Chapter 404

Carlos knelt in front of the tombstone, gently caressing the black-and-white photograph of the woman on it, wearing a bitter smile. "Irene, you kept this secret from me for so long. Why did you deceive me that our daughter died?"

Winnie's mind went blank, consumed by turmoil.

Ten minutes later, inside the house at the foot of the cemetery hill, Carlos slowly sat across from Winnie, introducing himself in a simple manner. "My name is Carlos, and I live in Trento City."

Winnie just stared at him and eventually said, "I'm Winnie."

"Thanks to the elderly man next to you, it was he who delivered your mother's token to me and brought me the message, letting me know that you are still alive. He also informed me that you have been carefully protected by your mother."

Winnie hesitated, casting a glance at George. George nodded eagerly and signaled her with sign language, saying, "Winnie, call him Dad!"

Winnie still couldn't utter the word and looked at Carlos.

In Trento City, the Blanchet family was one of the top three families in the country. Judging from the gentlemanly and noble demeanor of the man in front of her, he appeared to be her father.

Winnie felt distant and unfamiliar, recalling what George had said about her birth father's prestigious background. George had once told her that the Blanchet family was a century-old prestigious family, magnificent and elegant.

She couldn't quite describe the emotions swirling in her heart, a mixture of anticipation, anxiety, and curiosity. "Do you have any specific business with me?"

Her indifferent tone slightly surprised Carlos, but he quickly regained his smile and responded, "Your personality reminds me of Irene's. Dad has missed you all these years and wants to bring you back home, make up for the love I owe you, and take good care of you."

Winnie frowned, taken aback. The Blanchet family, a prominent and powerful family, could not be compared to the Lymington's. She suddenly thought of the Anderson family and the issues between her and Ava.

Before her mind could process it, a wave of weariness toward affluent families swept over her.

Winnie wasn't interested and instinctively shook her head. "Sorry, but I'm living quite well now."

"Winnie," Elliott expressed concern, not wanting her to make a premature decision. He frowned as he continued, "Where are you living well? I understand that you feel distant from Paul"

Carlos showed a tinge of guilt and asked, "Do you resent me? In fact, when you were just an infant, I had sought out your mother, wanting to acknowledge you as my child.

"For this reason, the position of Winnie Anderson has always been reserved for you in our family. But your mother was stubborn. To cut ties, she disappeared and even claimed that you had died from an illness. I was heartbroken for several years, even after I had a daughter with my current wife, I made everyone at home call her Miss Blanchet, because you always had a place in my heart."

Winnie fell silent. It seemed that her father wasn't particularly despicable. She couldn't help but ask, "What kind of relationship did you have with my mother? You have a family, so was she a mistress?"

"No, Winnie, not at all!" Elliott interjected, becoming enthusiastic.

Carlos displayed a hint of anguish as he responded, "Irene was not a mistress. In reality, we fell in love during our college years. However, due to the Granger family's lower social status compared to the Blanchet family's, your grandparents strongly opposed our relationship. Despite my efforts to withstand their disapproval, I succumbed to pressure from my family and entered into a relationship with my current wife. By the time your mother found out about my marriage with my current wife, she was already pregnant with you.

"When your mother decisively left me, it coincided with the sudden bankruptcy of the Granger family. I was in a daze for several months, during which my current wife became pregnant and subsequently suffered a miscarriage. In order to compensate her, I felt obligated to marry her. Later, I approached your mother to help the Granger family, but she hated me and refused. Since then, the Granger family has disappeared without a trace."

Winnie's heart was overwhelmed by waves of sorrow as she grappled with the bitter truth of her mother's love. It felt like the plot of a melodramatic wealthy family, leaving her heartbroken and angry. The timeline matched up, and at that time, her mother and her grandfather should have fled to Lymington. The bankruptcy of the Granger family now appeared to be a conspiracy by the Ordelia Group.

"So, Winnie, come home with me. You, my daughter, deserve a better life, and you also have the right to inherit my properties," said Carlos, his voice filled with earnestness and hope.

"Winnie, let your dad take care of you," Elliott added.

Despite all this, Winnie remained calm and indifferent. She shook her head and stood up, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Carlos. Thank you for your kindness, but you already have your own children from a prestigious family. Wealthy families are complicated, and I don't want your properties. I won't disturb you anymore."

"Winnie, you deserve it. Both your father and I hope you have adequate support and protection," Elliott said, sharing his deep thoughts.

Carlos confessed, "I have no son, only your sister and my wife at home, so it's relatively simple. Your sister is weak and frail, but she is not a bad person. You don't have to worry about being mistreated at home; Dad will protect you. I have prepared 10% of the Blanchet family's shares for you as a gift for your return, and I will also grant you access to the company. I have heard that you are very talented!"

For ordinary people, the temptation would be strong, but Winnie couldn't help but resist. She pondered how her mother could have gotten pregnant and been pushed away by the Blanchet family back then if they were supposed to be simple.

She pursed her lips and said, "Dad, I'll call you that. But I won't go back." After delivering her words, Winnie politely nodded and left with Elliott.

George signed to Carlos with a disappointed look on his face, "I will try to persuade her again."

"Thank you," Carlos signed back, sighing and then solemnly added, "The matter of finding Winnie no longer a secret within the Blanchet family. There are indeed many troubles in wealthy families, and I must bring her back to protect her under my watch, so that no one will harm her recklessly."

George was taken aback. He wanted Winnie to have a father, but he hadn't expected that it would attract scrutiny from other members of the Blanchet family. Suddenly, he didn't know if what he was doing was right or wrong.

Returning home with mixed emotions, Winnie grappled with the sudden revelation of her origins, feeling lost amidst the swirl of countless thoughts in her mind. She longed to confide in someone, and in that moment, the mature face of Lawrence flashed through her mind. Despite the familiarity, Winnie shook her head vigorously; it couldn't be him.

She resented herself because deep down, there was still a hint of dependence on him, despite hating him to no end.

Perhaps, matters of the heart cannot be easily dismissed.

Clutching her fists tightly, Winnie suppressed her emotions and immediately called Olivia, contemplating how to express herself.

Olivia's irritated voice came through, "Winnie, that woman Darcy is so despicable! After failing to harm Lawrence, she started to harm Ray and Laura. Today, I was supposed to accompany Laura for her check-up because she suspects that she is pregnant.  And what do we find at the hospital? Ray embracing Darcy. That wicked woman must have drugged Ray with something, making that jerk believe that she didn't intentionally harm Madam Rodriguez, and not donating her own kidney was only due to fear, hence she found a replacement."

She continued, "This despicable woman said she now only has one kidney left and begged Ray to take care of her. Ray, being kind-hearted, agreed. I can't, it makes me sick! Laura's heart shattered as she witnessed it, leaving her too distraught to even proceed with the check-up. She fled back home in tears."

Winnie tightened her grip on her phone as she thought to herself, 'Laura is likely pregnant, and the child is definitely Ray's.' A coldness spread across her face; she hated Darcy intensely.

If it weren't for Darcy holding Oscar's life in her hands, she would have sent this wicked woman to hell a long time ago.

In the hospital.

Darcy's face contorted into a cold sneer when she noticed Laura tearfully departing, realizing that Laura had seen her nestled in Ray's embrace.

Even though she had lost Lawrence now, Ray was still her loyal backup plan. As long as she beckoned with her finger, Ray would abandon Laura and marry her. This way, she could always make Winnie and her best friend miserable.

Thinking about important matters, she immediately took out a photo and asked, "Ray, have you found out the identity of the girl who was with Mr. Rodriguez that day when I asked you to help investigate?"