Chapter 404 Who's Your Dad?
Zachary said, "I was right behind you the whole time. If you had just turned around once, you would've seen me."
Winona looked puzzled and replied, "Have you ever seen anyone turn back after paying their respects?"
After a bit, they left the cemetery together. Zachary had a driver, so he had Winona's car sent back first.
Since Regal Oaks was a bit of a drive, they decided to grab a bite to eat.
Zachary smirked, "So, when are you gonna make up for that gift you owe me?"
Every time, something else came up, making him feel like this gift was impossible to get.
He put down his fork, not really feeling hungry. Since they met, he hadn't gotten anything from Winona.
Winona checked the time and said, "How about after dinner?"
Zachary's mood lifted, and he picked up his fork again. "Sounds good."
After dinner, he went to get the car while Winona waited at the door. Just then, Frank called, "Grace has been brought out, but she's not doing well."
Hearing that, Winona got anxious. "What's wrong with her?"
"She won't say anything, just keeps crying," Frank said, rubbing his temples. Even sitting in the living room, he found her constant crying was giving him a headache.
Winona said seriously, "I'll be right there."
Frank gave her the address and asked, "Should I have Rodolfo pick you up? It'd be safer."
She replied, "No need, I'm with Zachary."
Frank thought, 'Why does that jerk stick to you like glue? Isn't today a workday? Is the Bailey Group going under? So much free time.'
He was planning a big banquet to officially welcome Winona back to the Turner Family once this was sorted out and have her move to Waterfront Pearl. If she didn't like it there, he'd buy another place.
Zachary pulled up in front of Winona and saw she looked worried. He frowned, "What's wrong? What happened?"
"Go to Waterfront Pearl. Frank got Grace out of the police station, but she's not doing well. She won't say anything, just keeps crying."
Clearly, his gift would have to wait again.
He shouldn't have told Frank about this and let him handle it. He should've had Grace brought straight to Regal Oaks. Who knew Frank couldn't even handle one woman?
Despite his frustration, Zachary knew Winona's mom's situation was more important than the gift.
When they got to Waterfront Pearl, Zachary drove straight in. Winona finally saw Grace, who looked nothing like she remembered—gray hair, haggard face, dark circles, and so thin a gust of wind could knock her over. Her dress hung loosely on her like a rag.
There was a bed and a sofa in the room, but Grace didn't sit on either. She was curled up in a corner, hugging her legs with her chin on her knees, looking mentally unstable.
Frank said seriously, "She's been like this since we brought her back, not saying a word."
Winona walked over and squatted down in front of Grace, not expecting much. "Grace, I'm Winona, Yara's daughter. We met once at the night market in Mode City."
Grace didn't react at all.
Winona couldn't accept this. She had worked so hard for so many years. Xavier was dead, and if Grace went mad, would there be no one left to hold accountable? Even if the blame pointed to Kyle, without evidence, what if he didn't admit it? And if he did, how could she be sure he wasn't taking the fall for someone else?
Winona didn't have the strength to start over.
She grabbed Grace's shoulders, forcing her to look at her. "What was the meaning of the painting you gave Yara? Where is it now?"
Grace stared at her, her eyes unfocused, looking through her into some void.
"Grace, don't you feel any guilt after all these years? Don't you dream of Yara accusing you in your sleep?"
No matter what Winona said, Grace remained the same, like a puppet. After a long while, Winona finally let go in frustration. Just as she was about to stand up, Grace suddenly grabbed her and said, "Yara."
Winona looked at her in shock.
"Yara, I'm scared," Grace said, shrinking towards Winona, her frail body trembling, her hands clutching her arms like chicken claws, and her eyes darting towards the door where Frank and Zachary stood.
The cop had said Grace was rescued from Kyle's basement. She could barely stand at the time, and who knew how long she had been held and tortured. She probably had a psychological aversion to men because of it.
She waved at the two men standing there and said seriously, "You guys go out first."
Neither Frank nor Zachary felt comfortable leaving Winona alone with Grace. Who knew if she was really crazy or just pretending?
Frank, not yet officially recognized as her father, didn't want to overstep. What if Winona found him annoying and refused to acknowledge him? He said to Zachary, "You persuade her."
Zachary fell silent.
Despised by Frank, Mr. Bailey had no choice but to relent, and he was indeed worried and said, "I'll stand right here, not going anywhere."
Frank gave him a look full of dissatisfaction.
Winona said, "She's scared with you here. I'll be careful, don't worry."
Grace was so thin she looked like a skeleton. Even if she was pretending to be weak, Winona could handle her. As long as she watched Grace's movements and didn't let her grab any weapons, there shouldn't be any safety issues.
Zachary looked at the frail Grace, then at the determined Winona, and said, "I'll be right at the door. If anything happens, just call out. Give her something for self-defense."
The last part was directed at Rodolfo.
Rodolfo didn't move, looking at Frank. Seeing Frank nod, he took out a knife and handed it to Winona.
Frank looked at the gloomy-faced Zachary and said, "Do you think my people will take orders from you?"
Zachary naturally replied, "Of course not, Dad."
Frank thought to himself, 'Idiot? Who's your dad? Can you be any more shameless?'
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