As Garrison Reeves spoke, he lifted Winifred Dawson’s hand, declaring his intentions to everyone present.
He made it clear to Mrs. Reeves that he was determined to marry Winifred Dawson, and no one, including his own mother, could dissuade him.
Mrs. Reeves stood in disbelief, shaking like a leaf, her face ashen and lips pale. This was the son she had painstakingly raised, the son she had nurtured for years, now treating her this way for a woman of no significance, even threatening to take everything she had.
Had he forgotten whose platform had given him all he possessed? Without her, his mother, where would he be?
How could he treat her like this!
Garrison Reeves ignored her pale face. After speaking, he took Winifred Dawson by the hand and walked away, leaving behind the heart-wrenching cries of Mrs. Reeves.
“Garrison Reeves, come back here! Are you trying to turn the heavens upside down? Have you forgotten who raised you through hard times? How can you treat me this way! Garrison Reeves! What’s so good about that woman? Turning against your own parents for her, you’ll regret this someday. She’s nothing but trouble! You’ll fall because of her, and then you’ll have no room for regret. This Winifred Dawson is not the original Winifred Dawson; she’s a substitute, a disaster, a fake!”
Her shouting was so intense that it led to a coughing fit, and her voice gradually faded…
Mr. Clegg was also at a loss, wanting to keep Garrison Reeves but unsure how to do so, leaving the scene in chaos…
Garrison Reeves strode out of the Reeves family estate with Winifred Dawson, who struggled to keep up with his pace. Once they were outside, she hurriedly called out to him, “Garrison… slow down, it’s too fast, I can’t keep up…”
Garrison Reeves, like a voice-activated robot, stopped immediately upon hearing Winifred Dawson. She almost bumped into his back.
Before she could say anything, Garrison Reeves apologized first.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s nothing, but you, that hit from your mom… did it hurt when it landed on your back?”
His back was still wet, but fortunately, the weather was cool, and Garrison Reeves wore a thick jacket that absorbed some of the impact.
Garrison Reeves shook his head. “It’s fine, it didn’t hurt you. Her words…” He paused, choosing his words carefully, then firmly said, “Don’t take them to heart. I’ve told you, I’ve chosen you for life, only you.”
“I haven’t taken them to heart. You don’t need to apologize to me, but really, was it worth it for you to quarrel with your mother because of me?”
“What’s worth it or not? I had to do this. How could I let her words make you leave me? You know I can’t do that; I won’t let you go.”
Winifred Dawson looked into his eyes. She could see how hard Garrison Reeves was trying to get closer to her, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
It wasn’t a forced laugh to comfort him; it was a genuine, joyful laugh that made her beautiful eyes crinkle into crescents. She raised her hand to hook around Garrison Reeves’s neck, drawing closer, “I’m very happy.”
“Even after she treated you that way, you’re still happy? How big is your heart?”
Winifred Dawson shook her head. “You’ve completely stood by my side, defended me against your parents, and been so good to me. How could I not be happy? And as for your mother’s hostility, it’s because I’m not like the ‘Winifred Dawson’ of the past. She doesn’t know, but don’t I? The more she mentions the ‘Winifred Dawson’ of the past, isn’t she indirectly praising me? Besides, I learned something from her.”
Garrison Reeves had not expected Winifred Dawson to be so open-minded, but it made sense. He followed up on her words, asking, “Anything else?”
“Just that, I know you loved me before too. I’m happy and content, so today’s trip was worth it. Your parents don’t know everything, and it’s normal for her to look down on me.”
“What do you mean it’s normal for her to look down on you? Everyone is equal; no one should look down on anyone. Anyway, I brought you to the Reeves family to make my feelings clear. Some procedures might not matter to me but they do to you, like meeting my parents. But today, I’m not happy, and I feel unhappy for you too. If others don’t respect you, you don’t need to respect them, even if they are my parents. From now on, let’s visit less often, live our own life, not stay with them. Your happiness is what’s most important.” Garrison Reeves took Winifred Dawson’s hand, sincerely emphasizing that she shouldn’t compromise too much and hurt herself.
Over the years, he had been teaching Winifred these principles. She had learned them to some extent, and today, she had even managed to argue back at Mrs. Reeves for the first time. Garrison was quite pleased with this change, and he felt it was a moment worth praising.
“Are you satisfied with how I acted today?” Winifred Dawson asked.
“Mmm-not bad, stronger than I expected, very independent.”
“Does our previous agreement still stand?”
“What agreement?”
Winifred’s face fell: “You’re not going to break your promise, are you? You said once I met your parents and if I could handle it, you would let me go out on my own.”
“This is a foreign country; you’ve never been out alone here. Are you sure you can handle it? Remember the way? Don’t get lost and unable to find your way back. It’s harder to find someone here than back home.”
“I remember. I memorized the surrounding buildings when we drove here. You could ask me to find my way home right now, and I wouldn’t get lost. I’m more familiar with this place than you think I am.” Winifred Dawson argued, trying to persuade Garrison Reeves not to be too overprotective. She wasn’t a child, and she understood what she needed to know.
Even a dog should be allowed some slack on its collar.
Afraid Garrison might not agree, Winifred took his wrists and shook them, cooing, “Garrison, please agree. You spoke so well of it back in Bankshire. If you don’t agree, I’ll… I’ll be mad.”
“What happens when you get mad?”
Garrison’s tone was teasing, but Winifred didn’t catch on. She genuinely felt stifled and let go of his hands, turning away from him: “I’ll stop talking to you.”
She felt a poke on her shoulder and ignored it.
Garrison pressed her shoulder, smiling, “Why so sensitive? I didn’t say I disagreed about you going out alone. You’ve just come abroad, and meeting my parents doesn’t prove anything. Let’s walk back together later, and see if you can really remember the way home. If you do, I agree.”