Her Hidden Hero from the Unwritten Page novel Chapter 34

Hearing Clarence Lennox's voice behind her, Winona immediately turned around.

Clarence had been out fishing again. He was dressed in relaxed casual wear, holding a small red bucket, sporting a shadow of stubble on his chin, and looking delightfully unkempt.

"Just thinking about stuff."

Clarence set the bucket down. "Fight with Herbert?"

"No." Winona reached under the table and pinched her own thigh hard. A jolt of pain shot through her, and she squeezed out two perfectly timed tears. The transparent drops clung to her lashes before rolling down her cheeks.

"Oh, sweetheart!"

Clarence hurriedly sat down next to her. Realizing he hadn't washed his hands after fishing, he held them awkwardly in the air, completely at a loss. "Why are you crying?"

Winona sniffled and stayed silent.

Clarence frantically grabbed a tissue and handed it to her.

Winona took it but didn't wipe her face. Was he joking? Managing to squeeze out those two tears had pushed her to her absolute limit. If she wiped them, they'd be gone.

Clarence racked his brain. The only person who ever managed to upset his precious daughter was that Xavier kid.

He switched into a soothing, parental tone. "Over half of the Xavier family's annual business comes from us carrying them. He's the one who needs to be bending over backwards to please you, not the other way around."

"It really has nothing to do with him. I'm upset because of Mom." Winona let out a small sob.

Clarence froze.

With absolute vulnerability, Winona voiced the question that had been buried in her heart for ages. "Why does Mom always ignore me?"

Clarence was silent for a long time. For a moment, the only sound in the massive living room was the steady ticking of the wall clock.

He gently placed a hand on Winona's shoulder and patted it softly.

With a heavy sigh, he murmured, "Your mother carries a lot of old baggage that she just can't get over. She isn't ignoring you... she doesn't even want to face herself."

Old baggage?

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