Chapter 5
Clifford sat motionless on the single armchair in the corner of the living room, a ghost of a water ring blooming around his cup on the table.
After an extended silence, he glanced sidelong at Springer, his voice even but his question pointed. “Winnie is my daughter. Isn’t she good enough to be your cousin?”
The restlessness that had filled the boy moments ago visibly drained away.
“Uncle Clifford, I, um, I didn’t mean anything by it.” he apologized immediately.
Nearby, Horace watched with a smug smile as his father’s mere look tamed the young bull. He turned to Amber and asked, “Amber, do you feel upset staying in the Bryant family?”
With her name called out, Amber’s face paled as she hurriedly denied it. “No, you got me wrong. Horace. Really.”
“If so, let’s not have any more misleading words, okay?” Horace’s voice was gentle and melodic yet carried an undertone of authority that no one could ignore.
Amber opened her mouth to respond, but finding no words, she bowed, secretly biting her lip in frustration.
Sensing the tension, Leonie smoothly intervened. “It’s my fault for the oversight. It’s just a room. It’s not worth all this fuss.”
“Aunt Leonie, the arrangements could have been better,” as the eldest grandson of the Bryant family. Horace was never one to sugarcoat, even to his elders. “Winnie is my sister, the darling daughter of the Bryant family. To have her stay in a converted doll room is hardly fitting. It could be a laughing stock if word got out.”
He wrapped an arm around Winnie’s shoulder protectively. “My sister comes home to be cherished but not neglected.”
Whether by design or accident, his words had turned Amber’s cheeks a flush.
Horace had subtly flipped the script. Amber had implied she had received unfair treatment, but Horace made it sound like placing Winnie in Amber’s old room was the true insult.
Wasn’t that a slap to her face?
Winnie tensed as Horace suddenly drew her close. Was it his touch or his words that affected her more?
She couldn’t say she felt wronged. Compared to her experiences with the Henderson family. this was nothing. But this was the first time someone seemed to care whether she was okay.
A warm feeling blossomed inside her, a novel sensation of what it meant to have a family.
Leonie, her face a mask of embarrassment yet internally cursing Horace for his lack of tact, could only swallow her pride and maintain her composure.
Chacker 5
“Horace is right. It was inconsiderate of me. I’ll have it rearranged immediately.” Leonie said.
Horace nodded, and his smile was appreciative. “Thank you, Aunt Leonie. Please handle it soon.”
Then, he turned to the rest, saying, “I’m taking Winnie for a walk in the garden.”
Without waiting for objections, he led Winnie away, leaving a heavy silence in the living room. As Leonie opened her mouth to explain, the butler entered, announcing to Bacchus. “Sir, the gatekeeper has a Mrs. Henderson at the door.”
The name struck a chord related to Winnie.
Wasn’t she just brought over from the Henderson family? Why were they already on her heels?
“Must be here for Winnie,” Janet, Terrell’s wife, interrupted with a smile, lightening the mood. noticed she arrived without luggage.”
Perhaps the Henderson family had come to deliver it. After all, knowing Winnie was a Bryant, they wouldn’t be foolish enough to withhold her belongings.
The butler hesitated before revealing, “Mrs. Henderson is here to see Lady Janet.”
Janet’s smile froze in confusion. “Me?”
Why would Mrs. Henderson come for her instead of Winnle?
Meanwhile, in the classical modern–style garden, roses climbed the antique fences, and the manicured lawn stretched out, vibrant even in the heat of summer.
Winnie followed Horace, half–listening to his casual remarks about the garden, her mind drifting back to the way he had stood up for her in the living room.
A strange, delicate sensation filled her. Finally, she murmured a quiet “Thank you.”
Horace paused, then ruffled her hair with a grin. “No need to say that. I’m your big brother, after
all”
Winnie stared up at him, her tousled hair adding to an unintentional dazed cuteness that deepened Horace’s smile.
He was about to add something when his phone rang. After glancing at the caller ID, he gestured for Winnie to enjoy the garden while he took the call.
Winnie wandered forward, and about ten steps in, her gaze landed on a middle–aged maid wiping down tables and chairs in the garden pavilion.
From where she stood, Winnie could easily see the subtle shadows of malice clinging to the woman, indicative of someone haunted by evil.
Winnie preferred not to meddle as such interactions could entangle one in unforeseen
consequences.
16:35
Chapter 5
However, ignoring this woman might allow her dark aura to afflict others in the family.
She approached.
Absorbed in her monotonous task, the maid seemed lost in thought, her gaze drifting off until Winnie stood before her, snapping her back to reality with a flustered greeting.
“Miss. Miss Winnie?”
“Do you know me?” Winnie was surprised. She had been in the Bryant Manor for barely half an hour and hadn’t been introduced to everyone properly.
“The butler had distributed photos to all the staff at the Bryant Manor, ensuring we’d recognize you on sight to avoid any accidental slights.” The maid grinned at her, explaining.
Winnie was surprised the Bryant family had made such considerate arrangements without any fanfare, a testament to the grace of an established family.
“Miss Winnie, is there anything you need?” The maid asked, noticing Winnie’s silence.
As Winnie was about to speak, she saw two familiar figures walking toward the garden gate.
It was Suzan and Kathryn.
Guided by the sharply dressed butler, they entered through the gate and immediately locked eyes with Winnie. When they saw her, both of them wore identical expressions of
astonishment.
“What on earth are you doing here?”
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