Chapter 41
“I refuse.” In the side parlor of Bryant Manor, Winnie faced Quincy, her refusal crisp and without hesitation.
Clearly shocked, Quincy nearly thought he’d misheard, “What did you say?
“I said, I refuse.” Seeing the look of disbelief on his face, Winnie enunciated each word slowly. as if speaking to a child.
Quincy’s face darkened instantly. This was the second time Winnie had defied his wishes.
“Winnie, don’t be so stubborn,” Quincy implored. “I know you’re still sore over Mom asking you to leave the Henderson family, but we’re all family. Besides, if it wasn’t for our parents, you wouldn’t have been able to return to the Bryant family.”
Winnie glanced at him, her voice icy. “Are you suggesting I should be grateful?”
Just as Quincy opened his mouth to reply, Winnie cut him off decisively, “Moreover, I am no longer part of your family. My name is now Winnie Bryant.”
“Even if you acknowledge your biological parents, we’re still family!” Quincy’s brows knitted together in frustration. “Or are you really like they say, too proud to recognize us now that you’ve become Ms. Bryant?”
Winnie just looked at him, her tone laced with challenge. “What if I am?”
Downstairs, Springer had gone to fetch some freshly squeezed juice when he spotted Hobson leaning casually against the railing of the staircase, looking amused by some spectacle below. As Springer approached, he caught the tail end of Winnie’s remark.
The Bryant Manor featured two lounges the main one for formal gatherings and receiving guests, and the cozier side parlor, which stood directly beneath the second–floor balustrade. This meant that one could easily eavesdrop on the conversations happening below from the upper floor.
Springer instantly forgot about his juice and sidled up next to Hobson. With their heads together, they listened intently to the conversation from below.
Downstairs, Winnie maintained her cool composure, continuing. “The day I left the Henderson family. I made it clear we had nothing to do with each other anymore. Even if I weren’t Ms. Bryant, I wouldn’t want anything to do with you.”
Quincy’s expression soured momentarily at her words but he quickly composed himself and said in a low voice, “Winnie, I’ve heard about the incident at the banquet. Whatever Mom and Dad’s reasons, they raised you. You couldn’t wait to sever ties with the Henderson family in front of everyone – do you realize how much that hurt them? They’ve never fought before, but they argued violently over you that day, and Mom fell ill because of it.”
Quincy started out stern, then softened his tone. “Despite all this, they don’t blame you. They even wanted me to bring Grandma’s bracelet to you. Winnie, our parents have been very good
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12:45
Chapter 41
to you. Don’t be so ungrateful.”
Winnie rolled her eyes at his words. She had always thought Quincy was the only reasonable person in the Henderson family. After all, he never suppressed her like Kathryn did or intentionally got her into trouble. Instead, he took an interest in her studies, gave her birthday gifts, and sometimes even comforted her when Suzan punished her.
That’s why she tried to treat Quincy like a real brother, doing various things for him to win at semblance of affection. But she later realized Quincy wasn’t who she thought he was..
His interest in her studies was only to prevent her from embarrassing the Henderson family, the birthday gifts were unwanted presents from his admirers, and his comfort was to keep her quiet.
Quincy was just better at hiding his hypocrisy and selfishness than the rest of the Henderson family. In that regard, he was truly Barton’s son.
“That bracelet was Grandma’s gift to me. You want my help, so I asked Kathryn to return what she took from me. I’ve been very generous to you already. Don’t be so ungrateful.”
Winnie threw Quincy’s words back at him. Upstairs, Springer nearly burst out laughing, hastily covering his mouth to stifle the sound.
Below, the two seemed oblivious to the audience above.
Quincy frowned deeply, saying, “Kathryn is hurt! Seriously hurt!”
“What does that have to do with me?”
Quincy looked at her incredulously. “Winnie! What has gotten into you? Kathryn is your sister. She’s been your sister for years!”
Winnie just stared at him, the corners of her mouth twisted in a sardonic smile, her voice dripping with scorn. “I don’t need a sister who’d push her own sibling into traffic to save herself.”
She had told no one of that day’s accident, knowing that no one would believe her.
The car crash that Suzan called Kathryn’s ‘great misfortune‘ at eighteen was initially targeting Kathryn. But when she saw the car coming, her instinct was to push Winnie in its path.
Neither Suzan nor Kathryn expected Winnie to survive.
And, as Winnie had predicted, Quincy’s first instinct was disbelief.
“What nonsense are you spouting? How could Kathryn do such a thing? Winnie, I get that you’re upset over the accident, but you can’t just pin the blame on someone else out of spite. You say Kathryn pushed you in front of the car; why didn’t you speak up at the time?
Look, even if Kathryn did freak out and push you, it was obviously just a knee–jerk reaction because she was scared out of her wits. And you, as her big sister, should’ve had her back. Why are you always keeping score like this?”
12:45
Quincy was laying Into Winnie with a tone so full of reproach and disappointment that it left Springer, who was upstairs, utterly gobsmacked.
When Quincy actually had the nerve to accuse Winnie of being petty, Springer lost his cool completely. Cursing under his breath and rolling up his sleeves, he bolted down the stairs so fast that Hobson didn’t even have a chance to grab him.
It was only then that Quincy seemed to suddenly realize someone had been listening from upstairs, his face paling slightly.
In contrast, Winnie seemed much more composed, probably because she had been aware all along.
Meanwhile, Springer had already thundered down the stairs, slippers flopping, and barged into the parlor pointing an accusing finger at Quincy, his anger erupting like a volcano.
“Are you kidding me? What’s wrong with the Henderson clan? The women are cold–hearted vipers, and the men? Hypocrites with a flair for drama! Your sister pushes Winnie into traffic, and it’s petty to mention it? Why don’t you march out there and play in traffic yourself?
Oh, and look at that arm. Took a tumble already, did you? When you crashed and ended up in the hospital, were you too busy worrying about your arm to get your head checked? Because, buddy, it seems like your brains got scrambled a long time ago!”
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