Abigail Zimmerman briefly recounted Titus Zane’s visit to her, while Samuel Zane, leaning on his cane, looked ahead with a somewhat misty gaze.
"You’re saying... she looks exactly like Nathan did?"
"Yes, it was also because of the resemblance that I dared to confirm she is Nathan’s daughter."
"Alas," Samuel Zane sighed heavily, "it’s been almost thirty years since Nathan left us. That girl must be in her thirties now."
"Yes, Titus is thirty-one this year."
"What did you say? Her name is Titus? Which Zane is that?" Samuel Zane turned and looked back, his tiger-like eyes shining brightly.
"It’s our Zane family name; her full name is Titus Zane."
Abigail knew the meaning behind the name Titus Zane. At that time, the old patriarch forbade family members to associate with Nathan, but she would occasionally steal away to visit her.
All due to Nathan’s naïveté; Julian Zane returned not even one-tenth of what she had given.
"Alas," Samuel Zane sighed again, leaning back in the sofa, looking ahead, "who came up with this name?"
Seeing the old patriarch’s evidently sorrowful demeanor, Abigail treaded carefully.
The patriarch didn’t say anything more; the atmosphere in the hall became oppressive. Evander Lancaster took a cigarette and lit it for himself, and in his silent smoking, Abigail knew they were all reminiscing about the girl who should not have left them so early.
Sitting on the sofa with her head bowed, Abigail also felt a heavy heart.
That girl, who was always smiling and laughing, who sweetly followed her around calling her "sister-in-law," left the world too early, which is heartbreaking to think about.
With a sigh, she had just called out, "Dad," when Samuel Zane already turned his gaze toward her, his voice heavy. "Abigail, can you still get in touch with that child? I want to see her, even if it’s just from a distance."
Hearing the old patriarch’s change of attitude, Abigail tentatively suggested, "Dad, why don’t we bring Titus back home to stay with us?" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ noᴠelfire.net
Saipan, Nathan Moore had planned to have a few more days of fun with Titus Zane, treating it as a honeymoon, but unexpectedly, their sweet world for two was disturbed after just a week.
Seeing Nicholas Croft arrive with Beatrice Hargrave and Felix Shaw with Mia Foster, Nathan Moore greatly regretted having told them his honeymoon address.
"Sister Zane, did you miss me?" As soon as she saw her, Beatrice Hargrave enthusiastically lunged forward, but before she could even embrace Titus Zane, Nathan Moore pulled her behind him and glared at her displeased.
"You can only hug your man!" His woman was only allowed to be embraced by him.
Watching the man with strong possessiveness, Mia Foster could only wave at Titus Zane from a distance, "Hi."
Titus Zane awkwardly waved her hand, attempting to go over and chat with Mia Foster and the other woman, but was pulled into Nathan Moore’s embrace.
"Pfft! Old men are just stingy!" Beatrice Hargrave sniffed disdainfully, and Nathan Moore’s dark eyes narrowed as he snickered.
"Even if I’m old, Nicholas is still the older brother here."
Nicholas Croft was older by a year, and Beatrice Hargrave was only in her twenties. If one were to speak of age, Nicholas Croft was older than him; and as for his own age, it was just right with Titus Zane’s.
"Hmph!" Beatrice Hargrave snorted and retorted, "Uncle Nicholas is not as stingy as you! My man is generous!"
"Your man?" Titus Zane asked curiously, "Beatrice, did you get your marriage certificate?"
Proudly mentioning this, Beatrice Hargrave cleared her throat with a cough and said, "Nicholas and I have already gotten our certificate. Now we are legally married, not like some who sleeps with his great-aunt with such brazen confidence!"