Chapter 1630

"Let her go!" Lawrence scoffed. "What kind of woman doesn't want children? You could easily find another wife!" "Come on, Lawrence, give it a rest!" Valerie exclaimed, anxiously patting her leg. Turning to Abigail, she tried to reassure her. "Don't listen to him. It's perfectly okay if you don't want kids. What matters is that you and Gideon are happy together—that's what counts!" "Who says so?" Lawrence shot back, refusing to back down. "I raised Gideon to carry on the Rhett family name; no one can change that!" Abigail sighed, pushing past Gideon and Valerie. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Rhett, but I really need to go now." Without looking back, she walked away. Valerie quickly nudged Gideon toward the door. "Hurry up and follow her! Abigail doesn't know the area—make sure she's safe!" "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her," Gideon replied, casting a furious glance at Lawrence. He grabbed his car keys and rushed out. Once they were gone, the lively atmosphere in the house faded back into its usual stillness. Valerie shot Lawrence a scathing look. "You're unbelievable! We were all having a good time at dinner—why did you have to bring that up?" "Did I say anything wrong?" Lawrence insisted, his stubbornness unwavering. "What kind of woman doesn't want children? If she's not interested, there's no point in pursuing things further." Valerie shook her head and sat down next to him, speaking earnestly. "Of course they should have kids, but it doesn't have to happen right away. Once they're married, we can talk about it again. Doesn't that make more sense?" "I understand your point, but she's clearly said she doesn't want children. Why would she even consider marrying into our family?" Lawrence countered. Valerie pointed an exasperated finger at him. "You really don't understand, do you? After all this time, when has Gideon ever brought a woman home? If we let this chance slip by, who knows when we'll get another? "Let's win her over and get them married first. Once she's married, she'll follow Gideon's lead. Then, it'll be our opportunity to influence them about having kids. Right?" Lawrence finally seemed to grasp her logic, though he wouldn't admit he was wrong. He huffed and walked toward the bedroom. "I had no idea you had so many tricks up your sleeve," he said. "Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut next time." Valerie sighed, shaking her head. "Let's just hope there is a next time!" … During the drive back, Gideon and Abigail barely spoke. Noticing it was still early, he decided to pull into a shopping mall, hoping some retail therapy might lift her spirits. After wandering the first floor for a while, Gideon noticed that Abigail still wore a serious expression. Excusing himself to the restroom, he returned with two ice cream cones. "Here, try this. A little sweetness might help take your mind off things." Abigail accepted the ice cream cone, managing a faint smile. "You don't need to try so hard to cheer me up. I'm not mad at you or your family; I just don't think we're a good fit." Gideon halted, his face shadowed with sadness as he looked at her. "You haven't even asked me how I feel. How can you know we're not a good match?" Abigail paused, adopting a more serious tone. "Then tell me—what should I ask?" "Ask me if I want kids. Ask me if I'd choose you over having a child," Gideon replied firmly. "Honestly, if you were with someone else, you wouldn't even have to make that choice," Abigail said, trying to end their relationship. "I'd choose you."