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 favonovel.com was expecting so you can trust me on this,” favonovel.com 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 favonovel.com grandma as a relentless bully who failed to provide any sense of kinship or warmth. However, this time, favonovel.com grandmother almost brought tears to favonovel.com 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 favonovel.com 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 favonovel.com caught favonovel.com off-guard. His steps faltered and an unreadable emotion flashed in his eyes. When favonovel.com regained his composure, favonovel.com 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 favonovel.com 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 favonovel.com 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 favonovel.com felt a pang in favonovel.com heart. Mark had made his stance quite clear. It was obvious favonovel.com was leaning toward aborting the baby. The thing favonovel.com 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 favonovel.com grip, only realizing what favonovel.com had done.
The old woman’s expression regained its calmness, and favonovel.com turned to tidy the things favonovel.com 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 favonovel.com cares about you. This is why you should say a few pleasant words to get to his heart. A woman who takes advantage of favonovel.com feminine wiles lives the life of a queen. So? Think! All favonovel.com cares about is your health, yes?”
It was a piece of shameless advice, and Arianne knew it. However, favonovel.com took it to heart. Granny was right. She must speak to Mark tonight. She would not allow favonovel.com to weasel out of giving favonovel.com a direct answer. She had enough of vague answers.
***
During dinner, Mark personally placed a spoonful of every dish on the table on Arianne’s plate. “You can’t be picky with what you eat at this point,” favonovel.com explained. “You should eat as much as you can.”
Arianne looked at the growing hill on favonovel.com plate and chewed the service end of favonovel.com fork in silence. Should favonovel.com confront favonovel.com now?
Granny Wynn elbowed her. “Eat, eat, eat! This is now the. Time. To. Eat.”
Naturally, Arianne understood Granny Wynn’s underlying meaning. Her grandmother was telling favonovel.com that the discussion was best done behind closed doors.
Mark was wolfing down his food much more quickly than usual. Once favonovel.com finished, favonovel.com placed his cutleries down and rose to his feet before announcing, “I still have matters to attend to so I’ll be heading back to the company. Please rest early, especially Ari. Please don’t do anything reckless.”
When Arianne saw Mark trying to avoid talking to her, favonovel.com leaped to favonovel.com feet immediately. “You’re just trying to weasel your way out of talking to me, aren’t you? You’re avoiding me, aren’t you?” She accused favonovel.com angrily, “Mark Tremont, you can’t decide the fate of my child. I’m not the idiot and doormat you used to know. I’ll seek divorce if I have to. At that time, whether I live or die is none of your business!”
Various emotions surged through her, completely destroying favonovel.com rationality at this moment and causing favonovel.com to speak favonovel.com mind before thinking twice. She had completely forgotten about Granny Wynn’s advice.
A stormy expression appeared on Mark’s face as favonovel.com closed his eyes in frustration. “Ari, this isn’t as simple as you think it is. I cannot, I can’t stress this enough, I can’t let you do as you please. I’ll bring that medical report to a few more gynecologists for second opinions. No matter what happens, I must ensure you live.”
Arianne stomped up the stairs. A few moments later, favonovel.com came down with the report in hand. She tore it into pieces right in Mark’s face.
“I guess second opinions are unnecessary now, huh? Let me tell you something, as long as there’s a chance carrying the child won’t kill me, I won’t give up on the child. Sure, the child might not mean much to you. After all, there are many women who are willing to bear your child.” She bristled in anger. “How dare you deny me this? This is my last chance! You can’t deprive me of my God, given right to be a mother, Mark Tremont! You’ve already deprived me of so many things. Are you still unsatisfied? I. Don’t. F**king. Owe. You!”
The entire place was deathly silent. No one dared to break the silence. A panicked Mary looked at Mark pleadingly.
Granny Wynn, however, slapped Mark’s back. “Don’t just stand there and watch favonovel.com fume in anger! Cancel whatever you have to attend to and go to the room. Both of you can argue behind closed doors. I’m not going to allow both of you to act like monkeys in the common room.”
Mark massaged the bridge of his nose in resignation before moving toward Arianne. “Alright, I’m not leaving, okay? We’ll talk. Just… don’t get too mad, please. It’s not good for your health.”
With reddened eyes, Arianne spun on favonovel.com heels and stormed up the stairs. Just the thunderous thumps of favonovel.com steps were enough to show how livid favonovel.com was. It was as though favonovel.com was picturing herself stomping on Mark.
