He wasn't like most newborns—no crying fits or endless fussing. Instead, he preferred to quietly observe the world with those captivating eyes. He liked toys that made sounds, and enjoyed being carried around on walks—truly the easiest baby anyone could ask for.
So while Laila worried that her baby wasn't lively enough, what she got in return was Janet's envious frustration.
"He doesn't cry or fuss. What are you even worried about?" Janet's jealous little glare practically singed Laila. "Do you know what William was like as a baby? Even with Claire helping, Quentin and I barely got a few hours of sleep every day. That little devil would wake up crying every two hours, and each time it took at least half an hour to calm him down! God knows how I survived those days—I still get cold sweats just thinking about it!"
Laila looked sheepish. Okay, compared to that, Eli was the most obedient baby imaginable. Feed him and he eats. Put a toy in his arms when it's time for sleep and he drifts off. She honestly had never seen such an easy child before. Still, she couldn't help her concerns.
"You and Quentin raised William so well—he's lively, adorable, and not afraid of strangers. But Eli... he hardly ever smiles, and he's always frowning. I'm worried he'll grow up to be too withdrawn. You know what that kind of personality leads to—he could get bullied at school."
Janet rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on! He's barely a month old and you're already worrying about his school life? Why don't you skip ahead and start worrying about him getting married and having kids?"
"I am worried about that," Laila replied seriously. "Being too quiet doesn't help you find a wife either, does it?"
Janet was speechless. She hadn't expected her sweet daughter to already be thinking about her son's future decades from now when he wasn't even out of the newborn phase yet.
"Listen to me, sweetheart. Every child has a path to walk. As parents, what we need to do is stand beside them, support them, protect them, and watch them spread their wings and soar. You worrying this much—are you planning to grow wings and fly for him?"
Janet spoke from experience. She'd been through this before—especially during Laila's childhood, which had come with even more reasons for concern. Even after Laila recovered, when she insisted on going to Hollywood alone, Janet eventually agreed despite her fears.
No one knew how she'd managed to sleep through those nights. She had to check in with Claire every single day, making sure Laila was healthy, and that everything was going well. Only then, with a few glasses of wine, could she finally fall asleep.
But even so, she never interfered with her daughter's choices. Because she knew her daughter was exceptional, and she refused to clip her wings just to ease her anxiety.
Now that her grandson was born, and her daughter was experiencing the same fears she once had, Janet was happy to offer her support—and advice.
"Thank you," Laila said sincerely. "Having a mother like you has always been my greatest pride. Without you, I don't think I would even be here. Maybe I wouldn't have even made it into this world."
She meant it from the bottom of her heart. Without Janet and Old Mr. Moran pouring in all their resources to save her, little Laila never would've lasted long enough to be born. It was their refusal to give up on her that gave her life, and with their strong support, she was able to pursue her dreams and become the Laila she is today.
"Oh, my sweet little Laila! You're too precious!" Janet's maternal instincts exploded as she grabbed her daughter and showered her in kisses.
Just then, Roy walked in and twitched at the sight.
"Was Eli good today?" he asked as he walked over, leaning down to kiss Laila on the forehead.
"Eli's always good," she smiled. She was truly happy to see him back. Since the baby's one-month celebration, he had been out constantly, doing who-knows-what. Sometimes he was gone for days, always returning looking exhausted.
"Where did you go?" She'd wanted to ask for a while now, but every time, he would just say he'd gone out with friends.
This time was no different.
"Just went out with some friends."
Before Laila could respond, Janet chimed in disapprovingly. "Roy, I'm gonna be honest with you—Eli's barely a month old and you're already running around outside all day? Do you even realize how hard Laila's working to take care of him?" Though in truth, it hadn't been that hard—only because Eli was that kind of baby. If it had been William? Laila probably wouldn't have had a single good night's sleep.
Not caring for your fiancée, barely spending time with your child, and always being away? That was not a good habit.
Roy gave Laila an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I promise I'll try to finish what I'm working on as quickly as I can, so I can stay with you and Eli more from now on."
Laila shook her head. "It's okay. If you have something important to do, then go do it. Just… be careful." She still didn't know exactly where he went, but based on the occasional injuries he returned with, she could guess it involved something risky. Hiking? Camping? But he'd never shown any interest in those things before.
Roy gave her a small smile and nodded. "I know. I won't let myself get hurt." As he spoke, a cut on his leg throbbed in protest, reminding him of its existence. He winced inwardly.
Eli had already passed the one-month mark. The once-wrinkly newborn had stretched out and now looked adorable. If you ignored the fact that he liked to frown in his sleep like a little old man, he was incredibly charming. Especially his icy blue eyes, inherited from Laila—when he opened them, it was like the sky itself had been reflected in his gaze, holding a kind of magic that could pull your soul in.
Every time Roy looked into those eyes, it was like looking into Laila's. He loved her eyes deeply, and naturally, he adored their son's eyes just as much. Whenever both of them looked at him with those matching gazes, it felt like his heart melted into a puddle under the scorching sun of midsummer.
His fiancée, his son—was there anything else in the world that could make him feel more blessed?
Burying his face in Laila's neck and wrapping both her and the baby in his arms was his favorite thing in the world. Holding them like this felt like he was holding the entire world. No—even if he could hold the whole world, it wouldn't bring him this same peace, this deep sense of contentment and happiness.
"Laila, I love you."
"I love you too," she smiled, reaching up with her free hand to ruffle his hair.
No wonder people say that once a woman has a baby, it's like raising two children. Just look at Roy, acting all clingy—wasn't he just like a second kid?