Chapter 167: A Dinner to Celebrate

After a long day, Liam was finally able to return home.

He had submitted the report on the SS-Rank dungeon, talked with James, and spent a good while trying to explain everything Zayn had missed.

The young man had listened with his eyes wide open, despite the dark circles under them.

After learning that Liam and the others had ended up inside a dungeon that had evolved into an SS-Rank dungeon, Zayn had solemnly promised that he would never stay up all night playing video games before a mission again.

Liam, of course, hadn’t believed him.

Knowing Zayn, that promise would probably last until the next night.

But at least he had managed to make him understand the seriousness of what he had done.

Now, Liam was finally home.

He had taken a shower and had just come out of the bathroom.

He was still wearing his robe when he walked toward the kitchen.

And then he saw her.

Lydia was preparing dinner.

She moved back and forth as she chopped some ingredients, but she was doing it while dancing.

She was literally dancing while cooking.

Liam leaned against the doorframe.

His wife was making chicken and potatoes and seemed to be in an incredible mood.

She smiled as she hummed a song.

Liam smiled.

It was beautiful seeing her like this.

Ever since they had discovered she was pregnant, Lydia seemed to be floating on clouds.

However, Liam couldn’t stop thinking about Pix’s words.

’It’s dangerous for your slime wife to be pregnant.’

Those words kept circling around in his head.

Liam had tried to find a way to talk to Lydia about it.

But every time he saw her smile, he lost his nerve.

He didn’t want to worry her.

Not now.

At the same time, he didn’t feel good about hiding something from her.

Lydia was the person he trusted the most.

But maybe he could still find a solution before he had to tell her anything.

Maybe Pix was exaggerating.

Maybe James would find a way to help her.

Maybe everything would be fine.

Liam wanted to believe that.

Lydia turned around and saw him standing in the doorway.

Her eyes lit up.

"Liam, darling."

She stopped what she was doing and started walking toward him.

She wasn’t walking normally.

She was still dancing.

Liam let out a laugh.

Lydia approached until she was standing in front of him.

"How is the father of my future child doing?"

Liam smiled.

"Much better now."

He took his wife’s hands.

"And how is the future mother doing?"

"Happy."

Lydia began moving her arms.

Liam followed her.

The two of them started dancing in the middle of the kitchen.

"You know?"

Liam laughed.

"I think I’m a little rusty."

"A little?"

"Yeah."

Lydia burst out laughing.

"You’re terrible!"

"Hey!"

Liam tried to keep up with the rhythm.

But his movements were clearly worse than Lydia’s.

She laughed even harder.

For a few minutes, Liam completely forgot about his worries.

It was just the two of them.

Dancing in the kitchen.

Waiting for their future child.

Liam looked at the amount of food Lydia had prepared.

There was too much chicken.

Too many potatoes.

And several other things he couldn’t even identify.

"Wait."

Lydia stopped dancing.

"What?"

"Why are you making so much food?"

Lydia looked at the table.

"Is it a lot?"

"It’s enough food for five people."

Lydia placed a hand on her chin.

"Well..."

Liam smiled.

"Are you already eating for two?"

Lydia’s eyes widened.

"No!"

Then she started laughing.

"That’s not why."

"Then why?"

"I wanted to invite Pix."

Liam froze.

"Pix?"

"Yes."

Lydia smiled.

"I want to celebrate the pregnancy with her."

Liam felt a small shiver run through him.

’Great...’

Pix wasn’t exactly the most reliable person when it came to keeping secrets.

If Lydia invited her to dinner, there was a pretty high chance Pix would end up telling her about the danger of the pregnancy.

Liam had to stop that.

"Well..."

Lydia looked at him.

"What?"

"Pix has the day off today."

"A day off?"

"Yeah."

Liam quickly improvised an excuse.

"She told me she was going to a party."

Lydia blinked.

"Pix?"

"Yes."

"To a party?"

"Exactly."

Lydia looked confused, but then she sighed.

"That’s too bad."

She looked at all the food.

"Well, I can put the leftovers in the fridge."

At that moment, a message appeared in front of Liam’s eyes.

[Pix: Did someone call me?]

Liam closed his eyes for a second.

’Perfect...’

He used [Call].

’It’s nothing, Pix.’

’Don’t worry about it.’

’You probably heard wrong.’

The response appeared immediately.

[Pix: I thought I heard Lydia inviting me to dinner.]

[Pix: I wouldn’t mind.]

[Pix: I’m really hungry.]

Liam had to hold back a laugh.

’Yeah, the invitation was real.’

’But you can’t come.’

[Pix: Why?]

’The dinner is to celebrate the pregnancy.’

Pix took a few seconds to respond.

[Pix: Then I should definitely go!]

Liam shook his head.

’No.’

’That’s exactly why you can’t come.’

[Pix: Why?]

Liam looked at Lydia.

She was beginning to set the table.

She took out the plates.

Then the silverware.

Then she began placing the glasses.

Liam walked over to help her.

As he arranged the silverware, he continued talking to Pix through [Call].

’Because I consider talking about the pregnancy to be dangerous.’

[Pix: I already explained why.]

’I know.’

’And I don’t want you to tell Lydia anything.’

[Pix: Why?]

’Because she’s happy.’

Liam placed a plate on the table.

’I don’t want to worry her until we find a solution.’

[Pix: But...]

Liam continued arranging the silverware.

’Besides, I already told her you went to a party.’

Pix remained silent for a few seconds.

[Pix: I understand.]

[Pix: But I can keep secrets.]

Liam raised an eyebrow.

’Are you sure?’

[Pix: Yes.]

[Pix: Besides, Lydia is an amazing cook.]

[Pix: I love human food.]

Liam smiled.

’I know.’

’That’s why I promise I’ll save some food for you.’

Pix seemed excited.

[Pix: Really?]

’Yeah.’

’You can show up later, after Lydia falls asleep.’

’Eat, then leave.’

There was a pause.

[Pix: But...]

Liam interrupted her.

’Do me this favor, Pix.’

The response took a few seconds.

[Pix: Okay.]

She also sent him a sad-face emoji.

Liam smiled.

’Thanks.’

[Pix: You’re welcome.]

The chat disappeared.

Liam took a deep breath.

When he looked up, Lydia was watching him.

"Darling... Is something wrong?"

Liam felt a small jolt in his chest.

For a moment, he thought she might have noticed something.

But he smiled.

"No."

Lydia tilted her head slightly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

Liam pointed at the food.

"I’m just really hungry."

Then he smiled.

"And this smells delicious."

Lydia smiled.

"I’m glad."

She picked up a serving dish and began serving the food.

The aroma of freshly cooked chicken filled the apartment.

Liam helped her place the food on the table.

When everything was ready, Lydia sat across from him.

Liam took his seat.

For a few seconds, they simply looked at the table.

A dinner prepared with far too much enthusiasm.

Two glasses.

Two plates.

And a future that had just changed completely.

Lydia placed a hand over her belly.

She smiled.

"Our first day knowing we’re going to be parents."

Liam felt his heart race.

He smiled.

"Yeah."

He picked up his silverware.

"I think we have a lot to celebrate."

Lydia nodded.

"A lot."

They both began to eat.

And while Liam enjoyed that quiet night with his wife, he tried to stop thinking about Pix’s words.

For tonight, he wanted to forget about the danger.

He just wanted to enjoy the happiness they had right in front of them.