Chapter 420 Mocking Him
In that moment, the oppressive aura pressed down upon her. Angela, staring at Lawrence's stunning face, shrank back in shock. "Mr. Lawrence, why are you taking her side? She's just a bastard."
"I'm a bastard too," he replied, his thin lips curving slightly. His gaze was icy and indifferent, his statuesque figure lounging with ease.
Angela's pupils dilated in surprise, feeling as if Lawrence was speaking up for Winnie and, by doing so, slapping her indirectly.
Madam Blanchet spoke up, clearly displeased, "Angela, stop harping on about her being a bastard. Mr. Lawrence doesn't like it."
"Indeed, I don't. Let's not have me hear that again," the man said, tugging at the corner of his mouth, his words a cold command.
Madam Blanchet mistook his meaning, thinking he disliked being called a bastard himself. "Angela, apologize at once," she insisted.
Under the intimidating presence of her grandmother and Lawrence, Angela's face paled as she apologized, "Mr. Lawrence, no offense meant. It won't happen again."
"Apologize to the person you should be apologizing to," he said, his gaze not on Winnie, but elsewhere, his expression cool and impassive.
Ishara knew exactly who his anger was for. She comforted Angela and took the initiative to apologize to Winnie. "Winnie, Angela just speaks without thinking. Please don't be angry with her."
Lawrence's expression soured, as did Madam Blanchet's, both turning their gaze to Winnie.
Madam Blanchet scoffed, "Ishara has apologized on Angela's behalf. She always thinks of others first. As for you, Winnie, you shouldn't make a scene."
Winnie wondered if it was her fault now if she didn't accept the apology. With a mocking smile, she glanced at Ishara and said, "How kind of you, Ishara, to apologize for your cousin Angela's mistake. You're making it seem like it's my fault if I don't accept the apology, as if Grandma will get mad at me. As the young lady of this family, I should be magnanimous, right? Being called a bastard is no big deal. I'm not like Lawrence, so concerned about reputation. Living honestly is what matters. No matter how many layers of pretense people wrap themselves in, they all get peeled away eventually."
Her eyes shimmered as she spoke, her words striking everyone present, including Lawrence.
In a sudden shift, his gaze became icy, glaring at her with a detached and ungrateful expression as she mercilessly mocked him. All he had wanted was for Angela to apologize to spare Winnie's feelings. Now, he wondered if she truly despised him. He felt deserving of punishment, knowing he had caused her pain. Yet, it was she who had severed their ties first. With his hopes shattered, he found himself unable to leave his mother and ended up in a "relationship" with Ishara out of obligation, bound by a promise. His heart was heavy with anguish.
Her words were sharp like a rose covered in thorns, her pricks deeply painful. The man's cold gaze suddenly shifted away, refusing to look at her any longer.
Ishara coughed softly, hiding the turmoil in her eyes. She wondered if Winnie had sensed something about her. She continued coughing in a "pitiful" manner and said, "Winnie, don't get me wrong. Angela and I grew up together. I'm used to looking out for her. If you don't like me apologizing for her, then I won't do it again."
"Ishara, why do you always indulge her," Angela said, feeling moved but at the same time unable to restrain her anger.
"Shh, stop it. I just want our family to be harmonious," Ishara sighed, pretending to struggle with the situation.
"Ishara, my child..." Madam Blanchet also felt sympathy for her. She cast a disapproving look at Winnie and continued, "Winnie, there's no need for sarcasm. Ishara is already not feeling well."
"I'm sorry, Grandma. I'm speaking without thinking like my sister said. Please don't be mad at me," Winnie said, her expression obedient.
Madam Blanchet felt as if she'd swallowed a fly. The phrase "speaking without thinking" was indeed Ishara's, and now she was at a loss for a comeback.
"What are we talking about, Mom? You know what, let's eat," Eleanor called out gently.
Winnie stood up to leave.
"Grandma, look at her, so self-righteous and sharp-tongued. How unlikable!" Angela complained to Madam Blanchet.
Winnie chuckled silently to herself. She saw no reason to try to be likable, knowing that even if she did, it was unlikely to earn their affection. Prejudice, especially when deeply ingrained, was notoriously difficult to overcome, particularly with Ishara and Eleanor, the mother-daughter duo, harboring their own hidden agendas.
In this family, all she needed to do was to please Carlos.
Winnie walked to the dining table with a cool grace. Lawrence caught a glimpse of her, his lips curling coldly as he recalled Angela's description of Winnie as sharp-tongued. Yet, she was more than that; when she became difficult to handle, he only had one method to silence her. His eyes sank into a profound sadness as he pondered their past memories together.
"Dad, you've come downstairs," Ishara said as she looked at Carlos approaching the dining table.
"Winnie, come sit with me here," Carlos said, pulling Winnie affectionately to the head of the table.
In this grand family's long dining table, the seating was significant. Carlos was at the head, Ishara had always been to his left, and Eleanor to his right.
Now, Winnie had "occupied" the right, causing Eleanor to freeze, her eyes cold and her expression showing a touch of grievance.
Eleanor could've moved down a seat, but she stood still instead.
Winnie's eyes gleamed with hidden mirth as she picked up her fork to eat, ignoring Eleanor's discomfort.
Madam Blanchet was displeased as she pointed out, "Carlos, why did you give Eleanor's seat to Winnie?"
"There's no need for such fuss," Carlos responded, frowning.
Winnie innocently asked, "Did I sit in the wrong place? I'm from a small place, I don't really understand these things. Auntie, please don't be upset. But as Dad said, if we're talking about propriety, isn't Lawrence here too? Shouldn't we invite the honored guest to take the only seat of honor?"
Lawrence's eyes narrowed, watching this cunning fox speak.
Carlos laughed, patting Winnie's head. "That's right. So, Eleanor, just sit anywhere. I just wanted to talk with Winnie for a bit."
Eleanor's face fell, ignored by Carlos throughout, unable to assert herself, she clenched her teeth and reluctantly took a seat.
Ishara stood up considerately and offered, "Mom, please take my seat. I can move down." Then, she turned to Lawrence and added, "Mom is accustomed to sitting by Dad's side. Would you mind moving down a bit?"
Lawrence shook his head.
"It's always Ishara who's thoughtful, unlike some people who just grab seats," Angela said bitterly, glancing at Winnie.
Winnie seemed not to hear, her eyes lifting to find a plate of loofah near her. She felt nauseous at the sight of it, not only did she not eat it, but it also upset her stomach. Her brows furrowed slightly.
Then, a large, cold hand reached over, taking the plate of loofah away. Winnie looked up to see the man's icy fingers and the white cuff of his shirt.
She slowly recalled a memory, the time he brought his son to her apartment, when they went grocery shopping together, and he bought loofah. She had prepared it but couldn't even taste it. Sidney didn't know and offered it to her, causing her to vomit.
She pondered the reason for his sudden action. Maybe he had recalled her severe allergy to loofah, which was why he had moved it.
Winnie's eyes stung, her heart a mix of pain and resentment...
Suddenly, she heard Ishara's sweet laughter calling out, "Lawrence, how do you remember that I love loofah?"
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