This time, Richard made his stance clear. "Winona, don''t worry. We will absolutely not force Keaton to marry her this time! Even though I... I desperately want a grandchild to carry on the Huber family line, and I truly want this baby! But I would rather the Huber line end with him than break you two up!"


    Richard''s eyes welled up. He really did want a grandchild! The idea of the family line ending with his son was a constant weight on his mind, a heavy burden to carry. It didn''t matter who the mother was; as long as the child was a Huber, that was enough. But he and Janelle both loved Winona and disliked Beatrix, which was why he was making such a noble deration. He would rather give up his dream of holding a grandchild than ruin the happiness of his son and Winona.


    Winona knew how much this meant to Richard, and hearing him say that truly touched her. Beyond the emotion, she felt a pang of sympathy for him. People from his generation, especially from prominent families, took continuing the family line very seriously. Every word he spoke was like a dagger to his own heart.


    She felt so sorry for him that, ovee with emotion, she blurted out without thinking, “Richard, don''t you worry. If Beatrix is really carrying a Huber, I will find a way to make sure she has that baby! And if she''s not, I''ll have one for you two. I promise you''ll get to hold your grandchild in your lifetime!"


    Richard and Janelle froze. Their eyes went wide. “W-Winona, what... what did you just say?"


    Winona''s tone was serious and determined. "I said, if Beatrix won''t have the baby, I will have one for Keaton. I promise you''ll get to hold your grandchild in your lifetime!"


    Richard and Janelle''s eyes lit up instantly! Their hopes, which had been dashed, were now fully restored!


    Richard was so moved that his eyes welled with tears. He grasped Winona''s hands as if she were the savior of the Huber family, his lips trembling. "Good! Good! Good!"


    Janelle brushed his hand aside and took Winona''s hands in her own. "You wonderful, wonderful girl. I don''t even know what to say. How can you be so good? Keaton is the luckiest man in the world to have met you! We must have a guardian angel looking out for us! I''m just so moved..." Janelle was so emotional she started to cry.


    Winona pulled a hand free to wipe her tears, then gave her a hug. "You and Richard shouldn''t be sad over Beatrix anymore. You two need to stay healthy. I''ll be counting on you to help with the baby in the future, you know."


    Janelleughed through her tears. "Yes, of course!"


    Richard started rubbing his hands together excitedly. "Don''t you worry, Winona. Once you and Keaton have a baby, you two can do whatever you want. We''ll be full- time grandparents! We''ll take care of everything!"


    Winona smiled and nodded. "...Okay."


    She had originally said it to make Janelle and Richard happy, but in that moment, she felt a sense of happiness herself. She didn''t have feelings for Keaton, but she genuinely adored vanelle and Richard. With parents like them, anyone who married into the Huber family would surely be very happy.


    A littleter, there was a knock on the door. Tarquin arrived with a


    breakfast tray. Seeing J


    Richard beaming, Tarquin was


    surprised. He couldn''t help but give Winona a second took. He had to hand it to her; to be able to cheer them up like this after such a huge blow... she was something else.


    Tarquin''s expression was gentle. "Janelle, Richard, time for breakfast."


    Winona asked, "Has Keaton eaten?"


    "Not yet. We''ll eat over there."


    Winona turned to Janelle and Richard. "Why don''t we have hime eat with us? You were so angry, he''s probably been on edge all night and too scared to eat."


    Janelle threw back the covers and got out of bed. "Let''s go. We''ll go eat with him."


    Winona smiled and nodded. “That


    works too." She moved to help Janelle, but Janelle waved her off. don''t need help. My sickness was just fre from stress. Now that the stress is gone, I feel perfectly fine. Keel great everywhere."