Lizetta’s feet started dragging almost without her realizing it, her nerves all jangled up.


    Tina, not hearing Lizetta’s footsteps anymore, turned around to see her dilly–dallying and doubled back


    to fetch her


    “Mrs. Dashiell, chop chop, don’t keep Fiona and the docs on pins and needles.”


    But Lizetta was rooted to the spot. “Tina, what’s the lowdown? Isn’t Joseph in the pediatric ward? Or Is


    Fiona feeling under the weather? Then why the heck are we hitting up the maternity ward?”


    Seeing she wasn’t budging, Tina had no choice but to spill the beans.


    “It’s not about Joseph; he’s all settled in the pediatric ward. Let mey it on you straight. A few days


    back, when you were yapping with Ms. Shirley at the old house, I eavesdropped, and Fiona got wind of


    Ms. Hawthorne’s bun in the oven that very day and sent me to confirm. Fiona was spitting chips when


    she found out Mr. Remington was still with Ms. Hawthorne for her prenatal checkups. She was all set to


    have it out with Evelina, and today, whileing to see Joseph, she bumped right into Ms. Hawthorne.


    Ms. Hawthorne, with her belly sticking out, was sucking up to her, acting like she’s gonna be the cat’s


    meow because of her kid. Fiona wasn’t about to let her witchcraft slide. They’ve already hauled Ms.


    Hawthorne off to the OR.”


    Lizetta was gobsmacked; she couldn’t fathom what Evelina was thinking.


    After getting papped in the garden, instead of skedaddling out of guilt, she was sticking her face where


    it didn’t belong.


    But since it wasn’t her own pregnancy getting busted, Lizetta loosened up a notch.


    She and Tina reached the OR doors and sure as day, there was Fiona, and Evelina being restrained by


    a couple of servants.


    “Fiona, I’m like a granddaughter you watched over, I respect and adore you, why are you being so


    hard–hearted! My baby’s a Dashiell through and through, for Pete’s sake. You can’t just make the doc


    take it away, the baby’s innocent, it would call you great–grandma.”


    Evelina was clutching her belly, a picture of pleading that could soften the hardest of hearts.


    But Fiona was having none of it, her face like thunder, “Save your breath, I’m not buying what you’re


    selling!”


    Lizetta quickly stepped in, taking Fiona’s arm.


    “Granny.”


    “Liz, you’re here. I had no idea you were dealing with such a raw deal. Today’s the day I tell some folks


    with twisted intentions not to get any funny ideas about climbing the socialdder through their kids.


    The Dashiell family has never had a scandal with illegitimate children! Even if I dote on my great–


    grandkids, they’d bettere from my own flesh and blood, not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry iming


    to be a Dashiell!”


    Fiona’s words were emphatic, gripping Lizetta’s hand, her palm warm and reassuring.


    Lizetta’s nose tingled, and her eyes brimmed with tears in an instant.


    Fiona was tough as nails in her youth, not giving an inch to any man, but she was always kind–hearted


    and generous behind closed doors.


    And now, for her sake, she was pushing for Evelina to have an abortion.


    It was against everything Fiona stood for, and it was all for her.


    ? ?° ? = = ? = ?? ?


    Lizetta was touched by Fiona’s unwavering support, treating her like her own granddaughter and not


    letting anyone push her around.


    But she also felt guilty for causing such heartache during what should have been peaceful twilight


    years.


    If they went through with forcing Evelina’s abortion today, it would tarnish Fiona’s reputation.


    Besides, despite loathing Evelina, as a mother herself, Lizetta couldn’t bear the thought of being part of


    terminating another’s pregnancy.


    “Granny, please calm down, I know you’re doing all this for me.”


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    “Don’t try to talk me down, I know you’ve got a soft heart and you’re a good, generous soul, but some


    things can’t be tolerated! I brought you here toy down thew, so no more riff–raff thinks they can get


    ahead by having a kid. I didn’t bring you to change my mind. Just stand there and let me handle it.”


    Lizetta had barely started speaking when Fiona cut her off.


    7


    Evelina, overhearing all this, was twisted with jealousy.


    twiste


    A look of bitter resentment shed across her face.


    Fiona, out of old affection, had taken in Lizetta!


    “Fiona, you and my granny were closer than sisters. I was switched at birth by some cruel twist of fate


    and never got to enjoy my


    granny’s love. But I know if she were alive to see me, she’d cherish me. I’ve always missed her and


    revered you as my own granny. You