Without Winnie by his side, Brian always felt gloomy, and couldn't cheer up anyway. He greeted
whomever he saw with a cold look.
Rufus saw it and knew he was unhappy that his grandfather hadn't invited Winnie.
The two kids were playing excitedly with Felix. Watching the kids smiling like an angel, with their faces
full of happiness, Felix was sure he had made a correct decision.
"Great grandpa, mommy wants to say thank you to you, for you allow us to live together."
What Megan said was a mission from her dad. Now she conveyed her mom's gratitude, and mission
completed.
"The only thing I need is not anyone's gratitude, but Megan and Luke being joyful."
Felix rejected Winnie's appreciation, but he still felt warm for it.
He didn't invite Winnie, and she didn't follow up, demonstrating that she knew her own position.
Coupled with her gratitude, she was barely a sensible person.
Felix had always appreciated the character of Winnie. No matter what happened, she saw the bigger
picture first all the time, instead of her own benefit.
"My brother and I are joyful, and even more than that, It's happiness. We can raise our heads in front of
our classmates now, and we also have mother and father for company at home so that we will not feel
lonely. That’s why mommy wants to say thank you to great grandpa."
Megan showed again her talent for rhetoric.
"Great grandpa, mommy's gratitude is sincere, so please accept it."
Luke added nearby.
Though it's not clear whether Megan had understood great grandpa's rejection, Luke knew it well that
what great grandpa had turned down was not only his mom's gratitude but also herself.
"Yes. Mommy is polite, so great grandpa should be polite too."
Megan said with deliberate naughtiness.
She hadn't realized great grandpa's meaning, but having been reminded by her brother she got it
instantly before she combined with him to take action.
"Fine, fine. Great grandpa accepts your mom's gratitude."
Felix agreed out of his fondness for the children. Whatever he thought he didn't want to render the
children disappointed.
After this, however, he knew more about Luke's wisdom.
As such a young kid, he could understand what he was implying and even deal with it calmly.
This was just like Brian, and also a bit similar to Winnie's character of handling emergencies with
calmness and strategy. It's really powerful of the genetic effect.
With the combination of the high-quality genes of Brian and Winnie, Luke must be more outstanding
than Brian. A new excellent manager was growing up steadily. The Bennet family had a wonderful
successor. The future of the Bennet Group was boundless.
Having had lunch, Brian still remained a glum face, and even when he talked to Thomas, his face was
totally indifferent.
"Brian, now you don't have a family to worry about, so you should devote your energies to your job.
You would keep the leading position only if you manage the Bennet Group successfully."
Thomas said with apparent sincerity and unworldliness.
"You may rest assured. The performance of the Bennet Group grew better and better each year since I
had taken charge. I can't guarantee that how long will I stay in the first place, but certainly, there will be
no setback."
Brian's remarks were cold but powerful.
From the moment he knew Uncle Thomas had gone to the prison to see Penny he grew more
discontented with him. If it wasn't for his sister who had told him not to wake a sleeping dog, he would
have asked him about it.
Of course, Brian was not able to soften his attitude at the thought of this.
However, what Brian had said was a thorn into Thomas's underbelly.
When he was in charge of the Bennet Group, it was precisely the revenue plunge that became an
excuse to replace him, and then Brian took the chance.
What Brian had said was now an insult and sarcasm to Thomas. He was of fury and hatred as he
struggled to control his temper.
"That's nice. It's good for you to have such confidence.
"What's more, Winnie has been together with you without a title, so remember to treat her well, not to
break her heart."
The remark was from an apparent goodwill, but Brian sensed an ulterior motive.
"I know how to cherish my woman. Uncle Thomas had better teach Jack how to work instead. After
such a long time in the company, he showed no progress in his work. Uncle Thomas must get worried
about it."
Brian suggested that he would not let Uncle Thomas interfere with his affairs. If he had spare energy
it's better to mind his own son.
"Besides, there has been scandal regarding Jack and some female staff. Uncle Thomas, you'd better
assess carefully who is eligible to become a member of the Bennet family."
These words were for Uncle Thomas, but also to remind his grandpa that he should treat everyone
equally.
"Brian, come to my study."
Thomas was about to speak on hearing Brian's remarks, however, interrupted by Felix, with his mouth
open.
Felix stood up and went to the study followed by Brian.
There were only Thomas and Rufus left in the living room.
"Brother, why didn't you bring Winnie here today?"
Thomas asked knowing the answer.
"Since she is not welcome, she didn't want to ask for a stud. She took her sister out for shopping
instead."
Rufus was not as impassive as Brian. He answered the question casually but kept cautious all the time.
"She will be. Dad needs some time to accept her. After all, she doesn't meet dad's standard."
Thomas said with little interest because it's not what he wanted to talk about most.
"So Winnie didn't come."
Again, with one sentence, Rufus brushed Thomas off.
"Brother, Brian and Stella are both settled. You should also think about yourself since you are not a
young boy anymore."
Another goodwill, and another ulterior motive.
"Given my age, there's nothing to think about."
Rufus didn't like this topic, but he thought of Isobel unconsciously.
She had been away for several days. He called her and texted her, yet there's no reply. If it was not for
he's sure Winnie kept in contact with her and the people he sent out reported she's fine, Rufus would
consider her gone again.
"Brother, how is Isobel now?"
Thomas mentioned Isobel out of blue, which rendered Rufus a bit surprised.
Rufus was stunned for a moment before he answered.
"I don't know. I am not in touch with her."
He answered indifferently, while a lot of thoughts whirled around in his mind.
For all these years, Thomas had never mentioned Isobel. Why did he do so abruptly? Did he know
anything or was he indicating anything?
Though nobody had spoken out where Isobel was, it's not impossible for someone to come across her
when living in the same city. However, given Thomas's temper, he would have made it public if he knew
where Isobel was.
Thomas's words reminded Rufus that it's sensible for Isobel to be away for the moment since it's not
the right timing to confess their relationship. They'd better wait until the relationship between Brian and
Winnie got acknowledged utterly.
"Then you should try to find her. It's impossible you couldn't find her if only she is alive. I see that you
have been single since your forties, for she has always been on your mind. Now go to bring her back. I
think the two children would understand."
Thomas stuck to the topic as if he was indicating something or it's an evil provocation.
But no matter what he said, Rufus remained composed answering his questions.
"After so many years, I'm not feeling like looking for her. As I get on in years, I couldn't feel happier with
children and grandchildren surrounding me. There's no need to bring the former partner back."
"They are different moods. There would be a generation gap between you and the children when you
are old. You'd better find ...."
"Stop with it. I would go to you when I want to find someone."
Thomas was still attempting to persuade him, but Rufus didn't intend to continue.
Maybe Thomas was sounding him out, and when talking much, one could easily make mistakes. He
didn't long to make trouble for himself, or for Isobel.
Brian entered the study after his grandpa and sat straight on the sofa. He had reckoned what his
grandfather would say, so he prepared himself with a cold look to face his grandpa.
"Since I granted your requests, shouldn't you go on with the blind dates?"
Sure enough, Felix was really talking about the blind dates.
Brian couldn't help himself to think of Winnie's sharp judgment. She must have guessed grandpa would
talk about the blind dates, so she turned it down in case it would be inconvenient with her presence.
"I have a business trip in a few days and I will take Luke abroad for a contest. A blind date can be
arranged after that."
Brian answered his grandpa coldly without a trace of hesitation as if the answer was prepared in
advance and was thrown out of his mouth without using his brain.
"Fine. I will select suitable people for you these days and fix the time when I find one. You need to do
nothing but notice me after you return from abroad."
Felix was kind of surprised at Brian's obedience, yet anyway, the only thing significant was that he
agreed with the blind dates.
Felix added upon finishing.
"You should pacify Winnie and make sure she won't involve in your marriage."
Felix worried about it and had to warn Brian. He demanded himself not to trust anyone completely, let
alone a person like Winnie, mysterious and unpredictable.
Brian was now concentrated on Winnie, and it's easy for her to control Brian, including preventing him
from dating and getting married.
"Grandpa, you think too much. She will not do that."
Brian replied affirmatively, for he understood Winnie.
"Today I asked her to come along, but she insisted not to, saying you must have something to tell me
and it would not be proper for her to stay here in that case. From this, it is apparent she knows
everything in her mind, and such a rational person won't do anything stupid."
Brian felt a fit of grievance with these words, for grandpa had not allowed Winnie to come.
"Grandpa doesn't like Winnie, so I wouldn't bring her here. Or she would have to be subservient to
others, not so relax as when she's at home."
Brian couldn't help let out his complaint, just not directly.
"It's not appropriate for her to appear on such an occasion. She would be the one who suffers hearing
these remarks."
After all, Felix was in his nineties, and he easily figured out the implication in Brian's words.
"Besides, keep her in the workforce. Even if I dare not comment on other aspects, her ability deserves
my appreciation."
With that, Felix showed his approval to Winnie in front of Brian in another way, hoping he would feel
balanced in his heart.
But he didn't take his selfishness into account.
To Brian, it's not approval, but another reason why he allowed Winnie to stay together with the kids.
Arguably he didn't make his decision only for the children's benefit but also took making use of Winnie's
talent into account.
"Grandpa, you think too much. She will not do that."
Brian replied affirmatively, for he understood Winnie.
“Today | asked her to come along, but she insisted not to, saying you must have something to tell me
and it would not be proper for her to stay here in that case. From this, it is apparent she knows
everything in her mind, and such a rational person won't do anything stupid."
Brian felt a fit of grievance with these words, for grandpa had not allowed Winnie to come.
"Grandpa doesn't like Winnie, so | wouldn't bring her here. Or she would have to be subservient to
others, not so relax as when she's at home."
Brian couldn't help let out his complaint, just not directly.
"It's not appropriate for her to appear on such an occasion. She would be the one who suffers hearing
these remarks."
After all, Felix was in his nineties, and he easily figured out the implication in Brian's words.
"Besides, keep her in the workforce. Even if | dare not comment on other aspects, her ability deserves
my appreciation."
With that, Felix showed his approval to Winnie in front of Brian in another way, hoping he would feel
balanced in his heart.
But he didn't take his selfishness into account.
To Brian, it's not approval, but another reason why he allowed Winnie to stay together with the kids.
Arguably he didn't make his decision only for the children's benefit but also took making use of Winnie's
talent into account.
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