Chapter 333 Marionette

Ana Navarre could clearly hear the beating of her heart, and the sound was so strong that she couldn't help but worry about being noticed by Mr. Leo on the other side of the table.

The "surprise attack" of the bad things was not discussed with her in advance, so at this moment, she was perhaps the most surprised person at the dinner table.

But she still tried to maintain restraint and appear to be on the same page as Winters.

Anna couldn't help but start thinking wildly. She felt panicked, uneasy, and even a little angry: "He... I haven't agreed to him yet!"

However, deep inside, an emotion called anticipation rippled uncontrollably.

Anna held her breath, waiting for Mr. Leo's reply.

Leo put down his spoon, sat upright, and replied sincerely and formulaically: "Marriage is a big event, with etiquette and procedures. Mr. Montagne, if you want to marry Miss Navarre, your elders should first come forward to marry Navarre. Mrs. Ray negotiates. As for me? I cannot represent Mrs. Navarre’s attitude.”

"It's not difficult." Winters had already planned. He breathed a sigh of relief: "General Serbetti understands and respects my wishes. He will bless me and Anna. As for the procedures such as signing a marriage contract, I can If my aunt comes forward, I will write to her right away.”

Hearing Winters' optimistic plan, a wry smile appeared on Leo's lips, and he shook his head.

Winters was puzzled and wanted to continue asking. But he didn't speak because he noticed that Anna's face suddenly turned pale.

He subconsciously held Anna's hand, and a weak feedback was sent back from his palm - Anna also held his hand.

"Mr. Leo." Anna's voice was trembling: "Where is Mrs. Navarre?"

"In Hailan."

"Allow me to ask one more question, where is Ana Navarre?"

"You asked knowingly, Miss Anna." Leo replied with a smile: "Of course it's also in Hailan."

Winters felt as if Anna's strength had been drained for a moment, and her body became shaky. He subconsciously wanted to get up and hug Anna across the table, but Anna returned to normal in an instant.

"Please stop playing riddles." Winters asked Mr. Leo with suppressed anger: "Isn't Anna sitting in front of you?"

"You are joking, Mr. Montagne." Leo replied calmly: "I can guarantee with my life that Miss Anna Navarre will not appear anywhere except Hailan at this moment. To be more precise , she is at the convent of Saint-Mihiel—and Mademoiselle Catherine, too."

Halfway through Mr. Leo's words, Winters had roughly understood Mrs. Navarre's attitude.

Recalling the amiable image of the lady in his memory, Winters realized that he actually didn't know Anna's mother at all.

He looked at Anna worriedly. Mrs. Navarre's toughness and cruelty were beyond imagination. Winters blamed himself for not discussing with Anna in advance what the worst-case scenario would be.

Anna also looked at Winters, saying "Don't worry, I'm fine" with her eyes.

Leo sighed deeply. Although he had been prepared for it, when it came time for the showdown, he couldn't bear it.

"Miss Anna, Mr. Montagne." Leo coughed lightly and looked at the two of them sincerely: "Can I please speak from a personal standpoint - not a partner of Navarre Firm, just half-uncle of Miss Anna? And half your friends—say a few words?”

"How can it be just half a friend?" Winters held Anna's hand: "Please tell me."

Winters didn't dare to squeeze too hard for fear of hurting Anna; but he wanted to squeeze as tightly as possible because he wanted to give Anna even the smallest support.

"When we set off from Hailan, Madam only entrusted me with one thing." Leo considered his words, trying not to irritate Anna as much as possible: "That is to bring Miss Catherine back to Hailan."

Although Leo said it tactfully, the message could not be more clear: Madame Navarre only wanted Catherine to go back, and as for Anna, she was not even mentioned.

Winters' heart sank. Judging from Mr. Leo's previous statement, Mrs. Navarre did not ask Mr. Leo to bring Anna back to Hailan, which does not mean that Mrs. Navarre acquiesced in Anna staying with him. On the contrary, indifference is the most severe punishment.

Leo thought about it again and decided to speak more clearly.

Leo looked at Anna and said as slowly as possible: "Miss Anna."

Anna also looked at Mr. Leo, indicating that she was listening.

“If you continue to stay in Tiefeng County.” Leo said word by word: “You can be Anna Montagne, you can be Anna Serbetti, you can be anyone, but you will no longer be Anna… Navarre. Anna Navarre will be the nun in the convent of Saint-Mihi who renounces all worldly rights.”

Anna nodded slightly while listening, her expression so calm that even Winters felt a little uneasy.

"But even if you return to Hailan, how will Madam react... I also don't know. You may still be the heiress of the Navarre family, or you may be sent to a monastery, or you may be directly arranged to marry." Leo was silent. After a long time, he said helplessly: "You really made Madam very angry, very angry, very angry. She...she didn't even mention you once."

There was another moment of oppressive silence.

"Thank you, Uncle Leo." Anna nodded calmly: "I understand."

Winters is uneasy, and the calmer Anna becomes, the more uneasy Winters becomes.

When Winters wanted to continue questioning Mr. Leo, Anna was already urging the two of them to start.

"Please try this braised beef tripe." She handed over the plate with a smile: "I have tried my best to recreate Hailan's recipe, but because there are a few missing seasonings, I don't know if it will suit your taste."

[Braised beef tripe] is made from beef abomasum. This dish originated from Baihua City and was originally a favorite food of textile workers. Cow offal is a despised ingredient, so it is very cheap and even ordinary hired workers can afford it.

After being introduced to Hailan, braised beef abomasum quickly captured the stomachs of dock workers. Therefore, according to the unwritten classification method, braised beef abomasum is a "dock dish". Before Winters went to school in Lian Province, he would sneak over to Benwei's house every now and then to eat. He was responsible for at least half of the braised beef tripe.

It's rare for Anna to cook seaweed in person, but it's a pity that Winters is really not in the mood to enjoy it.

The dinner ended in a dull atmosphere. Winters didn't know what to say, and Mr. Leo also lost his usual ability to make witty remarks.

Only Anna was still performing the duties of the hostess: maintaining the atmosphere of conversation, introducing the meals to the guests...as if nothing had happened.

Leo didn't stay long, simply moved the tableware a few times and left in a hurry.

Winters and Anna escorted Mr. Leo out of the courtyard of the single officers' apartment. Compared to the male host, who was a little unnatural, the hostess remained polite and reserved throughout the process.

Seeing Mr. Leo disappear into the night, Winters felt that he should say something.

He hugged Anna and said in as relaxed a tone as possible: "It seems that your mother gave you to me."

But the next moment, Winters could no longer say any wisecracks, because Anna was already crying.

"How could mom do this?" Anna cried so sadly.

…

…

Hearing the guests leaving, Catherine and Scarlett quietly slipped into the dining room.

Catherine glanced at the dining table and said firmly: "It seems that the atmosphere is not good."

"How do you know?" Scarlett asked.

"You can tell just by looking at the plate?" Catherine picked up the knife and poked the fish on the plate: "It didn't move much."

"Don't touch it if you don't want to eat it." Scarlett slapped Catherine's hand, and she felt very regretful: "What a waste. I'll bring it to the guard."

At this time, Winters helped Anna, who was almost unsteady, walk back to the apartment.

Catherine heard Anna's cry and rushed out of the restaurant to check.

"What happened?" Catherine stood at the door in surprise, glaring at Winters with her eyes wide open: "Did you bully her?"

When Anna heard her sister's voice, she threw herself into her arms and cried sadly.

Anna's sudden abnormal behavior surprised and frightened Catherine. She hugged her sister stiffly and patted Anna's back gently: "Okay, it's okay...what's wrong?"

"Mom." Anna's tears wet her sister's hair: "How could mom do this?"

…

…

Five minutes later, the living room of Winters' residence.

Anna had stopped crying uncontrollably, but was still sobbing quietly.

"What happened?" Catherine hugged her sister and sat on a soft chair, looking at Winters suspiciously: "Did mom threaten Anna?"

Winters sat across from him alone and sighed: "What's worse, Mrs. Navarre didn't even issue any threats."

So Winters repeated Mr. Leo's words. At first, Catherine frowned and listened carefully, but the more she listened, the more disapproving she became.

"What did I think it was?" Catherine shouted that she had been deceived. She took the opportunity to rub Anna's hair and briefly enjoyed the pleasure of being a sister: "So it means severing the relationship between mother and daughter?"

As soon as these words came out, not only Winters, but also Anna looked at Catherine with wide red and swollen eyes.

"After all, sister, you just have too little experience. You have never been taught a lesson by your mother, so when your mother gets angry, you will be scared into a little bird." Catherine said with a bit of complacency: "I I don’t believe that mom really dares to sever the mother-daughter relationship with you.”

Winters adjusted his focus uneasily: "No, I feel that Mrs. Navarre's attitude is very firm, and it doesn't seem like she is bluffing."

"Yes." Catherine snorted: "If you don't think she is serious, how can mom be bluffing?"

"Kate." Anna sobbed softly and said intermittently: "I think mom is really angry."

"Of course! Mom must be very angry. She may even have thought about killing someone." Catherine glanced at Winters, then looked at her sister: "But, like I said, she won't What to do with you."

"But..." Anna hesitated, and Catherine's words obviously couldn't make her feel at ease.

Winters also felt that Catherine's attitude was too frivolous and unreliable.

Seeing that Catherine couldn't convince Anna or Winters, she couldn't help but feel angry.

She plucked up the courage and pinched her sister's cheek: "You, your mother has been controlling you since you were a child. Even though she is so far away, she is still controlling you. Since you don't believe me, then I will Don’t say anything, just do whatever you want.”

"Don't...don't..." Anna hugged her sister tightly and begged softly: "Kate, don't..."

This moment may be Anna's most vulnerable time, at least in Catherine's short life she has never seen her sister in this state.

"Oh, what are you afraid of?" Catherine also hugged her poor sister and comforted her softly: "Isn't there still grandpa? Grandpa loves you so much, why are you afraid of mother? Mom threatens you, but her father stands It’s on your side.”

"Grandpa...I don't know if grandpa will be on my side..."

"I will definitely do it." At this point, Catherine felt a little jealous, and she snorted softly: "Grandpa likes you the most. He has always been on your side. He has always been."

Ana said softly, "Yeah", and her sobs gradually subsided. She leaned on her sister's shoulder, the two of them supporting each other.

Regardless of whether Catherine's words were reliable or not, Anna needed an anchor to stabilize her emotions, so she subconsciously chose to believe Catherine - for the time being.

Catherine hummed a nursery rhyme softly. This situation was warm and touching.

But a certain man watching may not think so.

Winters sat on the other side of the small living room, looking extremely embarrassed.

He couldn't stand, sit, walk, or stay. He didn't even know where to put his hands.

Catherine also noticed the discordant Winters. She motioned Winters out with her eyes, but Winters made no move.

"Mr. Montagne." Catherine had to break the warm tranquility. She said with a bright smile: "It's getting late. We can't keep you overnight. Please go back."

Winters became even more embarrassed: "This is where I live, yours is next door..."

Soon, Winters stopped talking. Anna's back was turned to Winters, and Winters couldn't see Anna's expression. But the message from Catherine's eyes was unmistakable - "Get out."

"Oh, okay... don't worry, don't cry, there's still me." Winters grabbed his coat, quickly walked through the living room, corridor and door, and walked into the vast winter night.

Winters, who was driven out of his residence with his hair standing on end by the cold wind, stood outside the door and didn't know where to go for a moment.

The single officers' apartment is not a house, but a dozen small independent houses in a compound for the temporary residence of single officers stationed in the garrison. Mason and Andre also live here.

Looking around, all the single-family houses in the compound were dark. Only Mason's residence had light shining through the window.

Winters thought for a moment, put on his coat, and walked to the senior's residence.

"Okay." Catherine patted her sister on the back and pushed her sister away from her shoulders: "He's gone."

Ana said softly "Hmm".

Catherine was furious. While arranging her sister's messy hair, she complained: "...he's just a stone-headed man. Don't you know that the lady needs some time to tidy up her appearance after venting her emotions? I have to remind him to retreat... ...But I am a perfect match for you, both have stone heads..."

Anna burst into laughter and hit her sister hard.

"Just now I was hugging her and crying, and now I'm getting violent again." Catherine was furious and prepared to fight back.

Suddenly, Catherine seemed to remember something, her expression became serious, and she took her sister's hand: "Anna."

Anna has not completely gotten rid of the feeling of loss, and she is even more caught off guard by the change in her sister's demeanor: "What's wrong?"

"Although I think that mother will not really sever the mother-daughter relationship with you; although I think that your return to Hailan now means that mother has won." Catherine said word by word: "But I also think that you should not continue to stay in Hailan." Here it is.”

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