How to Train Your Ex-Billionaire novel Chapter 236

"Winifred, don't be so sarcastic. I didn't say it was your fault," Queena said, her voice laced with resentment. "If you want to blame someone, blame the Collinses. That whole family is rotten to the core. Your father, your grandparents, your uncle—all of them."

Winifred hung up without another word.

No matter what they talked about, Queena always brought up her father.

Yvan must have overheard the conversation. He held Winifred tightly, his heart aching for her. "Winifred, it's okay," he comforted her.

Winifred said nothing, but tears welled up in her eyes.

Yvan stroked her back in silence. Once she had calmed down a bit, he asked, "Winifred, did you see your father in Oakwood City?"

"No, they tricked me into going back," Winifred said, wiping her eyes. "My father wasn't there."

"Did you try to look for him?"

Winifred shook her head. "No, I didn't."

Yvan paused. "Do you want to find him?"

Her voice was heavy with sadness. "He probably doesn't want to see me. If he did, he would have found me by now."

"But you still want to see him, don't you?" Yvan said, stroking her hair. "I can tell you still care about him. So why don't you try to find him yourself?"

Winifred remained silent.

"Are you afraid to face him? Afraid you'll be disappointed if you find him?" Yvan asked, looking down at her.

Winifred clenched her fists.

Yes, she was afraid. Afraid that the father who once adored her had changed, that he'd become just like Fiona and the others, looking at her with nothing but disdain and coldness.

She didn't want her father to have become that person.

She would rather never know, to just keep her head buried in the sand.

Yvan looked at Winifred with heartache, caressing her face. "Winifred, if you're missing him, you should try to find him. No matter what happens, you still have me, right? I'll always be with you."

Winifred looked up at Yvan, their eyes meeting.

Yvan continued, "Instead of carrying this knot in your heart forever, why not try to face it? If your father really has changed, then you can let him go, treat him as if he's gone. But what if he had his reasons? You'd miss the chance to reconnect with him."

Winifred was stunned.

Yvan let out a breath of relief. He was glad she wasn't blaming him.

"No, I didn't," Yvan said. "It's strange. The only information I could find was that he used to be a regular officer at the Oakwood City Police Department. After that, nothing. My contacts can't find out where he is now, or even if he's dead or alive."

Winifred was stunned.

How could that be? Did something happen to her father? But even if something happened, there should be some record, even a death certificate.

"Winifred, don't panic," Yvan soothed her. "My guy said it's possible your dad is involved in some kind of confidential work, which is why outsiders can't find anything. If you go to the police department and ask in person, you might get a different result. You are his daughter, after all."

Winifred instinctively stood up. "I'll see when I have time…"

"Winifred, calm down," Yvan said, gently pushing her back down. "Finding your dad can wait. I'll go with you when we have a solid lead. For the next couple of days, just try to rest and relax."

"Alright, then," Winifred agreed hesitantly.

Suddenly, Winifred's phone rang. She looked at the screen and saw it was the property management for her father's apartment.

"Ms. Spencer, there's a problem. Your family showed up and they're causing a scene," a panicked voice said on the other end.