Chapter 521 Foolish Husband
Lydia shook her head, not sure if she was avoiding the past or answering Winona's question. "Why is Nicholas here?" she asked.
She almost let Zachary's name slip but quickly shut her mouth.
Winona replied, "I don't know. I'll ask Dylan later."
Dylan was in charge of the invites, and Nicholas definitely shouldn't have been on the list. The Ramsey Group had been gunning for the Bailey family lately, stealing deals left and right. Inviting Nicholas was just asking for trouble.
Lydia didn't dare look Zachary's way, worried her face might give something away. "How's he been?" she asked.
She'd wanted to ask ever since seeing the paternity test but had been too scared. She feared Evander had just said those things to make her feel better.
It wasn't until now that she dared to believe Zachary was alive and well.
"He's okay. Timothy wouldn't dare hurt him; he just keeps him on a short leash," Winona said, sidestepping any mention of Zachary's injuries.
Zachary's arrival made the atmosphere awkwardly tense. Everyone who knew him was in shock, and the rest were just confused. For a moment, aside from the music, there wasn't a sound.
Dylan, not far away, was also stunned to see Zachary. He hadn't invited anyone from the Ramsey Group.
Zachary, who had everyone's attention, didn't seem the least bit fazed. He walked straight towards Evander, and by now, everyone knew who he was.
Someone whispered, "Isn't that the kid the Ramsey family raised in the sticks? He looks just like Mr. Bailey. Could he be Evander's illegitimate son?"
They hadn't connected Zachary and Nicholas as the same person because they thought the Bailey family would never let their kid live under someone else's name. Plus, the Ramsey family was a far cry from the Baileys.
What could the debt-ridden Ramseys possibly offer?
"It might be true. Look at his attitude; he's here to make a statement."
"I wonder if Evander's wife knows. I always said there's no such thing as a lifelong love story. Even broke guys dream of having multiple wives, let alone someone like Evander. My mom said tons of women wanted to marry him back in the day, but he turned them all down."
These comments reached Lydia's ears. She snapped, "All they do is gossip. Don't they have anything better to do?" Winona noticed Lydia's pale face and tired eyes. She said, "Lydia, don't let them get to you. Let's go grab something to eat."
"You go ahead. I'll check on your dad," Lydia replied, glancing at Zachary. "And if you ever end up with a foolish husband, just give him a good smack. Don't go soft and end up in a mess."
"Got it." Winona wasn't worried about Lydia. Though Lydia had a sharp tongue, she knew how to keep her cool when it mattered.Winona was indeed a bit hungry. She hadn't eaten much since lunch and nothing after getting her makeup done.
She walked over to the dining area, grabbed a fancy bone china plate, and started picking out what she wanted to eat. It was dance time, so the dance floor was packed, making the dining area less crowded. But, of course, some people, like annoying flies, still managed to buzz over. "If I remember right, today’s the Bailey Group’s anniversary bash. Everyone here is connected to the Bailey Group or is a big shot in the military or government. How did a dumped ex-wife like you get in?"
"She must have some thick skin. Without it, I wouldn’t even think about showing up. If I got an invite, I’d chuck it straight in the trash."
"That’s not fair. Even though Mr. Bailey dumped her, she’s still the eldest daughter of the Turner Family."
"Illegitimate eldest daughter, you mean?" the group of women laughed. "That’s a unique position in our circle. If Frank had a daughter, she would’ve been kicked out long ago."
These were the socialites who never got along with Winona. They always mocked her whenever they met. After she married Zachary, many of them went abroad or moved away, and those who stayed didn’t achieve much. They were all busy with their own lives, so they rarely saw each other. Even when they did, they didn’t dare cross her because of the Bailey family.
Now, they finally had a chance to vent their pent-up frustrations.
Winona waited until they finished talking, then calmly put down her plate and turned to the leader. "I heard you’re getting engaged this New Year. What if your honest fiancé finds out you’re not just sharp-tongued but also arrogant? Would he call off the engagement?"
The woman, dressed in a deep V-neck black gown with wavy hair and red lips, looked down arrogantly with her arms crossed.
Winona slightly tilted her body and looked towards the corner of the banquet hall, where someone was taking photos with a camera. "There are a lot of journalists and media here today, backed by famous media companies. If any scandal breaks out, it won’t be easy to cover up."
"We’re just old friends catching up. Even if they take photos, it’ll show our deep sisterly bond." With that, the woman stepped closer to Winona, placing a hand on her shoulder. "But you, if you fall and get food all over you, will you be the laughingstock tomorrow?"
She lowered her voice. "Winona, do you remember when you dumped a pot of soup on my head in the cafeteria?"
The greasy soup had drenched her, making her a laughingstock for an entire semester. She had never forgotten that grudge.
Winona replied, "You brought it on yourself. I didn’t hit you, so consider yourself lucky."
Arguing was one thing, but bringing up someone’s deceased mother was crossing the line.
Not far away, after finishing a conversation, Zachary’s gaze casually fell on Winona. Though he didn’t make any overt moves, anyone with a bit of perception could see the tension between them.
Timothy followed his gaze and said, "Looks like Winona’s being bullied. Do you want to go help her out?"
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