Leland was satisfied with Winifred’s compliance, even if it was just an act.
The Reeves couple greeted Leland with smiles, but Garrison’s reaction was starkly different. His face was cold and stern.
Garrison knew Leland was formidable, but he wasn’t afraid. His brown eyes grew darker, especially when he saw Leland holding Winifred by the waist. A violent thought formed in his mind but dissipated the moment Winifred looked at him.
“Winifred… you…”
Standing before him, Winifred had mentally prepared herself to face Garrison. But preparation is one thing; reality is another. A sudden pain struck her heart, and her calm demeanor was entirely feigned. Though she appeared to be looking at Garrison, her eyes were unfocused and evasive.
Winifred spoke, “It’s been a while. It’s a bit cold out here; can we talk inside?”
Her tone and expression were distant. Her already red eyes grew even redder. Garrison couldn’t tell if his own eyes stung from fatigue after searching for Winifred all night or from the emotional pain of the scene before him.
He had witnessed everything. When Leland cornered Winifred against the car door, Garrison wanted to rush over. He thought maybe Winifred was being forced.
But when Winifred leaned into Leland’s embrace willingly, how could he explain that?
Winifred’s swollen lips and the bruises on her neck… Garrison wasn’t naive. For a moment, he didn’t recognize the woman standing before him.
He stood motionless, enveloped in a gloomy mood, as if struck by lightning. He couldn’t move or speak until he heard his parents warmly inviting Leland and Winifred inside.
As Leland walked past Garrison with Winifred in tow, he suddenly said, “Are you cold? I should have let you take a hot bath before coming out.”
Such an intimate remark.
Winifred had to admire her own tolerance. She had grown accustomed to Leland’s suggestive comments and wasn’t even curious about what else he might say.
Mrs. Reeves awkwardly smiled, “It’s warm inside; you won’t feel cold.”
Mr. Reeves added, “Yes, it’s warm inside. Mr. Burns, have you eaten? I’ve asked the chef to prepare some of Winifred’s favorite dishes.”
“I’ve eaten, but I can still try some,” Leland replied coolly, glancing at Garrison behind him. “Isn’t your son coming in?”
“He will,” Mrs. Reeves said, looking at Garrison with concern and urgency. She worried about how this blow would affect him.
“Garrison, come in for lunch.”
Mrs. Reeves had received word that Leland would bring Winifred over in the morning. She had instructed the chef to prepare a good meal. She wasn’t sure if these were actually Winifred’s favorite dishes, but over the past year, whenever Winifred came over for meals, she always said everything was delicious.
At the table, Leland sat next to Winifred. He looked at the spread and squeezed her cold hand. “It’s been a year; your tastes have changed quite a bit. I remember you didn’t like mushrooms or carrots before, and you weren’t fond of broccoli either.”
“Really?” Winifred glanced at him. “People change. I may not like these vegetables, but I know they’re good for me, so I eat them.” Just like staying by his side.
Though it had only been a year for others, it felt much longer for Leland. No matter how much time passed, he knew what Winifred liked and disliked.
Leland understood her metaphor about their relationship-compromise could never turn into love or affection.
Mrs. Reeves felt awkward as well; she had just mentioned preparing a table full of dishes only for Leland to point out they weren’t Winifred’s favorites.
Lunch was served at two in the afternoon; the food had been ready since noon and kept warm for two or three hours while waiting for Leland. Mrs. Reeves didn’t dare call to rush him. The dishes lost their original flavor and appearance over time.
The chef Mrs. Reeves hired was skilled; even after sitting for a while, the food still tasted good.
Winifred sat between Leland and Mrs. Reeves, who urged her to eat.
She wasn’t hungry; Leland had forced her to eat lunch earlier that day. The food looked fine but she had no appetite; her stomach felt uneasy.
When you’re not hungry, even the best food tastes bland.
Opposite her sat Garrison; Leland gave him a cold look filled with provocation.
Leland admitted that bringing Winifred to the Reeves family as a show of force was childish and unlike his usual behavior.
But thinking about how Winifred preferred this hypocritical family and liked Garrison-using him as a stand-in for someone inferior-filled Leland with anger and resentment.
Perhaps he wanted to prove his worth to Winifred by showing he was better than Garrison in every way she valued.
This was one of the most awkward meals Winifred ever experienced; she wanted to throw down her fork and leave but tried to ignore the stares around her.
However, she couldn’t ignore Garrison’s gaze from across the table.
A table isn’t that large; she just wanted this to end quickly before she broke down completely.
Leland served her some soup and placed some eggplant on her plate-two dishes she actually liked from the spread.
Mrs. Reeves played the gracious host, asking if Winifred was still cold or if she liked the food before finally asking,
“Winifred, did you enjoy your birthday yesterday?”
Winifred had been holding back all day; she even tried convincing herself that maybe the Reeves family had been coerced by Leland into deceiving her.
She didn’t want to believe that Mrs. Reeves-who usually treated her well-would trick her into going to Leland’s hotel and then act innocent today by asking if she enjoyed her birthday yesterday.
Should she have enjoyed it?