Chapter 418

Melissa claimed that those photos were a misunderstanding and had insisted that her son would never lie.

Surrounded by a ludicrous situation, Winnie couldn't help but think about everything she had done this afternoon, how she foolishly indulged herself in imaginary romance, letting her love linger and giving him countless chances to soften his heart.

She thought about how she was persuaded by Melissa, and how Sidney's eyes, which used to be filled with anticipation finally turned into darkness.

He didn't reply to her messages or answer her calls. Instead, he repeatedly claimed, "I'm busy, I have a meeting," or, "You shouldn't have come to Trento City. You should have returned to Lymington to be with Sidney."

All the chaos turned into ironic daggers, stripping away her flesh and crushing her heart. In the end, it all transformed into a dull pain that spread throughout her body. How foolish she and her son were to believe that he was busy with work.

He was indeed busy, busy dating and spending time with his new lover, with no time for Sidney.

When she thought about her two sons, Winnie felt like her heart had been shattered, leaving her breathless.

"Lawrence..." Ishara shook the man's arm.

Lawrence quickly averted his gaze, his eyes as cold as an icy pond, hiding his face from the pale woman in front of him. The scene he least wanted to happen had now been exposed right in front of him, bringing him immense pain.

He couldn't fathom the fact that Winnie was Carlos's daughter, making her related to Ishara. No wonder, when he first saw Ishara, he felt she resembled someone...

"Ishara, is he your boyfriend? But isn't he Lawrence from the news? Oh my God, I can't be mistaken!" Angela exclaimed as she rushed out.

Her cry caught the attention of Patricia and Carlos, who examined Lawrence closely.

Carlos, being older, didn't get a clear look earlier due to the backlight. Now, as he took a good look at the man's face, he froze. He wore a complicated expression, slowly turning his gaze toward Winnie, his mind struggling to process the situation. He couldn't help but ask Ishara, "Is he really your boyfriend?"

"Father, is there any doubt about it?" Ishara chuckled. "Lawrence and I fell in love at first sight. And only today did I find out that he is the Lawrence of the Rodriguez family."

Ishara lightly coughed and raised her gentle gaze. "Forget about my boyfriend for now, where is my Winnie?"

Carlos sighed inwardly and held onto Winnie, saying, "Ishara, this is your sister, Winnie."

"Winnie? What a lovely name." The girl approached with a friendly gaze. "Winnie, this is my first time meeting you, I'm so happy. I've been sick since I was young and couldn't bring much joy to my parents. Welcome to our family. You are the one my dad has always cherished in his heart. There has always been a place for you at home."

Patricia walked over without even glancing at Winnie. She expressed her comfort to Ishara, saying, "Ishara, don't blame yourself. You are the most sensible and considerate child."

"Ishara, she's just an illegitimate child. It's just that you have a kind heart and are giving her undue favor!" Angela sneered.

Ishara became anxious and coughed. "Angela, why are you acting like this? Winnie has finally come back..."

"Don't get worked up," Lawrence subconsciously reminded her to control her emotions.

Winnie's eyes stung as she clenched her fists, watching him show such care for another woman.

With a smile, Ishara took Lawrence's hand and shyly introduced, "Winnie, this is my boyfriend. It's our first meeting. Sorry if it offends you."

Lawrence's face stiffened, his face emitting a cold aura. He wanted to break free from the girl's hold on his hand, but in the presence of the Blanchet family, he was already a character in the play.

Winnie finally mustered the strength to let out a cold smile and said, "A man so handsome, resembling a jerk, why would he suddenly approach me? His behavior and manners are truly 'delightful' and 'eye-opening'!"

Lawrence understood her words as if being pierced by invisible mockery. The man's expression turned icy, his heart sinking into an abyss.

"Is there anyone else who talks like you? Are you intentionally trying to provoke trouble? I'm not picking on her, Uncle Carlos, but I can't tolerate a girl who could not even stand seeing others succeed, especially someone like her, born out of wedlock!" Angela's words were sharp and direct.

Helplessly, Ishara pulled Angela closer and tried to calm her down. "Winnie might just be joking."

"What kind of joke is this? When a girl looks at a man, she needs to see clearly. But if, even after seeing clearly, she still chooses a man like this, then that's a different story," Winnie's tone turned playful as she finished her sentence.

Ishara smiled innocently but felt a cold sinking feeling in her heart. She always felt like there was an underlying meaning in Winnie's words.

Eleanor also paused for a moment, her eyes shimmering as she looked at Carlos who appeared to be deep in thought after hearing Winnie's words, then she immediately said with a smile, "I didn't expect Ishara's boyfriend to be Lawrence, who just returned to the Rodriguez family in Trento City. What a coincidence..."

"Mother, yes," Ishara blushed, feeling embarrassed. "I thought Lawrence was just an ordinary man, but it turned out to be a mistake."

"What does this mean? It must be destined for our Ishara to have such noble fortune." Patricia chuckled and admired Lawrence, a young man with an exceptional appearance and a figure that was rarely seen in the world.

The Blanchet family, although affluent for a century, paled in comparison to the top-ranked Rodriguez family in the nation. The wealth and power of the Rodriguez family were unrivaled, having dominated the domestic scene for decades.

Patricia presented her compliant smile and said, "Ishara, why don't you invite your boyfriend, Lawrence, inside?"

Ishara blushed deeply. Then, she seemed to remember something and smiled at Winnie, and said, "Oh, Winnie." She took out a beautifully crafted ceramic cup from her bag and presented it with both hands. "Nice to meet you. I didn't know what gift to bring for you. Coincidentally, when Lawrence and I had our date, we made this ceramic cup as a small gesture. Would you accept it, Winnie?"

Winnie stared at the cup, feeling paralyzed at the mention of the word "date." A chill settled over her as her eyes moistened. A ceramic cup crafted by Ishara and Lawrence during their time together, now presented to her. It was a gift sharper than any blade, serving as a reminder of her role as the sister-in-law, the one who had silently transgressed.

Winnie narrowed her eyes and stared at Ishara. She had a glimpse of what Eleanor looked like, and it seemed that this "step-sister" of hers had ulterior motives. If she didn't know that she was Lawrence's ex-wife, it would have been fine. But if she knew and was still scheming like this, she would be a higher-level incarnation of Darcy.

Coldness lurked in Winnie's eyes as she tightly clutched her anguished heart. With a resolute gaze, she locked eyes with Lawrence, a mix of irony and pain swirling within her, eager to hear his response. When the cup was offered to her, Winnie declined it, and the atmosphere turned cold.

Ishara looked helplessly at the man and asked, "Lawrence, does Winnie not like it?"

The way she looked innocently at Lawrence; it seemed as if not accepting the cup was a malicious act.

"Ishara, forget it. She's just from a small place, probably only likes gold and jewels. How can she compare to someone like you, a lady of the high society?" Angela couldn't stand it and sarcastically said, "You have always valued simplicity and believed that things made by your own hands are the most precious. But the common people won't think the same way."

Patricia frowned when she heard Angela's words and looked at Winnie.

"Nonsense! Winnie is the CEO of a listed company. Her worth is definitely higher than yours, Angela!" Carlos stood up for his daughter. Eleanor couldn't hide her discontent for a moment.

Lawrence frowned, fully aware of why Winnie didn't accept the gift. He had seen the fragments in her eyes, and naturally, his heart was also pierced with pain. The man reached out and stopped Ishara, speaking softly, "Ishara, everyone has their own preferences. Let's choose a different gift next time."