Chapter 334: How Could There Be Such A Coincidental Thing
After Wendy left Zen’s room, Zen went back to her bed. Her phone laid there quietly. Zen picked up her phone and quickly unlocked with her fingerprint. Seeing that the screen was still at the text message box, Zen’s furrowed her brows.
This was the text that she was crafting: Michael has brought Leah to play the whole day today. His flight is at 10pm tonight. Todd, Wendy, and Leah sent Michael to the airport together. Michael even gave Leah a present. One was a smartphone with 100 bedtime stories recorded in it. One was his handwritten letter.
The purpose of Zen coming here was to monitor Wendy. Christian had demanded that she report Wendy’s situation to him everyday. Zen had not told Wendy the entire truth just now. She did not tell Wendy about what Christian wanted her to do and only told her that she had just been told to come her. She said she did not know what she had to do yet.
She knew that she was sorry to Wendy and should not have withheld the truth from Wendy even now. But she did not dare to. She was afraid that if she had said everything, Wendy would really chase her away. She had already forced Wendy to let her stay just as she had wished.
Was it because Wendy was still holding onto the relationship she had with Zen? Or was it that Wendy could not bear to know that Zen’s child would be gone if she didn’t? No matter which it was, Wendy was still softhearted towards Zen.
Zen put her finger on the send button but did not having the courage to send it out even after a moment. No, she could not betray Wendy anymore. Wendy clearly knew that she had not come for good reasons, but had still allowed her to stay. How could she still let Wendy down.
However, if she did not do as Christian said, what would happen to her child? And then what would happen to her next?
Zen was very conflicted. She did not know at all how to make both sides happy. With her finger placed on the text box, Zen completely deleted the text that she had previously typed. Her eyes were wet with tears and the phone screen blurred.
Sniffing, Zen retyped a new message: Everything is smooth. Michael just left today. Wendy and Michael didn’t have much interaction.
Her finger paused for a moment. Then Zen sent the new message out. After which, she deleted the message record. What Christian wanted to know about the most was the relationship between Wendy and Michael.
If she had told him about Wendy sending Michael off today, and that Michael had even given birthday presents to the two children, then Christian would definitely suspect Wendy and Michael’s relationship. He would suspect they had a chance to rekindle. Christian definitely did not wish to see such an outcome. He had done so many things, and wasn’t the reason for all of it to separate the two of them?
Zen felt that she was pretty pathetic. She clearly liked Christian and had even carried his child, but she was still listening to his instructions to monitor the person whom he liked. But thinking about it, Zen felt that Christian was even more pathetic than her. He tried all that he could to separate Michael and Wendy, yet he himself did not have the courage to snatch Wendy up. He did not even dare to say that he liked Wendy.
Zen suddenly smiled, then shook her head. After which, she cried. Tears wet her eyelids. She lowered her head and buried it under the sheets. She did not even dare to cry too loudly, because she was still in Wendy’s home. Zen even had to be careful when crying.
She touched her tummy that did not have the slightest bit of a reaction. Zen soothed in a low voice, "Baby, you will be safe. Mother will work as hard as possible to give birth to you, no matter whether your father likes you or not. Whether he wants you or not, mother will love you the most."
***
Time past day by day.
Michael and Yonina’s engagement banquet was getting closer and closer, and the new year was as well. Leah and Jake had already started their winter vacation. However, the vacation period in Rheinsville City was not long, only being about 10 days in total. Michael and Yonina’s engagement banquet was on the third day of the new year.
Rheinsville City did not really celebrate the new year holiday. Leah and Jake grew up in Rheinsville City, so they naturally had no concept of the new year. However, Wendy, Zen, and Zess all came from Lake City.
Every year, towards the holidays, Zess would make a scrumptious home cooked meal. Todd and Timothy would come to Wendy’s house as well to celebrate the new year. Timothy’s wife was born and raised in Rheinsville City. She would sometimes come to eat together, but other times she would not turn up if she was too lazy to join in the festivities.
Wendy had previously thought that she would celebrate the new year this year with Michael and her two children. She did not expect that she would have to usher in the new year in Rheinsville City.
On New Year’s Eve, Wendy gave her mother a call. On the phone, they greeted each other.
"Mom, Happy New Year." Wendy put the call on the speaker to let Leah and Jake greet their grandmother.
"Happy New Year, grandma," Leah and Jake said at once.
"Happy New Year to you too," Mary said with a smile. "This year, I was only able to send both of your red packets to your mommy for safekeeping. I will give you both another big red packet when you all come back for the new year next time, okay?"
"Thanks, grandma," Leah and Jake answered together.
"Mom, I asked you to come to Rheinsville City to celebrate the new year together, but you didn’t come. You’re a teacher and the winter vacation is long in the first place. It would be great if you came to stay for two weeks during the winter break. It wouldn’t disrupt your work anyway," Wendy’s tone was full of disappointment.
Wendy did not communicate with Mary previously since Mary did not know that Wendy was still alive. Now, knowing that she was alive and in Rheinsville City, Wendy really hoped that Mary could come over for the holidays.
"No, thank you. As you know, I don’t like to travel around," Mary said with a sigh. "I just want to be here in Linton, teaching and planting vegetables. Once I’m retired, I’ll continue living in Linton. I won’t be going anywhere far."
"I’m asking you to come here to play for a few days. I’m not asking you to settle here," Wendy said. "I don’t care what you say. You have to come once next year. Treat it as a tour. Take a walk and look around."
"Alright, alright, alright. I’ll come next time," Mary casually replied.
Just when Wendy was about to say more, the doorbell rang. It would be either Timothy or Todd coming at this time. Jake immediately got up from the sofa and went to open the door. As expected, he saw Todd.
"Happy New Year, Jake," Todd lowered his head slightly and spoke to Jake with a smile.
"Happy New Year, Uncle," Jake replied.
When Mary heard the voices from the phone, she smiled and asked, "Is it Todd?" Mary and Todd had met a few times before. Although they were not familiar, Jake had called Todd uncle just now. It was definitely Todd.
"Yeah, mom. Do you want to speak with him?" Wendy asked.
"Sure, I’ll say a few words to him."
Hearing Mary’s voice, Todd immediately walked over and spoke into the phone. "Mrs. Stewart, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year." There was joy in Mary’s voice as she spoke. "Thank you for taking care of Wendy for all these years. Since Wendy, Leah, and Jake have gone back to Rheinsville City again, I’d like to trouble you to help me take care of them once again."
"No problem, Mrs. Stewart," Todd took a look at Wendy, then hesitated and said, "Mrs. Stewart, maybe you didn’t know but I’m now Wendy’s boyfriend. Taking care of them, mother and children, is what I should do."
"Really?" Mary was a little surprised hearing this. But other than surprise, there was happiness.
She had previously realized that Todd liked Wendy, but back then, Wendy still had some feelings for Michael. Now that they had gotten to the point where they are today, Wendy and Todd being together was perhaps a good thing.
At least, Todd was really sincere towards Wendy. After all, Todd did not mind that Wendy already had two children. Todd had known about the existence of her two children right from the start, so there would not be any issue regarding that matter in the future.
Wendy initially wanted to explain when Todd spoke, but hearing Mary’s happy voice from the other end of the phone, her words were stuck in her throat.
The doorbell rang again. It was Jake who went to open it once again. As expected, it was Timothy who had come next.
"I’ve come here again to leech for the reunion dinner," Timothy said laughing. "The helper at our home is from Rheinsville City, and that wife of mine isn’t really used to the cultural dishes I like, so I can only come here to Corrine’s place to eat authentic Lake City dishes."
Hearing the voice through the phone, on the other side, Mary’s expression quickly changed. Originally, Mary, as a grandmother, was supposed to go for Jake and Leah birthday. But she knew that Timothy, as the children’s godfather, would definitely be at the birthday party. Thus, Mary found an excuse to say that she was busy and did not go.
In the end, she did not think that she would still have to deal with Timothy even over a phone call.
"On a call?" Timothy said with a smile seeing that Todd was holding the phone.
"It’s Corrine’s mother," Todd answered.
"Oh, Corrine’s mother." Timothy greeted her well-manneredly, "Happy New Year." Timothy recalled that he had met Mary once before. He had a slight impression of her.
Mary’s initially happy tone had quickly turned cold. "I still have something to do. I’ll stop here and call you again next time." Once she finished speaking, she quickly ended the call.
Hearing the beeping sound from the phone, Timothy was a little shocked. He looked at Wendy then looked at Todd and asked, "Have I said something wrong?"
Both Wendy and Todd shook their heads. Timothy felt like he had not said anything wrong either. He just said "Happy New Year". Timothy recalled when he saw Mary last time, it seemed like Mary had something against him then too.
Timothy furrowed his brow. "Corrine, it seems like your mother doesn’t like me," he said. "I remember previously when I was at your home, when your mother saw me, she even stopped eating. Did I offend your mother when I met her the last time?"
"I don’t think so." Wendy shook her head slowly. As she thought carefully, she realized that she could not remember anything related to what had happened between Mary and Timothy. "I don’t remember my mom meeting you. Furthermore, haven’t you always been in Rheinsville City? You haven’t gone back to Lake City for so many years, so how would you have had the chance to met my mother."
"Well..." Timothy was even more doubtful, completely not understanding just where there might be a problem. "Then just what’s going on here? Why don’t help me ask your mother?"
"Ah..." With a smile, Wendy said, "Maybe you’re thinking too much about it. Maybe my mother has something she’s busy with on her end. Tonight is New Year’s Eve, so there are probably many people calling and texting her well wishes."
Wendy’s statement was clearly not very valid. The main thing was Mary’s tone just now, it was clearly cold and laced with anger. However, Timothy could not remember that he knew any woman by the name of Mary. Moreover, he had not returned to Lake City for more than 20 years already. Let alone the fact that it was such a normal person as Mary.
However, Timothy furrowed his brows and thought carefully about something. "So, Corrine, where were you from? Or I should say where is your mother from?" Timothy asked, suddenly thinking of something.
"I’m from Lake City," Wendy said doubtfully. "Don’t you know this, Mr. Woods?"
"You’ve grown up in Lake City for your whole life? And your mother has been living in Lake City too?" Timothy asked again.
"Not exactly," Wendy shook her head.
Timothy suddenly had an idea in mind but then felt that it was not possible. He quickly followed up and asked, "Where did you grow up then? And where is your mother from?"
"I grew up in Linton. My mother is a teacher in Linton and she has been living in Linton." Seeing that Timothy’s facial expression changed, she asked seriously, "Why are you suddenly asking this, Mr. Woods?"
"Linton..." Timothy heaved a big sigh and mumbled in a low voice, "It’s impossible, it must be a coincidence."
"Mr. Woods, what are you saying?" Wendy did not clearly hear what he said at the end.
"Nothing much," Timothy smiled and looked at Wendy as he spoke. "Just asking out of curiosity. So, you’re sure your mother is really from Linton and has been living in Linton?"
"Yeah," Wendy nodded. "We’ve lived in Linton and as far back as I could remember, I grew up in Linton. My mom has been a teacher in Linton for so many years."
"That’s good." Timothy smiled and nodded, but in order to play it safe, he asked another thing, "What about your father then? Seems like I’ve never heard you mention your father before."
At the mention of the word father, Wendy’s face sank. "I’ve never seen my dad. He passed away before I was born," she said with a solemn voice.
"Passed away?" At that, Timothy was entirely reassured. It seemed like he had really thought too much. He had thought that he could not remember any woman by the name of Mary at all.
Moreover, how could there possibly be something so coincidental. Seeing that Wendy’s mood had dampened, Todd thought that her mood was not so good upon the mention of her deceased father.
He quickly smiled and said, "Alright alright, it’s about to be the new year, let’s not talk about these things." Finishing, Todd took out two big red packets and passed them to Leah and Jake respectively. "Here. A big red packet from Uncle Lewis to you both."
"Thanks, Uncle," the two children said at once.
Leah took the red packet and said with a smile, "The customs in Zeilheim City are really good. We receive big red packets every year. Why does Rheinsville City not have this custom?"
"And here are some red packets from grandfather," Timothy took out two more big red packets from his pocket as well.
"Thanks, grandfather."
At that moment, Zess finished the last dish and smiled as she shouted for them to eat, "Come come come. Let’s have our reunion dinner."
The atmosphere quickly became warm. "Todd, Mr. Woods, let’s go." The smile on Wendy’s face reappeared.
As the television played the New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Zeilheim people sat together at the table and had a reunion dinner.
