As Brian had been silent, it was depressed when having dinner.
Winnie thought it was her reason, because Brian did not want to see her. So after dinner she hurriedly
took the children home.
Holding the hands of two children, she came to the parking lot. Megan was puzzled.
"Mommy, why didn’t you talk to Daddy? You have to find a way to make Daddy like you so that we can
be together as a family of four."
"You don't understand. When you talk to someone who likes you, he will say you are cute. But to
someone who doesn't like you, he will think it is annoying."
Winnie said directly, one was to let the child understand, the other was to let herself see more clearly.
"You mean Daddy doesn't like you?"
Megan continued to ask, and she never understood why her mother gave birth to them if their parents
did not like each other.
"Yes, didn’t Daddy say he doesn’t like me?"
"Megan, Luke, don't try for Mommy and Daddy. Love is something God arranged, and God doesn't
want me to be with Daddy, so you can't go against God's will."
"Especially in front of Daddy. He will be more annoyed if you are always trying to set us up. Let Daddy
be happy."
Winnie had long seen the two children's mind, so she took the chance to point it out.
"Mommy, what about you?"
Luke asked, in his world, only parents and they were together, they could be happy.
"When Daddy is happy, I will be happy. When Luke and Megan are happy, I will be happy. When
Grandaunt and Auntie are happy, I will be happy. When Grandpa and Aunt are healthy, I will be happy.
So Mommy has more happiness than you."
Winnie's happiness was simple, now if she could take her heart back, she would be happy.
"You don't have to worry about Mommy. It's cold outside, get in the car and go home."
Winnie opened the door and lifted both children into the car. When she got into the driver's seat, she
found Brian standing there.
She looked back and started the car, drove away as if she hadn't seen anything.
What Winnie and the children said had been heard by Brian. Her happiness was too great, compared
with her, Brian had no sense of responsibility.
Their conversation engraved in the heart of Brian. They had not extravagant expectations. They didn't
like money and didn't ask for power and status. As long as the family of four was together, Brian could
not even give it to them.
After sending away the children and cleaning the kitchen, Isobel sat in the sitting room in a daze.
In this period of time, too many memories always twined her, feeling back to more than 20 years ago.
As Isobel was worrying, the telephone rang suddenly.
The phone number was strange to her, but after some hesitation, she picked it up.
"Hello, Isobel’s speaking."
"This is Rufus."
The other side of the phone came the sound of Rufus’ voice.
Hearing that, Isobel was to hang up the phone, but Rufus stopped her.
"Don't hang up. There are things we can't hide. You've been hiding for more than 20 years and we're all
in this together. Don't hide and face it."
Rufus' words were reasonable. If she did not hide in those years, maybe there was not so much trouble
now.
But Rufus still wanted to thank fate and he could see Isobel again.
Isobel did not hang up the phone, yes, she should face reality.
Isobel did not hang up the phone, but she did not speak. Listening to the familiar voice, the slow
intonation, her heart seemed to more painful than 20 years ago.
"Let's meet, talk about everything, including things related to Luke and Megan."
Rufus continued to speak.
"Ok, I'll be there at the same place and the same time tomorrow."
Isobel said such a sentence and then hung up. She had entangled with the Bennet family, and now
Winnie entangled with it. She really did not know if the fate was playing tricks on them or their fate did
have twists and turns.
The next day, Isobel went to the teahouse again. Rufus, as before, went earlier than her.
After walking into a room and taking a look at Rufus, Isobel sat in opposite Rufus.
"Well, let's not talk about the past. Just talk about Winwin and the two children."
Isobel mustered all her courage to sit here, but she still didn't have the courage to talk about what
happened so many years ago. It was her wound, with her guilt, with her hatred.
"Well, we'll just talk about Winwin and the children."
Rufus answered, for fear that she would leave again.
Looking at her old but delicate face, Rufus knew that he still loved her, otherwise he would not have
been waiting in silence for so many years.
"I never thought Winnie was your niece. Even though she smiled so much like you, I never thought she
would happen to be your niece."
"But we have to face the reality, after a;; both children have grown up. Tell me what you think. If you
want Winwin and Brian to be together, I'll do everything I can."
Rufus had to ask Isobel's advice, as it related to what happened more than twenty years ago.
Brian and Isobel must have not met each other. If they did, Brian would have recognized Isobel, and it
would not be so peaceful.
But there were children and Winnie, sooner or later they would meet. And there would be a lot of
trouble, so they must be prepared in advance.
"We are not destined to be together. Winwin and your son can't be together either. I don't want them to
be together. Don't make it up."
Isobel knew that Brian and Stella and even the whole Bennet family hated her. If they knew that Winnie
was her niece, the Bennet family would not treat Winnie well. Even Brian might take her as a punching
bag. What was the meaning of being together? It would only bring more harm to Winnie.
"The two kids want a complete home with their Mommy and Daddy together, now it seems even less
likely. I will help persuade the two children and you should advice your son to get married early. I will
avoid to see your son. Just wait until everything settles down."
Isobel said casually, but her heart was quite depressed.
Things were easier to say, but difficult to do. It was not easy to conceal the hatred years ago. There
were children involved, Brian and Winwin could not completely cut off contact.
Now she only prayed that they would not get involved in the hatred of more than 20 years ago.
“It would be very unfair to the children, but I will do what you say, but I can't promise success, because
Brian has feelings for Winwin. We were young and know that the feeling is the most difficult to control.
Maybe Brian would choose Winwin despite of everything."
What Rufus predicted was not impossible to happen, after all, no one could change the fate.
In fact, they could do nothing to the fate of Winnie and Brian.
"Do your best to prevent it. Once Winwin and Brian find it out, it will be them and the two children who
will be hurt. I just want things to be as quiet as they are now."
Isobel was worried. She did not want to inflict the grievances of the previous generation on the next.
Her fault should be borne by herself, not by Winwin.
"That is the deal. If it really cannot be concealed, I will bear the responsibility."
Then Isobel got up.
"Wait..."
Rufus stopped Isobel.
"That is it for them, let’s talk about us."
Rufus’ attitude was firm. He was afraid that he could not see Isobel again.
"It's over. I've spent my whole life atoning for it. If your children aren't satisfied, let them come to me."
Isobel was calm. That was the thing she should face, and it was the opportunity of atonement.
"It's my fault, it's not your fault, you're a victim too..."
Rufus tried to explain, but Isobel did not listen and walked directly out of the room.
"Isobel, I was wrong, I'm sorry......"
Rufus continued, until the room door closed.
He sat there in pain. He held guilt not only to Isobel, but also everyone was related. But saying sorry
could not relief him.
Brian devoted his attention to work, but it didn't work well. They hadn't seen each other for several days
since they met at Kevin's.
He could not help wanting to see Winnie, even if only to hear her voice. But when he called, only
Megan and Brian answered the phone, he even could not hear Winnie’s sigh.
Brian was standing by the French window in his office, looking at the blue sky outside and the
boundless sea in the distance. It was beautiful, but his heart was extremely dark, just like the current
weather gradually turning cool.
He recalled the first time he met Winnie was in the spring, and now it was winter. How time flies! They
had known each other for so long and they experienced so many things.
Brian never thought that he would love someone so deeply. She has always in his mind. Seeing the
beautiful clothes, he would think that she must be beautiful in that; seeing the delicate jewelry, he would
thought only she could make it beautiful.
In short, everything that happened in his life was about her.
Brian had never had this feeling before to Wendy.
He did not know what magic Winnie had on her body, which had attracted his full attention and even
affected his work.
Brian looked out the window for a reason, and then there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
He withdrew his thoughts and returned to his office chair.
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