Free Web NovelChapter 483: What A Beautiful Sight, A Blissful Family Of Four
Michael’s words spoke right into Wendy’s heart.
He was right. Whenever she tortured herself, she was also torturing them.
Wendy really didn’t want this whole matter to affect them.
There were so many people who cared for her. Why should she still be troubled by what happened?
Michael made sense. As long as she had moved on, Clement could no longer use this to provoke or hurt her.
Wendy seemed to have figured things out. She wrapped her arms around Michael and nodded in his embrace. In a determined tone, she said, "I will, I will surely get over this."
Michael was pleased to hear her say this.
Only when she was willing to move more, could this whole matter be considered as over. Otherwise, Wendy would remain tormented by what happened that night whenever Clement shows up or the news of Clement surfaced.
If this was the case, she would never be able to find closure. She would forever carry the scar on her heart.
"Do you still have things to settle in Rheinsville City?" Michael asked.
"Nothing else." Wendy guessed what Michael would say next. So she went on, "Let’s stay here for a night and go back tomorrow. It has been a while since I went back to Lake City. I miss the city."
After a while, she continued, "I haven’t seen my mother and Grandmother for so long. I wonder how the two of them are doing."
"Grandmother has been pestering me. She kept asking when you are coming back and insisted that I bring you to see her the moment you are back," Michael confided.
"And she said she is getting old. She might not have much time with you. Everytime she says that, I would scold her for talking nonsense."
"You are right. She is talking nonsense. Her health has always been good. I am sure she will live a long life," Wendy agreed.
"She is indeed getting weaker as the time goes by." Michael sighed with a tinge of sadness. "You might have noticed that Grandmother is having difficulty walking since the last time you met her."
Grandmother had always been fit and healthy. But she had been holding things together even after so much had happened in the family, and Winnie’s mental state grew unstable. It certainly had taken a toll on her.
Although she had servants to help with the physical chores, the emotional stress could not be avoided.
All Michael could do was to visit her often.
"Let’s go and visit Grandmother when we return." She had always been kind to Wendy and she felt saddened by what Michael had just shared.
Her grievances against Michael had caused her to stay away from Grandmother.
She couldn’t help but feel guilty.
"Grandmother will surely be elated to know that you are going to visit her," Michael smiled. "Let’s not tell her. We’ll surprise her."
"That’s a good idea." Wendy could almost imagine how her Grandmother would look when she sees them together. The scene brought a smile to Wendy’s face.
She probably would be very happy.
...
Todd watched Wendy from afar.
He hadn’t expected her to recover so fast after seeing the letter.
Shouldn’t she be upset...break down...quarrel with Michael or even run away all alone?
Why was she in Michael’s embrace instead, as though nothing had happened?
Todd doubted his own eyes. He blinked and looked again. They were still hugging.
This shouldn’t be the case.
Just two days ago, Wendy had a meltdown because of the letter.
Even if Michael comforted her, she couldn’t recover so fast, right?
...
Todd clenched his fists, breathing heavily.
He took a deep breath and took out his phone. He started to dial Wendy’s number.
On the other side, Wendy’s phone rang.
She seemed happy when she saw that it was Todd calling.
But Michael was slightly displeased.
Why must Todd be everywhere?
Wendy lifted her head and noticed his displeasure. She waved the phone at Michael, as though she was asking for permission to answer the call.
Although Michael didn’t like Todd calling, he was quite pleased when Wendy made that gesture.
He was, after all, Wendy’s friend. If he didn’t allow her to take the call, it might make him look petty.
Mutual respect was important.
So with a magnanimous look, he said, "Pick it up. He is probably calling to ask when we are leaving so that he can send us off."
Since Wendy had already agreed to return to Lake City with him, Michael was no longer concerned about what Todd might do.
Besides, this would prove to Todd that no one could steal his wife away from him.
Wendy answered the call.
She put the call on speaker mode for Michael to listen in too.
There were no secrets between Todd and her that Michael couldn’t know about.
"Corrine, are you alright?" Todd said first.
"I am doing fine. Don’t worry."
Todd watched her from a distance. He asked, "How did things go between you and Michael after you left together last night? If you didn’t manage to sort things out, don’t worry. I’m sure he cannot do whatever he wants in Rheinsville City. I can still protect you here."
"Thank you, Todd. But I don’t think I will need your protection. I am planning to return to Lake City with Michael and the two children. Let’s meet again another time." Wendy replied.
"You are going back tomorrow?" Todd sounded flustered. "So soon?"
"Yes, there is nothing to keep me here in Rheinsville City. I have to return to Lake City sooner or later."
"Nothing to keep you here..." Her words repeated in his mind.
So Todd meant nothing to her at all?
Wendy was confused by his tone. She glanced at Michael.
"Todd, is everything okay?" Wendy asked concerned.
"Yes, everything’s fine." Todd sounded cheerful again on the other side of the line.
He continued, "Since you are leaving tomorrow, let’s have dinner together. Treat it as a farewell meal for you. Please don’t say no."
"About that..." Wendy didn’t know how she should reply. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
It was true that she and Todd were friends. But Michael and he were not on good terms.
Wendy was unsure of what to do next.
Michael noticed that she seemed to be in a dilemma so he nodded his head, signaling to her to agree.
He knew that Wendy was avoiding Todd because she was concerned he would be upset.
But if Wendy was unable to bid Todd a proper farewell because of him, she might regret it in the future.
Who knew when they would meet again?
Whatever Todd was thinking or planned to do, it would not matter after they left.
"Ok, I will see you for dinner then. It’s nice that Leah and Jake are here too. They miss you," Wendy said. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"It will be my treat then." The way he sounded, Todd left no room for argument. "I will send you the address."
Wendy didn’t try to argue but just replied a simple "Thank you".
...
Shortly after, Todd texted the address to her.
It was a restaurant that Wendy liked very much.
They had been to this Chinese restaurant before with Timothy Woods.
Wendy took a look at her watch and realized that it was already 6 p.m.
It was almost dinner time.
She looked in the direction of where Leah and Jake were.
As though they telepathically understood, the children also turned to look at her that same moment.
The merry-go-round had stopped.
Leah ran towards her the moment she got off.
Jake and Zess followed behind.
Leah ran into Wendy’s arm and said sweetly, "Mummy, are you feeling better already?"
She hadn’t forgotten that Wendy was feeling uncomfortable earlier.
"Mummy, if you are still not well, we will take you to the hospital together. Don’t try to put up a front," Leah said seriously. "Your health is what’s most important."
Wendy was touched by what Leah had said.
She touched her little face and said smilingly, "Mummy is fine now. Uncle Todd said he wants to give us a treat. Shall we go over to the dinner place now?"
"Uncle Todd wants to have dinner with us?" Leah was so happy that she clapped and even skipped a little. "That’s wonderful! I have not seen Uncle Todd in a long time."
Wendy stretched out her hands to carry Leah.
Wendy had a hard time picking her up. Probably due to the fact that her body had not fully recovered and also because Leah had gotten bigger too.
She teased, "Leah is growing up. Mummy almost didn’t have the strength to carry you."
It was meant to be a joke. But Leah took it so seriously that she struggled to get down from Wendy’s arms. "Then put me down. I can walk on my own."
Leah was afraid that she was too heavy for her mother and she would get tired out.
Wendy wanted to correct her but since she was struggling so hard, she had no choice but to put her down.
Once her feet touched the ground, Leah reached out to hold Wendy’s hand. She smiled gleefully, "I will hold Mummy’s hand from now on. That way, you won’t have to carry me anymore."
Looking at the interaction of the mother and daughter, Michael felt a warmth in his heart.
He playfully stretched out his hand and said, "Come here to Daddy. I am strong enough to carry you."
But Leah dismissed him with a wave, "There’s no need to carry me. I am old enough.I will hold Mummy’s hand and walk together with her."
"Oh, so Leah wants Mummy and doesn’t want Daddy anymore? I am so sad."
Michael pretended to be hurt and put his hand on his chest.
Leah could tell that Michael was just acting. She pouted and said, "Stop bluffing, Daddy."
Wendy couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "Michael, your acting skills are terrible. You couldn’t even convince your own daughter."
"That’s because our daughter is smart," Michael praised Leah as he reached out to hold her other hand.
Leah looked so pleased with herself after hearing her father’s praise.
Wendy turned her attention to Jake who was standing on the side.
She stretched out her hand to hold his hand too.
Jake had always been the sensible one. He always looked out for his sister.
But he was still just a six-year-old boy.
He knew that with his intelligence, he would hardly be hurt by such small matters.
But as a mother, she still had to ensure that she didn’t neglect him.
And Zess smiled happily as she followed them. What a beautiful sight, a blissful family of four.
