My Four Miraculous Treasures

Jasper was not blind to Willow's predicament. By now, a blush had spread all the way across her cheeks, even to her ears.

Terrified that Jasper's grandmother would go on nagging her about marriage and childbirth, Willow was swaying alarmingly in her seat.

Now that he'd finally found his savior from that night five years ago, he couldn't very well allow her to be scared off the first time he brought her home.

He came riding to her rescue, "Grandma, we're both still young, and neither of us is in any hurry to become a parent yet. We want some time to enjoy being in love, just the two of us."noveldrama

"Fool boy... we're right here to help you look after your children, aren't we?" Cindy countered viciously. "It's not like you won't have your freedom!"

"Grandma, children naturally yearn for their own parents," said Jasper, carrying his side of the debate quite ably. "How in the world are you going to keep them from pestering us, every chance they get?" Pester...?

Willow's heart shattered at this word. All of a sudden, she was deeply ill at ease. She was in profound agony. Worst of all, she could no longer enjoy the seafood she was having.

So Jasper disliked children that much, huh?

Imagine if he found out that she already had four kids... he wouldn't like it one bit!

Meanwhile, those four little angels had always longed to meet their own father-to be loved by him.

Willow became choked with sorrow, imagining what it might be like for her children to discover that their real father didn't want them... that he considered them 'pests.'

They'd be utterly heartbroken!

In that case, she'd rather never let them know about Jasper Hughes, to spare them from such disappointment and devastation.

"Smart alec," Cindy grumbled in response. She fixed Jasper with a disapproving frown, sighed, and turned

to Willow instead. "And how do you feel about this matter, dear?"

Willow grimaced faintly, and finally answered, "I'll follow Jasper's lead on this."

Cindy exhaled heavily. It appeared that she'd still have to wait a while yet before she could cradle a great- grandchild in her arms.

As she considered the couple before her, she suddenly sensed something amiss: Each time Jasper did

something nice for Willow, the

young woman would thank hing net"

profusely. It felt as though they barely more than strangers.

A genuine couple wouldn't be so polite, so formal with one another...

were

Perhaps Jasper had only hired this woman to play a part, so that his old grandparents wouldn't nag him

so much about still being single...

A seed of doubt began to sprout within Cindy's heart.

After dinner, Willow made ready to leave.

Cindy warmly extended her hospitality: "Willow, it's much too late already! You'll stay the night here, and return tomorrow!"

"Oh, I couldn't possibly..." Willow began.

"No, I agree," Jasper declared.

Willow faltered. What could she say, now?

She'd agreed to come meet Jasper's family, because she remembered his promise five years ago to provide for her. Also, she wanted to see if it

might be possible for her children to grow up with a complete family.

Even if he didn't like children, she could try and bring him around. Day after day, she could gradually slip in little mentions of how adorable children could be, how unexpectedly thoughtful and charming...

In this way, she might perhaps succeed in opening him up to the concept of having his own children. When that day came... when he was no longer so vehemently opposed to the idea of children... Then she might tell him about her four children. His children.

And then, her children would finally have a whole family. They would finally have a father.

In view of how she would need him to go along with her, moving forward... sure, she could go along with him this time, and spend the night here.