Chapter 163

Chapter 163

The sky was getting dark as William drove Wendy home.

The car was quiet. After a moment, Wendy said, "Thank you."

She didn't call him Mr. Ford like she usually did to keep her distance.

This time, she meant it. William had put in far more effort than she'd seen.

"Don't thank me. Being able to help you — that's my pleasure." William's eyes were bright.

He looked at Wendy with a warmth he didn't even realize was showing.

Once Edward announced Wendy's identity, he could be with her openly, without holding back. With the Green family's backing, any other threats would simply disappear.

Wendy felt his gaze and looked away, a little embarrassed.

Something felt off about William today. Given where things stood between them, it was starting to feel... like more than it should. That made her uncomfortable.

"I'll go with you to the Green family dinner in a few days," William said.

Wendy's eyes lit up. She'd been a little nervous about it — the Greens were one of Bay City's most powerful families. Even as Alice, showing up out of nowhere would make a lot of people jealous. She wasn't ready to face all that, but she didn't want to let Edward and Hannah down either.

Having William there would make everything so much easier.

But then there was Evelyn.

"Would your fiancée mind?" The words were out before she could stop herself.

She immediately regretted it. Why did she sound so two-faced?

For the first time in a while, a real smile crossed William's face. "She's not my fiancée."

He could finally say it out loud.

Wendy stared at him. The news had been all over the place about William and Evelyn's engagement. Why was he still denying it?

William seemed to read her confusion. "The tabloids ran with it, and I just never bothered to take it down. Once we're back from Bay City, I'll set the record straight."

"Then what about Evelyn—"

Wendy wanted to ask why Evelyn had been going around calling herself his fiancée.

"Once things settle down for you, I'll explain everything." William reached over and gently ruffled her hair.

The tips of Wendy's ears turned red. They'd kept their distance for so long — moments this close were rare.

But hearing that there was nothing between him and Evelyn, Wendy felt something loosen in her chest without quite meaning to.

Back home, Wendy couldn't sleep.

Finding her birth parents felt like a dream. She pinched her cheek just to make sure it was real.

She thought back to the first time she'd met Hannah — how warm and familiar she'd felt right away. It all made sense now. It was fate.

God really had given her a family. And she hadn't been abandoned after all. She had parents who loved her. She had a grandfather.

It was all happening so fast. Wendy rolled around on her bed, too overwhelmed to stay still.

Eventually, she drifted off with a smile on her face.

The next day, William gave Wendy the day off to spend time with Hannah.

Hannah took her shopping, eager to buy her things. It was a mother's love for her daughter, and Wendy didn't say no.

Marlowe followed behind the two of them, smiling to herself. To see Hannah laugh again, to see her reunited with Alice — after all these years, it was more than she could have hoped for.

"Mom, we really have enough. We can't even carry all of this — the clothes, the jewelry..." Wendy tried to slow her down.

They'd been through nearly every store in the mall, and Hannah still wasn't satisfied.

"Alice, I love buying things for you. I've dreamed about this for years — taking my daughter shopping, dressing her up like a princess." Hannah was beaming.

Wendy let out a small sigh and gave in. "Okay, just a little more — but then can we please go eat? I'm starving."

They'd been at it since morning. Her feet were killing her.

Hannah had to be tired too, she just hadn't noticed in all the excitement. And her health had only just started to improve — she needed to take it easy.

That seemed to snap Hannah back. "Oh, look at me — I forgot to feed you! Alright, one more store and then we'll go get something good to eat."

Wendy looped her arm through Hannah's and leaned in. "You're the best, Mom."

She'd never been able to do this with Lisa. Lisa never let Wendy get close. Even talking to her, Wendy had to stand at a proper distance.

Her throat tightened and her eyes stung, but she held it together.

She wasn't an orphan anymore.

She had parents. She had a family.

The moment they walked into the store, a sales associate came right over.

"Welcome! Can I help you find something? We have some beautiful bags — would you like to take a look at this one?"

She was warm and enthusiastic. Wendy knew this brand. The rare pieces required bundled purchases, and even wealthy customers had to get on waiting lists.

Wendy had never been into luxury goods herself — she'd only heard about them from clients' wives over the years, enough to know the major names.

"I'll be right back — just need to use the restroom," Hannah said.

Wendy quickly asked Marlowe to go with her. "I'm fine on my own."

She let the associate walk her through the displays, and one bag caught her eye. "Can I take a look at that one?"

The associate unlocked the glass case with a smile. "Great taste — this just came in. It's one of our rare pieces. Only three exist worldwide, and we have one of them right here."

Wendy had barely taken it in her hands when someone snatched it away.

"You think you can actually afford something like this?" Evelyn looked her up and down with a sneer. "You couldn't buy this in fifty years even if you didn't eat."

She held the bag up, turning it over. "It really is gorgeous, though."

Then she turned to the sales associate. "Don't let someone so unrefined handle luxury bags this expensive. They leave a cheap, tacky aura on them, and we'll never be able to sell it afterward."

The associate looked between them, unsure what to do. After five or six years in this job, she'd gotten good at reading people. Wendy's clothes were plain, sure — but the older woman with her was wearing things that cost a small fortune. That's why she'd offered Wendy the rare bag in the first place.

Wendy smiled calmly. "It's fine, let her have it. I don't want it anymore. Can I see that one instead?"

It didn't really matter to her either way. She was just browsing.

"I want that one too." Evelyn said it like a reflex, just to be difficult.

Wendy frowned. "You're doing this on purpose."

"Just figured it out, did you? You don't belong in a store like this. You're making the whole place smell. Someone get her out of here." Evelyn waved her hand in front of her nose for effect.

That was it.

Wendy had been willing to let it go — it was just a bag. But Evelyn kept pushing.

Even someone with endless patience had a limit.

"I saw these first," Wendy said. "And I've changed my mind. I'm not giving them up."