Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Peyton noticed the storm brewing on Jimmy’s face and quickly handed him a glass of water, hoping to ease the tension.
“Dad. Morn, please don’t argue anymore, Claudia interjected. “The house was fully paid for by the Reed family. We didn’t contribute a single cent, so I don’t want to push for anything.
“As long as I can marry Rupert and he treats me well, I’ll be completely content. Her voice was laced with sincerity and composure, and the way she gazed at Rupert, her eyes brimming with gentle affection, made her words seem all the more heartfelt
Rupert, catching the tender look in Claudia’s glistening eyes, felt his heart melt like butter on a warm summer day.
“Dad, Mom,” he began, “Claudia is entrusting her entire life to me by marrying me. She has faith in me, and I should give her the security she deserves.
“If you want grandchildren, then the least we can do is add her name to the house deed.” His loyalty towards Claudia was unwavering, and his words carried a subtle but firm challenge to his parents.
To Rupert, there was nothing in the world he wouldn’t give Claudia if she asked for it, let alone adding her name on the deed.
But to Jimmy and Peyton, the Robinsons were beginning to seem a bit too demanding and greedy.
Jimmy, despite his unwavering love for Rupert since he was a boy, couldn’t ignore the gravity of marriage. It wasn’t something to rush into without careful consideration.
Seeing his father’s hesitation, Rupert leaned forward, his voice pressing but steady. “Dad, you’ve always told me that everything you have will eventually be mine. If that’s the case, then what’s mine is Claudia’s too.
“Adding her name to the deed is only fair. Please, Dad, just agree to it. Either way, I’m not marrying anyone but Claudia.”
“Rupert, don’t speak to your parents like that,” Claudia quickly cut in, her voice soft. “They have their reasons, and I understand. If they’re against it, then let’s not push them.”
Before she could finish her sentence, Claudia’s face turned pale, and she covered her mouth as she gagged slightly. Everyone’s expressions immediately shifted, the atmosphere growing tense with alarm.
Maisie, however, broke into a wide grin. “Claudia, could it be… are you pregnant?”
“L… Claudia hesitated, her cheeks flushing crimson with embarrassment. “My period is late this month…”
“That’s a clear sign,” Maisie declared with delight, her eyes darting toward Peyton. “You’ve had children, Peyton. You know what I mean, right?”
Peyton nodded thoughtfully, also thinking it was true. “If Claudia’s pregnant, that’s wonderful news.”
Rupert seized the moment, his tone carrying a subtle urgency as he turned to his parents. “Dad, Mom, Claudia is carrying my child–a Reed family child. What’s there to worry about now?”
Jimmy exhaled heavily, the weight of his earlier reservations beginning to lift. Finally, with a begrudging nod, he said, “If she’s really pregnant, then we’ll add her name.”
Hearing this, Claudia couldn’t contain her joy. A bright smile lit up her face as she said warmly, “Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Reed. I promise to take good care of Rupert and you both.”
“All we ask is that you live happily together and have plenty of children,” Jimmy replied, his thoughts clearly more focused on ensuring the Reed family’s legacy.
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Rupert and Claudia exchanged a look, their eyes sparkling with shared happiness. “With Claudia looking so radiant, she must be carrying a strong, healthy baby,” Rupert said, his grin stretching from car to ear.
Later that evening, the Robinsons‘ relatives and friends gathered for dinner at the hotel, indulging in a celebratory feast. The group even decided to extend their stay another night, planning to leave the following day.
For Jimmy, however, the growing expenses were beginning to wear on him, making him annoyed. He hadn’t anticipated the Robinsons showing up with so many freeloaders who seemed determined to eat and drink to their heart’s content at his
expense.
As he calculated the costs in his mind, his irritation simmered quietly beneath the surface.
Rupert then whispered something in Jimmy’s car, his words soft but firm. Whatever he said seemed to work, as the stern lines on Jimmy’s face finally eased.
“Alright, we’ll do it your way,” Jimmy said with a faint smile, the tension dissipating from his features at last.
After dinner, as they left the hotel, Jimmy stopped Laura and reminded her again, “Laura, don’t forget–the wedding gift. If you can’t come up with the money, you’ll ruin your brother’s happiness for the rest of his life. And if that happens, I’ll never forgive you.”
Laura stood under the dark, endless’sky, holding her daughter Arianna close. The vibrant, flickering city lights blurred before her eyes, mirroring the storm brewing in her heart.
Before her marriage, Laura had handed over half her salary to her father without complaint. After marrying Matteo, her mother–in–law had insisted she quit her job to focus on family life.
With no income of her own and her days tethered to the household, she had nowhere to turn for help.
Laura pulled out her phone, scrolling through her contact list, searching for someone she could confide in. But the names on the screen felt distant, none of them close enough to lean on in her time of need.
Just as despair began to take hold, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Doris.
Laura took a deep breath, trying to steady her chaotic emotions before answering.
“Laura, I heard from Lewis that you tried to call me earlier,” Doris said warmly, her voice carrying a hint of concern. “I was resting and missed it. I’m fine, really. But are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Laura replied, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her. She sniffled softly, trying to hold it together.
“Laura, have you been crying?” Doris’s perceptive tone immediately picked up on the faint quiver in her words.
“No, I’m just about to head home. Let’s talk later, okay?” Laura cut in quickly, afraid that any more kindness from Doris would shatter the fragile dam holding back her emotions. She came up with an excuse and hung up the phone.
Doris wanted to say something else, but when she looked at her phone, she saw the call had already ended. A lingering unease settled in her chest. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with Laura’s mood.
Meanwhile, Lewis emerged from the bedroom, freshly showered, and found Doris lost in thought by the kitchen island. He called her name twice but she didn’t respond, her gaze distant.
“What’s wrong?” Lewis asked, his brow furrowed as he approached.
Doris blinked, pulling herself back from her worries. “It’s nothing. Dinner’s ready. Let’s eat.”
Tonight’s meal was a simple yet comforting spread–steaks, steamed broccoli, and clam chowder.
As Lewis helped plate the food, Doris’s eyes caught something unusual. There, on the back of his hand, was a faint bite
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mark. Though the color had faded, it was still noticeable.
“What happened to your hand?” Doris asked, setting down her bowl as she reached out to inspect it more closely.
Lewis withdrew his hand smoothly, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Someone bit me when she was drunk.”
Her jaw dropped as realization dawned. “Wait… was that me?”
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Doris blinked, utterly dumbfounded. She had no memory of the incident, and after spending the afternoon sleeping off her hangover, she had barely pieced herself back together.
“Next time, no more drinking,” Lewis warned, his tone somewhere between stern and teasing.
“Are you serious? I bit you? That doesn’t sound like me–I don’t just go around biting people,” Doris protested, completely puzzled, her eyes narrowing suspiciously as she studied him. Then, a mischievous thought crossed her mind. “Or maybe… you had some ulterior motive?”
Lewis felt a sharp sting of humiliation coursing through him.
“Doris, you really have some nerve playing the victim,” he said, leaning back against the chair, his arms crossed over his chest.
His gaze grew cold, the sharp edge of his words cutting through the air. “Sure, you’re somewhat decent–looking, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Don’t flatter yourself into thinking I’d have any ulterior motives.”
“It was just a joke. No need to get so serious.” Doris, sensing the tension, quickly grabbed the bowl of clam chowder she had just ladled out.
She held it up to him with an apologetic smile, her tone softening as she offered, “Alright, I admit I went too far. I shouldn’t have acted like a drunken fool or bitten you out of nowhere. I’m sorry, Mr. Hartman. Please forgive me.”
Her attempt at making amends was as endearing as it was clumsy. With her big, pleading eyes and the soup held up like a -peace offering, she looked utterly harmless.
Lewis gave her a long, measured look before letting out a resigned sigh. “Not worth the effort to argue with you,” he muttered, taking the bowl from her hands and sipping from it.
“I knew you’ve got a big heart,” Doris said, her face lighting up with relief as she broke into a grin.
Dinner ended without further incident, and while Doris busied herself cleaning the table and washing the dishes, her mind was still stuck on Laura. The nagging feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t leave her alone.
Once the dishes were done, she joined Lewis in the living room, her expression clouded with concern as she sat down. “Mr. Hartman, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off with Laura.
“I’m worried about her. I think I’ll stop by her place after work tomorrow to check on her, so don’t wait for me for dinner.”
Lewis glanced up from his book, a flicker of thought crossing his mind. “The bond between these two sisters is something else. Always putting each other first,‘ he pondered.
Closing the book with a quiet thud, he said, “Alright. Then I’ll come with you after work to visit her.”
Doris waved off the suggestion almost immediately. “There’s no need for that. It’s just some girl talk, you know? You being there would make it different.”
“Fine. But if you need anything, call me.”
“I will.”
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Doris lingered on the couch for a moment, absently flipping through the channels, but her heart wasn’t in it. The worry over Laura had stolen all her focus. Eventually, she gave up on the TV and headed to her bedroom, crawling into bed early,
