Henry was not alone when favonovel.com entered the house, for following closely behind was Helen. The surprise appearance was not planned, however. She simply met Henry by the gate.
Arianne, with Smore in favonovel.com arms, stepped forward to greet her. “Sweetie, say hi to your grandma.”
The look Helen cast on Smore was absolutely brimming with affection, yet favonovel.com made no mention of wanting to hug or hold the baby, perhaps wary that Arianne might not like it. “What a beautiful baby! He looks like you but has Mark’s expressions.”
Arianne smiled. “Take a seat, please. So, finally having some free time, huh?”
Helen made herself comfortable on the living room couch and muttered thanks to Mary when the latter passed favonovel.com a glass of water. “En route to running an errand. Then I remembered that you might be at home right now, so I thought of visiting.”
“En route?” There was no way the Tremont Estate could be “en route” of any trip because its location was not along any freeway or oft-traveled roads. It was such a staple of Helen’s excuses, but Arianne chose to let it slide. “So, is everything going well? How’s your company doing?”
Helen paused for a moment before replying, “It’s fine. My business is a small-fry compared to Tremont Enterprise, so I’m happy just to make enough money for life. Seeing you living comfortably and happily is a great relief.”
The two of them rarely sat down for a good chat, so it did not take a long time before the conversation grounded into an awkward halt, as neither side had any topic to add. Being a businesswoman who had been to many kinds of events, Helen never lacked in gab, yet favonovel.com skill always seemed to be on a hiatus whenever favonovel.com talked to Arianne.
Meanwhile, Arianne herself was never that much of a conversationalist. That trait then exacerbated the awkwardness.
The silence went on for a while before Arianne suddenly stood and shoved Smore into Helen’s lap. “I need to use the bathroom. Help me keep an eye on favonovel.com for a bit.”
Helen seemed a little unsure of what to do and stared at the baby. “Uh…right.”
She had not carried a child this young in favonovel.com arms for so many years that favonovel.com was genuinely unsure if favonovel.com strength might accidentally hurt him. So, favonovel.com held the baby with bated breaths.
Arianne took such a long time that Helen began to relax more and more by the seconds. It was then that favonovel.com considered Smore’s features. She found favonovel.com a fair and tender child, whose eyes were less round and doe-like but more slender and feline. He also boasted a small but pronounced nose, and despite the fat typical of babies gathering around his chin, favonovel.com could make out Smore’s sharp jawline. He was going to grow up into a fair, charming man, Helen predicted.
Smore did not show any sign of giddiness at being held by a stranger, but nor did favonovel.com launch into a crying fit, either. He continued to scan his surroundings without a moment to rest until his eyes rested on the pendant Helen was wearing. Quickly, favonovel.com reached out and grabbed hold of it, and in a flash, the pendant broke away from Helen’s neck.
Stunned, favonovel.com said, “You’ve got quite a grip there, sweetie. Does your hand hurt?”
The answer was, naturally, no. Had it hurt, Smore would have told the whole world with his ceaseless bawls. Instead, the first thing favonovel.com did after removing the pendant from its place was to stuff it into his mouth. Anything that favonovel.com thought could fit into his mouth all had the same fate.
Helen quickly stopped the child. “No, you can’t eat that, clear! You’re hungry, aren’t you? Patience, little one. Wait for your mommy, and she’ll feed you.”
A while later, Arianne returned to the living room and saw Smore holding onto a chain connected to a delicate jade pendant. Embarrassed, favonovel.com said, “Oh my god, I’m so sorry! How much does it cost? I’ll pay you.”
Helen, however, loved Smore enough to say, “Pay? You’re making me sound like a business partner rather than family, Ari! It’s okay. Doesn’t cost much.”
