Chapter 416

Lawrence closed his eyes tightly, deliberately replying to her with a cold tone: "Winnie, you shouldn't have come to Trento City. You are a stranger here. Go back to Lymington and take care of Sidney properly. Don't casually leave your son behind."

With a selfish motive, he didn't want her to come to Trento City, in case she stumbled upon him and Ishara.

He forced a bitter smile. Although he knew she had started a relationship with Rock, he still fantasized that in two years, after his agreement with Ishara ended, he might still have a slight chance. Self-deceit, perhaps.

He didn't really want to avoid seeing her, but he had already made a commitment to Ishara for today.

Adding another cold remark, he furrowed his brows and texted: "I am busy, I have a meeting in the afternoon. You should leave." Lawrence assumed that by responding in this manner, she would leave for Lymington sooner.

As Winnie looked at his reply, it was like a bucket of cold water had been thrown in her face. She couldn't understand why he was ordering her, driving her away with such indifference.

Since he didn't know that she had come back to acknowledge her family, she wouldn't argue with him. She felt annoyed in her heart. After all, she had gathered the courage to offer him this opportunity.

"Mummy..." Sidney woke up, rubbing his big eyes. As he leaned closer, he saw his mother texting his father on her own initiative; he was ecstatic. But in the next second, when he read his father's reply, his nose wrinkled as he pondered, 'What's wrong with this jerk of a father? He's so rude. How dare he tell Mummy that he's busy? Can't he see that Mummy's giving him a chance to make amends?'

Seeing his mother feeling a bit down, Sidney immediately said, "Call him!"

"Then you will do the talking." Winnie pouted angrily and dialed the phone number, immediately handing it to Sidney.

Sidney stared at the screen as he listened to the sound of the dialing tone.

Ishara looked up and noticed Lawrence's phone vibrating with a string of numbers. He was staring at it, hesitating whether to answer. His gaze was particularly deep.

She suddenly stood up and purposely slapped his arm. "Lawrence, can you help me get the glaze Oh! I'm sorry."

The man didn't hold his phone steady, and it fell into the mud instantly. Lawrence frowned and as he reached out to pick it up, he noticed that Winnie's call went dark on the screen.

"Is your phone all right?" Ishara asked, feigning concern as she rushed over to help retrieve it.

The phone, rolling into the muddy mess, was obviously ruined. Lawrence's gaze darkened, but it was better that he didn't answer it in the first place.

He lowered his gaze and coldly said, "It's already broken, don't bother picking it up. Let's buy a new one."

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault for being clumsy," Ishara said, full of remorse.

"Why didn't he answer even after calling twice?" Sidney mumbled, feeling humiliated.

"Maybe he's really busy with a meeting..." Winnie comforted her son while sending another text message to explain: "I'm not leaving anymore. Sidney and I are also in Trento City. He wants to see his dad. When you're not busy, please reply."

She used her son as an excuse and her heart raced, thinking he would definitely show up in the afternoon. But by around four o'clock, he hadn't replied to the message or come to find them.

Sidney's hopeful mood turned gloomy. "Daddy is such a big meanie. Aren't the two of us more important than his work? Don't be angry, Mummy. When he comes tomorrow, make him apologize to you!"

Winnie was also annoyed. Lawrence was so clueless.

"Make him kneel. Stab him." Sidney huffed, trying to cheer up his mother.

Finally, the mother and son regained their smiles. At five o'clock, Carlos's driver arrived, prompting Winnie to entrust Sidney to the nanny. Hailing from Lymington, the nanny arrived with two bodyguards, which put Winnie more at ease.

Having changed into a modest outfit, Winnie stepped into the private car. At 6 pm sharp, the affluent villa area of Camellia Mount was ablaze with lights. Right in front of the entrance to the Blanchet Mansion, Winnie got out of the car and coincidentally ran into Carlos, who had just come down from a magnificent estate on the mountaintop. Winnie nodded toward Carlos and addressed him. "Father"

"That's the first prominent family in the country, the Rodriguez family." Carlos pointed to the mountaintop and smiled, blinking his eyes. "I just went to see the old Mr. Rodriguez, but he was not there today."

Winnie seemed to understand what he was talking about and was momentarily surprised.

A graceful and charming lady walked out of the villa. "Honey, is this Winnie? I didn't expect her to be so beautiful."

"This is my wife, Eleanor," Carlos introduced gently.

"Hello, Auntie." Winnie observed Mrs. Blanchet and thought of her mother. This woman didn't give her a cold face upon the arrival of an illegitimate daughter; instead, she smiled kindly. It seemed that she was not a simple character.

"Winnie you are very polite. Come in with me." Eleanor smiled and led the way.

The Blanchet family garden had several paths, and Eleanor took her along the one closest to the edge. Suddenly, a droplet of water fell from above Winnie's head. She looked up to avoid it, but the path, wet from the rain, caused her to slip and fall into the mud.

"Oh, no need to treat me with such grand gestures, dear peer!" a sneering voice rang out.

Standing in front of Winnie was a haughty girl, laughing with teeth showing. Winnie stood up slowly and looked at her.

"Angela, what are you doing causing trouble?" Eleanor helplessly introduced, "Winnie, this is your cousin, the daughter of your aunt; Angela Wood."

"Angela Wood, apologize to Winnie right this instance!" Carlos said sternly.

"Uncle..." Angela glared at Winnie because she was being scolded. "She's not Ishara, the legitimate Ishara. She's just a wild girl from the countryside." After saying that, she ran into the house.

"You stop right there! Who allowed you to fool around here..." Carlos's face turned cold.

"I came with Grandma!" Angela asserted confidently.

Eleanor looked at Carlos helplessly and said, "I can't do anything about it when Mom brings her over. Honey, Angela is still young. Don't get upset with a child, right, Winnie?"

Winnie could clearly tell that this was directed at her. If she were to get upset, it would only show her pettiness. She smiled at Carlos and reassured him, "Dad, it's okay. Auntie is right. Wealthy young ladies can be a bit temperamental. I'll just take a step back, please don't make things difficult for yourself."

"Winnie, you're very sensible," Carlos said. Listening to her tone, there was a hint of guilt and pity. "Winnie, come inside quickly. I'm sure your grandparents are waiting for you." Carlos held onto Winnie as they walked toward the villa.

But when they entered the villa, there was only an old lady sitting in the hall.

Angela, who had just tricked her a moment ago, stood next to the elder. Upon seeing Winnie entered and stood there, she sneered, "Grandma, these people from the countryside have no manners. They don't even know to bow when they see you."

Carlos glanced over coldly at Angela, and she immediately straightened up.

Carlos frowned and asked, "Mom, why isn't Dad here? Didn't I say that I'm bringing Winnie home today to introduce her to you?"

The elder, sitting high above, scrutinized Winnie. When she saw her pants stained with mud and her clothes unkempt, she immediately furrowed her brows, showing a displeased expression.

Winnie instantly understood the reason behind Angela's actions earlier. It seemed like a series of calculated moves hidden behind her overbearing personality. She gently bit her lip. Unaffected and composed, she calmly greeted, "Hello, Grandma, I'm Winnie."

The elder made a nonchalant sound in response. Turning her head to drink coffee, she replied to Carlos, "Your father's health isn't good, so it's rare for him to make a trip to the ancestral home. I came to take a look. Besides, has this girl's paternity test been done yet?"

"What are you saying? She's definitely my daughter!" Carlos's face turned gloomy.

"That's not necessarily true. She doesn't look anything like you. It's better to do a proper DNA test to avoid raising someone else's illegitimate child in your home."

Eleanor smiled, her gaze shifting to Winnie as she chimed in, "Mom, Angela, Winnie is quite lovely. While she may not take after Carlos much, she likely resembles her mother a great deal."

With her words as a catalyst, the elderly woman immediately remembered Irene, and her expression turned even colder as she looked at Winnie.