One year, one love by Aurora Miller

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Margaret took Doris’s hand, her eyes glistening with emotion. “My life was saved by this wonderful young woman, Doris, I can’t thank her enough for what she’s done for me. To show my gratitude, I want to formally adopt her as my granddaughter. I hope all of you can witness this.”

The crowd broke into murmurs of approval, with someone chiming in. ‘Margaret, congratulations on gaining such a lovely granddaughter?”

Lewis was sipping water, and he choked violently, nearly spitting it out.

Doris glanced at him, raising her eyebrows as if to say, “Well, this is what you get!”

Lewis, caught completely off guard by Margaret’s declaration, quickly interrupted, “Grandma-”

“Don’t you interrupt me! I’m not finished,” Margaret snapped, glaring at him.

Turning back to Doris with a warm smile, Margaret continued, “Doris, I understand you’re already married, so I won’t push you. But I’d still like to adopt you as my granddaughter. Would that be alright?”

Doris froze and was lost in her thoughts. Adopted granddaughter? So…. does that make me and Lewis siblings now?

“Er…” Doris stammered with her brow furrowed. She cast a pleading look toward Lewis and said, “Why don’t you explain?”

Margaret noticed Doris’s glance toward Lewis and frowned. “Why are you looking at him? If you don’t think it’s a good idea, just tell me.”

“Grandma, let me explain.” Lewis began, trying to steer the conversation in a more reasonable direction.

“I don’t want to hear it,” Margaret cut him off with a wave of her hand. “No matter what you say, I’ve made up my mind. Doris will be my granddaughter.”

“Grandma, let’s talk about this inside,” Lewis said, shooting Doris a look, silently pleading for her help.

Margaret reluctantly allowed herself to be ushered inside, though her reluctance was written all over her face. Once they were behind closed doors, Lewis didn’t waste any time and said, “Grandma, you can’t adopt Doris as your granddaughter-”

Before Lewis could finish, Margaret immediately raised her hand and said with a sharp expression, “What are you saying? Are you looking for a slap? You don’t have the good fortune to marry a girl like Doris, and now you won’t even let me make her my granddaughter?”

“Margaret, please don’t be upset,” Doris interjected, gently patting her on the back. “Just hear him out, alright?”

Lewis sighed with helplessness etching on his face. “If you insist on adopting Doris, then she and I will have to get divorced first.”

froze, her expression shifting to one of shock. “What? Divorce?

granddaughter–in–law. We’re married. How could you adopt her as your granddaughter?” Lewis explained, rubbing his temples.

not believing what she had

pocket, pulled out their marriage

my reading glasses,” Margaret called out, her voice tinged with

slid them on. Carefully, she picked

her

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Thiu, 27 Fe

Chapter 31

tracing over the

face lit up with joy. Her hand lingered on the paper as tears pooled in her eyes, her smile growing wider by the second.

Grandma, do you believe me now? Lewis said with a small,

bubbling out of her. Then, with a playful smack to Lewis’s arm, she exclaimed. “You little rascal! You kept this from me? Watching me fret and fuss while you

considering you married such a wonderful girl,

granddaughter now?” Lewis asked

clutching the marriage certificate like a prized treasure. “What’s the point of an adopted granddaughter when I’ve got such a perfect

little too smug. “Don’t forget, the guests outside are waiting for your big

mock annoyance as she shot him a glare. “This is all your fault!” she huffed, though a smile

when we got married, and the doctor

were better to tell you. I thought today,

as your adopted granddaughter without even

all my fault? How convenient for you!” Margaret huffed, clearly annoyed. But with a wave

out into the yard with Doris

Margaret announced with a cheerful smile. “By the way,

this young lady as your granddaughter,” someone helpfully

I meant to say was that this lovely young lady is

definitely said

Lewis and Doris are already married. She’s

have their marriage certificate as proof.” She triumphantly held up the marriage certificate, waving it for all to see. “Look at this. Isn’t it beautiful?

stunned silence for a moment.

you guys say something?” Margaret said to the crowd with a smug

and said, “Congratulations, Margaret!”

by a round of