Chapter 132
Chapter 132
Doris felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze. She avoided answering. “I need to wipe Ari’s body; you should go out.” Since Arianna was already asleep, she couldn’t give her a bath, so she gently wiped her face and body with warm water, making her more comfortable for sleep.
Of course, Lewis didn’t belong in the room.
“Not leaving yet? Want to help me get the water?” Doris urged him.
“Alright, I’ll get the water.” Lewis finally turned and left the bedroom, heading to the bathroom outside to get a basin of
warm water.
He tested the water temperature, his hand just dipping in without it being too hot.
Lewis knocked on the door. “The water you wanted is here.
Doris walked over and took the basin from his hands. “You should go rest.”
As the door closed, Lewis said, “I’ll take your silence as an agreement.”
Doris was a little confused.
She didn’t think too much about it and quickly wiped Arianna’s face gently.
Then, she called Laura, “Laura, Ari’s asleep, so let her stay with me tonight. You don’t need to come pick her up. You still have to bring her tomorrow anyway, so no need to drop by. You can rest a bit longer.”
“Alright.” Laura was relieved and grateful for her thoughtfulness. “Doris, thank you so much.”
“Laura, no need for thanks. Just remember, I’m always your strongest backup. When you’re tired, you can lean on my shoulder.” Doris always encouraged Laura, supporting her.
Laura could feel the strength in her sister’s words. “I’ll get back to work now.”
Doris tidied up a little, getting ready for bed.
Recently, things had been busy and tiring. Doris would wash up when she got home and just crash into bed.
The next morning, Doris got up to make breakfast.
Doris used the blender to make pumpkin, millet, and oatmeal.
While that was going, she washed and shredded the potatoes and carrots, mixing them with eggs, flour, and seasoning.
She placed a four–hole frying pan on the gas stove, sprayed some oil, and filled the holes with the potato and carrot mixture to fry.
Once they were almost done, she placed the shrimp in the center of the vegetable mixture and continued frying, flipping them once they had set.
In this way, Doris made eight golden–brown vegetable egg pancakes that looked delicious.
She also boiled three ears of corn, about the size of her palm, and served them with fruit and nuts for a healthy, nutritious
breakfast.
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When the breakfast was ready, Doris went to wake up Arianne
Arianna rubbed her eyes and saw that it was tone, men Laura Turk ser
“You fell asleep last night, so I carried you hrane. Your mom had bred, 1 buy or so give you want you
a on home to rest. That’s why you’re at my place Doris explained the wred the cy upset?”
“No. 1 just miss Mom a little Arisnns was really close to Laurs, and dyshim fur hadn’t been so exhausted from playing yesterday, she wonders have Extender in ray
“Your mom isn’t working tonight. She’ll pick you up after wrak this afterne fons parked one genyen for a “How about I take you shopping for a new dress later?
z be
Arianna didn’t have any clothes here, so she had to make do with the dress the wre your key
“It’s okay, Doris. I have clothes at home. Mom says we shouldn’t spend money caredy on the young yan knew the importance of being frugal.
“Your mom’s right, but I just want to give you a dress as a gift Doris lifted Arianna onto the chair in front of the y still, and I’ll do your hair.”
Doris was good with her hands, and in no time, she had styled Arianna’s hair beautifully, pinning of gel har clip to the front.
Looking at Arianna’s round, rosy cheeks in the mirror, Doris suddenly thought that having with a owen street daughter wouldn’t be so bad.
And just like that, an image of Lewis‘ handsome face popped into her mind. What am I thinking the fronts
Shaking off the ridiculous thought, Doris took Arianna outside to wash up.
By the time they finished and headed to the dining room, Lewis was already setting the table.
“Good morning, Lewis!” As soon as Arianna saw Lewis, she let go of Doris‘ hand and ran over to greet him.
“Morning, Ari.” Lewis handed her a warm glass of milk. “Did you sleep well?”
“Like a log!” Arianna climbed onto the chair and sat down.
“This is for you.” Lewis poured the milk into a glass and placed it near her right hand so she could easily reach it
“Thank you, Lewis!” Arianna beamed at him.
“Don’t thank me. Doris made breakfast for you.” Lewis glanced at Doris across the table. “She also took care of you, so you should thank her.”
Arianna obediently turned to Doris. “Thank you, Doris! You worked really hard.
Doris patted Arianna’s head. “Eat up.”
Arianna used her fork to pick up a piece of vegetable pancake and placed it in Doris‘ bowl. Then, she did the same for “Let’s eat together.”
As Arianna sat there with Lewis and Doris by her side, a warmth filled her heart.
She thought, ‘It’d be so nice if my mom and dad could be with me like this, just like Doris and Lewis
Lewis immediately noticed the shift in Arianna’s mood. Her little face had drooped. “What’s wrong, Ari?”
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“I… I just really wish my mom and dad could be like you and Doris–happy together as a family. It’s been so long since we’ve had a meal together” Arianna spoke her heart’s truth. “But my dad is so scary. He always looks mad. He doesn’t like me… or Mom.”
She looked up at Lewis with wide, searching eyes. “Lewis, what can I do to make Dad like me? To make him like Mom?”
Doris‘ heart ached for Arianna, who was abandoned and resented by the Webb family since birth. She, too, had grown up in a family that favored boys over girls. She knew exactly how Arianna felt.
She knew that a child starved of a father’s love would only try harder to earn it.
Lewis saw Doris fall into silence, her eyes turning red at the edges. He understood her pain.
The reality was that Matteo’s affair had shattered their family. He no longer loved Laura as a husband should, nor did he love Arianna as a father. For the three of them to sit down and share a meal happily was nothing more than a distant dream.
For a child barely past three years old, the breaking of a family was nothing short of cruel.
Lewis reached out and pulled Arianna into his arms. “Ari, it’s not that your dad doesn’t like you–he just doesn’t know how to show it. Instead of focusing on people who don’t, why not look at those who do? Your mom, Doris, and even me–we all love. you very much.”
“But I want Dad and Grandma to love me too. That way, they won’t say bad things about Mom.” Arianna’s voice was small, her thoughts already shaped by her family’s mistreatment. “I wish I were a boy.”
Doris was stunned. “Ari, don’t ever think that.”
