Chapter 43 Relationship Exposed!
Coincidentally, the birthday banquet fell on a weekend. Winona woke up early and, after completing Fiona's order, she rested for only two days before taking on another project.
There was no other choice. If she didn't take on jobs tirelessly, she would never be able to pay back that three hundred million dollars in her lifetime!
Regardless of whose birthday it was in the Bailey family, they always kept it low-key, inviting only Lydia's relatives and the Bailey family's relatives. In previous years, Winona would go to the Bailey family's mansion early in the morning and busy herself with attending to the guests.
But this year, she didn't plan on going so early. She and Zachary would eventually divorce, and from now on, she had to gradually distance herself from her past life, also giving Lydia some time to accept it.
After all, she couldn't act alongside Zachary for her entire life - Lydia would eventually find out.
Glancing at the time, Winona focused on her current task. The job she took on this time was to repair an Aveiro bowl, which wasn't severely damaged.
When she got busy, she often lost track of time. It wasn't until she heard her phone ring that she realized it was already two o'clock in the afternoon, and her stomach was starting to feel sour from hunger.
The call was from Zachary. Winona stretched her stiff neck and then answered without waiting for a further moment.
She spoke, and a deep male voice came, "Come down."
The two of them hadn't contacted each other for almost a month. Today was a special situation, and he was here to pick her up to go to the Bailey family's residence.
Winona saw that the time was almost up, "You wait first, let me put on some makeup."
Although it was just a family dinner and there was no need to wear formal attire, she couldn't be too casual. Luckily, when she moved out of Regal Oaks, she brought a few sets of high-end custom-made outfits.
She didn't expect the person on the other end of the phone to sound displeased, "No need for makeup, just come down. You have five minutes."
He seemed to be in a bad mood. Just by listening to his voice, one could feel his impatience.
Well, when has the always superior Mr. Bailey ever waited for someone?
Winona glanced at herself in the mirror, her face bare, her hair casually tied into a bun, and she was wearing a few-dollar T-shirt and sweatpants she bought online.
Since he didn't mind embarrassing himself, she didn't need to put on a show for him either.
So Winona changed into a pair of shoes and went downstairs, grabbing two slices of bread to fill her stomach before leaving.
Zachary's car was parked outside the apartment building. He stood quietly by the car, smoking. His black shirt enveloped his upper body, exuding a gloomy and silent atmosphere.
He was dressed in designer clothes, worth seven figures. The watch on his wrist was even more luxurious, and his whole appearance clashed with this ordinary residential area.
One could imagine how disgusted Zachary must have been when he saw her like this. His brows were knitted together tightly, clearly conveying the message; look at the beggar's life you've lived since leaving me!
Winona was about to open the car door when Zachary's sharp gaze swept over her. "Finish eating and clean up any crumbs on your clothes before getting in the car."
Winona really wanted to ask Zachary if he would be so harsh if the person standing in front of the car with bread in hand was Fiona. But asking such a question would make her appear jealous, so she took a deep breath, resisted the urge, finished eating the bread in two bites, and intentionally shook her clothes vigorously in front of him. "Can I get in the car now, neat freak!"
Zachary's face could only be described as extremely foul. "Even if you weren't considered an aristocratic lady before, you're still a genuine Mrs. Bailey. Watch your words and actions, curse less, so as not to be laughed at."
Winona just "hmphed". "What's wrong? Can't a noblewoman vent her emotions?"
Zachary fell silent. It seemed like her life had been quite interesting in the past three years!
The car left the residential area and entered the congested traffic.
After half an hour, Winona frowned. "This isn't the way back to the Bailey family's residence."
Zachary glanced at her disdainfully. "You plan on going back dressed like this? If you're not ashamed, I am."
Winona rolled her eyes. Who said she didn't need makeup? He was such a hypocritical man!
Zachary took her to a makeover studio, where she not only had her makeup done but also changed into a formal dress. She looked at herself in the mirror.
Winona, with her delicate makeup, frowned and expressed her disapproval, "Isn't it too formal for a family feast like this?"
It was just a meal with relatives from two families. In the past few years, nobody wore formal attire. But now, she couldn't help feeling uncomfortable at the thought of wearing this outfit later. Both families would surely gawk at her as if she were a strange creature. It made her feel uneasy.
Zachary sat on the couch with his legs crossed, flipping through a magazine. Upon hearing her words, he looked up at her and asked, "Who told you it's a family feast?"
"Huh?" Winona's heart skipped a beat, suddenly sensing something not quite right. "What do you mean? Didn't Mom usually invite only close relatives for her birthday dinner?"
"She wants a grand celebration this year, saying it'll chase away bad luck."
Lydia, being more superstitious, often worshiped gods and Buddha. Winona had no objection to a grand celebration if it made her happy, but she and Zachary had a secret marriage. If it were to be a grand event, they would inevitably face the media.
"Then, in what capacity should I receive the guests with you?"
With Lydia around, Zachary couldn't pretend they had no relationship, especially since Lydia's relatives and the Bailey family's relatives knew her identity. With so many people gossiping around, their relationship would surely be exposed.
Zachary, however, didn't seem to think it was a problem. "You should receive them as who you are."
"What are you joking about?" Winona's emotions almost got the better of her. "We are about to get divorced!"
After being married for so long, she had never thought about going public. But now, as they were about to divorce, this situation would become widely known. Was there something wrong with her or was Zachary insane?
"I won't go to the birthday banquet. Call Mom and explain, say that I'm sick, hospitalized, or on a business trip. Any excuse will do. In a few days, I'll celebrate her birthday separately."
This seemed to be the only solution now.
Zachary looked at her coldly and said, "Then I'll have to publicly explain the reason for Mrs. Bailey's absence at the banquet. I hope everyone can understand your difficulties."
In other words, whether she attended or not, their relationship would be made public, and she would be branded as an unfilial daughter!
Winona gritted her teeth. What a cruel man!
Seeing that the woman was glaring at him without saying anything, Zachary closed the magazine and stood up. "Let's go. You're the hostess. If you arrive later than the guests, how will it look?"
Winona couldn't calm down the resentment in her heart. Instead, she sarcastically asked, "Will Fiona be attending tonight as well?"
She remembered the dress she bought for Lydia, which Fiona also wanted to buy. It must be for tonight...
Zachary replied indifferently, "No." He hadn't sent Fiona an invitation.
Winona sneered, "No wonder you're so bold. Fiona isn't here, so you don't have to worry about your loved one's feelings."
In response, the man turned and walked away. Winona clenched her fist and could only follow him.
The birthday banquet was held at the Bailey family estate. Just looking at the cars parked in the garden, one could tell it was a lavish and extravagant event.
The grandeur of the event was evident from the arrival of the car.
As soon as the car came to a stop, Winona didn't wait for Zachary to open the door and got out on her own.
Zachary's eyebrows furrowed with displeasure, but he didn't say anything.
Zachary quickly caught up with her, bending his arm to signal her to hold onto it.
Winona paused, her thoughts momentarily clouded. She had never attended a significant occasion with Zachary before, and it was the first time he had asked her to hold his arm.
Glancing at the time, Zachary impatiently reminded her, "Do you want everyone to think we're an unhappy couple?"
Only then did Winona snap out of her daze, inwardly cursing their actual discontent while dutifully linking her arm with him.
But as soon as they entered the living room, she saw the person whom Zachary had firmly declared would not be present at the birthday banquet...
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