Chapter 31 No Freedom
Haley held the phone in her hand and let out a sigh. In every respect, she should visit her grandmother. She had been missing for four years and owed her grandmother an explanation. However, she didn't know if her grandmother would still protect her as she used to.
"Mommy, the food in the pot is burning," Todd reminded, scrunching up his little nose.
Haley quickly put down her phone and started cooking seriously. Half an hour later, the meal was ready. As soon as Angela smelled the aroma, she didn't need anyone to call her. She sat at the dining table with her little legs and looked like she was eagerly awaiting a meal.
Todd smiled, "Mommy, look how cute Angela looks."
Haley served a bowl of soup to the little girl and said with a smiling face, "Angela, eat quickly. Eating more will help you grow."
Angela buried her head in the bowl and ate with big bites. The table of dishes was quickly finished under the frenzy of the two little ones.
Meanwhile, at the Winston family, the long dining table was filled with delicious food. Only two people sat at the spacious table, Ivan and Owen. The expressions on their faces were very gloomy, as if the entire restaurant had entered winter.
Owen put down his chopsticks and sulkily said, "I'm not eating anymore," as he pushed his chair back to leave.
"Who said you could leave?" Ivan coldly spoke, "The Winston family does not tolerate picky eaters. Sit down, you can only leave, after finishing your meal."
Owen stubbornly straightened his back. "So, Dad, now I don't even have the freedom to eat?"
After being expelled from preschool, he was locked in the Winston family the whole day. Seven or eight teachers took turns teaching him various subjects, and he was being driven crazy.
Now that it was finally mealtime, there wasn't a single dish he liked on the table. He'd rather go hungry than eat these things!
Ivan stood up, and walked towards him with long strides, his voice icy. "Freedom is not about being laissez-faire. After finishing dinner, you can eat whatever you want, and I won't interfere with your choices."
This was already his compromise, but Owen didn't seem to realize it. He lifted his chin, his eyes red with anger, and shouted, "Dad, you're really going too far! I don't like you at all! I don't want to eat with you anymore!"
After his outburst, he stormed upstairs and slammed the door shut. Ivan rubbed his temples.
He, himself, had a strong and rebellious personality, but even so, he wasn't as disobedient as Owen when he was a child. Was it because Keith was too obedient that made Owen appear more unruly?
Ivan sat down on the sofa, feeling a headache coming on. He had never felt this way even when dealing with billion-dollar projects.
"Mr. Winston," the butler Alfred respectfully approached, "today's dishes are on the sweeter side, Owen not liking it is normal. How about this, I will find a few more chefs to come and try different dishes for Owen. There must be a taste that matches his preferences."
Ivan coldly said, "Since his birth, the Winston family has changed chefs at least a hundred times, and not one of them satisfied him."
It was obvious that Owen was deliberately opposing him. Deliberately challenging his bottom line.
Alfred sighed, "Sir, Owen is in a growing period. How can he not eat anything?"
Ivan's face turned dark with anger, he took a deep breath and said, "If Chinese chefs don't work, then find foreign ones. No matter how much money it costs."
"Yes, Mr. Winston," Alfred quickly replied.
Mr. Winston always seemed cold and indifferent, but Alfred knew deep down that the person who loved his two children the most in this world was Mr. Winston. He believed that paternal love was as deep and all-encompassing as the sea.
On the second floor, Owen sat on the balcony with a misty layer in his eyes. His stomach was very empty, so he secretly took out a biscuit from his backpack and took a few bites. But accidentally, he choked, and tears suddenly fell without any warning.
"I hate Daddy the most..." Owen cried and shouted.
Daddy was too mean, always so harsh to him, and now he wasn't even allowed to go out, forced to stay in this house, and learn those boring knowledge all day. He wanted to slip out, he wanted to see Haley, he wanted to play with Angela.
The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. Suddenly, the phone in his room rang. He glanced and saw that it was his brother calling, so he quickly wiped away his tears and pressed the answer button.
"Owen, you're actually hiding in the room crying by yourself."
Owen was startled, "How did you know I was crying?"
"Did you forget, us twins have a telepathic connection," Keith said coldly, "I always know when you cry, but this time, you seem particularly sad. So, what happened?"
Owen looked embarrassed, "I tripped and scraped my knee, it hurts so I cried."
"Is that so? Then I'll have Alfred come and apply medicine for you."
"No!" Owen anxiously scratched the back of his head, "Big brother, can't you stop being so clever and stop meddling? I'm just feeling bad and wanted to cry. Now I don't even have the freedom to cry in hiding?"
"I'm not stopping you from crying, I just want to know who you're crying for." Keith's indifferent voice came, "If you don't want to say, I won't force you. I’m hanging up now."
"Hey, wait!" Owen called out. He sat in the corner, sighed, and took a deep breath. Since he didn't even have a friend, he could only confide in Keith.
"Keith, I met a woman, she is very beautiful, very gentle, and I really like her... but, Daddy arranged for me to take a leave from school, not allowing me to step out of the house at all. I can't even go and find that woman!”
“I'm in such a miserable state right now. Every morning at seven o'clock, I start studying various subjects, and I'm being driven to madness!"
Keith interrupted his pointless whining, "Who is the woman?"
"She's the woman I've taken a liking to. Her eyes are especially beautiful, like the moon in the night. And her voice, it's really pleasant. If she could tell me bedtime stories, I would surely sleep soundly."
"I didn't ask you to praise that woman. I asked you who she is and what her name is."
"Oh, her name is Haley."
Keith's eyes narrowed suddenly. Haley, his mother's half-sister from another father! The woman rumored to have died four years ago, but miraculously resurrected a few days ago!
How does this woman know Owen?
Could it be an intentional approach?
Keith said coldly, "Owen, if you have any brains, stay away from that woman. She's not a good person."
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