Seven Years of Winter Before Spring

Wendy went downstairs and saw Belinda seated in a wheelchair as Vivian pushed her inside, followed by a whole group of people carrying boxes and luggage.

“Well, look who finally decided to come downstairs.” Belinda lifted her eyelids with a cold smirk. “I thought you were planning to hide in your room for the rest of your life.”

Vivian stood beside her, holding a cup of tea. She said gently, “Belinda has just finished rehab. The doctor said she needs to walk around more.”

“Rehab?” Wendy’s gaze dropped to her legs.

Belinda patted her knees smugly. “Surprised? The doctor says I’m recovering well. Give it a little more time and I’ll be fully healed.”

She pointed upstairs. “Vivian will be living here from today on. It’ll be more convenient for her to take care of me. Whether you agree or not doesn’t matter.”

Wendy said nothing. She put on a faint smile and looked toward Miles.

He pursed his lips and said in a low voice, “Wendy has already agreed.”

Belinda froze for a moment, then let out a snort. “She finally learned to behave.”

Vivian immediately smiled and looped her arm affectionately through his mother’s.

“Belinda, let me help move the luggage upstairs.”

Belinda patted her hand. “Go ahead. Pick whichever room you like.”

Vivian’s eyes lit up. She hurried upstairs, and before long, there was a loud crash from above.

Wendy looked up and saw Vivian directing the house staff to take down the decorative painting in the hallway.

That painting was something she and Miles had chosen together. It was a painting of the ocean from their very first date.

“This painting is way too tacky. It doesn’t match the current décor anymore.” Vivian smiled cheerfully, tossing it aside. Then, she pointed at the photos on the wall. “Take these down too. They’re an eyesore.”

One by one, the photos were removed. One of them was their wedding portrait.

Miles stood at the foot of the stairs. His brows were furrowed as though he wanted to say something. Eventually, he only looked at Wendy. “Let them mess around for now. We can hang them back up later.”

Wendy smiled but said nothing.

Vivian poked her head out from upstairs, speaking in a sweet and soft tone, “Miles, I’d like to have the main bedroom! It’s closer to Belinda’s room, so it’ll be easier to take care of her.”

Belinda immediately nodded. “Yes, yes, that’s very thoughtful of you.”

Miles instinctively looked at Wendy like he was waiting for her to object.

However, Wendy simply nodded calmly. “That’s fine. I’ll move to the guest room.”

She turned around to go upstairs. Miles grabbed her wrist. “Something’s wrong with you.”

Wendy turned back to him. “What’s wrong? Wasn’t this what all of you wanted?”

“But you…” Miles frowned deeply. “You wouldn't have acted like this before.”

“Before?” Wendy let out a soft chuckle. “Isn’t this exactly what you want?”

She shook his hand off and walked straight into the master bedroom, beginning to pack her things.

Miles followed her in and stood by the door, watching as she folded her clothes and placed them into the suitcase, one by one. Finally, he could not help asking,

“What’s going on with you?”

Wendy replied while looking up, “I'm making room for you.”

Miles swallowed hard. In the end, he said nothing.

At seven that evening, Wendy went downstairs for dinner.

In the dining room, Belinda, Vivian, and Miles were already seated. The table was filled with dishes.

Vivian picked up a piece of fish and placed it into Belinda’s bowl. Her eyes curved into happy slits. “Vivian’s the thoughtful one, as always.”

Miles looked up and saw Wendy. He waved to her. “Come on over and eat.”

Wendy walked over and sat down. Her gaze swept across the table and suddenly stopped.

Every dish on the table was something she could not eat.

There was seafood, mangoes, peanuts… Every single one was something she was allergic to.

She lifted her eyes and met Belinda’s smile that did not reach her eyes.

Miles seemed completely unaware. He picked up a shrimp and put it into Vivian’s plate. “Try this. It’s your favorite.”

Vivian gave him a sweet smile. “Thank you, Miles.”

He then ladled a bowl of soup for his mother. When he turned to Wendy and saw she had not touched anything, he frowned. “Stop sulking. You need to eat.”

Wendy was stunned for a moment.

He did not remember.

She had a seafood allergy. Once, just a single accidental bite of shrimp had sent her to the hospital in the middle of the night.

That night, Miles stayed by her bedside the entire time. His eyes were red, and he said, “I’ll make sure to pick out everything you’re allergic to from now on.”

Now, he was serving shrimp to Vivian, soup to his mother, yet he could not remember a single thing she could not eat.

She lowered her eyes, picked up her cutlery, and slowly chewed on some plain greens.

Suddenly, Belinda said, “Miles, Vivian’s been with you for all this time and never asked for a thing. She only wants a wedding. What do you think?”

Miles paused for a moment, instinctively glancing at Wendy.

Vivian immediately replied, sounding aggrieved, “Belinda, don’t make things hard for Miles. I-I’m fine, really.”

Belinda patted her hand. “That won’t do. I can’t let you stay with him with no status to your name.”

The dining table fell silent for a few seconds.

Miles hesitated, then said in a low voice, “I’ll talk it over with Wendy.”

“No need,” Wendy suddenly said.

Everyone looked at her.

She set down her cutlery and said calmly, “That’s fine. Go ahead and have the wedding.”