Byron was hot under the collar.If he hadn't come here to find Victor unexpectedly, none of this would have happened.Irina finished her shower and looked at the front desk pleadingly, "Miss, I think I caught the flu."Her voice was gentle. Even the lady at the front desk would melt at the sound of it.Byron and Markus, who were deep in their argument, were stunned by her voice.They glared fiercely at Irina's back. Victor kept such an adaptable and unpredictable woman around him.The receptionist smiled and poured her a glass of warm water. She said, "There is a sofa in the break room. Why don't you stay there tonight, Ms. Mitchell?" "Can I?"Of course, you can. Mandy, please bring Ms. Mitchell to the break room.""Okay!"The other female receptionist got up quickly. She was thoughtful enough to bring a blanket with her. "After you.""Thank you, miss," Irina said sweetly.She had easily secured a place to stay when there were no rooms available.The men were left dumbfou
Irina sat alone at a different table. Anyone could tell that she was drawing clear boundaries with Markus and everyone else.The look on her face could scare anyone to death.Irina got up and respectfully addressed Victor and Tally when she saw them. "Mr. Glenn. Ms. Johnson."Victor frowned. "Why are you still here?""The way down the mountain collapsed. The car I drove is stuck in the ditch, so I came up here."Victor furrowed his eyebrows. "Collapsed? There weren't any available rooms here last night. How did you settle your accommodations?"Irina was stunned by his response.She instinctively glanced at Victor. He had never once shown care toward his employees.She looked at Victor, then turned her focus to Tally. She quickly understood the root of the change.She smiled and said, "The receptionist pitied me and let me stay in the break room for the night."Victor nodded and didn't say anything else. He ushered Tally in.On the other hand, Byron was forcefully holding Mar
Tally tread carefully around Markus. She would treat him like a criminal.…The road was cleared.Markus was forced into the car. Irina's car was removed from the ditch too.As she saw the darkened face behind the car window, an urge to mock him came to her.She waved her hand at them. "Listen to your brother from now on, Mr. Markus. Don't cause trouble anymore."Markus glared fiercely at Irina. That glare was about to rip her into shreds.Irina was smug.Needless to say, her entire time with Tally was to handle the trouble Markus caused.Although she did not cross paths with him often, she hated him.She had witnessed just how childish he was in front of his brother, Byron. She couldn't help but look smug.…Chris walked up the stairs in Sunshine Bay. He saw Frank staring at two big boxes with a troubled look on his face. Frank saw him and hesitantly went to him. "Mr. Albert.""What are those?"Chris looked at the two big boxes and asked with furrowed brows.Frank sai
Chris looked at his face and knew he was clueless about it.Then, he asked again, "How much has your father cared for Susan over the years? Everyone in Harborlean knows. Don't tell me you don't.Everyone in Harborlean knew how much the Winchesters cared for their adopted daughter.She was adopted. Yet, the Winchesters held her close to their hearts.They spent millions on a mere birthday party for her.If they loved their adopted daughter so dearly, what would happen to their biological daughter? Travis understood what Chris was implying after hearing him out. "Are you worried that after Kathryn returns, the Winchesters won't—""Travis, she is my wife. I need to consider what is good for her."Chris sternly interrupted Travis before he could finish.Since Travis and Benjamin left Sunshine Bay, Chris had been weighing the benefits of who Kathryn should be.Undoubtedly, Kathryn would bring him and the Albert family countless benefits as a Winchester.Yet, Krista would go ball
Chris' face turned colder. "If he insists, I'll let this go easily. Got it?"Chris was upfront with Travis.He had two choices before him—his wife or brother from another mother. It was a no-brainer that Chris would choose Kathryn.Chris knew who Benjamin was like the back of his palm.If he was too insistent on this matter, the consequences would be dire.Travis knew his concerns. He took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I got it."Both of them talked for a while more.Travis expressed his desire to reconfirm Kathryn's identity many times.Yet, Travis had become less insistent about it after Chris broke down the pros and cons for him.Chris had a point.He was protective of Kathryn. Yet, from the looks of things, the troubles in the Albert family were far from gone.Krista was a game-changer. She knew the weaknesses of everyone in the Albert family. She knew how to handle them.Plus, the Albert family would accept her even if Kathryn was a Winchester. However, it wouldn't be
Travis was turning his car out of Sunshine Bay and onto the main road. Then, he saw Benjamin's car turning into the road toward Sunshine Bay.Travis frowned. He glanced at the rearview mirror briefly and stopped his car by the roadside.Travis knew very well why he was at Sunshine Bay.He looked for his phone and called Benjamin. Benjamin answered the call quickly, "Travis!""Turn around and come back," Travis said coldly.His trip to Sunshine Bay now was a waste of time. Plus, he would trigger Chris too.Chris had laid out the pros and cons of the situation clearly.The Albert family was in an undesirable state. He would never hope for anyone to mess with the manageable balance he had now.Benjamin, who was driving to Sunshine Bay, heard Travis.His eyebrows knitted together tightly. "Where are you?""I'm right outside waiting for you."Benjamin didn't want to turn back.Yet, Travis did not hang up. A ball of rage formed in his heart. He was angry, but he turned back anywa
Susan was the apple of the Winchesters' eyes.It could potentially not be a fortunate thing for Kathryn if she returned to the Winchesters."I'm not worked up. You're the one overcomplicating things," Benjamin argued."Take it as me overthinking then," Travis said with annoyance, not wanting to argue further.Benjamin was rendered speechless. What was the meaning of this?Travis said before Benjamin spoke, "Tell Dad to settle things with Susan properly before thinking about finding that daughter of his.""Travis, why are you picking on Susan? What did she do wrong?""She did nothing wrong, but her existence is a mistake," Travis said with a cold face."Don't you think you're being unreasonable?" Benjamin retorted."It doesn't matter. It is what it is. You must do what you think is appropriate for the situation."He was left with two choices. He had to either stop looking for his sister, or he had to settle things with Susan before finding her.The corner of Benjamin's lips t
It was exactly as Kathryn had thought.Benjamin had said a lot of things to Travis earlier. Anger grew in his heart as he thought about it.He was especially triggered by how Travis suddenly brought up Susan.What did he mean by settling things with Susan? His implications were as clear as day. He wanted Susan out of the Winchester family.Why would he make such a request?He'd barely stepped out of Sunshine Bay. Then, there he went, suggesting such a preposterous thing.Benjamin didn't need much time before he connected the dots. This was Chris' doing."Was it your idea to make Travis say such things when we don't even know anything? Or was it her idea?"Anyone would understand who the woman he referred to was.Chris was already unhappy when Benjamin paid this visit to him.Now, his face was as dark as charcoal as Benjamin wouldn't let Kathryn go. He said threateningly, "If you want to act like a rabid dog, get out. Or else, I will rip your teeth out myself."Kathryn was cl