Just when Brian was thinking about what to give as a gift, he happened to see a florist and stopped to
buy flowers without hesitation.
Such a reason made Winnie inexplicably moved. She really didn't know that there were times when
Brian was so attentive to her.
Looking at the simple daisy in her hand, she didn't know what to say.
"Since when do you study flowers?"
Winnie responded. She knew she should at least say thank you, but she did not speak it out.
"I'd like to study what you like, or learn more about you."
"I searched it on Internet, women like to receive gifts, not like the gift itself, but like that surprise when
they receive it. If you like it, I will send you surprises often in the future."
Brian was really attentive, and if he wasn't usually too busy with work, he might have been more
attentive.
"......"
Winnie did not know what to say at this moment, wondering if he was really changing or if it was just a
whim.
In order to give her a gift, he googled it. Brian never did it before, at least not to her.
Her heart swayed, if he was not a whim, if he was attentive to her, would she accept him?
There was a moment of silence and finally Winnie was forced to let her wavering heart firm up.
"I'm not like other girls, I don't like gifts for no reason, I don't like the surprise that comes with them. I
will feel they are up to something when people give me gifts. I will accept the flowers today, no need to
give me gifts in the future."
She was not in the habit of receiving gifts, and the only gift she wanted was that valuable necklace that
Brian had given her. It wasn't that she liked the necklace because it was valuable, but the meaning in it.
Even though she liked it so much, after separating from Brian, she still returned the necklace to him, so
that Brian would not think she had ulterior motives.
The reason why Winnie refused Brian's future gifts was because she was afraid that she would get
addicted to them and that one day when he did not give her anymore, she would miss it.
"Okay, whatever you say, if you don't like it, I won't do it."
Brian's answer was unexpected, and she expected Brian to ask why.
Brian agreed because he didn't want to go against Winnie's words. Sending a gift was because he
wanted her to be happy, but even if he did not give her gift, he still wanted her to be happy.
Brian would give her gift again.
Friday morning at the old house.
As the family sat at the table eating breakfast, Felix's face stayed somber.
"Grandpa, you don't look well, are you not feeling well?"
Jack saw the grim in his grandfather and asked with concern.
"It's okay."
"Have you been working hard all this time?"
Felix said that he was ok, but his voice was cold and deep, because he was unhappy with something.
"Grandpa, I've been working very, very hard. Brian has given me so much work that I can't meet his
standards even if I am very earnest."
"Rufus said if I'm not up to par, he'll get me into warehouse and start over. Grandpa, plead for me, tell
him to give me some time."
It was surprising that a concern for his grandfather had turned into a plea all of a sudden, and it
seemed that Jack was being tortured to the point where he could barely hold on.
His words made Felix frown as he listened, but Maria's anger climbed up.
"I don't know what is in Brian’s mind. Even if he doesn't give Jack a position, he doesn’t have to make
things difficult for him at every turn. If he really sends Jack to the warehouse, I'll go to the company and
have a talk with him."
"Jack did a good job in the branch. He saw that and transferred Jack back, because he did not want
Jack to be excellent. We are families ......"
Maria said emotionally, suddenly raised his eyes and saw Felix's biting glare, so she was scared and
hurried to stop.
For a moment, easing her shocked heart, Maria continued.
"Dad, you should stand up to say something, you can't always be biased towards Brian. Jack is your
grandson too, you can't just focus on Brian and Rufus."
"Mom, what are you talking about?"
Jack watched his grandfather's face deepen with his mother's words and hurriedly spoke up to remind
her.
Yet it was already too late.
"You still have the nerve to talk about Rufus? How long has it been since Rufus was hospitalized?
Have you been to the hospital to see him? So this is you way being his sister-in-law?"
Felix growled, today he looked gloomy because of this matter. It had been days, but Maria never went
to the hospital.
"Dad, it's not because of me that Rufus was hospitalized. It's because he's sick that he fainted ......"
"If not you, who else? Could he have fainted without getting emotional? Even if it has nothing to do with
you, you are his sister-in-law, you should not have said those words. If you don't like Winnie, why did
you have to go to Rufus’ house and disturb the peace of the family?"
Felix's voice was increasing, and his anger was climbing even higher with it. He somewhat didn't
expect Maria to be unreasonable.
And she became worse after she went back from abroad.
He wondered if it was Thomas who made her change and if Thomas was restlessly egging Maria to do
so.
"Dad, you are unreasonable. Would he have known about such a serious illness if he hadn't fainted?
Their whole family should thank me ......"
"Shut up, Maria, if you're being unreasonable again, get the hell out of here. You should not have come
back since you are doing well staying abroad."
Maria's sophistry was stopped by a roar from Felix, who she hadn't expected to be able to lash out.
That day at Rufus' house, she made a scene like that. Felix did not open his mouth to stop it, but it had
been days, but he still was talking about it.
"Maria, how can you say that to dad? Dare you do it again, don't blame me for being rude to you."
Thomas found the right moment to speak up, seemingly reprimanding but actually helping to relieve the
situation.
His father would keep his words, if Maria did not stop, she would see her consequence.
Maria didn't speak again after giving Thomas an angry look. The glare was directed at Thomas but the
resentment was directed at Felix.
Not satisfied with his favoritism, not satisfied with his neglect of their family, not satisfied with the
distrust of them for so many years.
"Dad, don't be angry, I'll take Maria to see brother today. She has wanted to go see brother for a long
time, but she felt embarrassed."
Thomas ingratiated himself with his father.
His plan was in progress, and he couldn't let Maria spoil the big picture.
"Maria, whatever you have in mind, give it a second thought. You have to think about who I've really
favored for so many years."
"Don't get me in trouble just because of a moment of straight talk, you're the daughter-in-law of the
Bennet family, don't please the tricks of your mother’s family."
"Also you are becoming more and more like Brian’s mother now, I hope you settle down and don't
follow her example."
Felix didn't listen to Thomas's explanation, and he gave a direct warning. Whether it was Thomas's
reason or not, restraint must be exercised.
"Dad, you are worrying too much, let’s eat, and then I'll take her to the hospital."
Thomas's face changed, at his father's renewed warning and implication, but had to explain calmly.
It was an unpleasant breakfast, and after breakfast, he had to go to the hospital.
Thomas didn't drive, but shared a car with Jack.
"Son, don't you have a position in the company now?"
Maria still couldn't help but ask about it, getting angry.
"No. Working with Albert on WY's collaboration, and in my free time, I study the previous cases every
day, and then make new collaboration plan with my own ideas."
This was what Jack did every day.
He had to do it on his own without secretary or assistant.
"Brian is so unlikeable, what kind of job is this? You have to work as an assistant to Albert. If I knew
that coming back was being stifled like this, you shouldn't have come back in the first place."
"He pisses me off, he doesn’t have us in his eyes at all. I'm going to ask Brian if he is at the hospital."
Maria's heart ached for her son, for him to be suppressed by Brian.
"Mom, don't mess around, maybe he is testing me. Stay out of my business, I can handle it myself."
Jack advised his mother, fearing that she would cause trouble.
"You are simple-minded. You are able to do the business on your own, what else is he testing you for? I
think he saw your ability and was afraid that you would surpass him, for fear of stealing his position."
"Jack, don’t......"
"Stop talking nonsense, he's got his mind. And don't you mess around, you're making things worse
every time."
Thomas couldn't listen to Maria's chatter either, and was afraid that she might say something she
shouldn't.
"You pretend to be the good guy every time. If it wasn't for you ......"
"Shut up, can’t you stop?"
Once again, Thomas interrupted Maria and glared to warn her to keep her mouth shut, which made her
stop talking.
There was a moment of silence in the car before Thomas restarted the conversation.
"Jack, you are involved in WY's project. Is Gloria also involved in this project?"
"Yeah, she is."
Jack replied flatly, not knowing the reason for his father's sudden question.
"You know about her and Brian, stay away from her."
"Mom, don't mess around, maybe he is testing me. Stay out of my business, | can handle it myself."
Jack advised his mother, fearing that she would cause trouble.
"You are simple-minded. You are able to do the business on your own, what else is he testing you for? |
think he saw your ability and was afraid that you would surpass him, for fear of stealing his position."
"Jack, don't......"
"Stop talking nonsense, he's got his mind. And don't you mess around, you're making things worse
every time."
Thomas couldn't listen to Maria's chatter either, and was afraid that she might say something she
shouldn't.
"You pretend to be the good guy every time. If it wasn't for you ......
"Shut up, can’t you stop?"
Once again, Thomas interrupted Maria and glared to warn her to keep her mouth shut, which made her
stop talking.
There was a moment of silence in the car before Thomas restarted the conversation.
"Jack, you are involved in WY's project. Is Gloria also involved in this project?"
"Yeah, she is."
Jack replied flatly, not knowing the reason for his father's sudden question.
"You know about her and Brian, stay away from her."
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