Chapter 286: I Am Your Backing
Winona wasn't very familiar with the visitor, but she had met her once before. The woman's distinctive features had left a strong impression, coupled with an undeniable air of authority that came
In contrast, she recognized the person standing slightly behind her all too well. They had crossed paths just the previous day—Wendy.
Turning to face the older visitor, Winona straightened her back and addressed her formally. "Mrs. Davis."
Austin's mother gave her a cursory glance, her expression unchanging, maintaining a faint, polite, yet emotionless smile. "I happened to be nearby handling some matters, so I thought I'd invite Miss Sullivan for a cup of coffee. But it seems unnecessary now. Clearly, Miss Sullivan and Mr. Bailey share a very close relationship. When you two remarry, the Robinson family will undoubtedly present a generous gift and extend our congratulations."
Her visit was not an invitation for coffee; it was a thinly veiled warning to stay away from Austin.
Mrs. Davis's smile remained. "My foolish son has always been simple-minded, with no emotional intelligence. He might have misinterpreted some of Miss Sullivan's actions. I hope you can understand my concerns as a mother and clarify things for him."
Though her words seemed self-deprecating, they dripped with an unapproachable arrogance, a confidence endowed by her status and lineage. If it weren't for Zachary's presence, her words might have been more straightforward and cutting.
Winona paused, considering her words carefully before smiling slightly. "Mrs. Davis, I won't explain anything to Austin because I don't think my actions were inappropriate. As for misunderstandings, did Austin tell you that, or..." She shifted her gaze to Wendy, who stood silently behind Mrs. Davis, a smug expression playing on her face. "Did this bitch whisper something to you?"
Wendy didn’t react immediately. After a beat, she glared at Winona. "Who are you calling a bitch?"
Winona responded coolly, "You know exactly who I'm referring to, Wendy." She then turned her attention back to Mrs. Davis. "Mrs. Davis, if there's anything unclear, please have Austin explain it to you directly. Regarding your concerns, there's no need to worry. Austin and I were classmates and have maintained a good relationship. We kept in touch regularly before he joined the military. If there were any intentions, they would have manifested long before my marriage."
Mrs. Davis frowned.
Criticizing her own son was one thing, but having someone else do it was an affront to her dignity. Since she could remember, few people had dared to disregard her status like this, especially a young woman in her twenties without any notable standing.
Her face darkened, her authoritative aura intensifying. "Miss Sullivan, Austin has endured a great deal of family discipline and has insisted on marrying you." She cast a critical glance at Zachary. "If your feelings for him were genuine, I wouldn't interfere. But giving him hope while standing beside Mr. Bailey...”
"Mrs. Davis," Zachary interrupted, pulling Winona protectively behind him. He showed little respect for Mrs. Davis elevated status. "Whether she’s devoted or not, you and your husband would never agree to Austin marrying a woman lacking political background. Instead of blaming others, perhaps reflect on your own innocuous facade."
"If you know your child is simple-minded and has trouble grasping basic communication, maybe you should spend more time working with him. Enroll him in an emotional intelligence class if necessary, rather than pestering my wife to explain things to someone who can't comprehend them.”
A heavy silence settled over the space.
Zachary, the instigator, remained utterly composed, unaffected by the possibility of having offended, nor showing any regard for Mrs. Davis’s status. “You can’t expect the world to coddle your son. Even if my wife did something misleading, it’s your responsibility to teach him that not every word a woman utters should be taken at face value. Those duped by online relationships usually fail to understand their own situation.”
Shielded by Zachary, Winona couldn’t see Mrs. Davis and Wendy’s expressions, but she could imagine the seething anger on their faces. She used to doubt it, but now, in comparison, she realized how lenient Zachary had always been with her.
Mrs. Davis was livid, rendered speechless by fury.
Zachary's eyes narrowed as he offered a half-hearted apology, nodding at Mrs. Davis. “I apologize if my words were harsh, but I can’t stand seeing my wife being bullied. Please understand.”
Mrs. Davis remained mute. She was forced to endure it; her social standing and upbringing didn’t allow for an outburst, especially given the man’s significant background - It wasn’t Zachary’s identity as a businessman that she feared, but the intricate web of connections behind him.
Taking Winona’s hand, Zachary began to lead her away. He paused, turning back to Wendy. “Miss Bitch, though I am not Austin, as a man, I can tell you that men detest women who gossip behind their backs.”
Wendy's anger nearly made her scream.
Walking into the elevator, the doors shut, and Zachary’s genial expression faded into a cold, steely resolve. “Feeling better after being bullied?”
He asked while unbuttoning his shirt. One button, two buttons… By the third, a bit of tension eased out of him.
Winona lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling. "I wasn't bullied."
"Then what counts as bullying? A slap in the face?" Zachary's tone was serious. “Mrs. Davis’s words and her attitude clearly intended to put you in your place and keep you away from her son, exploiting your lack of status.”
This wasn’t bullying in the physical sense; it was the harsh reality of a stratified society. Those with wealth and influence stayed aloft, while those without struggled beneath their heel, subject to the whims of those above.
Took, for instance, the enigmatic and elite Turner family of A City. They could abduct someone off the street, arrange a scapegoat afterward, and the authorities wouldn’t find a trace.
Winona nonchalantly replied, "I indeed have no status or backing. If that counts as bullying, then my life is a living hell already."
Zachary frowned, scrutinizing her intently. "I am your backing. I was before, I am now, and I always will be. It's you who refuses to lean on it."
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