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Novel Catalog
Chapter 32: How Dare You Bully My Grandma
Margaret’s favorite book on medicinal foods lay open on the table, its pages filled with recipes she’d often read while relaxing in the yard. As she flipped through it, she would tell Wynter, “This one looks good. I’ll make this fish for you today… and pumpkin soup too.” It was a peaceful ritual, one that now seemed distant, lost in the chaos of the moment.
Wynter’s expression darkened as she made her way across the courtyard, her steps swift and determined.
A small figure in the corner caught her attention. It was a child, dressed in simple clothes and standing beside a bucket. He immediately set it down, his small hands raised eagerly, trying to communicate.
Wynter stopped in front of him, her hands gently but firmly resting on his shoulders. Her gaze was intense, though her voice remained calm. “Wolf, don’t panic. Tell me slowly—what happened?”
Wolf, whom Margaret had found abandoned on the street, had never spoken a word. He could only use sign language, though in recent years, he had managed to produce a few sounds. Despite his silence, his eyes were full of emotion, conveying more than words could.
Wolf raised his hands, his gestures clumsy yet purposeful. His gaze was steady, though a hint of toughness lingered in his expression.
“Are you saying the mess outside was all caused by Wanda?” Wynter’s voice chilled as the weight of the situation became clearer.
Wolf nodded solemnly, continuing to gesture with his hands, his face set with determination.
Wynter’s brows furrowed. “And she told you that I’m not with the Yates family anymore?”
Wolf nodded again, before using his hands to convey that Margaret was worried about Wynter’s safety.
“Why is she worried about me?” Wynter’s lips twisted into a thin smile, colder now. “It’s Wanda who should be worried.”
At that moment, a soft sigh came from inside the house. It was Margaret, who, despite her wisdom in medicine, had always been oblivious to worldly matters.
As Margaret wheeled herself out into the courtyard, she cast a glance at Wynter, her gaze full of concern. “She’s your mother, after all.”
Wynter’s eyes were unwavering. “She used to be, but not anymore.”
Margaret looked down, the weight of her words settling between them. “She took over the Yates family, but you didn’t fight for it—your children and grandchildren were always your priority. You’ve said you preferred this life, a quieter one.”
Wynter’s voice grew sharp, her words precise. “Wanda wouldn’t have been so brazen today if Ewan hadn’t given her his approval. He abandoned his own mother after he married her. I’m sure you understand, even if I don’t need to say it.”
Margaret’s gaze lingered on the fish tank beside her, her expression distant. “I understand. I raised an ungrateful son… I suppose I deserved it.”
Hearing this, Wynter’s anger began to soften.
It was rare for a mother to admit her child’s flaws so openly, especially when that child had caused so much pain. If Margaret had been someone who could not accept the truth about her son, Wynter would have had no choice but to leave it all behind, no matter how much Margaret had treated her like her own. But Margaret’s acceptance of the harsh reality allowed Wynter to breathe again. The decision of whether to stay or go, to endure the bullying or to fight back, was Margaret’s to make.
Margaret looked at Wynter, her eyes sharp with wisdom. “I don’t want you to leave. Southdale is a dangerous place. The Scott family has ties to Kingbourne, and you could be dragged into trouble because of me.” She took a deep breath, the gravity of her words settling on them both. “From today on, I will sever all ties with that son of mine.”
Margaret had always been calm, steady, and never one to show cruelty. But as she spoke, there was an undeniable strength in her resolve. Wynter saw the finality in her eyes, and knew that Margaret had made her choice.
“I’ll listen to you.” Wynter knelt beside Margaret, her eyes clear and unclouded. “If you don’t want me to go, I won’t leave.”
Margaret reached up and gently stroked her hair, her voice soft yet filled with unspoken love. “My dear child… If they don’t want you, then I will take care of you. I will support your studies. You are not alone.”
The weight of those words was enough to steady Wynter’s heart. In that moment, the bond between them deepened, and Wynter made her silent vow to protect Margaret, no matter what the future held.
