Chapter 576

"Nothing. I think she's just in a bad mood," Arianna said, shrugging and grinning at Eloise. "Mom, didn't you say you were preparing desserts?"

"You're still a little pig, aren't you? Aren't you worried about gaining weight?" Eloise lectured, but still beckoned a housekeeper to bring the desserts. "Speaking of which, didn't you say you have a boyfriend? Who is he? Why didn't you bring him home?"

"We broke up," Arianna replied nonchalantly.

Eloise was stunned. "Broke up? Why? Didn't you just say you wanted to—"

"Oh, you know how we young people are, Mom. We fall in and out of love. If it doesn't feel right, we break up," Arianna said, waving a hand dismissively. "Don't worry. I'll find the best son-in-law you'll ever have."

Seeing Arianna's unconcern, Eloise sighed. "How can I not worry? Your father is marrying that woman..." she trailed off, frustration evident.

Arianna stopped eating, turning to her mother. "Is he really marrying her? Did Uncle Derrick agree? Does he not care about us?!"

"You know your father. Once he's decided, nothing changes," Eloise said, her stern face softening with sadness. "At the end of the day, I didn't give birth to a son, so..."

"What does it matter if you don't have a son?!" Arianna exclaimed, furious. "Uncle Derrick has a son, but can he run the family business? I've worked so hard for the company, yet I'm still inferior to some guy? What makes me less worthy than that man my father had a child with?"

"Arianna!" Eloise called, startled by her daughter's outburst.

Arianna collected herself, clearing her throat. "What I mean is, this isn't your fault. It's all Dad's fault. He's wronged you."

Eloise looked deeply at Arianna, pulling her into a hug and stroking her hair. "I know how capable and sensible you are. I blame myself for not having a son. If you were, everything in the Tanner family would fall to you."

"Mom, why can't I do it as a woman? Why, just because I'm a woman, must the Tanner family's future be borne by an outsider? Why?" A light shone in Arianna's eyes that Eloise had never seen before.

Though startled, Eloise was moved. "You're right. However, your father..."

"Mom, how would Dad act if he didn't have a son outside the family?" Arianna asked suddenly.

"Arianna, what are you talking about?!" A chill ran down Eloise's spine. Her daughter seemed like a stranger.

"Nothing. I'm just asking. What can I do? I'm just a girl, after all," Arianna said, sticking out her tongue before pulling away and resuming her meal.

Eloise watched her eat, noticing nothing unusual. Then, Arianna stopped again, musing aloud, "I read a book about unexpected deaths. Accidental deaths are surprisingly common. Do you think something might happen to that woman and her son?"