8. Promise

Lloyd leaned against a pillar, his gaze fixed on Pearl riding the carousel. Her mood was back to normal as she smiled brightly and waved eagerly each time her horse passed where he stood. His lips also curled up as he waved back at her.

His phone vibrated drawing has attention to it. Taking it out, it was a call from Vivian. Giving one more glance at Pearl, he answered the call. "Mum?"

"Where are you guys? Is it so late already, or did you forget to pick up Pearl?" She asked, she sounded worried.

"We will be home soon, Mum," Lloyd said. There was so much more he would have loved to say, but it wasn't the right place to do that.

Vivian noticed his tone and relented. She wanted to press further, but it was obvious now that it wasn't the time and definitely not over the phone. "Okay, I'll be waiting. Dinner is almost ready, so be back in time for it, okay? Suzanne and the chefs need to rest early, too."

"Got it," Lloyd replied before he hung up. Looking back at Pearl, she was no longer riding the carousel and rather sprinting towards him. His lips parted to stop her but clamped back up. He would rather see her like this a thousand times than see tears on her face.

"That was so much fun," Pearl said, smiling from ear to ear. "But you didn't ride with me," her mood changed slightly.

"I had enough fun watching my Pearl riding like a princess knight," Lloyd said, making her smile again. "Would you like some ice cream? We can go buy some right now if you'd like," he asked.

Pearl gave it some thought. Remembering how her friend in school had talked about getting ice cream today, she nodded her head. "I want chocolate and vanilla. Can I get it, Daddy?"

"Of course. Whatever you want," he said, and the father and daughter duo headed to where they would buy the ice cream.

"You'll eat ice cream with me too, right?" she asked, and he agreed.

"Definitely."

"Can we buy also for Nanna? She doesn't eat much, but I know she would like 'em,"

"Whatever you want."

*

Now, back home, Pearl had gone to bed happily like the ordeal that had her crying back at school never happened. While Vivian still beside Pearl, Lloyd's mind wondered back to what the children had said and how much it had hurt his daughter, but she chose to put on a bold front and ignore them.

"Thank you for picking her up today," Vivian's voice pulled him from his trance. "Are you all right?" She asked, seeing how lost he looked. Concern marred her face as she gazed at him.

Lloyd cleared his throat and then nodded his head. "I am fine," He said, rising to his feet from the far edge of the bed. "You should go and rest now, Mum. I'll stay here a little longer."

"What happened in school today?" Vivian asked instead. As fun as it must have been to go on to the children park just to have fun, she knew something must have happened. Something neither Pearl nor Lloyd wanted to talk about.

"There's really nothing. But I have decided to consider your advice. Pearl is still young and needs a mother. But this is not a promise," he said, but Vivian raised a brow.

"Not a promise?" She asked, and he nodded his head. Yeah, right! Vivian thought.

"I have just decided to give it a try. If it doesn't work out— if Pearl don't get along with any of them, then that's it," he stated his reason, but the Vivian's smile widened.

"I am happy to hear that you have decided to take a wife. I am sure that whoever you choose, Pearl will like her too, she's good girl and very loveable." Vivian said. Lloyd had to admit that it had been a while since he saw her smile so brightly and all that was just because he had decided to get married.

"Don't get ahead if yourself, Mum, you might just be happy for nothing," Lloyd said in a light warning. He didn't want to raise her hopes high. He didn't know what kind women she had arranged for him. He might end up dismissing all of them, who knows?

"Don't worry, I won't pick wrongly and unfairly for you," Vivian said and stood up. Her mission was done and would be accomplished soon after Lloyd got married. Not only will their little family increase, both father and daughter will be fappy. They will slso have someone else to talk as well.

**

At Eastgate, Anna returned home and met Evelyn seated in the partio and she immediately knew she is the reason her mother was there. And just as expected, Evelyn called her attention when she pretended not to see her seated there.

"Annabelle," Evelyn called, closing the business magazine with her face on one of the covers.

Anna stopped and changed directions. She could no longer pretend to not see her. "Good evening to you, Mother. Hope you had a wonderful day?" Anna asked with a sweet smile. She looked like the model daughter of any home and for a moment, Evelyn was almost moved by it.

"Save the honey words, Anna. You know very well I won't have a "wonderful day" after what you pulled off," Evelyn and this was one of the rare times where Anna saw her use air quotes and it had her stiffling a laugh. Evelyn glared at her which had her straightening up. "What did you and Heath discuss? He wouldn't just come and take his mother away without a reason."

"I really didn't say anything to him. He just happen to be a man with foresight. That is all," Anna replied with an innocent face. She even did a little pout that had Evelyn going speechless.

"Anna, sit," Evelyn said.

Having no interest in standing for long and seeing no harm in sitting, Anna pulled a chair and sat down.

"You need to get married to someone who can fight against the branch families by side. I only have you and with your father gone, the family will start taking action towards usurping power. If that happens, we will be left with nothing."

She reached out to hold Anna's hand.

"Plesse Anna, marry Heath Dillon. He cares for you and even if there is no love now, it will be there in the future once you open up to him," she squeezed her lightly. "Please. Promise me you'll marry Heath."