Chapter 156: I’m Wendy’s Husband
Documents in hand, Zen was waking into Christian’s office when she heard him on the phone. Instinctively quickening her footsteps, she walked up to him and asked, "What have you arranged?"
She was aware that Christian had been constantly monitoring Wendy’s movements these days but she had no clue as to what he was planning. Was he planning to harm Wendy or was he finally succumbing to his feelings for her?
Hanging up, Christian threw his phone onto the desk.
Sitting back in his chair, Christian crossed his legs and looked up at Zen, sneering, "Have you forgotten your place?"
"Who was that on the phone? What on earth are you scheming to do?" Zen demanded. Then, looking serious, she warned him, "Listen to me, Christian. You’d better not plan anything against Wendy."
"What can you do to me if I’m scheming against Wendy?" Christian retorted, looking at her with disdain, as though she was something inconsequential.
Seeing the steely resolve in his eyes, Zen suddenly felt very afraid as she asked again, "What in the world are you planning?"
She had been working for him for five years now. Before Wendy’s re-appearance, she had been able to stay with him without feeling guilty. But now that Wendy had come back, Christian was obviously scheming to harm her and there was absolutely nothing that Zen could do to stop him.
In fact, she didn’t even know what Christian was planning to do.
Looking at the phone that he had just thrown onto the desk, Zen suddenly had an idea and, in a flash, reached out for it. She was going to find out who Christian had been talking to.
Grabbing the phone, she took a few steps back and checked the call list on the phone.
In the next second, however, Christian had stepped towards her and snatched the phone back from her.
He followed that with a hard slap across her face, admonishing, "Stay out of my business, Zen! You have no right to interfere in whatever I do!"
He had poured his rage into that violent slap. Almost immediately, Zen’s face swelled up and turned red and blotchy. Fingering her cheek gingerly, she stared at the enraged Christian as her heart pounded rapidly. She was afraid.
"I’m not like the others. They don’t know, but I do. Your feelings for Wendy..."
But before she could finish her words, Christian had slapped her again.
Staring at Zen, Christian ordered harshly, "Get out!"
Touching her swollen face gingerly, Zen obstinately stood her ground.
Actually, she was feeling conflicted, caught between her friend and the man she had secretly loved for five years.
In the past, when she thought that Wendy had died, she had told herself that the war between Christian and Michael had nothing to do with her. That was why she had opted to join Christian at his company.
However, now that Wendy had come back from the dead, Zen realized that she was now a member of the camp that was at loggerheads with Wendy. And here she was, at the crossroads, not knowing which side to take.
She was lost as to whom she should be supporting.
"Hahaha..." Zen laughed bitterly as she stopped fingering her swollen cheeks.
Standing tall and facing Christian, she deliberately told him what he did not wish to hear, "You are too much of a coward to face up to what your heart is telling you. In the past, I had often wondered why you would make a trip to Rheinsville City every few months, even when you had no business meetings planned. But now I know. It’s because Wendy was there, right?"
Zen knew that she had hit the nail on the head when she noticed Christian’s increasingly thunderous face and the menacing look in his eyes.
Still smiling bitterly, she continued, Also, after Wendy had come back to Lake City, you would tail her discreetly in your car. And not just once, right?"
Christian’s menacing look turned absolutely lethal at her two very accurate observations.
Walking up to her, he gripped her by the chin, forcing her to look up at him as he said icily, "Knowing too much will do you no good."
Stunned at first by his response, Zen burst out laughing.
She continued laughing until gradually, her laughter turned into tears.
***
After a long three-hour drive, they finally arrived at Linton. This was the first time in almost six years that Wendy had visited her hometown.
During her years of absence, apart from keeping in touch with her mother, Wendy had not done much for her. Wendy, who had been fatherless since she was very young, was Mary’s only child. The only thing she knew about her dad was what Mary had told her, that he had died. Until today, Wendy had no idea who her dad was or what his name was because she had been given her mom’s last name.
Mary rarely, if ever, spoke about Wendy’s dad. When she was a kid, Wendy had asked questions out of curiosity. However, that curiosity and the need to know faded as she got older.
Back then, Wendy had gotten married without informing Mary. It was only after that incident, five years ago, when Wendy had allegedly fallen into the sea, that Mary had found out about her marriage.
At the time, the news of Wendy’s accident had spread like wildfire across the city and Michael had practically combed every inch of the city, looking for her.
There had been a time when Mary had thought that Wendy had drowned. She had only felt reassured when Wendy called her after the incident to let her know that she was still alive.
When Wendy called her yesterday to inform her that she would be coming home with her kids, Mary had gone grocery shopping first thing in the morning to make them a nice meal. Then she stood by the door, waiting for them to arrive.
Looking out from her house, Mary noticed two cars driving in her direction. Since she had not seen Wendy for more than six years, she had no idea what car she would be driving.
However, luxurious sedans like these ones were rare in this town. Mary guessed then that the cars heading in her direction was Wendy.
Walking out, Mary peered expectantly at the first car. Wendy had parked it safely by the road before quickly unbuckling her seat belt to get out.
Tears welled in her eyes the moment she saw Mary. Extending her arms, she ran towards Mary and hugged her, crying out, "Mom..."
In fact, she was too choked up to talk. Seeing Mary for the first time after six years, Wendy felt a surge of guilt for not being there for her mom for such a long time.
Mary patted her gently on the back, comforting her. "I’m just happy that you’re back! So very happy!"
Mary sounded relieved and overjoyed, like one who had recovered something precious that had once been presumed lost for good.
Five years ago, when she saw the news about Wendy’s death, she had been devastated. From the time when Wendy was a very young child, Mary had been a strict disciplinarian who rarely smiled at her only child. In fact, Wendy had learned how to cookfor herself from the time she was about six or seven years old.
Mary had put all her time and energy into her students. All her colleagues at the school that she taught had complimented her on her excellent work ethics, always the first one in and the last to go home. Any class that she was in charge of would always be the best performing class in the school.
However, no one knew that the reason why she did not wish to go home was because she did not wish to see Wendy. Because she would be reminded of Wendy’s dad whenever she looked at her only daughter.
Due to this distance between them, Marry did not even know that Wendy had been married for a few years before her accident.
Truth be told, she had never shown any affection or care for her daughter. On her part, Wendy would come home during the traditional holidays and spend the obligatory few days with her before leaving again.
In any case, Wendy was her only child. When Mary found out that Wendy had fallen into the sea and was presumed dead, she had been truly devastated.
Seeing that her daughter had returned from the dead and seemed to have done pretty well for herself, Mary could not help but feel guilty for not being much of a mother to her in the past.
She was sorry for not showing Wendy any affection or concern when she was growing up. Being fatherless, she had not gotten any love from her mother either.
Fortunately, her daughter was alive and well, and Mary now had a second chance to make it up to her. Sniffling, Wendy wiped away her tears and noticing that Mary was also weeping, she smiled. "Mom, don’t cry. Look at me, I’m right here, alive and well!"
Of course, Wendy was well aware that Mary had been very cold to her when she was growing up but blood ties could not be dissolved...
Ever since she was a kid, Wendy had understood the challenges that her mom had faced, and she had never once blamed her mom.
After they had composed themselves, Mary was a tad confused when she saw the two grown-ups and two kids standing behind Wendy.
On the phone yesterday, Wendy had not mentioned bringing anyone else with her.
She had only mentioned that she would be bringing her two kids back for a visit.
"And these are?" Mary asked.
Immediately, Wendy introduced them. "This is Todd Lewis, a famous global designer. He’s on a business trip to Lake City and wanted to stop by to pay you a visit."
"How do you do? My apologies for stopping by uninvited," Todd smiled amiably.
"Oh, not at all. I’m very happy that you have decided to come to our little town for a visit," Mary replied. Eyeing him, she nodded satisfactorily, concluding that Todd was a pleasant and well-mannered young man.
"And this is..." Wendy looked at Michael and hesitated, reluctant to introduce him to her mom.
However, Michael seemed to have taken over at this point. Refusing to let Wendy make the introduction, he said smilingly, "Hi Mom. I’m Michael, Wendy’s husband."
Hearing his name, Mary’s expression changed decidedly.
She knew now why he had looked familiar.
After she found out about their marriage, Mary had conducted a thorough investigation of them and their situation.
Obviously, the outcome of the investigation had yielded some damaging information. But then again, after Wendy had disappeared into the sea, Michael had searched endlessly for her and seemed to care for her a lot.
Feeling conflicted, Mary was not quite sure how to respond to Michael now.
Regardless of how she felt about the way he had treated her daughter, he was still a guest in her house.
So, she nodded her welcome.
"Come here, Jake and Leah. This is Grandma," Wendy pushed the kids towards Mary.
The two little guys were natural charmers and instantly greeted their grandmother in unison.
Clearly overjoyed, Mary gave them each a little welcome gift uttering, "Very good."
Having been informed that the kids would be coming with Wendy, she had prepared the gifts in advance.
Michael had turned around to look at Todd with displeasure when he heard Leah also calling Mary ’Grandma’.
Why did Todd’s kid get to call Wendy’s mom ’Grandma’?
His animosity towards Todd increased by a few degrees.
Todd was obviously vying with him for Wendy’s affection. And, he had even used his child shamelessly to boost his chances with her.
"I’ve made lunch. You must be hungry after that long drive. Come inside now and eat," Mary urged, leading them into the house.
Mary had not cooked a lot of food because she had not known that Michael and Todd would be coming too.
"Please take a seat. I’ll just whip up a couple more dishes," she said, planning to go into the kitchen.
"Leave it, Mom," Wendy stopped her from doing so. Looking at the array of food on the table, she continued, "They’re not strangers. We’ll make do."
"Yeah, that’s right, Mom. I’m no stranger. Besides, there’s plenty of food here already," Michael had seized upon the chance to call Mary ’Mom’.
Glaring at Michael, Wendy warned him in a low tone, "Stop calling her that!"
"What do you mean, stop calling her that?" Michael protested, adding, "What’s wrong with me calling my wife’s mother ’Mom’?"
Upset with him, Wendy kicked him under the table.
However, she missed her target and kicked Todd by mistake, making him gasp.
"Oops, I’m so sorry, Todd," Wendy apologized, a tad embarrassed.
"It’s OK," Todd replied.
Looking from Todd to Michael and back again, Mary seemed to have understood what was going on.
"Come, let’s eat. Tuck in," Mary smiled. She helped the kids with their food, making sure that they were eating properly.
Fortunately, in deference to Mary, Michael did not act up at the dining table and the meal proceeded harmoniously.
After lunch, both Michael and Todd wanted to help do the dishes.
So, when Mary went into the kitchen to take over, she was shooed out by them.
Exasperated, Wendy looked at the two men in the little kitchen and suggested, "Hey guys, why don’t you come on out and let me do the dishes?"
Needless to say, Michael would never ever have been in a kitchen, let alone do the dishes. As for Todd, he was a guest and should not be doing the dishes anyway.
However, Wendy was also pushed out of the kitchen.
After which, the two men pulled the kitchen door shut.
