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.”

expression shifting to one of shock. “What? Divorce? What are you talking about?”

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

believing what she had heard. “Married? You two? Are you serious? You’re

Lewis reached into his pocket, pulled out

reading glasses,” Margaret called out,

quickly brought over the glasses, and Margaret slid them on. Carefully, she picked up the certificate and studied it,

her

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Thiu, 27 Fe

Chapter 31

the names

with joy. Her hand lingered on the paper as tears pooled in her eyes,

me now? Lewis said

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 were secretly married to Doris?

wonderful girl,

no adopted granddaughter now?” Lewis asked

prized treasure. “What’s the point of an adopted granddaughter when I’ve

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

mock annoyance as she shot him a glare. “This is all your

when we got married, and the doctor specifically said to avoid

to wait until you were better to tell you. I thought

declare Doris as your adopted granddaughter without even

But with a

out into the yard with Doris and Lewis trailing

all waiting,” Margaret announced with a cheerful smile. “By

young lady as your granddaughter,” someone helpfully

you misunderstood. What I meant to say

definitely said adopted

senile. Lewis and Doris are already married.

She triumphantly held up the marriage certificate, waving it for all to see. “Look at this. Isn’t it beautiful? Aren’t they just the

fell into stunned silence for a moment.

to the crowd with

and said, “Congratulations,

others echoed, followed by a round of applause.