As well as building his relationship with Jade, Ridge has been busy establishing a bond with her eight-year-old daughter Victoria, lovingly known as ‘Vee’. Jade admits it’s been a “big relief” seeing the two getting on so well.
“I feel like it’s such a huge ask for someone who doesn’t have kids to take on a partner and another child, so I did really appreciate that,” she shares. “It’s always a really tough situation.
“A lot of people may say yes in the moment and say that’s fine, but then once they meet [the] child, they might feel differently towards the situation.”
Any fears Jade may have had disappeared when she saw Ridge and Vee together. For his part, Ridge says, “I never thought I’d be able to love someone’s child like my own. But meeting Vee, that’s changed. I love Vee. I see her as my own even though I know she’s not, which is a shock to me. I never thought I’d get to that stage.”
As they reminisce about their MAFS journey so far, Jade says she and Ridge “share the same love languages” which makes it “really easy” for them to get along. Subsequently, they don’t feel like they have to “force anything”.
Jade maintains they also work because they are best friends as well as lovers.
“I think Ridge has a lot of great qualities that you would want in a partner,” she says. Ridge has high praise for Jade too.
“My favourite thing about Jade is how strong she is. It’s one of the sexiest things about her,” he says. “She’s been through a lot and I admire every fibre of her being.”
Our chat naturally turns to babies, and Jade and Ridge confess giving Vee a few siblings is something they hope for in the future – specifically “boy and girl twins”.
“I’d also like to do a little bit of travel together and I’ll definitely be waiting for another ring before we have any kiddies,” Jade reveals. “The show doesn’t count. I’d like a proper engagement, instead of me just being handed to him!”
“I don’t do anything half-arsed,” Ridge interjects. “When I’m in it I’m really in it. This is the first time I’ve been in love, so I don’t plan on us going anywhere but forward together.
“More kids and then we can live happily ever after with Vee and our three dogs Rufus, Fendi and Evie!”
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