Chapter 6
Suzan never imagined she’d run into the person they had cast out of their home less than an hour ago, standing in the Bryant family’s lush garden.
The shock on Suzan’s face was unmistakable, but within a second, her gaze dropped to the middle–aged woman beside her, dressed unmistakably as a maid. And then it clicked.
That must be Winnie’s birth mother, a maid.
It made sense. Someone from a humble background wouldn’t land a prestigious job easily. To be a maid in a neighborhood like this was quite respectable.
Kathryn seemed to reach the same conclusion. She felt disdain and amusement in her heart, but her face showed sympathy and concern.
“Winnie, so your folks work here, huh? But be careful around the Bryant Manor. Don’t touch things that aren’t yours. We wouldn’t want to cause any trouble, would we?” Kathryn said.
The butler, who had been leading the way, winced at these words and was about to offer some clarification when Winnie spoke up indifferently. “Mind your own business.”
She paused, then noticed the pale grey ghost almost clinging to Kathryn. Winnie’s brows lifted as she added, “Were I you, I’d stay put at home. It’s not wise to wander.”
She had protective charms at home, and ordinary evil spirits wouldn’t dare come close, but it was a different story outside.
Seeing Winnie still so infuriatingly composed, Suzan had been outraged and felt her face contort with anger. Yet, she restrained herself in front of the Bryant family’s butler and instead turned to Kathryn, advising, “Kathryn, you’re too kind, but there are people you just can’t help. It’s useless to advise a thankless wretch who can’t tell right from wrong.”
Then she turned to the butler with a helpless expression, “My apologies. She’s the child we once took in. After all the care we’ve given, to think she’d turn her back on us upon finding her birth parents. It’s tragic. She was troubled, clumsy, and careless. We could tolerate it, but in someone else’s home, who knows what mess she might cause.
Suzan put on a worried front, but her insinuations were crystal clear. She meant keeping someone like Winnie in the Bryant family was asking for trouble.
The butler listened with growing alarm. “Did Mrs. Henderson not realize that Miss Winnie was the long–lost daughter of the Bryant family? She has slandered Miss Winnie right before me. and it’s hard to imagine what life has been like for Miss Winnie in the Henderson family.” the butler thought.
Though he had shown the Hendersons respect for their care of Miss Winnie, the butler’s attitude noticeably chilled afterward.
Mistaking the butler’s change in attitude as agreement with her, Suzan smirked inwardly.
Chapter 6
She looked forward to seeing Winnie getting kicked out, wondering if she’d dare show such an attitude then. As for yielding the representative spot, Suzan believed with the Bryant
connection, there was no need for discussion. It was just a spot, and Kathryn could take it as she wanted.
The maid had been silent since Suzan and Kathryn arrived, aware of the Bryant family’s strict rules against servants engaging with guests.
But as she listened, she got a nagging sense that something was off. Weren’t Suzan’s remarks directed at the Bryant family’s newly found daughter? Oh, dear.
“Mrs. Henderson, Miss Henderson, you…” As the butler was about to speak, another voice chimed in.
“What’s going on?”
It was Horace who had come over after finishing his call. Seeing Winnie surrounded by these people, he quickened and approached them.
Upon seeing Horace, Kathryn’s eyes lit up.
Suzan assessed the young man before her, noting the diamond cufflinks and the luxury watch that screamed millions. She wondered which young master of the Bryant family he might be.
Seeing Horace, the butler straightened up, about to respond, but realized Horace was asking Winnie and held his tongue.
Maybe it was Horace’s prior defense of her or something else, but when he asked, Winnie somehow found herself informing on the two women, “Oh, they were trying to give me a hard time.”
Her concise accusation hung in the air, leaving a strange silence.
Regaining her composure, Suzan shrieked, “You little bitch, what nonsense are you talking about?”
As she raised her hand to strike Winnie, Horace, amused by Winnie’s tattling, instantly grew
cold at the gesture.
But before he could react, the supposed damsel in distress had already grasped Suzan’s wrist in a swift, decisive motion.
Taken aback by her resistance, Suzan tried to pull away, but Winnie’s grip was firm, and she couldn’t break free.
With her hand firmly in hers, Winnie glared coldly at Suzan.
“Remember this! I’m no longer your daughter from the Henderson family, and I won’t take your abuse.” Winnie snapped.
Letting go abruptly, Suzan staggered backward, and crying out in alarm, Kathryn caught her mother before she could fall.
16:15
Chapter 6
“Winnie, no matter what, Mom raised you. How could you attack her like that? You’re way out of line!” Even at this moment, Kathryn persisted in trying to make Winnie look bad.
No one would trust someone who could raise a hand against the woman who raised her.
Winnie had had enough of Kathryn’s phony act. Her eyes flashed as she retorted sharply without courtesy, “Did you see me lay a hand on her? Don’t ever try to slander me and fool. other people.”
Horace stood by, a gleam of amusement twinkling in his eyes. He had seen his sister as meek and easily bullied, but to his surprise, she didn’t mince words when it came to a verbal spar.
Not bad at all. Winnie was a Bryant through and through.
While enjoying the show, Suzan was fuming at Winnie’s audacity to fight back. She had raised Winnie. If she wanted to discipline her, Winnie should stand there and take it!
Not only had Winnie dared to resist, but she had also dared to insult Kathryn. In a rage and not realizing she was on Bryant’s territory, Suzan pushed past Kathryn and charged toward Winnie. “You little brat! You, you…”
Winnie watched emotionlessly, stepping back, ready to respond, but to her surprise, a figure stepped in front of her even faster, standing tall and broad between them.
Horace’s broad back exuded a sense of security and strength.
The smile in his eyes had vanished, replaced by an imposing aura, chilling and startling.
“This is t
the Bryant Manor, not a place where you can run wild.”
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