Chapter 485 Bringing Back a Daughter-in-Law
"Timothy, bark like a dog, come on."
"Timothy, look, is this one of your kind? Oh, it's a female dog. You should be nice to her. She might be your future wife. Check out if your wife is pretty. Come on, give her a kiss."
The kid didn't get any of this; he picked it all up from TV.
The dog's barking and the people's laughter mixed together, sharp and piercing.
Timothy, lying on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes. The ceiling above was hidden in darkness, with only a faint shadow of light visible. He stared at that spot, and with no one else around, the malice, indifference, ferocity, and hatred in his eyes were fully revealed.
The shadow in his eyes gradually turned into the shape of a dog.
What a disgusting thing.
Timothy had no idea how long he had been lying there before he finally got out of bed. Barefoot, he walked over to the table and poured himself a drink. He downed it in one go, feeling the fiery burn of the liquor race down his throat and settle in his stomach, bringing with it a dull ache.
He held the glass tightly, his knuckles turning white from the strain. His gaze pierced through the layers of darkness, eventually landing on the night sky outside the window. He murmured, "Winona..."
Such a vulgar, cowardly, stupid, opportunistic, and greedy woman—how could she even be worthy of Zachary?
Zachary deserved the best woman in the world.
Timothy traced his fingers over the glass, memories flooding back of the joy he felt when he first learned he would be leaving the orphanage. He had waited in eager anticipation, only to be met with the crushing disappointment of hearing that the adoption had fallen through.
If the Bailey family hadn't changed their minds at the last moment, Timothy would have been welcomed into their home, a true member of the Bailey family. What Zachary had—a loving home and supportive family—would have been his as well.
They would have shared the same parents, possessed the same belongings, and received the same education. So what truly set Zachary apart from him?
These had once slipped through his grasp. Since he couldn't achieve them for himself, he would take them through Zachary. He would make sure that Zachary lived the life he had always dreamed of, shaping it according to his own wishes.
Tea Room.
"Windy, I know you're busy with work and may not have much time, but I wanted to bring you this invitation anyway. I can see how truly passionate you are about this field. Even if other commitments weigh you down, don't give up on your dreams so easily." Caleb slid an invitation across the table to Winona. "While it's just about appraising artifacts, it won't take up too much of your time. Given your current situation, you can make it work. Plus, it's a live broadcast, so you won't have to deal with multiple recordings."
Winona hadn't reached out to Caleb in quite a while. Letting go of a lifelong dream, for any reason, was never easy. She was afraid to see him, worried that it would reignite feelings of regret and longing within her.
She didn't expect that after so long, he would still think of her.
"Caleb, thank you," Winona said gratefully as she took the invitation. "I'll seriously consider it."
If it were before, she wouldn't have considered it. Just dealing with the Bailey Group's affairs was enough to keep her busy. How could she find the time and energy to participate in such unrelated programs? But now that she knew Zachary was still alive, she could relax a bit.She had no desire or ambition to seize power. The Bailey Group was more of a burden than anything else, and she couldn't wait to be free of it.
Caleb's lips relaxed as he sensed her interest. "No need to thank me; I just…"
He hesitated for a moment before swallowing his words. "It's not easy to have a hobby in life, and even harder to turn it into a lifelong career. So, no matter how challenging the road ahead may be, don't give up easily. If things in the business world settle down and you find some extra time, consider working part-time at the museum."
With other tasks waiting for her, Winona took the invitation and left.
Yet Caleb didn't rush to leave. He sipped his tea and said loudly, "I've given the invitation. Whether she goes or not is not up to me."
After a moment, the tea room door was pushed open, and Matthew walked in from outside. "Caleb, thank you."
Caleb had some connections with Matthew's father, and seeing Matthew was like seeing his own child. As Matthew took a seat, Caleb said, "You guys, if you want to pursue a girl, why not be straightforward and tell her yourself? Going through me won't help; she won't even know what's going on."
Matthew paused while pouring tea and looked up at Caleb. "You guys?"
Caleb's expression stiffened, and he lowered his head to drink tea to cover it up. "Just a slip of the tongue. You know there are many people at the museum, and I talk like this every day."
Matthew's gaze lingered for a moment, but he chose not to press further. He smiled bitterly and said, "If it came from me, she would have turned me down without a second thought."
"You young people's feelings are really hard to understand," Caleb said, finishing his tea in one gulp. "Alright, I'm leaving. Your parents are worried sick about you. If you can bring back a daughter-in-law this time, my trip will be worth it."
Caleb then put down his cup and stood up, brushing off the wrinkles on his clothes. As he was about to step out, he paused.
Noticing Matthew's unusual behavior, Caleb asked, "Is everything okay, Matthew?"
Caleb moved aside, unveiling Winona, who had been hidden behind the door. He looked at the startled Matthew and said, "You two can chat." With that, he left.
Seeing this, Matthew fell silent for a moment before giving an awkward smile. "So, you heard everything? I'm sorry; I didn't mean to mislead you. I was just scared you'd say no. Please don't be mad at me for taking matters into my own hands."
Despite being usually calm, he was now as flustered as a young boy.
Winona held the invitation tightly and smiled. "I should be the one thanking you, Matthew. Thank you so much."
She had rushed out earlier and forgotten her car keys. To her surprise, she overheard Matthew and Caleb's conversation at the door. The doubts that had lingered in her mind were now resolved; Caleb had been encouraging her all along because he had been asked to do so.
Matthew smiled slightly and said, "It's no big deal. I just helped make an introduction. The producer of the show has some connections with me and was looking for you. I actually wanted to tell you in person, but I was worried you might decline, so I asked Caleb to pass the message. I'm just the messenger here, so you don't need to be so formal with your thanks."
Winona didn't believe it was as simple and coincidental as he claimed. Many people would seize the opportunity to join a show that could enhance their fame. Thinking of this, Winona remarked, "It's not just this time; it was the same last time too."
Hearing this, Matthew raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Last time?"
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