Even Quincy was a bit puzzled by the sudden request from his parents to meet Lydia, but he didn't dwell on it. He assumed they simply wanted to meet their daughter-in-law.

He reassured Lydia, "We've already gotten married, but my parents haven't met you yet. This is just a good chance for them to finally see you."

"Alright," Lydia agreed, though still a little nervous.

"Don't worry, they won't make things difficult for you."

With Quincy's constant reassurance, Lydia felt a little more at ease. She reminded herself that meeting the in-laws was inevitable, and they were actually a bit late in doing so, considering they were already married.

Quincy didn't come from a wealthy background. His family was middle-class, living in an older apartment on the outskirts of town. Their office was downtown, so even though it wasn't far, the traffic made the trip longer than usual.

As Lydia watched the older buildings flash by outside the window, she turned to Quincy and asked, "Why didn't you buy your parents a nicer place? With your income, you could've easily gotten something closer to the city center by now." Lydia's parents had always looked down on Quincy, thinking he was just a low-paid assistant. But the truth was quite different. Lydia knew Quincy earned a substantial salary working for Nash, enough that buying a house in a nicer part of town wouldn't have been a problem at all.

She didn't think Quincy was stingy; she figured there had to be a reason for it.

"That apartment was a retirement gift from my dad's company," Quincy explained as he drove. "My parents are pretty sentimental. They've lived there for years and don't want to move."

Lydia nodded, understanding as they pulled up to the building.

When they arrived, Lydia reached for the gift bags in the trunk, but before she could lift them, Quincy gently placed a hand over hers and took them himself. "I've got it," he said softly but firmly.

They soon reached the front door of his parents' apartment. As soon as Quincy's mother heard the doorbell she opened the door with a big

smile However, the moment ne

she

saw Lydia, her expression changed ever so slightly.

"Hello, Mrs. Perez. I'm Lydia," Lydia greeted her with a warm smile.

"Oh... hello," Mrs. Perez responded, her tone noticeably cooler. She quickly shifted her attention to her son, "Quincy, why are you carrying so many heavy things? Couldn't someone help you?"

She barely glanced at Lydia and spoke to Quincy with a much more affectionate tone. She immediately called Quincy's father to come help, fussing over him like he was still her little boy. Quincy, of course, didn't want to trouble them. "It's fine, Dad, I can handle it myself. No need to worry."

"Nonsense! We live on the fifth floor, and you've already carried those all the way up. Let your father take the last few steps with you."

The family bantered easily, and even Quincy, who was usually calm and reserved, seemed more animated in the comfort of his home.

Lydia watched as his mother wiped the sweat from his brow and doted on him. The warmth and closeness of their family made her feel unexpectedly out of place, like she didn't quite belong.

She wasn't sure why it was

bothering her so much, but the feeling lingered. Almost instinctively, she placed a hand over her still-flat belly, seeking a sense of connection and reassurance from the new life growing inside her.

"Come inside! Don't just stand there. It's getting chilly," Quincy said, returning to her side and gently guiding her into the cozy warmth of the living room.

Once inside, the cold seemed to evaporate. Quincy handed her a cup of warm water. "I checked it. It's the perfect temperature," he said with a soft smile.

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