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Novel Catalog
Chapter 9: Disdain from the Yates Family Towards Wynter
“Since you know the person who saved Anthony’s life, pick out some gifts and send them to her,” Dalton instructed, his voice calm but carrying a weight of authority. He lightly coughed, and his gaze fell on Vincent, intense and unreadable. “In a few days, I’ll bring Anthony to visit her personally.”
Vincent, feeling the full force of his boss’s scrutiny, nodded quickly, his palms damp with sweat. “Yes, boss!”
It was relatively easy to find Ms. Quinnell, given her ties to the Yates family. Vincent assumed she would be gracious and at least offer some courtesy in return. However, he was unaware that the current Wynter had no desire to interact with anyone from the Yates family. The mere thought of it stirred unpleasant memories she would rather leave buried.
Unfortunately, the Yates family members, eager to reclaim their place in her life, were already on their way to her.
After Wynter had dropped Anthony off, she was about to ride her bike home when a voice called from behind her, cutting through the quiet air.
“Why are you here?”
Wynter turned to see her adoptive mother, Wanda Scott. Her tone was thick with disdain, so much so that she couldn’t even be bothered to address Wynter by her name.
Wynter’s gaze shifted to the group standing nearby. Alongside her adoptive father, Ewan Yates, were members of the Scott family, and the newly returned Yvette Yates—who seemed to shine in the company of admirers. Yvette was whispering to an elderly woman she supported, a woman who appeared quite pleased with her, gently patting Yvette’s hand with approval. The air around them was warm, elegant, and harmonious, like a family reunion of sorts.
Wanda, clearly uncomfortable with anyone seeing Wynter, moved to block her path. “I’m asking you a question. Why are you here?”
Wanda’s effort to hide her annoyance was futile; it bled through in her sharp tone. “Wynter, we told you yesterday that your biological parents are in the countryside. What are you doing at Caesar Hotel with us?”
Wynter’s presence here made Wanda uneasy. She assumed Wynter had followed them, lingering in the background, waiting for them to emerge.
“If ten thousand dollars isn’t enough for you,” Wanda continued, her gaze cold and calculating, “I’ll give you more later.”
Wynter’s eyes briefly flicked down to herself. She was dressed simply—just a plain T-shirt and jeans, her hair loose and unstyled, no makeup, and her backpack casually slung over her shoulder. This, it seemed, was now how she dressed after leaving the Yates family.
Wanda took in the sight of her, her judgment clear in the sharpness of her words. “After living a comfortable life with us, is this how you choose to present yourself? Are you so poor now?”
Wynter lifted her eyes, meeting Wanda’s gaze with a calm, almost lazy expression. Before she could respond, Wanda spoke again, lowering her voice to a near whisper. “I know you don’t want to go back to the countryside, especially after experiencing a better life. But we have no obligation to support you anymore.” She paused, then pulled out a card, handing it to Wynter with a dismissive gesture. “Here’s fifty thousand dollars. Take it and leave quickly.”
Wynter said nothing, her attention focused on Wanda’s every movement. She could sense the older woman’s anxiety and her desperate attempts to keep a distance. For a moment, Wynter simply observed her, leaning nonchalantly against the handlebars of her bike, the evening breeze tousling her dark hair.
Just then, an elderly woman, Hilda, approached, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied Wynter. “Who is this, Wanda? Do you know her?”
Wanda quickly offered a response, hoping to deflect any suspicion. “She’s a distant relative. I just ran into her and thought she was young, so I wanted to help.”
Hilda gave her a scrutinizing look but nodded in acceptance. “Hmm.” She then turned to Yvette with a smile of approval. “You are fortunate to have such a good daughter.”
Yvette, standing beside her mother, looked up at Hilda with wide, innocent eyes. She hesitated for a moment before replying softly, “My mother often taught me to help others. It’s the foundation of medicine.”
“Exactly,” Hilda said with a smile. “You have a good daughter, Ewan.”
Ewan, who had been debating whether or not to reveal Wynter’s true identity, chose silence. Listening to Hilda’s praise for Yvette, he made up his mind. “Yvette has learned well,” he said, nodding with a small, approving smile. “Unlike the fake one who couldn’t behave properly.”
Wanda, who had been growing increasingly frustrated, turned to Ewan with a resigned sigh. “Since I’m here, let’s head inside. You don’t need to concern yourself with the affairs of relatives.”
As she spoke, her eyes flickered briefly to Wynter, but she made no effort to hide her distaste. After a deep sigh, Wanda added, “You should persuade Wynter. She’s a difficult one.” On the surface, Wanda tried to appear compassionate, but her gaze made it clear that Wynter was no longer welcome, and she should leave as soon as possible.
