Chapter 421

"I can't believe it. We just had lunch together today, and I ordered a dish with loofah. You pay such close attention, Lawrence," Ishara said, her gaze softening as she looked at the man.

Lawrence paused, his gaze shifting suddenly to meet Winnie's across the table. She sat frozen; her fork suspended in midair. Her eyes cooled, a silent sneer curling her lips into a smile as sharp as a knife aimed at him, brimming with disdain and disgust.

The man's gaze turned cold as well. He couldn't be bothered with her, knowing she wouldn't appreciate him either way as she would only misunderstand him.

Ishara took a big bite of the loofah, proving her genuine fondness for it. "Lawrence, thank you for looking after me."

"Eat more," he said simply. Lawrence had to ensure she was well-fed to nourish her blood. His eyes swept the table, selecting many iron-rich dishes for her and arranging them on a plate before the girl.

"My goodness, Mr. Rodriguez is so attentive to Ishara," Angela noted sharply, her tone exaggerated. "The nation's top, Mr. Rodriguez, doting on his girlfriend like this. How did Ishara ever find such a man?"

"Don't tease me," Ishara said, her face flushing as she looked at Lawrence with pure eyes. "Actually... Lawrence is just trying to make sure I'm healthy. He's quite concerned, that's why he supervises my meals."

To Lawrence, this was indeed the truth. But to others, it carried a different implication.

Winnie looked at the dishes in front of her, the food tasting bland in her mouth. She cautioned herself against further scrutiny, unwilling to subject herself to more degradation. Lawrence had never treated another woman in such a manner.

She had never been treated this way, and likely neither had Darcy. She couldn't help but question why, when he was with Ishara, the once cold and proud man suddenly became a doting boyfriend.

She fought against the urge to feel sorrow and to resent her vulnerability in this moment. Yet, deep down, her heart ached, wounded to its core. Perhaps this was what they meant by encountering true love: a man who had once stood on a pedestal, now humbled by a young girl. Winnie couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the absurdity of the situation.

Suddenly, a piece of rib was placed in her bowl. Winnie looked up to see Carlos, his gaze complex and profound. "Winnie, it's your first time here, eat up. Dad has a gift for you later."

Winne's heart warmed with a hint of bitterness.

Eleanor's fists tightened, her smile lifting as she looked up and said through gritted teeth, "Honey, today is also the day Ishara and Mr. Rodriguez confirm their relationship. With your approval, they are officially boyfriend and girlfriend. You can't skimp on the gifts for the two of them."

Carlos's expression darkened slightly as he glanced at Eleanor. But looking at Ishara's pale face, he sighed inwardly. He knew that Lawrence was the father of Winnie's child. Whether it was a coincidence or a mistake, he wondered how Lawrence ended up in a relationship with Ishara.

Since things had come to this point, he couldn't just force Winnie upon Lawrence. Carlos considered his next words carefully, then spoke formally, "Mr. Rodriguez, when your father and I discussed the marriage alliance between our families, we agreed that once you confirmed your relationship with my daughter, I would entrust you with managing the 5% share of the Rodriguez family corporation I hold.

"Since you are dating Ishara... I will not go back on my word. Consider it a welcoming gift for your visit today."

Lawrence didn't care about that 5% share. For two years, until Ishara's death, he had to fulfill the agreement he had with her, and their "relationship" wouldn't change.

He nodded indifferently and said, "Thank you, Mr. Blanchet."

"Lawrence, with my father's approval, we are now officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Look how happy my mother and grandmother are," Ishara said excitedly. She hadn't forgotten her pretext for bringing him home-to make her family happy.

Patricia's face lit up with emotion and pride as she exclaimed, "Ishara, Lawrence is an outstanding man, and you, with your simplicity and purity, never seek attention. Despite your delicate nature, you are truly worthy of Mr. Rodriguez-a woman of great value. You two make a perfect match, a golden couple. Allow me to extend my heartfelt congratulations!"

In the eyes of Patricia, the Blanchet family's alliance with the nation's top, Mr. Rodriguez, would undoubtedly become a beautiful tale in the noble circles of Trento City-a story of a formidable union. The Blanchet family's status would rise, potentially even surpassing that of the second-ranked Jenkins family.

"Thank you, Grandma," Ishara said, her face flushed with modesty. Then, with eyes as gentle as a deer's, she looked toward Winnie with concern. "Winnie, you look a bit pale. Are you all right?"

Lawrence's heart clenched; the situation was awkward in a way he hadn't anticipated. His body tensed, his gaze coldly avoiding her.

"Ha, she's probably just jealous that Ishara landed Mr. Rodriguez as a boyfriend," Angela said with a biting edge.

Carlos, understanding the underlying reasons, sharply reprimanded, "Angela, nobody will think you're mute if you stay quiet!

"Enough, all of you, quiet down! I have something to announce," Carlos said as he took out a document that he had gone to retrieve from his study just now.

The words "Share Certificate" on the document seared Eleanor's eyes.

She looked at Carlos as he stood up, announcing, "Since planning to bring Winnie home, I've taken 10% of the Blanchet family shares as a welcome gift for her. Now, I'm fulfilling that promise and giving her this gift.

"Winnie, in a few days, I will take you to tour the company..."

Patricia was the first to frown in opposition as she opposed, exclaiming, "Carlos! 10% of the Blanchet family shares are worth billions. You've made this decision without consulting your father, brother, or sister. It's too rash. Winnie is so young; how can she manage such a large share? Besides, Ishara has never received such a significant gift from you since her childhood. This is too unfair!"

Ishara's face was gentle, but her hand by her side tightened into a fist.

"Darling, Mum is right. For such a big decision, at the very least, we should have a resolution passed by the shareholders' meeting," suggested Eleanor.

"She's just a girl who has just returned. How will Ishara feel? Do you favor her because Ishara is so uncompetitive?" Patricia said this, but her main concern was to guard against Winnie, an outsider, getting a share of the Blanchet family's wealth.

"Ishara!" Lawrence called out when he saw Ishara suddenly began to cough and bending over.

Ishara leaned toward him, her face reddening from the coughing fit, her heart seething with anger. Yet, her words came out softly, almost pitifully. "Mom, Grandma, please don't argue. In fact, giving the shares to Winnie is a wise decision. Just look at my condition; who knows how much longer I'll be here."

Eleanor's eyes reddened when she heard her daughter's pitiful words. "Ishara, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"I've been sick since I was little. Despite my efforts, I've missed numerous classes. With my gentle temperament, I've always shied away from the company's cutthroat competition. I had hoped to assist Dad in the company, but I simply lacked the strength. I comprehend why Dad made this decision. Entrusting Winnie with the shares... it's for the best."

Her words were generous, but within it was a hint of sadness and loneliness that made it all the more heart-wrenching to witness.

Winnie curved her lips, finding it almost impossible to hold back her applause for Ishara's performance. On one hand, Ishara was crying pitifully, yet on the other, she was yielding. How touching.

Indeed, Patricia and Angela were immediately annoyed and pained. Patricia defended Ishara, saying, "Carlos, look how upset you've made Ishara! Ishara is so pitiful, weak-bodied, with little education, yet she still tries her best to please you, always yielding.

"Why should some people get 10% of the shares just for returning? If Ishara were as healthy as her, who knows how many times more capable she would be!

"Mr. Rodriguez, please speak the truth. Should this 10% of the shares be given to Winnie?" Patricia suddenly threw the question at Lawrence.

Winnie was originally observing the situation, but her cold gaze froze as she followed everyone's line of sight to the sharply chiseled face of the man.

She couldn't help but smirk, eager to hear how he would respond.