Chapter 515

Her words calmed Eloise's anxieties. It was true. Why did she want to stop him? Let Joseph welcome that woman and her child into the family if he wished. Eloise could endure it; there was no guarantee their plan would succeed. Even if they agreed, Eloise would ensure they regretted it.

"Take a step back," Arianna said, voicing her thoughts. "If they do arrive, they'll still be under your roof. They'll live the rest of their lives with consequences. Good things don't come easily. They should prepare for the worst!"

Initially troubled, Eloise seemed to have an epiphany. She was intelligent and needed only a nudge to solve things herself. Her bewilderment stemmed from the suddenness of it all. She looked at Arianna carefully. The longer she stared, the more she realized she had underestimated her daughter. Eloise saw in Arianna the same capabilities she possessed in her youth. "My dear," Eloise said, "you're brilliant, very much like your mother. If only" She trailed off, her expression conflicted.

Eloise worried less if Nathaniel were more like his sister. Regarding her son, there had been no news since their last meeting. His company had gone bankrupt, and he seemed to have vanished. Unwilling to cause a commotion by searching for him personally, Eloise sent someone discreetly, but they found nothing. Perhaps he was hiding from society due to the pressure.

"Don't worry, Mom. I'm with you on this," Arianna said, affectionately taking Eloise's arm in both hands.

"That's my precious daughter!" Eloise lightly touched her cheek. "By the way, you're not young anymore. When will you get a boyfriend and bring him home?"

"Mom," Arianna said, withdrawing her arm, "I'm on your side, and you're still teasing me?"

Eloise said sternly, "Who's teasing? I'm serious! If you don't bring someone home, I'm afraid your father will arrange a match for you."

Arianna was startled. "Dad? What did he say?"

"He didn't say it directly, but he alluded to it. You're intelligent. As part of our family, you should know we can't always make our own decisions. Of course, I'll support you in this. I trust your judgment." Implicitly, family came first, and she needed a partner of similar social standing.

Relieved that nothing was concrete, Arianna replied, "Mom, if Dad mentions it again, tell him I already have a partner!"

"Really?" Eloise was delighted. "Where is he from? How old is he? Have we met? Do we know each other?"

"Mom, don't rush! I'll bring him home when the time is right, but not yet. I promise you'll be satisfied with his status and appearance," Arianna said confidently. Eloise believed her daughter, who possessed great insight and foresight. Eloise sometimes felt she lacked Arianna's thoughtful, long-term perspective, so she trusted her judgment.

This eased her heart. She patted Arianna's hand. "My dear, you're my greatest comfort!"