Arianne nodded. She left the kitchen and went into the living room. At the same time, Grandma Wynn returned with bags filled with infant clothing and maternity products.
“Oy, Arianne! Come and have a look. See if I’ve missed out on anything you might need. I’ve once helped prepare all these things for your aunt when she was expecting so you can trust me on this,” she said. “See these? Just you wait, it’s going to come in handy. Look at these baby clothes I picked, they’re all made from premium materials.”
Prior to this, Arianne only knew her grandma as a relentless bully who failed to provide any sense of kinship or warmth. However, this time, her grandmother almost brought tears to her eyes.
“Granny… You… You really believe I have a chance at becoming a mother?” She asked softly.
The old woman hesitated for a moment. “Well, I’ve heard bits and pieces of what happened. Your body is not the strongest. However, if you really want the child, then, have it. The Tremont business is huge, this legacy can’t be left without an heir, right?” She replied, “Now, if the doctor says you definitely shouldn’t continue with the pregnancy, then, heed the expert’s advice. After all, everything would be meaningless if you lose your life. However, if the doctor didn’t say such words, I’ll definitely stand by your decision.”
Arianne threw herself at her grandmother and cried out, “Granny, I want this child! I want this child so badly. Otherwise, I might not get another chance like this again.”
It was at this moment that Mark came in. The sight that greeted him caught him off-guard. His steps faltered and an unreadable emotion flashed in his eyes. When he regained his composure, he stepped forward. “That’s a lot of things that you bought. You shouldn’t have bought so many things.”
Grandma Wynn grabbed Arianne by the hand and drew her to the seat next to her. “Aww, the money I spent isn’t yours anyway. What’s wrong with spending on your child? Speaking of, Arianne has expressed a strong desire to keep the baby. What do you think?”
Mark averted his eyes immediately, afraid his resolve would weaken if he met Arianne’s eyes. “I’m still thinking about it. I haven’t decided. Let’s leave the question for another time. I’m going to take a shower.”
Arianne’s fingers tightened, and she felt a pang in her heart. Mark had made his stance quite clear. It was obvious he was leaning toward aborting the baby. The thing he needed to think about was probably how to break the news to her.
“Ouch! You’re going to break my hands!” Granny Wynn cried out, “What in tarnation are you trying to do?”
“I-I’m sorry!” Arianne yelped and released her grip, only realizing what she had done.
The old woman’s expression regained its calmness, and she turned to tidy the things she had bought. “The child lives in you, no? If you’re against the abortion, then, who in the world can make you abort it? Mark Tremont may look like a block of ice, but he’s a block of ice with a heart. Heck, even Granny can see how much he cares about you. This is why you should say a few pleasant words to get to his heart. A woman who takes advantage of her feminine wiles lives the life of a queen. So? Think! All he cares about is your health, yes?”
It was a piece of shameless advice, and Arianne knew it. However, she took it to heart. Granny was right. She must speak to Mark tonight. She would not allow him to weasel out of giving her a direct answer. She had enough of vague answers.
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