Silly Bride

Chapter 288

but something personal cropped up, so I have to hurry back.Mr. Speiser looked angry just now. If you don’t feel at ease with his presence on your way back, at least you’ll still have me around. We’re friends, I can even carry your luggage for free.”“Well, let’s go then!” Winnie did not try to question him anymore at that.The two of them soon packed and left the place.Winnie, who had been keeping an eye on her surroundings, noticed that Wilhelm was nowhere to be found.Nathaniel, too, noticed it and commented, “It looks like Mr. Speiser has left. It seems like the argument you had with him earlier was quite bad.”Winnie frowned and huffed. “Who cares about him? We’ll go there ourselves.”Nathaniel nodded and helped Winnie open the door. He had already called for a cab to send them to the airport, and that car was waiting for them a short distance away.“That way. We’ll be taking that car to the airport.”Yet, just as Nathaniel put their suitcases in the trunk and was about to open the car door for Winnie, Wilhelm popped out of nowhere.He grabbed Winnie’s arm and grumbled, “Why aren’t you going into my car?”Winnie’s eyes went wide. “I thought you left.”At that, Wilhelm became angrier. “I came here to look for you, so how can I possibly leave alone?”Nathaniel never expected Wilhelm to stay in a car outside the motel the whole time either.However, when he noticed the tension between Winnie and Wilhelm, he stepped forward, thinking of clarifying things up.Yet, just as he started his sentence, Wilhelm glared at him. “Stay away from my sister!”“Wilhelm Speiser!” Winnie stared at her brother in dismay. “Why are you taking your anger out on my friend? Have you lost your mind?”Instead of replying to her, Wilhelm took Winnie’s suitcase from Nathaniel’s hands and pulled Winnie into his own car.Winnie did not struggle, for she did not want to drag the innocent Nathaniel into the mess.Nevertheless, once Winnie was in the car, she exploded. “You’ve really let me down today, Wilhelm. Are you still the brother I admired?”Just as Wilhelm began driving, his phone rang.He grabbed his phone and threw it on Winnie’s lap. “Pick up the call.”Not only was Wilhelm ignoring her, but he was even asking her to pick up the call for him. That irked Winnie.Still, when she saw that it was grandma who was calling, the wrath in her chest dissipated partially.She then put the call on speaker before switching to a tone as lighthearted as she could.“Grandma, it’s me, Winnie. Wilhelm’s driving right now.”“Oh, it’s you, Winnie.” Emily’s voice soon traveled out of the speaker. “It looks like your brother has picked you up. That’s great. Are you planning to come back now?”“Yes, we’re on our way to the airport. We’ll be back soon.”“How was your mountain climbing experience? Did you enjoy yourself?”“It was good, and I had fun.”“I’m glad to hear that. But, Winnie…” Emily abruptly lowered her voice. “I saw that a reporter posted a photo of you and Nathaniel. He even wrote suggestive things in the article. Did you go there together?”“What?” Winnie’s brows snapped together in shock, but she soon recomposed herself. “That’s so unprofessional of that reporter. Nathaniel and I noticed him sneaking shots of us, and I’ve asked him to delete the photos in person. I never thought he would make copies. I should have been warier. But Nathaniel and I only bumped into each other. Moreover, we’re just business partners and friends. It’s not like what they say. Grandma, you said you wouldn’t intervene in my marriage in the past. I—”“That’s enough,” Wilhelm interrupted. “We’ll talk about this when we’re home. Talking about this now will only affect my driving.”“You—”Emily could hear something amiss about the way the siblings were talking with each other, so she called out to Winnie. “Winnie, let me have a few words with you alone.”Winnie knew what her grandmother wanted, so she turned off the hands-free mode.That way, Wilhelm would not be able to hear what Emily had to say to her.“What is it, Grandma? I’m listening.”“Here’s the thing, Winnie,” Emily quietly started. “I sense the tension between you and Wilhelm. I’m sure he has expressed his thoughts about you and that Mr. Fairchild from Chanaea. You’re angry, and I’ve expected that. But Winnie, I hope you’ll be more understanding. Wilhelm isn’t the only one worried as your grandpa and I are worried too. We don’t wish to accept your marriage just like this because we don’t know Mr. Fairchild that well. That’s why I’m hoping that you’ll try to put yourself in Wilhelm’s shoes. He’s terribly worried that love has made you blind, and he’s anxious that you’ll be scammed and feel hurt afterward. He’s worried that Nathaniel has come to you because of your looks, and he’s worried that Mr. Fairchild wants to be with you because of your status. He might seem hostile toward Nathaniel and Mr. Fairchild, but he doesn’t really mean to do that. Maybe he’s a little too forceful about this, but I won’t take a stance as extreme as his. I just hope that you can arrange a meeting between Mr. Fairchild and us as soon as possible. We need to make sure that Mr. Fairchild is a good man.”It was the same concept, but Emily’s gentle explanation—which was completely different from Wilhelm’s style—made it much easier for Winnie to accept it.Subconsciously, Winnie turned to give a glance at her brother, her anger toward him no longer as intense.Emily was still explaining things to her, and she said many things to Winnie, who gradually figured out the worry Wilhelm felt about the possibility of his dear younger sister getting hurt in a bad relationship.No wonder he was so aggressive toward Nathaniel as well. I thought he was venting his anger on him, but it looks like he was equally worried about me getting hurt in my relationship with Nathaniel.After that, at Emily’s request, Winnie turned on the speakers again.Emily then said, “Wilhelm, I’ve talked to Winnie, and now, she knows what’s going on in your mind. But please be nicer to her. You’re her brother, and you should take care of your sister.”Wilhelm’s eyes flicked to the side to peek at Winnie. “As long as she doesn’t side with outsiders too often.”A laugh came from Emily. “Look, Winnie, your brother is just jealous.”At the end of the day, they were a family. After the call, Winnie was no longer as angry, and she even fed Wilhelm a piece of chewing gum.“Have it. It’s your favorite.”Wilhelm’s cold expression finally softened a little, but his tone was still grim.“You’re not allowed to tell him anything when we test him, and you’re not allowed to help him out either.”Winnie gave him a