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...

flushed

one more, I can

for a moment, not knowing what

"You should talk to Hendrix about the Granger Family. I've been married to Yohannes for a decade, so it's no surprise

If I start mentioning the Granger Group, things might take a turn for the worse for all we know." She shot me a shocked look,

reason not to persuade Hendrix to take things down a notch, but I knew that I couldn't do that. If I asked him about this, the nature 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

me some barbecued chicken

and smiled, "Did

He nodded. "Try them!"

knew his way around a barbecue pit; these were delicious! Thinking of the hot pot we made this morning, I could not help saying, "I don't

a fantastic cook, so the stewed soup came out very nicely, and

"I'll get Evan

tonight!"

the New Year? Since the company is on holiday today, shouldn't