Chapter 116: Stop Badmouthing
Wendy had only planned to bring Jake around the shopping mall to buy some clothes. No one had expected Yvonne to turn up and cause trouble. In fact, the minor disturbance made Wendy feel refreshed and great.
The wonderful weekend had just begun.
Tomorrow would be Monday-Grandmother’s birthday banquet. Grandmother would be celebrating her eightieth birthday so this banquet would be an elaborate one.
The last time Wendy had celebrated Grandmother’s birthday was when she had turned 75. In the blink of an eye, five years had passed. Grandmother used to love eating lotus cakes, so Wendy deliberated whether or not to personally make some for the occasion.
On one hand, if she did make lotus cakes and Michael got wind of it, he would realize that she did not suffer from amnesia at all. However,it was a significant day for Grandmother and the idea of not being able to fulfill a simple desire for her bothered Wendy. Who could deny an old lady a little snack that she enjoyed?
Eventually, Wendy decided to make some lotus cakes for Grandmother. After all, she had taken so much care of her in the past, and it didn’t feel right for her to act against her conscience. With that, Wendy quickly completed her work for the day and went home a little earlier than usual Once she was home, she headed straight for the kitchen and worked on the cakes.
Monday arrived-a school day for Jake. Since preschool ended early, Zess had already gone to pick him up. However, Zess returned home alone.
Entering the kitchen, Zess pressed her hands together and fidgeted uncomfortably. She looked down and said, "I didn’t manage to pick Jake up. The teacher said that someone else had picked him up."
"Someone else picked him up from school?" Wendy put the utensils in her hands down as she tried to make sense of it. Her heart pounded anxiously. "Could anyone have just strolled into the preschool and taken him away?"
"The teacher said that it was someone called Michael Lucas." Zess had just returned to the country and had no idea who Michael Lucas was yet.
As a maid, she did not pay much attention to financial news.
"Michael Lucas?" Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She had feared that Jake had been kidnapped by rogues.
No, Michael Lucas was a rogue!
For Michael to pick Jake up from school at this point in time, he must have some ulterior motive. But what could it be?
After some thought, Wendy knew what it was. He must have brought Jake to the main house. Wendy turned to Zess and said, "Find my cellphone for me."
With that, Wendy turned back to finish up on preparing the lotus cakes. Zess quickly brought the cellphone over and handed it to Wendy.
Flipping through her contacts, she found Michael’s number and pressed the Call’ button. Once the call connected, Wendy demanded, "Michael, what did you take Jake away for?"
"Don’t worry. He is my son, after all. Would I do something to harm him?" Michael’s voice sounded lighthearted over the phone, "Our son and I will be waiting for you at the main house."
"Did I agree to let you bring him there?" Wendy grumbled.
"It was precise because I knew you wouldn’t agree to it. So I had to take action before letting you know." Michael said, knowing that Wendy didn’t recognize him as Jake’s father.
After all, Wendy was only celebrating Grandmother’s birthday at the main house solely out of respect and filial piety towards Grandmother, on account of how kind Grandmother had been to her.
But things were different when it came to Jake. Wendy would not allow him to appear in front of the other Lucas family members.
"Michael, bring Jake back now!"
"After Grandmother’s birthday banquet ends, I will bring him back. I will even send you home then," Michael Lucas’s teasing tone remained evident over the phone.
This left Wendy fuming at the other end of the line.
How could she not have foreseen this happening? If she had, she would have brought Jake home from preschool earlier.
Wendy was not worried about Jake’s safety.
Regardless of their animosity, Michael would not harm a child. Moreover, he was claiming Jake as his son. It was highly unlikely that Michael would hurt him.
Nonetheless, Wendy was concerned about Jake since Michael had taken him. Once she was done preparing the lotus cakes, she hopped in her car and went straight to the main house.
Wendy was familiar with the main house. After parking her car, she walked into the hall.
At the door, she could hear voices from inside.
Jake sat by Grandmother as she held his hand. Her time-chiseled face was lit with a broad smile, "Jake, I am your great-grandmother, do you know that?"
As an 80-year-old, seeing her great-grandson was like seeing her legacy and that naturally made grandmother glad. She had always looked forward to having Wendy and her great-grandson visit her.
Jake sat by her adoringly and nodded, "I know, but-"
"But what?" Grandmother asked Jake amicably.
With a frown and doubt written across his little face, Jake asked, "Great-grandmother is my father’s grandmother, right?"
"That’s right, Jake, you’re so clever." Although Grandmother had just met Jake, she found him lovable and quite clever for his age. She was so pleased with him and had many compliments for him.
"My father is dead though," Jake uttered. At this, grandmother looked over at Michael.
When Michael had picked Jake up from school, Jake had been extremely surprised. He had had no intention of following Michael at first.
However, Michael had explained that he was going to bring him to the main house to celebrate great-grandmother’s birthday. He then understood that Michael intended to bring him to his home.
Michael had even mentioned that Wendy would return to the main house too. As she had been too busy at work, she could not pick Jake up from school, so she had Michael come in her stead.
Jake had his doubts about Michael’s claims.
Wendy did not recognize Michael as Jake’s father. It would be unlikely that she would allow Michael to take Jake back to the main house.
Still, Jake’s curiosity about the main house won him over in the end.
Recognizing Michael was one matter of its own and understanding the matter with the Lucas household’s main house was another matter altogether.
Hence, Jake had followed Michael back to the main house.
It was not the first time that Michael had heard Jake mention his father’s death. But this time, Jake had said this in front of others, putting Michael in an awkward position.
Grandmother’s smile faded somewhat. She patted the back of Jake’s hand before pointing at Michael, "Michael is your father. Your father is not dead."
"It’s a wonder how Wendy educates her child. For her to have told him that his father is dead!" Winnie, Michael’s mother, sneered.
Grandmother sighed heavily. She did not know what had happened five years ago or why Wendy had encountered robbers, or how she had fallen into the sea. Wendy had been clear, however, about how lacking Michael was as a husband despite having been married for several years.
The conflict between them was apparent.
Therefore, Grandmother was always of the opinion that Michael had let Wendy down.
For Wendy to currently deny Michael the privilege of being Jake’s father made it even clearer that Michael had done something grievous towards Wendy.
On that note, Wendy has not contacted us for the past five years. Now she suddenly shows up with a child and says he’s Michael’s son.
"You cannot expect the Lucas household to accept random children as a family, can you?" Winnie’s tone was clearly condescending, her displeasure directed at Wendy.
Even five years ago, Winnie hadn’t liked her daughter-in-law.
In fact, during Wendy and Michael’s three year-long marriage, no one besides Grandmother had liked Wendy.
Since Grandmother was still strong, she was still the head of the family, and Winnie had watered down her displeasure.
But today, she was criticizing Wendy openly before the others.
Upon hearing his mother’s words, Michael frowned. In a grave tone he warned, "Mother, Jake is my son. I brought him home so that all of you can recognize him as part of our family. Regardless of whether you like it or not, this boy is my son. Also, I would like that you no longer badmouth Wendy. She is my wife, and will continue to be so in the future."
"Michael, Wendy fell into the sea five years ago and was declared dead. For her to still be alive, and to even bring a child back here, don’t you wonder why she took five years to return? If she were alive, she should have come back sooner." Winnie said accusingly.
Isabel noticed that Michael’s expression growing increasingly grim. If Winnie continued in this manner, things might blow up. Isabel was Michael’s younger sister. Five years ago, she was a university student but now, she was a famous celebrity, talented in singing and acting.
Tugging at Winnie’s arm, Isabel whispered, "Mother, stop that. Today is grandmother’s birthday, don’t kick up a fuss over Wendy."
Everyone present in the hall was a member of the Lucas family. All the other guests had been ushered to the garden in the back. Winnie would not say such things in front of outsiders, of course. It would be the same as disgracing her own family in public otherwise. She was simply saying things that Michael and Grandmother did not like to hear.
"It isn’t that I’m nitpicking on her, Wendy is just acting quite strange-" Winnie trailed off as she watched Grandmother’s expression grow increasingly displeased.
Jake looked over at the woman before him and could tell that this was his supposed paternal grandmother. But it was obvious that this grandmother did not like him. Of course, the feelings were mutual-Jake did not like this grandmother either.
Jake began speaking as if he had experienced great grievances, "My mummy did fall into the sea five years ago with my daddy. Mummy was rescued but Daddy drowned at sea."
As Jake spoke, the corners of his mouth turned downward in a pout, and he lowered his head.
With his small hands, he rubbed at the corners of his eyes as though drying up some imaginary tears. At this sight, Grandmother’s heart went out to Jake.
Reaching over, she pulled him into a hug and comforted him, "It’s alright now, let’s not talk about this anymore."
Grandmother believed that since Jake was young, he could take his time to accept who his father was. She raised her head and glowered at Winnie, solemnly warning, "Just take care of your own matters. Michael’s matters do not need your concern."
The matter between Winnie and Anthony Lucas had dragged on for the past 5 years as well.
They were not divorced, yet Anthony had not ended things with his lover. Grandmother had initially felt that her son had been unfair towards her daughter-in-law.
However, Winnie’s present criticism of Wendy and the questions she raised over Jake’s birth made grandmother greatly displeased. The very fact that Grandmother had invited both Wendy and Jake to her birthday celebration demonstrated that she recognized Jake as a member of the family.
"Don’t be upset Grandmother, my mother is merely saying these things out of worry for my brother. She doesn’t mean any harm," Isabel said with a smile, attempting to smooth the matter over. "It’s about time for us to move to the garden since the guests outside have mostly arrived. I shall go ahead to take a look. Please get ready to step outside, Grandmother."
With that, Isabel got to her feet and headed outside, intending to check on the guests. She reached the door and noticed Wendy standing there.
The corners of Isabel’s lips pulled up awkwardly into a forced smile, "W-Wendy, you’re here? Why didn’t you just come in? Come on in now. By the way, um, how long have you been standing there?" Isabel thought that if Wendy had heard what Winnie had said against her, it would spell trouble.
