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.”

shifting to one of shock. “What? Divorce?

Doris is already your granddaughter–in–law. We’re married. How could you adopt her as

not believing what she had heard. “Married? You two? Are you serious?

word, Lewis reached into his pocket, pulled out their marriage certificate, and placed

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

and Margaret slid them on. Carefully, she picked

her

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Thiu, 27 Fe

Chapter 31

the names on

Her hand lingered on the paper as tears pooled in her eyes, her smile

Lewis said with a small, satisfied

“You little rascal! You kept this

wonderful girl, I forgive you for deceiving

granddaughter now?” Lewis asked with a sly grin.

waved him off, still clutching the marriage certificate like a prized treasure. “What’s the

back, his tone a little too smug. “Don’t forget, the guests outside are

shot him a glare. “This is all your fault!” she huffed, though a smile still tugged

his tone calm, “You were recovering when we got married, and the doctor specifically said to avoid stimulating

wanted to wait until you were better to tell you. I thought today, after we brought you home, would

decided to jump the gun and declare Doris as your adopted granddaughter without even consulting me. And every time I tried to explain, you

a wave of her hand,

that, Margaret marched back out into the yard with Doris and Lewis trailing

keep you all waiting,” Margaret announced with a cheerful smile. “By the way, where were

this young lady

you misunderstood. What I meant to

you definitely said

think I’m senile. Lewis and Doris are already married. She’s my granddaughter–in–law, not my granddaughter.

Here, I have their marriage certificate as proof.” She triumphantly held up the marriage certificate, waving it for all to

crowd fell into stunned silence

something?” Margaret said to the crowd with a smug

broke the silence and said, “Congratulations, Margaret!”

others echoed, followed by a round