Lisa swung open the fridge door, not sure what she was looking for, and just stood there, tears silently streaming down her face.
Aurelia quickly shut the fridge, "You shouldn't be catching a draft right now, Lisa. You're still in your recovery phase."
Lisa sniffled, "Back home, we don't have this custom of lying in after childbirth."
"Oh," Aurelia raised an eyebrow, no wonder Lisa had brought Nova to Elysium so soon after giving birth.
"Lisa, you need to be patient with Arnold. Winning someone's heart doesn't happen overnight."
"I know." Lisa looked down, looking sorrowful.
"It seems like Arnold isn't fond of Nova, and she doesn't cheer him up. It's hard enough for him to hold her, and then she cries."
Aurelia felt a bead of sweat form on her forehead. She sensed that Lisa might be showing signs of postpartum depression.
"Nova's still a newborn. How would she recognize Arnold's embrace? Besides, she's been ill and uncomfortable today; it's natural for her to fuss."
She patted Lisa on the shoulder, "Actually, a lot of how a child bonds with their father is influenced by the mother. Back when I was with Leopold, our relationship was strained, much like you and Arnold now. We had agreed to divorce as soon as Kane was born. My emotions constantly affected Kane in the womb, and every time Leopold tried to hold him, he'd just cry."
Lisa jolted, "Is that so?"
Could it be that Nova's reluctance to bond with Arnold stemmed from the resentment she felt towards him while pregnant?
"Yes," Aurelia nodded, "Babies have a sort of telepathy with their mothers in the womb, and they can sense their mother's emotions. If you want Nova to be closer to Arnold, you'll need to talk about him positively in front of her, share stories about him, and let her know she has an amazing dad. It's all about subtly shaping her feelings."
A lightbulb seemed to go off for Lisa, "I understand now."
Aurelia smiled warmly, "Don't worry about preparing any snacks. Go take care of Nova; she'll be waking up hungry soon."
In the living room, Beverley was cooing over the crib, completely smitten with Nova inside.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold)