Chapter 10 Can You Feed Me

Unfortunately, Windy's act of kindness did not make an impression on Carol. She ignored her offer and turned to look at Anaya with a smile. She said, "Auntie, I'm so sorry that you had to see me this early in the morning."

Needless to say, Anaya noticed how Carol was deliberately ignoring Windy. She said to her with a benign smile, "You've just been admitted to hospital. Of course, I will come and visit you."

"It's nice to hear that. Thank you," replied Carol. Her demeanor became more polite and behaved as she faced Anaya.

Sad to say, but Anaya did not buy her hypocritical act. She gazed at the overlooked Windy and said, "Shawn, you should be grateful that your wife loves you so much. You failed to walk her down the aisle last night, yet her reaction was nothing but tenderness. She insisted on bringing the porridge so you can have your breakfast before you go to work. Hurry up. Eat it while it's hot."

Shawn glanced at Windy with a sorry in his face for being too selfish. He had to apologize not because he honestly disregarded her feelings, but because his mother persuaded him to. So, he nodded and awkwardly said, "I know, Mom."

Carol observed quietly as she watched how Anaya protected Windy like a child. Moreso, the forlorn fact that Shawn listened to his mother's advice made her feel extremely disgruntled. All she could do that time was to look away and sulk in secret.

Windy scooped a ladle of porridge into a bowl and handed it to Shawn with a smile as warm as her steamy food. She said, "Be careful. It's still a little hot."

He took the serving and said, "Thank you."

"Haha!" Anaya chuckled as she watched Shawn and Windy congenial interaction. She said happily, "Shawn, she is your wife. You don't have to be so formal around her."

He glanced once more at Windy but said nothing. On the other hand, she lowered her head and giggled shyly. She said to Anaya, "It's okay, Mom."

Anaya agreed with her and said, "That's right. Noble couples respect each other like they are esteemed guests."

Carol glared at the way Anaya always favored Windy, and how Shawn's behavior seemed to be euphonious with his supposedly unwanted wife. This ignited her raging anger for Windy into a wilder blaze. Shockingly, Windy came up to her and said, "Carol, you should eat some as well. It's best when it's hot."

Carol glanced at her with bitterness. Suddenly, a devil whispered in her ear and plotted a scheme. She badly wanted to get on Windy's nerves to show her that she was the right woman worthy of Shawn's love. She feebly raised her wounded wrist and acted like a spoiled child, "Shawn..."

"What's wrong?" he asked. He placed his bowl at the bedside table and quickly sat on the edge of the bed.

Carol pouted with the pretentious pitiful look in her eyes and said, "I can't lift the bowl with my hand. Can you feed me?"

Windy was startled by the audacious request, but then she knew how her sister was deliberately ruffling her feathers. Luckily, she was able to keep her patience and remain considerate. She offered, "Let me feed you. Shawn has a busy day ahead of him and..."

Windy wasn't finished speaking yet, but she seemed to have been silenced for some reason. All along, Carol's eyes were burning with wrath as she pierced a stare through Windy's soul which made her shut her mouth. Windy felt like there was nothing more she could do as hate already ate her sister's sentiment.

"Give it to me," said Shawn. He didn't look too much into Carol's taunting and took the bowl from Windy instead.

Anaya paid very close attention while she stood aside. She was absolutely disgusted with Carol's childish acts. Seeing that Shawn was serious to take the bowl, she exclaimed coldly, "Shawn!"

His hand froze in midair before he even had the chance to touch the bowl. He turned to look at his mother with a frown and asked, "Is there something wrong, Mom?"

Anaya's dignified face was stained with a trail of displeasure. She paused before saying, "You should go to work now."

"But Carol..." He gazed into her eyes in a state of trouble and pulled a face as low as the floor.

The door unlatched open, and Henry and Sally came in just in time. Sally said, "Let me do it, Shawn."

"Dad. Mom," greeted Windy to her parents politely.

Sally and Anaya exchanged warm smiles. Then, Sally said, "Thank you for coming to see Carol today."

"You're welcome. We're a family now. You don't have to be so courteous," answered Anaya.

Sally nodded to her, and then walked to the bedside with Henry. He took a closer look at his daughter and said, "It's good to wake up from a deep sleep, huh?"

"Yes, it is," replied Sally on behalf of her daughter. She looked at her eldest with a comforting beam before she took the bowl from Windy. She said, "I'll do it. You can go to work now, Shawn. Don't be late!"

Shawn lingered his eyes once more at Carol before excusing himself to leave. He said to her reluctant expression, "Have a good rest. I'll come to see you later."

With a poignant look on her face, Carol cleaved to his hand and said, "Make sure you do."

Shawn nodded and assured her of his promise.

Windy saw the tenderness in Shawn's eyes, and it was something she never wanted to see in person. Perhaps she could only dream of him looking at her in this way, but the probability of that happening just made her feel more defeated.

Shawn perched up from his seat and immediately left the ward. Brutally, he never acknowledged Windy ever since she arrived as if they were strangers. He was so glacial to her and even managed to turn a blind eye!

"Stop there, Shawn," said a stern voice from behind.

In the hallway, Shawn halted his leave and turned around willy-nilly. It was Anaya who was chasing his trail. He asked, "What's wrong this time?"

Her expression seemed to be off as she walked up to him. She asked in a serious tone, "You do know that I am your mother, right?"

He was confident that his mother was about to scold him again, and it wasn't a surprise if she did it all for Windy. He had no damn clue on what his mother saw in that woman! She and his grandfather were so fond and invested in Windy, and they never failed to show up like castle guards to defend her from even the pettiest things. All for Windy's sake, they questioned his sentiments and even forced him to marry her.

Shawn was as arrogant as a tyrant, but ever since Windy came in his life, his mother and grandfather had been lecturing him time and time again. He felt embarrassed every single time, but all he could do was listen.

"Mom, just tell me what's wrong. If you have nothing else to say, I'll be on my way to work now," said Shawn impatiently.

"Tonight, you go home. Your grandfather will be waiting for you," replied Anaya in a dismissive tone before she went back to the ward.

With his mother disappearing in the lengthy hallways, Shawn squinted his eyes as an overwhelming sense of vulnerability lingered at the bottom of his heart.

It was already five o'clock in the afternoon when Shawn decided to call it a day at work. As soon as he hopped into his car, his phone buzzed the name of Carol on the screen. She called to appeal him of his presence in the hospital. He thought about his words of promise earlier this morning, then this urging call from her happened. Absolutely, turning his back on her was not an option. So, he stepped on the gas pedal and drove directly to the hospital.