Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Horace and Clifford were away for the day, but when they returned home in the evening, they were informed that Quincy had dropped by looking to stir up trouble with their daughter, Winnie. Without hesitation, Clifford instructed the butler, “From now on, no member of the Henderson clan is to set foot in this house.”
And with that, he set out to check on Winnie, concerned that the Henderson family might have given his little girl grief.
Just as he was about to ascend the stairs, he caught sight of Winnie descending with a small fox cradled in her arms, and, quite unusually, she had someone tagging along behind her.
Springer was hot on her heels, bombarding her with questions, “What was that trick with my arm just now? Did you do something to me? You’d better come clean, Winnie! If it weren’t for me today, that guy would have bullied you senseless. Weren’t you quite the spitfire against us? But you clam up facing a Henderson? You’re making the Bryant family look bad!”
Clifford eyed Springer, who was pestering Winnie, and frowned, thinking the boy was at it again. He was about to intervene when Horace gently held him back.
Pausing, Clifford saw that Horace was watching the scene unfold with interest.
Springer, oblivious to the two men downstairs, only stopped when Winnie did. He caught sight of them and his face momentarily betrayed his guilt, but he quickly regained his composure and greeted them politely. “Uncle Clifford, Horace, you’re back?”
“What’s going on?” Clifford asked with a stern voice.
Winnie was about to speak when Springer, fearing another tattling, quickly stepped forward and blurted out, “Uncle, we were just discussing that Winnie’s adoptive brother from the Henderson family who showed up today. You wouldn’t believe it, but he came here throwing his weight around, using his status and the Henderson family‘ supposed kindness to intimidate. I sent him packing.”
Horace raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Quite the hero, aren’t you?”
Basking in Horace’s praise, Springer puffed out his chest, “Obviously, this is Bryant territory. No one messes with us on our own ground.”
Springer glanced at Winnie, expecting some recognition or gratitude, but she remained unimpressed by his storytelling, which irked him. He had, after all, defended her honor, and she hadn’t even thanked him. Springer concluded that Amber was right; he should have defended her.
Unable to contain his frustration, Springer attempted a different tactic, “Uncle Clifford, Horace, did you know? Winnie’s quite chummy with that adoptive brother of hers. She even made him an amulet!”
At the mention of a good relationship, Clifford instinctively looked at Winnie..
She vow who has head “Mit Flowe
Apkeputed out a meciale hom under his shirt, showing off an amulet with
Wee’s pyes tickered with interest at the sight of the amulet that clashed with Horace’s
apearance, but she mantamed her composure.
Songes, tooling his attempt to stir the pot tail fat, eyed the amulet enviously and turned to CYNA U xou have one too?”
ufford presses his ass ether, even his son’s amulet and then Winnie, his voice contained,
Were seemed surprised, replying, “You do. I gave you one.”
Cuford was taken aback a flash of joy crossing his eyes, quickly followed by a frown. “I never
Yeah that’s because it’s with me, Horace interjected casually, “Winnie asked me to pass it on.
Cumford’s expression darkened, and he was about to scold when Horace continued at his own. ce, “Bause at that time, father, you made a mistake. So I kept the talisman on Winnie’s behalt the
Knows what the mistake might be. Clifford felt a twinge of guilt before resuming his authoritative demeanor. “It Winnie entrusted it to you, you have no right to withhold it. Hand it.
Horace shrugged and went upstairs to fetch the talisman. He soon returned with it still wrapped in a lucky pouch, unopened. Clifford opened it in front of Winnie and saw it was indeed identical to Horace’s. His eyes gleamed with pleasure, but he managed to maintain his composure, caressing the talisman, “Did you carve this yourself? Impressive work. I didn’t know you had such a talent. Winnie. I’m touched to receive it.”
His talisman lacked a pecklace, so Clifford carefully placed the charm back into the pouch and tucked it into his coat pocket.
Springer watched enviously as Clifford cherished Winnie’s gift, unsure whether he envied his uncle’s delight in the gift or the fact that only the Bryant family had received such favors, and not him.
Meanwhile, Quincy, having been given the cold shoulder at the Bryant family, returned to the hospital room where his anxious parents and Kathryn awaited.
When Barton caught sight of Quincy, he immediately asked. “So? Did she agree to help?”
Quincy shook his head and replied, “Winnie’s really changed.”
Chanter 43
Hearing this, Suzan couldn’t hold back her disdain. “That ungrateful little bitent I’ve been saving it all along! We might as well have begged that psychic who did Kathryn’s reading back in the day!”
Barton’s expression darkened, and he replied irritably, “If I could had that psychic, I would’ve by now. No need for your commentary.” Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
Ever since Winnie’s car accident, it was as if the psychic had vanished into thin air, along with the psychic they once relied on.
Suzan, checked by Barton’s sharp comment, changed the subject, “If that uttle bitch won’t let then she’d better not expect to get her hands on that bracelet!”
Then she turned to Quincy, asking, “Where’s the bracelet, anyway?”
Quincy’s face brietty betrayed his embarrassment hefore he finally spoke, “She took it”
“What?!” Suzan slammed her hand on the table, outraged, “She has the nerve to take Grandma’s bracelet and not lift a finger to help us? That little hussy has no share!”
Lying in her hospital bed, Kathryn was fuming with anger, silently cursing her brother for being such a pushover and letting Winnie walk away with the bracelet. It was as if they’d handed her the victory on a silver platter!
In her anger, Kathryn pounded her fist down, forgetting about the IV needle in her arm. It jabbed deeper into her flesh, causing blood to backflow, and she couldn’t help but cry out in pain, “It
hurts so much…
Her cry of pain had everyone at her bedside in an Instant, a mix of concern and checking her hand. In the ensuing chaos, someone must have leaned on the bed because it suddenly collapsed back down, leaving Kathryn to fall back onto the bed, unprepared.
While this shouldn’t have been a big deal, Kathryn bawled about her back hurting, and the Henderson family were frantically pressing the call button and shouting for a doctor. After a slew of checks, it turned out she had managed to sprain her back.
Suzan was furious, blaming the hospital’s shoddy equipment for making Kathryn’s condition worse. She made quite a scene, and the commotion only aggravated Kathryn’s mild) concussion, causing her head to throb and her stomach to heave with nausea.
Barton stood aside, watching the chaos unfold with a steely gaze. He knew Kathryn couldn’t go on like this. They had to find a way for Kathryn to meet Winnie face to face. It was the only way.