Chapter 423

Carlos stood up with a headache, the previous argument having given him no chance to speak. He sighed, saying, "Mr. Rodriguez, please don't misunderstand. I don't favor one daughter over the other. And Mom, you don't have to worry either. Actually, from the time Ishara was born until now, I've gradually given her 8% of the shares. It's just that she's frail, so I left them in Eleanor's care. Maybe she didn't inform you about it..."

At this, Carlos glanced coldly at Eleanor. The latter's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, and then she smiled, trying to explain herself. "Mom, I didn't pay much attention to the shares before, so I forgot to mention it to you..."

"Is that so?" Patricia seemed to be embarrassed, but she maintained her disdain for Winnie and remarked, "Even if Ishara has 8%, you can't just rashly give this 10% to someone else. That's 2% more than Ishara!" The underlying message was that Patricia didn't want anyone else entering the Blanchet family.

Carlos shook his head helplessly, looking at Ishara with a touch of affection. "Ishara, your grandmother didn't know, which is why she said that I didn't give you anything. Both you and Winnie are my beloved daughters; Dad loves you too. Winnie only has 2% more than you, if you really mind that..."

Winnie then interjected, "If Ishara is concerned about that, I'll allocate 4% to her, eliminating any claim of bullying. In the interim, I can oversee those shares on her behalf. When she's ready, she can assume control, ensuring fair competition. It's preferable to entrusting them to any other professional manager." Winnie's gaze didn't even flicker toward Lawrence as she uttered those words.

But she was determined to take back whatever belonged to her, one by one. She was a vengeful woman, sharp and untouchable.

Lawrence gave a bitter smile, his features momentarily freezing. He hadn't known Ishara already had 8% of the shares. He had assumed she had nothing, which was why he felt Carlos was being unfair earlier and had spoken harshly to stabilize Ishara's emotions.

He looked deeply at the Winnie.

But Winnie ignored the man's obvious gaze.

"Mom, Winnie is willing to give 4% to Ishara, I think we should settle the share issue like this. Company operation is not a game and Ishara will have enough with the dividends in the future. Considering that Winnie is willing to share the burden and enter the company, shouldn't we be happy that the sisters are in harmony with each other?" Carlos said with a smile, hoping for a harmonious home.

Patricia huffed, but Winnie's words left no room for criticism, and she couldn't think of a way to stop it. However, these shares couldn't possibly be given away so easily.

Ishara suppressed the thoughts in her mind as she stood up with a sensible smile. "I didn't even know I had shares as Mom didn't mention it to me. Dad, I've never thought much about it, and thanks to Winnie for her generosity, giving me an extra 4%. Maybe I should also try to enter the company, to learn from Winnie. Winnie is right, being frail is no excuse, even someone with a terminal illness should be positive..."

The girl smiled bitterly, stealing a glance at Lawrence.

Winnie scoffed upon hearing Ishara's claim that she didn't know she had 8% of the shares. It seemed like nonsense to her. Ishara's words appeared to be carefully crafted to pave her way into the Blanchet Groups.

She narrowed her eyes with a smile, and said, "Of course, my younger sister. This world doesn't favor the weak, nor should they get everything. One day, you'll understand the meaning of this sentence!"

Her words had a double meaning.

Ishara's heart grew cold, yet her face showing a trace of innocence. "Winnie, I never thought that being weak meant I was right. I said earlier that I was happy you took the shares, and I'm also happy you're back to be the support for our aging parents. After all, I..."

She started coughing urgently, casting a sorrowful glance at Lawrence. It was as if the two were playing a game of charades.

Lawrence's brows furrowed as he wondered why Winnie had to be so sharp-tongued, repeatedly provoking Ishara, who was suffering from a terminal illness.

"Winnie, you've already won. There's no need to be aggressive, let her have some peace!" the man said with a cold tone. He then took out a handkerchief and handed it to Ishara, calming her down. "Relax a bit..."

"Okay, sorry, Lawrence. I get anxious when I talk..."

"It's not your fault." Lawrence glanced coldly at Winnie.

That look stabbed Winnie's heart deeply. It seemed that Ishara was so precious that she couldn't even utter a word to her. It was unbelievable that he was bewitched, speaking for Ishara again and again, to hurt her.

They had only been apart for a few days since their last meet in Lymington but she couldn't understand why had this man changed so much.

She stifled a cold laugh, stood up, and left the dining table.

"Winnie, where are you going?" asked Carlos.

"I feel a bit disgusted. I'm just going to the kitchen to wash my eyes."

Lawrence's expression turned cold. She was mocking him again.

Carlos also stood up, sighing. "Dad has arranged a small villa for you. Eleanor has had it cleaned, shall I show you?"

Winnie, not wanting to stay at the main villa any longer, nodded her head.

Patricia waved her cane, dissatisfied. "Carlos, it's late, and I want to take Angela home now. Aren't you going to see me out as a dutiful son should?"

Eleanor had already been smiling, supporting Patricia. "Mom, Carlos just wants to familiarize Winnie with the house."

"Isn't there plenty of time for that in the future?" Patricia pondered.

Helplessly, Carlos first sent Patricia and Angela into the car before he took Winnie out to the small villa.

The night was tranquil with the garden lights illuminating the lush grass. Carlos, fearing his daughter might stumble, tenderly took Winnie's hand.

In the car, Angela lowered half the window, snorting coldly, "Grandma, look at how Uncle Carlos dotes on that illegitimate daughter of his. If she gets closer to Uncle now that she's back, she might just prevail over Ishara. I feel sorry for Ishara."

"Heh," Patricia chuckled thinly. "I could never warm up to Irene's daughter. The Blanchet family is complicated; it won't be smooth sailing for her upon her return."

"Make things difficult for her, get revenge for Ishara!" Angela urged, still smarting from Winnie's embarrassment. Envy surged within her as she realized Winnie's allure surpassed even Ishara's. Feeling threatened by Winnie's presence, Angela, still unmarried, now faced another contender for the gentlemen of Trento City.

"You, always talking about Ishara, don't think that I don't know you're cozying up to her for your own reasons." Patricia's words struck Angela sharply, hitting the nail on the head.

Angela's expression stiffened. She was just a granddaughter of the Blanchet family. Since Ishara had been frail and endearing since childhood, the less she showed off, the more she seemed like a little princess, receiving all the love from the elders. Of course, she had to be close to Ishara to have good days.

The Blanchet Mansion was vast, with six or seven scattered villas. Winnie wandered for a long time until she reached the last and most remote villa. There, inexplicably, she stopped.

That villa was a bit unusual, with its windows and doors all sealed, the walls overgrown with ivy, looking dark and somewhat terrifying.

For some reason, her heartbeat sped up for a moment, as she pointed out, "Dad, who lives in that villa?"