Chapter 205: Give Me Some Ideas
"Michael Lucas has been working overtime and comes home late at night. We meant for him to take things easy today," Wendy explained on Michael’s behalf.
"After working so much, wouldn’t it wear you out, even more, to be shopping at the mall?" asked Winnie sarcastically.
Wendy was at a loss when interacting with her mother-in-law.
"Well now, don’t be a jealous mother. It’s a blessing that your son is in such a loving marriage," teased the lady beside Winnie. "I’d rather my son spend time with his wife. All he does is spend time outside. It frustrates me so much!"
"Well, you chose your daughter-in-law. You like her, of course. So, hoping that your son and daughter-in-law enjoy a good marriage is natural. As for me... " Winnie was not able to finish her statement before noticing a nudge from her friend.
She now noticed the look on Michael’s face and swallowed her words.
She should have held herself back.
Not wanting her relationship with Michael to deteriorate further, Winnie turned and smiled. Holding Wendy’s hand, she took a good look at the red dress before remarking, "This dress looks nice. It should suit you well since your skin tone and figure are good."
Uncomfortably, Wendy smiled back weakly.
It would not be good timing for her to go try the dress on at this point.
Nudging Wendy, Winnie prompted, "Go on, try it. If it suits you, I’ll buy it for you."
"Oh, there’s no need, I don’t actually like it that much," Wendy felt so distant from her mother-in-law that she would not accept such gifts from her.
"Well, then see if there’s anything else that catches your eye," suggested Winnie.
"I’m just browsing," explained Wendy, as the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.
"This must be your grandson! He’s adorable," commented the lady, trying to ease the tension in the atmosphere once more. Looking at Jake, she smiled, "I heard that your grandson was around five years old! This is the first time I’m meeting him."
At her friend’s compliment, Winnie smiled and waved at Jake. In a warmer tone, she called out, "Come, let grandmother take a good look at you."
Jake did not like this so-called grandmother. Not only did he refuse to go over, he even hid behind Wendy.
At this, Winnie felt humiliated, and the smile on her face faded.
Winnie’s friend weakly smiled and changed the topic, "Oh, this little girl is so beautiful. She’d definitely grow up to be a beauty! I wonder whose child this is."
"That’s my daughter," Wendy responded politely.
"Daughter?" The lady frowned in confusion before continuing, "I had only heard about Winnie having a grandson, but I haven’t heard about her having a granddaughter."
"Leah and Jake are both my children," Michael finally broke his silence to verify his children’s identities.
At this, the lady’s brows became more tightly knitted. However, she did not probe further as it seemed inappropriate.
In fact, not only was her friend surprised, even Winnie was taken aback to hear this.
Since when did Michael have a daughter, she wondered.
She had even met this little girl at the hospital before. At that time, she was not introduced to her as Wendy’s daughter.
Winnie could not help but shift her gaze back to Wendy as her displeasure towards Wendy grew.
Wendy had first brought a little boy back and claimed that he was a member of the Lucas family. Michael accepted him then.
It was ridiculous to now include a little girl who came out of nowhere as Michael’s daughter. Winnie believed that Wendy Stewart had bewitched her son to have accepted these children of unknown origins as his own flesh and blood.
"Well then, we won’t interrupt you, ladies, further. Goodbye," Michael nodded respectfully before taking Wendy and the children’s hands as they took their leave.
It was after they were a far distance off that Winnie allowed her annoyance to show.
The lady who was with her probed nosily, "Looking at your reaction, you didn’t know that you had a granddaughter, did you?"
"How would I have known!" Winnie snapped.
"This son of mine has been so thoroughly bewitched by that woman called Wendy that he wouldn’t be able to tell right from wrong!"
"Well, I did hear about your family’s situation somewhat. Didn’t Wendy Stewart fall into the sea? How could she have survived that accident and come back with children? And two of them no less!" Liana Shaw rambled on.
"As the most affluent family in Lake City, the Lucas family seems wrought with complications. As the lady of the Lucas family household, shouldn’t you try to clear matters up? That would be better than helping to bring up another family’s child, wouldn’t it?"
"That Jake Stewart is definitely from our family. I did do a DNA test on him in secret," Winnie Quinn mentioned in a resentful tone. "Honestly, I didn’t believe that Jake Stewart was Michael’s son, so the results really surprised me.
"I still don’t like that Wendy Stewart, though. As you know, the one I like is Yonina Collins from the Collins Group. She, too, seemed willing to join our family.
"But before she could get close enough to Michael, Wendy Stewart came back with those kids.
"So, I did consider falsifying the DNA results and showed those to Michael so that he could give up on Wendy Stewart.
"But look at my son! He believes Wendy Stewart so wholeheartedly! It just infuriates me!
"Didn’t you see? When he took time off from work, he’s still by Wendy Stewart’s side! And when I call him, he hangs up on me claiming he’s busy!"
Liana Shaw and Winnie Quinn had been friends for over a decade, so Winnie did not try to hide things from her. In fact, she sometimes even gets Liana to help her think of ideas to tackle her problems.
"What were you thinking? Mothers can never win against daughters-in-law!" At this, Liana Shaw grew a little proud, "Previously, my son was adamant about marrying some woman, you know about that, don’t you? At that time, he even said he would cut ties with our family.
"Look at me now, didn’t my son still obediently marry my current daughter-in-law?"
"Oh, Liana... " Winnie Quinn was definitely kept in the loop about matters concerning Liana’s family. Reaching over and leaning on her arm gently, she pleaded, "I know how good your tactics are. Teach me, please. I really am at my wit’s end."
Liana’s eyes suddenly widened as though she had recalled something. With a look of suspicion, she asked Winnie, "By the way, what did you say your grandson’s name was?"
"It’s Jake," responded Winnie.
"And his last name is Stewart?" Liana’s voice conveyed her disbelief. "How could the grandson of the Lucas family not carry the Lucas surname?"
"That’s one of the things that really gets to me. Michael is always giving in to that Wendy Stewart, and he never brings up the issue about the kids’ surnames!" Winnie was furious now.
"At the Lucas mansion, Grandmother did mention it once, but since then, there has been no mention about it. You have no idea how much that Lily Yates has been laughing at me about it!"
"Well... " responded Liana, not knowing what to say.
After some thought, Liana said, "I had no idea that you, as a lady of the Lucas household, had to go through so much."
"Exactly. Now give me some ideas," said a sighing Winnie as she held on to Liana’s arm.
Liana patted Winnie’s hand comfortingly and reassured her, "Don’t worry, on account of our long friendship, I wouldn’t leave you in the lurch. Though, I should warn you, if my suggestions don’t work on your family, don’t blame me."
"It’s already a mess in my family. It can’t get any worse." Winnie let go of Liana’s arm and smiled as she pulled out a dress and asked, "Like it?"
"I haven’t even started helping you yet. Is this a deposit for my services?" Liana teased.
"I’m just getting you a dress to celebrate our long-lasting sisterhood."
