pushing him away, or crying.
Cale was disturbed. Although her hands were strong and her pulling and biting could get painful sometimes, the actual sight of her crying was more painful than anything.
He could endure her harassment so long as it wasn't her outright crying randomly. It was the worst torture to his heart, which was weak when it came to his wife.
In the morning, Rosalyn wouldn't vomit or complain about being dizzy, something Cale was thankful for.
But the times for her crying suddenly increased rapidly.
When it first happened, Cale was in the kitchen, cooking lunch, completely unaware of what was about to transpire.
Until he heard his wife burst out crying.
Cale panicked, quickly rushing to where she was, still holding the spatula. When he saw Rosalyn sitting on the couch, covering her face, her phone playing a video he could hardly care about, Cale immediately reached for her face.
"Oh, my love, why are you crying? What's wrong?"
Cale had to put down the spatula on the coffee table before guiding Rosalyn to lean on his chest so he could wrap his arms around her and gently pat her back.
"Tell me what's wrong, hm? Wifey, I'm all ears."
It took a few more of Rosalyn letting out nothing but hiccups and sobs before she managed to talk.
"It's… It's— hngh… The baby's giggles… so cute… I couldn't take it…"
….Baby? What baby?
Cale briefly checked his wife's belly to see that the slight baby bump was still there before letting out a relieved sigh.
He cradled Rosalyn's face, gently wiping her tears.
"Baby giggles? Where did you hear the baby giggling?"
Rosalyn pout, perhaps her attempt in trying to stop her own tears. But her tears kept spilling out, and Cale continued to patiently wipe them away.
Rosalyn blinked her lashes, which were wet with tears, before opening her mouth to speak.
"The video…"
Only then did Cale notice that the video playing on Rosalyn's phone was actually a video of a baby giggling.
"The baby was giggling in the video… hngh… So adorable… Ah… I really want a baby girl…"
Cale was suddenly embarrassed by his wife's words.
"A baby girl? So suddenly?"
Cale hadn't thought about what he wanted their baby's sex to be. He believed expectations would hurt, especially if they ended up with a child whose sex was the opposite of what they wanted.
So he wanted to have no expectations whatsoever, and simply love and accept, no matter what their child would come out as.
But Rosalyn was suddenly expressing a strong desire for a girl?
Rosalyn seemed to find his words offensive as she moved back and looked at him with annoyance reflected in her eyes that were still wet with tears.
"What? You don't want to? Are you trying to pick a fight with me?"
Cale threw away anything that was left of his human rights.
"Of course not." Cale hugged Rosalyn again, even though she looked like she didn't want a hug right now. "Of course it's a girl. How could it be anything but a girl? Didn't I tell you that whatever you want will come true?"
Cale kissed her face repeatedly, though Rosalyn still had a blank look on her face.
"My wife will get everything she wants. It's definitely a baby girl whose giggle is much cuter than the one in the video."
Rosalyn's hand somehow found its way on the back of his head, forming a fist and taking hold of his hair.
Cale nearly yelped from shock, though her pulling on his hair wasn't painful.
He just looked at her blankly.
Rosalyn looked satisfied.
"Okay. It's a girl. You can't lie to me."
…Somehow, even though she looked harmless, it sounded like a threat.
To whom is the threat, to be exact? Cale doesn't know if it's for him, for the world, or for any otherworldly being out there.
He just knows that if their child is not a girl, Rosalyn would definitely make it everyone's problem.
Rosalyn's second trimester felt torturously long.
The mood swings were so bad that they kept Cale awake for most nights.
And because the mood swings were so bad, Cale was somehow convinced that they were definitely having a girl.
Of course, he never said this thought aloud. It might offend his wife instead, who was growing more sensitive as weeks passed by.
Cale didn't know pregnancy cravings could be so dreadful until Rosalyn's cravings actually came.
"NO! PUT ME DOWN! LET ME GO!"
Rosalyn was thrashing around while Cale was carrying her in his arms, her arms outstretched behind them. When her sight of a specific item was growing distant as they got further, Rosalyn started pulling Cale's hair instead, while swinging her legs in protest.
"I TOLD YOU TO LET ME GO, DIDN'T I?! URGH! HELP! I'M BEING KIDNAPPED!"
The onlookers in the grocery store were glancing their way, but Cale remained unfazed. He focused all the energy on carrying Rosalyn away from the aisle section she had been demanding since this morning.
When Cale saw a woman trying to get close to them from the corner of his eye, he moved his gaze towards that woman and spoke.
"She's my wife. Not being kidnapped. She's pregnant. Just hormones."
Of course, Rosalyn's yelling said otherwise.
"Hormones?! How dare you! Urgh— Let me go! Put me down right this instant! Are you being unfaithful now?! I told you to let go! Let go—!!"
Rosalyn kept pulling his hair, but Cale was barely reacting. Instead, he continued walking away while reassuring the other people who were looking at them.
"I'm her husband. This isn't kidnapping." He raised his hand to show them their wedding ring to convince them not to worry. "I'm just stopping her from eating a whole cheese."
"What's wrong with eating cheese?! Are you trying to starve me to death?!"
Cale let out an exasperated sigh.
"Honey, you can't eat a wheel of cheese after eating cheese this morning. It will hurt your tummy."
Rosalyn didn't stop thrashing around anyway, her gaze looking tearfully at the cheese wheel that was getting further and further away from her sight.
When it became increasingly clear that she wasn't going to eat that delicious-looking cheese, Rosalyn teared up even more and slapped Cale's shoulders.
"You're so mean! How could you do this to me! Sob, sob! You're the meanest husband in the world! Sob! How can you starve your wife and baby like this?! Huh?! Don't you feel guilty?!"
It was hard to ignore his wife's crying, but Cale continued walking until they were finally out of the grocery store.
Rosalyn couldn't do anything at that point.
Of course, her attitude didn't stop right there.
When they were in the car, she gave Cale the silent treatment, her arms crossed while grumbling grumpily under her breath. Cale swore he could hear words like "You'll pay for this", "Just you wait", "You'll see what I'll do when we get home", and some other threats.
Well… Cale isn't so heartless that he would actually prevent her from eating cheese altogether. So Cale compromised.
Rosalyn's eyes practically sparkled when Cale handed her a large-sized cup of milk tea.
"Wow! Thank you, my love!"
Rosalyn kissed his cheek before excitedly and happily drinking her cream cheese milk tea.
Cale watched her fondly, his thumb gently stroking her cheek.
Ha. That's right. How on earth can he endure not giving in to his wife's every whim and demand? If it meant she'll always look this happy, Cale can endure her pulling his hair and making a scene in public, as long as she'll smile this happily later.
Cale was tempted to kiss her cheek, and when he leaned closer, trying to kiss her…
Pwak!
Cale's face got pushed away.
He looked shocked while Rosalyn looked at him with unblinking eyes.
Slurp. Slurp.
Slurp.
"My milk tea comes first."
…Today, Cale realized that he would easily be replaced by cheese in his very Italian wife's heart.
Cale was once again realizing that his wife's cravings can be intense and terrifying.
It happened one night, when Cale was startled awake from his wife's soft sniffling. When he opened his eyes, he saw Rosalyn desperately burying her face in the pillow, trying her best to muffle her cries as much as possible.
Cale's heart sank at the sight.
"My love…"
Cale moved and held Rosalyn's shoulders, guiding her to lean toward him. When Rosalyn's face came into view, the messy tears and red cheeks, Cale felt as if his heart was being squeezed.
His hands immediately craddled her face, resting his forehead against hers while gently wiping her tears away.
"What's wrong? Hm? Why are you crying so much?"
This wasn't the first time he saw Rosalyn crying late at night, but it never once stopped breaking his heart. He was so weak when it came to her tears.
Rosalyn couldn't talk. Even when she tried to open her mouth, only soft gasps and sobs came out. Oh, Cale really couldn't bear it.
He guided the two of them to sit up, then pulled Rosalyn closer until she was practically sitting on his lap. Cale wrapped the covers around her and held her close, gently rocking her in his arms.
"You can tell me anything. I'll always listen to you, hm? So don't hesitate to tell me why you're crying like this."
Cale planted a soft kiss on her cheek, tasting a salty stray tear, while his right hand was gently stroking her hair.
Rosalyn only buried her face in the crook of his neck, sobbing while holding onto his shoulders.
Her every whimper and sob was like a sharp knife, repeatedly stabbing his chest. But Cale waited patiently until Rosalyn calmed down a little and didn't force her to talk.
After a few more soft whimpers here and there, Rosalyn slowly moved back and looked at Cale's eyes.
Her eyes were visibly puffy, and Cale was overcome by the urge to kiss her in an attempt to soothe his beloved wife.
"Hubby…"
"Hm?" Cale gently stroked her hair, "Yes, my love?"
Rosalyn sniffled, instinctively tearing up.
"…Strawberry."
"…."
Fat tears started falling from Rosalyn's eyes again.
"Milan strawberries…. I want to eat Milan strawberries….."
Oh god.
Oh god.
Of all the things she could crave, it just had to be fruits overseas. Plus, is it even the season of strawberries right now?! Cale had to quickly reach for his phone on the bedside table with a lot of difficulty, because Rosalyn quickly clung to him when he tried to move, and immediately searched on the internet if they could get strawberries in Milan today.
Cale inwardly winced when he saw that it was literally three am right now. Though he was quick to curse in his head when he realized that they'll have to book the earliest ticket and travel 5 hours just to get there, but if they had been in Cale's hometown, it would have only taken them almost 2 hours.
Cale was seriously regretting that the two of them decided to live away from their respective hometowns!
Urgh! Urgh!
Cale unwrapped the covers from Rosalyn's shoulders and quickly stood, almost storming towards their closet, and grabbed the thickest clothes he could find.
"My love, if we go now, we'll probably arrive there around six or seven in the morning. Let's hurry and change clothes, okay? We'll leave as soon as you're ready."
Rosalyn quietly nodded her head, obediently taking the clothes Cale handed her and changing into them.
It didn't take a while for the two to finish, and luckily, Cale had a bit of time while waiting for Rosalyn to pack a few things, like a neck pillow, a heating pad, some extra socks and coats, face towels, and a blanket in case his wife felt cold while they were outside.
Of course, Cale didn't forget to take his wallet.
Cale drove to the airport without looking back. Rosalyn was softly whimpering while touching her belly, and Cale was so worried and anxious that he kept glancing at her while driving.
Damn it. He knew pregnancy cravings were bad, but he didn't anticipate them to be this bad!
His heart couldn't take the sight of his wife unable to hold in her tears because she wanted to eat strawberries from Milan so badly!
But why does it even have to be strawberries from Milan?!
Cale remembered the story Rosalyn shared humorously one night that apparently, Milan was the only city in her home country that she had never been to. So why on earth was she craving strawberries from Milan?!
Cale, who's too logical for his own good, could not understand pregnancy cravings! It was making his head hurt!
The two boarded the earliest flight they could find, and thankfully, there was one that was about to leave 30 minutes from the time they arrived. Since they didn't really bring any luggage and were only carrying one bag, the security check and baggage check went on faster than when they usually travel together.
Cale made Rosalyn sit near the window while he took the sit near the aisle, to ensure that other passengers, who might get up and walk past them, wouldn't bother his wife.
Cale carefully took out the blanket he brought and draped it over Rosalyn's legs, then placed the heating pad over her shoulders after putting on her neck pillow.
It may seem that Cale was being excessive, but Cale knew his wife's body temperature was usually lower than that of most people, which was why she would stick so close to him when they sleep at night, because Cale's body temperature was normally higher than others.
Cale held Rosalyn's hand in his, interlocking their fingers together. He watched as she blinked her eyes slowly and fell asleep. Cale was too worried that he couldn't sleep, so he just continued watching Rosalyn sleeping and paying attention to her soft breathing.
It didn't feel like time passed fast, but before he knew it, the plane had landed, and they were now riding a cab, looking for the nearest strawberry store in the city.
"Uhm… Cale… Where are we?"
Rosalyn, still a little drowsy, gently rubbed the side of her eyes while holding Cale's hand.
Cale gently removed Rosalyn's hand from her face and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief instead.
They just got out of the cab and were now standing in front of a store that was directly selling strawberries. Rosalyn probably didn't notice they had arrived because she was still dozing off while they were in the cab.
"We've arrived in Milan, my love. We can buy the strawberries you wanted."
It was as if Rosalyn instantly woke up because of his words.
"Milan strawberries?"
Cale couldn't help but coo in adoration when Rosalyn looked at him with bright eyes.
"Yes, we just have to enter the store now."
"Okay. Let's go quickly."
Cale chuckled seeing her eagerness, but let himself be pulled along when Rosalyn started walking up to the store.
But of course, fate wasn't kind to him.
"Sorry, we're out of stock for the week. The other markets bought bulks, and we haven't harvested anything yet."
It felt as if something inside Cale broke.
"Keuk… C, Could you at least tell us where we can buy strawberries? The markets… The markets you mentioned…. Can you give us their location?"
When the owner they talked to gave them the location, Cale's expression kept getting worse and worse.
That is because each market was miles away from the others, and it would take an hour to reach the nearest one from where they were right now.
Cale didn't want to waste time and quickly travelled there.
But when they arrived…
"Sorry, all the strawberries have been sold out. You should try visiting a different store."
The crack in Cale's heart cracked even more.
"Euhk…. What's up with these people suddenly craving strawberries? Why are they trying to compete with my wife's cravings?? Are they asking for a fight?!"
Cale had the urge to suddenly grab a random Italian and ask them for a fistfight, but decided against it. He still hasn't bought his wife strawberries, and it's been 7 hours since she asked for them!
But every store they went to…
"Sorry, it's sold out."
"Oh, we're out of strawberries for the day."
"You should come back tomorrow and check."
"Oh, our stocks are arriving tomorrow. Currently, we don't have any strawberries left."
Cale dropped to his knees and held his head.
"Urgh…. Argh…. Aaaahhh!!!! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!"
Why the heck is Milan having a strawberry crisis?! Cale's life is in crisis! Everything in the world is in crisis!
Cale was seriously going crazy!!
They ended up going to Rosalyn's family home to rest for the day.
It was unfortunate that they were unsuccessful in getting the Milan strawberries she wanted, but at the very least, Breck was only two hours away from Milan.
When they arrived, Cale nearly jumped in shock when he saw that his mother was in Breck, too.
Jour took one glance at Cale with an eyebrow raised, then crossed her arms.
"What? Why are you reacting like that?"
Once Cale recovered from the shock, he quickly hugged Rosalyn, possessively holding her to himself.
"My wife is mine, and mine alone! You can't get between us! If you try, Ma, even if it's you, I'll fight you— Ack!"
Jour pulled Cale's cheek.
"Cheeky brat. Can't you see my lovely Rose is suffocating? Get your slimy hands off my baby."
"Ack- Ack—! Ma—! It hurts!!"
"If you understand, let go of her now."
Cale was powerless against his mother. Her pinching prowess was too powerful; Cale was utterly defeated by just one pinch.
"Haha, Jour, that's enough. Cale looks like he's suffered enough."
Thankfully, his father-in-law, Edoardo, came to his rescue.
Cale quickly latched onto Edoardo's arm, avoiding his mother's stingy eyes.
"T, That's right! How could you harass your son when we've just arrived after hours of travelling? Ma, you've become a brute!"
Jour glowered at him.
"What? Brute? How dare this little puppy call his mother a brute? Are you seeking death?"
"Ack! Father, help me!!"
While chaos was going on on one side, meanwhile, on the other…
"Uhm… Mom…"
Rosalyn immediately hugged her mother, Roseanna, and almost instantly melted in her arms. Roseanna chuckled before planting a soft kiss on Rosalyn's crown.
"How are you, my Rose? Did you take good care of yourself?"
Rosalyn hummed, a satisfied look on her face. It's been a while since she last saw her family, and it was great that they were together now.
"Yes. Cale took great care of me and our baby."
Roseanna chuckled.
"I've had no worries in that regard, my Rose. On the other hand, I'm rather worried that you gave Cale a hard time."
Rosalyn reflected on her past actions and saw nothing wrong with them.
They broke off the hug, and Rosalyn smiled brightly at her mother with her eyes closed.
"Nope. We've lived a happy life."
…. A pregnant woman can be quite dense and a little delusional.
Because they were in Breck, Cale wasn't stressing over Rosalyn 24/7.
Edoardo had noticed the dark circles under Cale's eyes from the moment he saw him and urged him to go catch some sleep. At first, Cale was reluctant, saying that he needed to take care of his wife, but when Roseanna reassured him that they would take care of Rosalyn in the meantime, Cale couldn't object anymore.
Of course, he became stubborn when he saw his mother, Jour, gently caressing his wife's cheeks. It may not seem like it from others, but Cale could see his mother seducing Rosalyn to leave him and live with her instead!
Cale was seriously not liking this!
"How can a puppy who can't even take care of himself dare to fight me?"
Jour clicked her tongue before waving her hand, trying to shoo Cale away.
"Stop being stubborn and go to sleep."
"Well, I'll go to sleep if you stop trying to take my wife from me! Ma, how could you do this to your only son?! Ro is my lifeline! I can't live without her! I'll die! I'm telling you, I'll die! I'll seriously die!"
"God, you're so dramatic!"
"Why, I took after you, so suffer the consequences!"
Jour tried to pull his cheek again, but Cale dodged right away.
Today, he survived his mother's hands. Tomorrow? Is another day.
"My love, you should go to sleep in my old room."
Rosalyn held his arm before gently pressing a kiss on his cheek. Cale's face instantly reddened at her boldness, especially since they were in the presence of their parents.
"Ah, ah… Okay… Understood…"
"Wow, look at him giving in so easily."
Cale ignored his mother's remarks.
It was the first time in a while that Cale was able to sleep peacefully without waking up in between to his wife's sudden crying. He was able to sleep in with no worries, knowing that his in-laws would certainly take great care of Rosalyn.
Meanwhile…
Rosalyn huffed sadly, rubbing her hand on her belly.
"…I really wanted Milan strawberries."
Hngh. She had been craving strawberries that grew in Milan since three a.m., and even though they flew all the way to Milan, they had been unsuccessful in getting the strawberries she wanted.
So now her cravings worsened to the point that it was getting unbearable.
Her mother, Roseanna, heard her quiet voice.
"Milan strawberries?"
Rosalyn hummed sadly.
"Oh, your dad bought strawberries from Milan yesterday. We still have some in the kitchen."
Rosalyn perked up.
"Huh? Really?"
Seriously? They have Milan strawberries here?
Rosalyn's faith in humanity was restored.
Seeing the excited sparkle in her eyes, Roseanna couldn't help but chuckle before standing while holding Rosalyn's hand.
"Okay. Mom will prepare them for you."
"Mom, mom, you're the best in the world! I love you so much!"
This made Roseanna giggle even more.
When it seemed that peace was restored now that Rosalyn's cravings were fulfilled, when Cale woke up and went to the dining after he heard that his wife was there…
Cale nearly had a heart attack when he saw Rosalyn dipping strawberries in tomato sauce before eating them happily.
….As if that wasn't enough to give him a cardiac arrest, she even dipped the next strawberry in oyster sauce.
Cale almost fainted.