My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

After lunch, since we were heading into the new year, Valerie and Nerissa spontaneously decided to have a barbecue together in the yard in the afternoon. We had plenty of food to go around, thanks to Hendrix and my grocery haul from the supermarket.

When we were setting up the barbecue stand, Nerissa pulled me aside. "Leave this to the men and come with me. Let's talk!"

I got up and followed her to the backyard, a little stunned by her sudden invitation to talk. She definitely had something to say to me.

Fiona had planted some fruits in the backyard, but the soil had just been loosened, so there was nothing to see.

Nerissa sat on the swing in the pavilion and looked at me, "Are you planning to hold another wedding ceremony with Hendrix?"

I shook my head in astonishment. "No!"

She pursed her lips. "Then he..." She trailed off, glancing at me.

She paused for a moment before decidedly asking, "Have you guys been taking pregnancy precautions lately?"

This topic...

immediately flushed with embarrassment,

good. You two should start planning for a second child. Anne's almost five. If you want one more, I can help take care of the

silent for a moment, not knowing what

she mentioned Irvin and looked at me as if she wanted to say something. "You should talk to Hendrix about the Granger Family. I've been married to Yohannes for a decade, so it's no surprise that I feel for the family.

said, "Aunt Nerissa, there are some things that I can talk about, and things that I can't. If I start mentioning the Granger Group, things might take a

of my request would sound different to him. The two of them had been going head-to-head for years on the same levelled playing field. I did not understand how or why things would change so abruptly. What could Irvin possibly say the other day to have triggered Hendrix into taking such

handed me some barbecued chicken and vegetables and said, "Try them,

and smiled, "Did

He nodded. "Try them!"

around a barbecue pit; these were delicious! Thinking of the hot pot we made this morning, I could not help saying, "I don't know if Aaron is there with Yana now. Aunt Nerissa cooked a lot of delicious food. Perhaps I should send some to

soup came out very nicely, and with Nerissa's help, the

get Evan to send it

tonight!"

"Are you the only one celebrating the New Year? Since the company is on holiday today, shouldn't you let Evan go home