Chapter 21: Chapter 21

"Don't say stuff like that, Mom! You know how much I love you!" Winter raised her voice, frustrated that her mother began to speak absurdly, accusing her of many things that never crossed her mind. "I couldn't invite you because my new mother-in-law controlled everything for the wedding, including the guest list. It was too late for me when I noticed she didn't invite anyone I know, including you and Cindy."

Gina's mood started to shift from gloomy to curious. "Your new mother-in-law controlled everything? But it's your wedding…"

"I know, but I—" Winter sighed. She had so much to say about her experience of being intimidated by Sebastian and Camilla for two years, but she knew it wouldn't make sense. "I came here to visit you, Mom. I feel so guilty for not inviting you to the wedding."

Winter scooped up the porridge and shredded chicken, then tried spoon-feed her mother. "But I promise I will pay more attention to you in the future. So please, eat now. I don't want you to get sick."

"Winter…" Gina was astonished. She had never seen her daughter be so assertive. Winter was usually soft-spoken and somewhat meek. Gina had tried to instill some assertiveness in her, but Winter was naturally ladylike and naive, which worried Gina a lot because it would be easy for others to take advantage of her weak-willed daughter.

Gina was glad that Winter's late husband had loved her dearly. But she was scared that Winter's second husband would do something to hurt her.

She wanted to check whether Sebastian would treat Winter with respect and love during the wedding ceremony.

That's why she was devastated when Winter didn't invite her to the wedding. Gina thought that her daughter wanted to cut ties with her, making her lose her appetite.

Gina finally opened her mouth and ate a spoonful of porridge with shredded chicken.

She stared at her beautiful daughter, who looked back at her worriedly. For some reason, Gina felt something had changed inside her daughter just by looking at her eyes.

Winter looked far firmer than her usual self, but she also looked more weary, as if Winter had been through a difficult situation for years before coming back to see her, even though it had only been two months since their last meeting.

"Dear, is everything alright?" Gina asked. "You look… tired."

Winter paused for a moment, contemplating whether to tell her mother about her 'nightmare.'

However, she didn't want to burden her mother further. She had already gone through a lot while raising her as a single mother. She deserved to have a rest in her twilight days.

"I'm fine, Mom. I'm just tired since the wedding yesterday was so hectic. I met with too many strangers who probably won't even remember my name," Winter sulked while she continued feeding her mother.

"Do you truly love your new husband?" Gina continued asking. "You married him after dating for six months. It's only been a year since Aiden's death. I feel like you're moving on too quickly."

Again, Winter stopped stirring the porridge momentarily as she thought of a good response to her question.

"Love is not something on my priority list right now, Mom. Sebastian did his job as a new CEO perfectly, so I can't complain," Winter explained. "He's exactly what I need, a capable young man to take over Aiden's company so it won't go bankrupt after his death."

"So you don't love him," Gina said straight to the point.

"He's necessary for the company's survival," Winter kept on the pretense. She didn't want to clarify that she had wasted all her love for Sebastian because it would only worry her mother.

"I thought I knew you well since I am the one who raised you. You're a hopeless romantic. You love the idea of falling in love and devoted to your husband," Gina shook her head. "But now, you've married a man you feel nothing for. Is this truly the only way to survive?"

Gina started asking questions that Winter had no answer for.

She knew marrying Sebastian was a foolish move. But at that time, she was so drowning in the grief of losing Aiden and desperate to maintain her company that she accepted Sebastian's proposal only after six months of seeing each other.

Even during those six months, Winter had dedicated herself to learning everything about Sebastian's qualifications to ensure he could manage a massive company.

'But there's no use crying over spilled milk. I'm married to Sebastian now, and I have to deal with him and his crazy mother,' Winter told herself.

"I'll either find a way to run the company myself or find a suitable replacement, then I will divorce him," Winter said firmly.

"W—Wait, I don't mean you should divorce him immediately," Gina panicked. "I'm just concerned about whether you're truly okay. But if Sebastian treats you well, then why not give him a chance—"

"Never," Winter interrupted coldly, as if she was 100% sure about her decision. "I will never give him a chance."

Gina fell silent after that, sensing that something was off with Winter's unwavering resolve to not give her second husband a chance, even though they were just recently married.

"We shouldn't talk about this, Mom. Don't worry, he won't be able to stop me from coming to visit you," Winter assured her mother.

Gina happily ate another spoonful of porridge. She looked like a kid who had just met her favorite relative.

She finished the whole bowl of porridge without a problem, which was a relief for Winter because it was just a hunger strike, not a medical condition that made her mother lose her appetite.

"You finished everything, Mom. It wasn't so hard, was it?"

"That's because you're here," Gina replied, wiping her lips. "You don't understand how important you are to me. Winter, I'd rather die quickly than live the rest of my life in agony, knowing that my daughter has abandoned me…"