Chapter 262: Chapter 272: Why Do You Always Blame Dad?

When Yvonne Lewis and her family of three arrived, no one from the Winslows was home. They rang the doorbell, then knocked.

Hearing the incessant knocking, a woman from the house across the way came out to take a look. "No one’s home during the day," she started to explain, sounding displeased. "They’re at..."

But when she got a clear look at them, her face instantly broke into a wide smile. "Oh, it’s Holly’s mom!" she exclaimed in surprise. "When did you get back? I thought you were living abroad."

"Is this your son? He’s so well-behaved."

"We got back the day before yesterday," Yvonne Lewis said with a nod. She glanced at the quiet child in Vincent Vance’s arms. "Yes, this is my son. Lorne, call her ’auntie’."

Lorne Vance shyly mumbled, "Auntie."

"Such a good boy! Here, let Auntie hold you." The woman reached for him, but Lorne Vance just tightened his grip on Vincent Vance’s neck, refusing to be held.

Yvonne Lewis explained, "Lorne is a little shy with strangers."

"Most kids are like that. Your Holly, though, she’d let anyone hold her when she was little. She was the sweetest thing."

The woman seemed to remember something. "Holly’s dad is at the factory, but isn’t Holly home? You should give her a call."

Yvonne Lewis found it hard to admit that she and Holly Winslow hadn’t spoken on the phone in years. She had tried to contact Holly over the years, but Holly had never responded. "I’ll just wait a while," she said.

The woman suddenly slapped her forehead. "Oh, I remember now!" she said with a laugh. "Holly probably went to her in-laws’ place. I just saw them coming into the complex together."

She glanced at Yvonne Lewis. "Your Holly has really done well for herself. She’s with one of the boys from the Quincy family, right here in our complex."

"The Quincy family is wealthy. They own property all over the place. I heard they have several properties just in the city. You’ve been abroad so long, you probably have no idea how crazy real estate prices have gotten. It’s already four or five thousand a square meter even here in the county."

"Holly’s mom, you’re all set to enjoy the good life now."

Her words carried a subtle jab at Yvonne Lewis, implying that she had only come back to visit now that her daughter had married into money.

Yvonne Lewis was sharp enough to catch the implication, and her expression soured. She and Vincent Vance hadn’t come for money.

But she offered no explanation. Regardless of her motives, it was a fact that she had rarely returned to see Holly Winslow.

Vincent Vance put an arm around her shoulder. His voice was polite but carried a firm undertone. "You’re right, ma’am. We’re certainly happy that Holly has married well."

...

Holly Winslow spent the afternoon at the Quincy residence, reading with Mortimer Quincy. The sweltering heat made her drowsy, and after an hour or two, she took a nap.

*Ahem*. ’I probably slept in so long because I went to bed too late last night.’ This nap ended up lasting a while.

The entire afternoon slipped away.

Wyatt Winslow, who usually didn’t get home until seven or eight, arrived at five-thirty with Yara Nolan. When he saw the family of three at his door, his expression faltered for a second before he stated calmly, "Holly isn’t home."

Vincent Vance knew Yvonne had argued with Wyatt Winslow last time and worried he would be uncooperative, so he interjected, "Yvonne bought Holly a few new outfits and wanted to see if they fit."

He paused, then added, "We only just heard from my parents that Holly got married, so we rushed back."

"She won’t accept them." Not wanting to put Holly in a difficult position, Wyatt Winslow refused outright.

After he had prevented her from seeing Holly Winslow on several occasions, Yvonne Lewis’s tone grew accusatory. "Wyatt Winslow, just let me have a word with Holly. I’m her mother. Why do you insist on keeping us apart?"

"She gets married without even telling us a thing. I am her mother."

Wyatt Winslow frowned, his lips pressed into a thin line, but said nothing.

"I’m the one who told Dad not to say anything." Holly Winslow appeared at the top of the stairs. Hearing Yvonne Lewis’s tone, she could no longer hold her tongue.

She continued, "The fact that I don’t want to see you is my decision. It has absolutely nothing to do with Dad."

"Why do you always have to blame Dad? He’s never done anything to wrong you."

The more she spoke, the more indignant she felt on Wyatt Winslow’s behalf. ’What did Dad do wrong? Just because he isn’t good at expressing his feelings, he’s supposed to just let Yvonne Lewis misunderstand him?’

’Let her misunderstand all his sacrifices over the years.’

Hearing the commotion, the neighbors cracked their door open to eavesdrop on the drama.

"Holly."

Wyatt Winslow motioned for Holly to stop. He pressed his lips together. "Everyone, let’s go inside."

"Dad, Yara and I are going over to Mom’s for dinner soon. I’m going to go help out." Any last trace of warmth Holly felt for Yvonne Lewis had vanished.

"Holly, your mother heard you got married and flew all the way back just for this. Please, just talk with her for a minute," Vincent Vance said, trying to ease the tension. He stroked Lorne Vance’s head. "Lorne, say hi to your big sister."

Lorne Vance said obediently, "Big sister."

Holly Winslow looked at them, her expression calm. "Uncle Vance, do you know what you call concern that comes after abandonment?"

"It’s called a handout."

"How can you people, the ones who were in the wrong, show up here acting so self-righteous?"

’If they weren’t like this, if they didn’t, time and again, pin all the blame on Wyatt Winslow...’

’I would have been content to coexist peacefully, for us to go our separate ways.’

’But they always come here under the guise of ’making amends’ only to blame Dad.’

’And Dad is the one line I will never, ever let them cross.’

Her words clearly wounded Yvonne Lewis. Yvonne’s voice rose, catching in her throat. "Holly, what did I do wrong? I may have wronged your father, but I never wronged you. The year you were born, I nearly died during labor. The doctor asked whether to save the mother or the child. Your father chose to save me, but I was the one who insisted they save you."

With reddened eyes, she continued, "Your dad was rarely home. I was the one who took care of you! When you had a 104-degree fever, I was the one who carried you to the hospital and stayed up with you all night."

"What did I do that was so wrong that you treat me like this, like I’m your enemy?"

Holly Winslow’s eyes also grew red, but her expression remained eerily calm. "Then what’s my favorite food? What do I like to do for fun?"

Yvonne Lewis couldn’t answer.

Holly Winslow stated it as a simple fact. "Dad knows. He wasn’t always home, but he knows."

She paused. "I know all about those things you mentioned. That’s why when you and Dad divorced, I chose to quietly accept it and let you go pursue your own happiness."

"You can blame me for disowning you, but Dad was never in the wrong. You know in your own heart how well Dad treated you."

"Why won’t you believe that Dad has never, not once, said a bad word about you?"

The atmosphere suddenly became dead silent.

The child in Vincent Vance’s arms suddenly reached out toward Holly Winslow, his voice small and sweet. "Big sister, hold me."

Looking at the adorable little Lorne Vance, Holly Winslow pressed her lips together, not answering him. She then raised her head to look at Yvonne Lewis. "You have your own life now. Can you please stop coming here and disturbing ours?"

"I am so sick of fighting every single time."

Yvonne Lewis’s voice was choked with tears. "Holly, must you really speak to me this way?"

Holly Winslow pressed her lips together. "Excuse me, but we’re about to have dinner."

"Dad, Yara, put your things down. Let’s go eat."

It had been like this every time they met for years. Wyatt Winslow felt weary of it all, but as he watched his daughter stand up for him yet again, his heart softened.

Yvonne Lewis’s accusations didn’t seem to sting quite as much.

"Alright. Yara, go put your things down."

Yara Nolan nodded.

Once the three of them had gone, the neighbors across the hall shot a few more glances at Yvonne Lewis’s family before quietly shutting their door.

Vincent Vance stroked the head of his son, who was still staring forlornly at the stairs, then patted Yvonne Lewis’s shoulder. "Yvonne, let’s go. We’ll try again tomorrow."

Yvonne Lewis lowered her head and mumbled a soft "mhm."

...

Mortimer Quincy was helping set the table when he saw Holly and the others at the door. "Holly, slippers are by the entrance."

"Okay!" Holly Winslow called back, then trotted inside. "Mom, whatever you’re cooking smells amazing!"