My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

She nodded and did not probe any further. I let her play by herself in the courtyard.

Initially, I wanted to give Aaron a call. But after some thinking, I gave up on the thought.

In the evening, Hendrix called. He seemed to have just finished his work. He asked, "Have you eaten?"

If it weren't for Anne, I typically would not prepare dinner. I looked at the food that was still being prepared in the kitchen and replied, "No, I haven't." "Let's eat out tonight. I'll pick both of you up in a bit. It's cold out, so be sure to layer up." He sounded like he was tidying up some documents.

I supposed he was still in the office.

I froze, feeling a little apprehensive as I had not been out for quite some time. "Wouldn't I garner a lot of unwanted attention if I go out now?" I asked. After all, it hadn't been that long since the havoc ended.

"Don't worry. I've booked us a private dining room," he reassured. After a brief pause, he said, "By the way, Josiah has just returned from Hanlusia City. He'd like to see Anne."

I scowled. I did not want Anne to have anything to

do with him.

he could not help but continue in a gentle voice, "If you don't like him seeing Anne, the three of us

As much as I did not want

later, Hendrix parked his car in front of the courtyard. Anne

furrowed

head and took off my scarf. Though the air conditioner was turned on, it

to lighten the mood because I did not

at the restaurant, we headed straight to the private dining room. Josiah was waiting there,

he

hand as I sat down. In a soft and restrained voice, he asked,

my lips, shook

our food. While Hendrix was talking with Anne,

for a while before turning my gaze

with a

thought I heard him

towards me. "There was an embryonic malposition. Even if he was born, he won't live long, so we lost the

he was doing. He looked at Josiah and asked, perplexed,