At Turner Manor, after dinner, Ava's mom had a side conversation with her, subtly suggesting that she should tell Frank sooner rather than later.
After chatting with her mother, she asked her sister-in-law, Christina, again. Christina also said that she shouldn't hide it. She also said that she was very nervous because she was thinking too much. With Frank around, this nervousness might disappear.
The balance has already begun to tilt. She gave her friend, Alex, a call.
As the video connected, Alex, wearing a loose short-sleeved shirt and square-cut shorts with a crew cut, greeted Ava with a smile. "What's up today? You rarely call me. I almost thought you forgot about me."
Ava smiled. She was not in a good mood. She curled her legs and supported her chin. "I just returned to Sapphire City yesterday. What are you doing?"
"I just took a shower and was about to listen to a song. Why did you have a fight with Frank? You seem a bit down. Did he drain all your energy?"
"No. Alex, let me ask you something. Help me analyze it."
On the screen, Alex was casual, hopping onto the bed, sitting down, and raising an eyebrow at the screen. "Come on, spill it. We don't need to beat around the bush. If it's easier for you to talk to me as a girl, go ahead and treat me as one. If it's better to see me as a guy, then consider me a guy. With my gender, is there still anything to hesitate about?"
After Ava heard this, she chuckled. "Then don't speak too loudly later. What if your mother comes over?"
Alex readily agreed, "Sure, spill it. I'm working in Sapphire City this summer, renting a place off-campus. How's the environment? I'm thinking of not staying in the dorm next year, and I'll probably finish my part-time job late at night."
As she spoke, Alex adjusted the camera and pointed it at the room. The environment was quite clean. Although Alex was like a boy, she was very particular about hygiene.
Originally, Alex could have graduated with a bachelor's degree this year, but Ava suggested that she pursue a master's degree. Ava thought that the competition was fierce for bachelor's graduates in big cities, with at least half of the applicants having completed their undergraduate studies.
Alex's family background was not good. After graduation, her family would definitely not give her living expenses anymore. Even now, they gave her very little. Alex had to think of a way himself. He either worked part-time or installed a computer for others to earn extra money.
Ava asked, "You didn't go back during the summer vacation. Why didn't you go back?"
"Sigh, it's all because my family didn't agree to my postgraduate studies and fell out. They think I should earn money to subsidize my brother and the others." Alex calmly described the bitterness in his heart.
"I'm sorry to hear about the challenges you're facing," said Ava.
Alex interrupted, "What are you sorry for? You're right. I should rely on myself. Even if I go to work now, it's fine if I can support myself. If I can't support myself, my mother will have to count it as money. Who knows, she might even have to give me a certain amount of money every month. I'll follow you to Athana in the future. It's fine, even if it's a dowry maid or a guard. A big city like Athana is still safer for graduate students. Otherwise, it won't be enough to pay the rent."
Ava also felt that it was better for Alex to stay away from his family. "That's good. When you graduate, you can apply to my brother-in-law's company or Frank's company."
Alex was more unyielding. He did not plan to go to either of these companies. He could not let Ava take care of him all the time. "That won't do. I've already graduated from my postgraduate studies. If I were to be sent in, I wouldn't need to study anymore. If you arrange it for me directly, I'll save some tuition fees."
"Okay, you have a point. I was wrong."
Returning to the main topic, Alex knew that Ava wanted to help her, but she wanted to rely on herself. "What did you want to tell me just now? You changed the topic."
After a few seconds of silence, Ava licked her wet lips. "I'm pregnant."
The phone was silent. Ava looked up and thought that the line was disconnected. In the end, he realized that Alex was stunned and did not move. It took her a long time to come back to his senses. During this period, Ava did not call her.
"Did I hear wrongly? You're pregnant. It's not how you got pregnant. Didn't you say that your family's Frank wouldn't make you pregnant? Have you changed your mind?" Alex had specially asked this question before. At that time, Ava had said that Frank was especially careful and wouldn't make her pregnant. He had taken full measures.
She wondered how Ava could have become pregnant in such circumstances and pondered whether it might have been an accidental escape of the little tadpole.
Speaking of this, Ava coughed dryly and explained her small actions shyly for about two minutes.
After listening, Alex gave Ava a thumbs up through the screen. "Ava, you've really impressed me after a summer break. You're amazing."
"No, you're pregnant. Why are you at Sapphire City? Where's your Frank?"
"Don't tell me he didn't know you were pregnant." Alex threw many questions and possibilities at Ava.
Ava sighed and explained his concerns to Alex, asking her to help analyze them.
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