Chapter 36

“What the heck did you just say?!” Barton was on the verge of exploding when he heard Suzan’s words. His breath hitched, his voice spiked with an unfamiliar pitch, and a terrifying fury brewed in his eyes.

Suzan instinctively shrank back, covering her mouth, her face twisted in pain. “Honey, no, that’s not what meant…….”

She tried to explain, but what came out was, “I called you useless. Only a spineless man yells at his own family. If you were really something, why didn’t you confront Winnie earlier? You’re just afraid because she’s now the Bryant family’s darling. You wouldn’t dare cross her. Sad thing is, she wouldn’t give you the time of day if you begged. She’d sooner kick you to the curb “Mom!” Quincy was losing his mind Since when did his mom talk back to his dad like this? Wasn’t it always his dad’s way or the highway? Had she lost her mind while they were out?

Suzan felt like she was going crazy too. Ever since that incident at the Bryant family’s mansion, she couldn’t stop spouting off uncomfortable truths. And they weren’t just any truths, but the kind buried deep in Staring at Barton, seeing his complexion shift into a deep, angry red, Suzan was seized by a sudden fear. She couldn’t help but sense that she was in for it now.

What the family didn’t know was that, just moments ago, the shadowy ghost that had been clinging to Kathryn began to emit tendrils of dark mist. They silently crept into Barton’s body, changing his complexion into something even more horrifying.

He glared at Suzan, shaking and sputtering. “You, you.” He was so angry he couldn’t form words. Inside, a fury raged, demanding release.

Suddenly, his eyes fell upon a set of golf clubs by the entryway. Without a second thought, he grabbed one and swung it with all his might.

Quincy’s face drained of color at his father’s action, and Suzan and Kathryn turned as white as ghosts. Before Quincy could intervene, Barton swung the club, shattering the decorative pieces in the foyer, Suzan screaming uncontrollably. “Ah! Help me!”

Kathryn joined in with a wail, “Dad, I’m sorry. What we did was wrong…

“Honey, I know I was wrong too, just calm down!”

Chaos reigned as Barton continued his rampage with the golf club, thankfully not turning it on Suzan but instead smashing every vase and ornament in sight.

Suzan’s heart bled for the antiques. Some of them were worth millions!

She was beside herself with grief and blurted out, “You might as well hit me!”

Quincy was at his wit’s end. The entire house had descended into sheer lunacy.

12:44 Two days after the Bryant family banquet, Winnie finally scheduled a visit with Carola.

As she descended the stairs with her things, she noticed Springer, Hobson and Cutler being forced to do push–ups in the garden.

Horace, ever the picture of elegance, sat leisurely in a wicker chair, an assortment of pastries and floral tea by his side, seemingly enjoying his afternoon tea.

Winnie raised an eyebrow at the scene, asking “What’s this about?”

“Oh, nothing much. Grandpa thought they’ve been slacking off lately. Now that summer’s here, it’s time for some physical training.” Horace replied with a smile, adding, “I heard you were going out, so I’ve had the car prepared for you.”

Winnie nodded. In just a few days, she had almost gotten used to Horace’s attentiveness.

Without paying much mind to the struggling trio, Winnie bid Horace farewell and made her way out.

Horace watched her leave with a smile, then turned back to the boys, his smile more tender, “Hang in there. You have to complete at least one hundred. If you collapse before finishing, it’s back to zero for all of you.”

At his words, the trio’s faces fell, and they groaned in unison, “Horace, we really know we were wrong.

“We haven’t troubled Winnie these past days. We’ve been good boys!”

“Horace, you can’t just cast aside your cousins because of a sister. We’re family too.”

To their pleas, Horace remained unshaken, his smile still aristocratic, “Hmm, complete one hundred and you’re still family. If you don’t, I’ll continue to ‘manage‘ your video games and action figures.”

Their wails resumed.

Since the last banquet, the Bryant family had been treating Winnie like royalty. It all started when Malcolm and Carola expressly thanked Bacchus for Winnie’s actions in saving their daughter’s life, not to mention acknowledging her ability to earn her own money to repay the Henderson family’s fostering fees, which was truly remarkable.

The Bryant family, upon hearing this, felt their pride stung. It was then they realized that the Henderson family wouldn’t have given Winnie much allowance, so where did the five–million. come from?

Reminded by Malcolm’s words, they finally understood. She earned it herself!

Their initial reaction wasn’t admiration for Winnie’s capabilities, but rather shame.

Even Springer was conflicted 12:44 He also couldn’t fathom why Winnie, now back with the Bryant family, would bother with such efforts.

Five million in fostering fees was nothing; she could have just asked Clifford. Yet, she chose to make the money herself.

That evening, Clifford wired ten million directly to Winnie. Five million was to pay off the Henderson family, and the other five million was for her spending money, Winnie was at a loss for words.

The last time she had donated one and a half million, Horace had promptly doubled her allowance. This time, she had just repald the five million, and the money had come back to her, doubled once again.

It was the first time Winnie had ever experienced the feeling of never being short on cash.

But the money that made its way into her pocket was not something she would pretentiously insist on returning.

With this sum, she could finally bid on that item she had been eyeing.

As she scrolled through her phone for the auction details, the car pulled up in front of the Sanchez residence.

Malcolm and Carola had been eagerly waiting at home, and as soon as she stepped out of the car, they came out to greet her.

“Master Bryant, you’ve arrived.”

Although Carola would call her Winnie in the presence of the Bryant family to show closeness, she insisted on addressing her as Master Bryant in private, a pure sign of respect.

The thought of her dear Lucy returning to normal had kept Carola up all night in excitement.

Not just her, but Malcolm and Luke had been equally restless.

For this day, they had cleared their work schedules, wanting to witness the moment Lucy would be restored.

Winnie met the eager gazes of the Sanchezes with a reassuring smile, not bothering with small. talk. She reached into her backpack and pulled out a wrapped package.

The Sanchezes saw that within the package were several strands of hair wrapped in Charms paper.

That was the hair of the person who had traded away their Lucy’s intelligence!

Fire seemed to ignite in the eyes of the Sanchez family members.

Winnie looked at them and, after a moment’s thought, said, “Before we start, there’s something you guys should know.”