It wasn't time for lunch service at Dex Restaurant yet, so Veronica wasn't busy and answered the phone immediately.
After listening to what Kevin said, Veronica—who truly hadn't expected, nor hoped, to get a child this quickly—was instantly stunned into silence.
She froze for a few seconds.
Only then did Veronica snap back to reality. She forced a small smile and found her voice, playing along with Kevin. "That is... just great."
"Right?!" Kevin was still buzzing with excitement, completely missing the hesitation in her voice.
Of course, as a poor guy with some natural cognitive deficits due to inbreeding, it was generally hard for Kevin to pick up on these subtleties anyway.
"So, let's head back at twelve and tidy up the house, okay?" Kevin asked happily.
Veronica hesitated. "I have to ask Dexter and see if it's okay. I'll call you back in a bit."
"Okay," Kevin said, oblivious to anything else.
The call ended.
Veronica sighed in distress and walked toward the kitchen.
Lunch service hadn't started, and Dexter was prepping ingredients in the kitchen, so he wasn't too busy.
Veronica explained the situation, unable to hide the distress on her face.
Dexter wanted to laugh looking at her...
Will it be Ethel?
Probably.
If it was, maybe he could try to help her stay.
Otherwise, if she ended up like she did in the original show—running off with Malik, that kid who could barely read and whose whole family was basically in prison—well, tsk tsk, that wouldn't end well.
"You don't seem happy," Dexter didn't rush to approve her time off, asking with a smile instead.
Veronica hesitated, then shook her head. "No, I am."
"Haha, your face says otherwise. Don't worry, I won't tell Kevin," Dexter laughed.
Veronica hesitated again. "Really?"
"Of course."
Veronica fell silent for a moment. "I didn't think the adoption application would go through so fast. I thought we'd have at least a few months to prepare."
"Now it's happening so suddenly, I don't know what to do."
"I have to work, Kev works every day. If we adopt a kid, who's going to take care of them?"
That was a fact.
Neither of them had time during the day. Adopting a child was indeed going to be a hassle.
"What was your original plan?" Dexter asked.
Veronica shook her head and smiled bitterly. "No plan. We just thought maybe Kev could hire someone to help at the Alibi to squeeze out some time. We don't have a complete plan yet."
Uh.
Makes sense. That style of operation was very on-brand for this couple.
Dexter kept his hands moving with the prep work and thought for a moment. "I want to tell you something. Can you promise not to tell Kevin?"
Veronica was a bit surprised, wondering what Dexter intended to say. She nodded. "I promise."
"Kevin was abandoned by his parents when he was young and grew up in one foster home after another," Dexter said calmly. "From what I know, people like that usually have some psychological issues. Kevin is likely no exception... I didn't sense it before, but I sense it now."
"Kevin's love for children goes far beyond the norm. This is a psychological issue caused by a miserable childhood, and it's basically unchangeable."
"Therefore, I think this adopted child is going to be a test for your relationship..."
"Veronica, you need to think carefully about how to handle this."
Veronica heard him clearly and was genuinely frightened. She couldn't believe it. "Is it that serious??"
The serious stuff is yet to come, Dexter thought to himself, but smiled. "I hope I'm wrong."
Since nothing had happened yet, Veronica wasn't sure. "Then what should I do?"
"You're husband and wife. What do the vows say again?" Dexter smiled, throwing the question back.
Veronica: "..."
"You can leave early this afternoon. I wish you guys the best," seeing Veronica stay silent, Dexter added. "If you can't come tonight, call me in advance."
"Okay..." Veronica responded dazedly. She turned and left the kitchen, her thoughts in total chaos.
---
Pitts Plastic Surgery Center.
Peggy sat alone in Noah Pitts' office, glaring at the terrified plastic surgeon and threatening him viciously.
Noah Pitts listened in silence. Eventually, he couldn't take it anymore and mustered the courage to argue back.
But Peggy was a dying woman.
And a dying woman is terrifying.
Peggy gave a cold smile and stood up. "Tomorrow morning. Two hundred thousand dollars. Otherwise, whatever happens to you... you'll have to bear the consequences!"
Noah Pitts ground his teeth in hatred but didn't dare say another word. he could only watch helplessly as Peggy slowly left.
Peggy returned to the car.
Frank, who had been waiting in the car smoking, had seen the name of the surgery center and figured out what Peggy was doing long ago. He looked at Peggy decisively, squeezed out a smile, and asked, "Mom, how much does he owe you?"
Peggy gave Frank a look of disdain. knowing he was eyeing the money, she didn't answer, just said coldly, "Drive."
It involved money, and likely a lot of money...
Frank wasn't going to back down. He wanted a piece of the pie. "Mom, according to custom, I'm your partner. I should get a cut."
Hearing this, Peggy couldn't help it and laughed immediately. "My partner? You? You think you're worthy?"
"..." When it came to money, Frank's resilience was incredible. What was a little insult? "Mom, maybe I'm not worthy..."
Frank unleashed his silver tongue once again, talking non-stop.
Peggy didn't buy it at all. She ignored him completely, feeling that this guy was like a fly in a cesspool—so damn noisy.
---
1:00 PM Sharp.
The social worker arrived at 2113 North Wallace Street on time with Ethel and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Hearing the knock, Kevin, who had been waiting on the sofa in agonizing anxiety like he was sitting on pins and needles, jumped up instantly. Happy and excited as a child, he hurriedly whispered to Veronica, "V, the social worker is here. Quick, let's go welcome them."
Watching Kevin behave like this, Dexter's words from the morning uncontrollably echoed in Veronica's mind. It made sense, so she believed it a bit more, which inevitably added to her worry.
Driven by worry, Veronica forced a smile and followed Kevin to the door.
A moment later.
Kevin, with a silly, adorable grin, and Veronica, with a rather complicated expression, met the social worker—and Ethel.
Ethel was thirteen, with a face full of innocence, and very pretty.
Seeing Ethel, Kevin froze.
Veronica, on the other hand, instinctively breathed a sigh of relief.
The reason was simple.
Ethel wasn't a toddler; she could take care of herself. That would be much easier to manage.
Kevin only froze for a second before his silly grin returned. "Welcome, welcome. Please come in."
About twenty minutes later.
After briefly explaining that Ethel had been rescued by the government from a cult and urgently needed a good home, and confirming the adoption with Kevin and Veronica again, the social worker left Ethel and departed.
Left behind, Ethel sat very awkwardly on the sofa. She looked at Kevin, then at Veronica, not knowing what to do. Her pretty face showed clear anxiety.
Kevin watched her, his heart aching. He rapidly fell into character, playing the role of a father, and comforted her gently, "Ethel, from now on, this is your home..."
Veronica sat to the side, silently watching this version of Kevin, her emotions incredibly complex.