Abel replied, âWho knows? If I were Benjamin, I wouldnât marry her.â
Emmeline widened her misty eyes and asked, âWhy not? That would make Janie so sad.â
Abel said, âWhy donât you think about Benjamin? Heâs the sad one. You know he doesnât love Janie, right?â
Emmeline was speechless. âSo, in the future, donât get involved in Benjaminâs personal life. Benjamin agreed to marry Janie mostly to put his mind at ease. Otherwise, he could have handled it in another way.â
Emmeline stared at him with blurry eyes.
âAnother way? What do you mean? Pay her off?â
Abel said, âThatâs just one way. Janie knows that Benjamin doesnât love her. Even if he agrees to marry her, whatâs the point?â
âShe could live a good life and marry a man she loves. Why is she obsessed with Benjamin.â
âBenjamin is outstanding. But without love, isnât it all zero?â These words left Emmeline speechless.
She only thought that Benjamin was a good man and that Janie was a good match for him. She overlooked the most critical factor, that marriage requires love.
Abel and Emmeline returned to The Precipice. Kendra welcomed them as they parked the car. Abel carried Emmeline out of the car. Kendra said, âMr. Abel, Ms. Emmeline, Mr. Louise and his wife are here.â
Mr. Louise and his wife? Abel was stunned. Did that mean Maxwell and Alondra were here? Before he could speak, Emmeline asked, âWhat are they here for?â Kendra replied, âThey said they came to see Ms. Emmeline. I dared not stop them, so I let them in.â Abel said, âI got it. You go first, and Iâll help Emma inside.â
Kendra went straight to the lobby. Abel wanted to carry Emmeline in. But when he heard that Maxwell had arrived, he had to support her and walk in. Upon entering the lobby, Alondra warmly greeted them.
âAbel, Emma, youâre back?â âAlondra,â Maxwell pulled her aside and whispered, âCall Mr. Abel!â âIsnât Abel our son-in-law?â Alondra smiled.
âAs a family, calling him Mr. Abel will create a distance, wonât it?â Abel had to greet them as his father-
in-law and mother-in-law.
âHey!â Alondra was delighted. âDad, Auntie Alondra.â Emmeline said calmly, âWhy are you here?â
âYour dad and I heard from Ethan that you came back, so we came to see you,â Alondra replied. âYeah, Emma,â Maxwell said, âWhy didnât you tell me you were back?â âI didnât have a chance to,â Emmeline answered.
She spoke without looking at Maxwell or Alondra. Her eyes were not focused on their faces. Maxwell felt something was off and leaned forward, waving his hand before Emmelineâs eyes. That was when he realized Emmeline could not see. âEmma, whatâs wrong with your eyes?â Maxwell exclaimed. As he spoke, Alondra also noticed.
âEmma, are you blind?â Alondra exclaimed. Emmeline was speechless.
âHer eyes are temporarily blind.â Abel said grouchily, âBut they will soon be cured.â âWho damaged your eyes?â Maxwell said with concern, âIâll get even with him.â
âYes, Emma.â Alondra held Emmelineâs hand and said with concern, âTell me, Iâll go and scold him to death!â
Although Emmeline could not see, she knew her father cared about her. As for Alondraâs concern, it was all acting.
âYou donât have to worry about this, Dad and Auntie.â Emmeline held Abelâs hand, âI have my husband here.â
Abel nodded at Maxwell, âI will handle this.â
âBut Abel,â Alondra asked Abel, âWith Emmaâs eyes like this, will it affect your marriage?â