Mason smiled lightly and said, “Don’t worry, Grandma! I’m doting on her at every turn.”

That was what Barbara wanted to hear, as evident from the smile blooming across her face. She wanted Mason to return home and look after Zoe. “You shouldn't have come over here! I’m ill. I might bring some bad luck to the baby.”

Smiling, he responded, “That’s impossible! My baby isn’t even born yet.” It was clear from his tone that he was overjoyed to have a baby, and she was happy for him too.

Sweeping her eyes across the room and out the window, she thought the impending arrival of a new baby breathed new life into the manor. She was looking forward to the baby’s birth.

He went downstairs and ran into his mother. Lisa was busy overseeing the dinner preparation. It looked like she expected him to stay for dinner, but he rejected her, “Zoe’s losing her appetite lately. I should be home.”

Lisa had much to say about Zoe. She had always preferred to have a submissive daughter-in-law. It’d be bette