Doesn't Need a Man

"We're almost done. You can fetch your mom and grandma."

"Okay, dad!"

After one hour, they finally finished preparing dinner. Violet happily strolled the hallway toward her grandma's bedroom. She knocked lightly on the door before she pushed it open.

"Mom? Grandma?"

She entered the bedroom to find it empty, but the sliding glass door to the private garden was open. Violet made light steps to the door and peeked outside. She found her mom and grandma near the railings, overlooking her eastward flower farm.

Her grandma Lucy loved to spend her days in her private garden if she wasn't watching TV because of the colorful view of the flower farm from her bedroom.

While standing by the door, she listened to them chatting. She could hear her granny constantly mentioning her grandpa Seth, and she could sense the delight in the older lady's voice.

"Your father, Seth, would be the happiest grandpa in the world to have another grandchild. Seth always believed that he would marry brother Harry's son in the future. Look at you… You have had the sweetest smile ever since you married your husband. And your children live well. Violet and Seth were both successful in their career. And soon, their younger brothers would finish college. Now I can't ask for more. You live a fulfilling life. Nik, I can't wait for your father to fetch me."

"Ma? What are you talking about? Why would you say that?"

Violet sensed the panic in her mom's voice, and she could understand when it was very unpleasant to talk about death. However, the time will come when a man will die. Still, she also wishes that her granny would not mention it often.

"Mom? Grandma?" Violet approached the two women to cut off their eerie topic. She wears a delightful smile to lighten the mood.

"Ah, our dear Violet. Isn't she the spitting image of yours?" Lucy glanced at her daughter before she fixed her gaze on her granddaughter. "Except for the eyes. But look! Who wouldn't fall in love with her? No doubt her husband is head over heels!"

Violet could taste the blood on her mouth when she bit her lower lip hard. Her grandma spouted nonsense again, and now she is in front of her mom! So she smiled and corrected her grandma's words,

"It WOULD be head over heels, mom?"

Violet gives her mom a meaningful glance, hinting that the older woman is just acting nonsense.

"Mom, grandma must be hungry already. Perfect! Dinner is ready! Nurse Madeline had already set the table. So, let's go! Dad made a sumptuous meal!"

"I'm not the hungry one here. I'm sure it was your mom when she's the one who had a new life growing inside her." Lucy looked at her daughter with a proud smile.

Nikki wanted to stop her mother, but she had already spilled the news. She isn't sure if Theo has already told their daughter, so she looks at Violet, embarrassed. She let out a sigh of relief when her daughter smiled sweetly.

"Dad told me already." Violet noticed that her mom's cheeks were flustered. She need not guess that she was embarrassed. Of course, in the records, it was rare for a middle-aged woman to get pregnant. It is possible, but it's unusual.

"Don't worry, Ma, Theo never neglects me. He made sure I am well fed with nutritious food."

"Ah, of course." Lucy smiled with satisfaction at hearing how attentive her son-in-law was. She held her daughter's hand and said, "Take care of yourself. I could no longer watch my grandchildren."

Lucy paused, speaking to look at Violet. "I have no worries with your older daughter. She was also well taken care of by her two husbands."

Violet suddenly felt like her jaw rolled on the ground. She isn't sure whether to laugh or cry. Her grandma's joke elevated this much.

"Mom, granny's hunger is severe." Violet coquettishly jokes about her mom, so she would not take it seriously.

"Alright. Let's better head to the dining room, and continue having chit-chat over dinner." Nikki, who only suits herself to watch the young and older lady jesting like this, immensely enjoyed the scene.

Violet could not decide whether to be happy with the announcement. What if her grandma mentions Allen to her dad? What explanation should she reason out?

~

At the dining table, the five of them enjoyed the sumptuous dinner. Nikki wants to feed her mother, but Lucy scolds her to take care of herself instead when there is a fetus she needs to nourish.

Nikki obediently listened to her mother and let Nurse Madeline help the older woman.

"Nik, please start teaching your daughter how to care for her body. She must remember what healthy food to eat to conceive her child healthily."

Violet ate peacefully, enjoying the food her dad had prepared but choked when her grandma began babbling about her. Now her parents are giving her a questioning gaze like— "Are you pregnant?"

'Gosh! Grandma is too nosy!' She wondered if the older woman had heard her conversation with Victor about her plan to have artificial insemination.

To cover her embarrassment, Violet laughed and made some excuses, "Mom, dad… I have no plan of getting married soon. So there is no need for that."

Nikki and Theo shared a meaningful look. The former had thought that her mother was just spouting nonsense earlier. But the older lady did not stop. Instead, she continued bringing up a matter of her granddaughter. Now Nikki pondered if she should start questioning her daughter about something.

Theo, who shared the same sentiment with his wife, spoke up.

"Violet, even if you don't have a plan yet. Your mom and I are always worried about you. It would be best if you lived a healthy lifestyle. Unless, if someone is looking out for you, we would be the happiest parents."

Violet could only smile at her dad and choose not to retort to his statement. In her mind, why would she need a man to watch over her wellness?

True, she abuses her health because she stays up late writing a script or binged watching old cliche dramas. But she believes she doesn't need a man over small matters that she can handle well if she chooses to give attention to them.

"Dad, don't worry. Flora is attentive to remind me of everything I must do to stay fit and scolds me every time I am taking an unhealthy lifestyle."

Flora, who was standing in the corner, thrilled after she learned her Miss would have a little sister, felt wronged. Is she blamed for the unknown case?

['Miss, I agree with your dad. You planned to have children, so I am ensuring you are healthy!']

Violet actually did not know that Flora's intelligence was incomparable.

~

Somewhere in the skyline of Mainland City…

Allen had just arrived in Mainland City when he received a report from Flora.

His face darkened when he read the part that a group of droids attacked the White House Garden during the storm.

Reading further, particular concern surges in his heart...

"Violet is looking for a sperm donor?"