Chapter 45 - Quarrel Between Siblings

It just happened that George had enough time to offer Winter an invitation before Marcellus and Ace appeared in the scene.

Contrary to what he seemed to be claiming, she could handle the situation well enough. She may not be able to manage or control people like what he said, but in the first place, there really was no need for such a thing. Though she does want something from her targets, she already learned her lesson from that one with Violet - 

Winter thinks that she shouldn't treat them as mere objects of interest.

They have feelings and circumstances too, and they deserve to have a kind of relationship that isn't limited to their line of work. That said, she hopes to have something more to her connection with them. She knows that the world they live in is different from hers, but she at least wants to understand them in a deeper sense. 

'For this man, however, doing that may be meaningless...' Winter thought in silence as she glanced at Marcellus. 

'Despite being a flirt, he had a hard time understanding people's feelings and thoughts. I doubt he even had any true experience in love. So, in a way, he is only book smart. He couldn't relate to most others, and he didn't want to open up to anyone.' 

When she was still his wife, those were the things she had observed.

Of course, she didn't mean to judge him. Ever since back then, he was already that kind of person. He had that childish, boyish side of him - acting all cool and tough in front of a girl, that is. He hates revealing his weaknesses or being pitied on. Though insufferable, it's kind of sad to see him like a mere vessel of his ambitions and aspirations.

"What's with the silence? Have something on your mind...?" Marcellus chimed in all of the sudden, making Winter snap out of her thoughts.

"I'm getting the feeling that you're still not telling me something, Ms. Agreste."

"Well, yeah, I still have something to tell you. It's about Sir George. He invited me to a party that one of the Ratri's branch families will be holding."

"Wait, what now?" 

"He did mention that he wanted to make it up to me for abducting me, right? This is it."

"And what if it's a trap? The Ratri's don't often invite outsiders to social gatherings like that, you know. Can't you be a little more suspicious?"

"And can't you be a little more open-minded? This is just a party. It's a perfect opportunity to get to know one another. Chill out, okay? Besides, you're going with me."

"I am?"

"You don't want to?" 

"No, I'm going."

"Then, it's settled."

It doesn't settle well with him that she can be this nonchalant, though.

She probably doesn't even know what it means to attend that kind of event. Since the Ratri's will be holding it, something big must be going on. They don't usually gather around for nothing, after all.

"Say, Ms. Agreste, do you know what's the party will be all about?" he asked while he only continued to look ahead and drive down the road. 

"Sir George mentioned something about a project. So, I'm guessing that it's a celebration for the opening of their underground bar and casino. I believe they started doing that somewhat clandestine business around this time, though I only learned about it some years later," she brought up, piquing his interest.

"An underground bar and casino? How did you even learn something like that?"

"Ummm... Intuition of a time traveler?"

"So, you're not sure?"

"There's only one way to find out~"

Marcellus wouldn't really recommend whatever Winter was scheming, but then, he also couldn't deny that he was curious himself.

--- 

After Marcellus dropped Winter at her home, they bid each other farewells and parted ways.

She went inside and planned how she would spend the remaining hours of the day, not really expecting that someone would be there to welcome her. As soon as she got to the living room, she was taken aback to learn that she was not actually alone. 

"You returned a bit earlier than usual, I see."

August is there, leaning on the wall ahead of Winter.

He had his arms crossed, and he had his scowl worn. Upset nor displeased would not be the correct terms - he seems exasperated. For once, he nailed the image of a strict guardian who was actually concerned. But since this is her elder brother, she has a doubt or two.

"Why are you here? I thought you went out," Winter started without faltering from his intent gaze.

"And I thought you're in a bookstore - studying or something. Didn't know you'd be fooling around," August claimed, making her flare up in indignance.

"Say what now? Who's fooling around-"

"Who dropped you off, Winter?"

That's when she faltered at last.

He sounded so aggravated that he looked intimidating. It's almost like he's about to blow up at that moment. There are suspicion and alarm on his expression. Though she knew she didn't do anything wrong, the way he talked made her feel like she did.

"I saw it, you know. You're in someone's car. And I was able to make out that it's a man inside there - and that both of you were alone..." he continued as he started taking steps closer to her.

"Is he also the reason why you keep staying out late? Just what in the world are you doing? What is you relationship with him?"

Now, August is practically towering over Winter.

He's standing right in front of her, getting more and more infuriated in each passing second. She discerned that he must have been bottling it all up for some time. It's unusual to see him losing his cool like this, especially since he always looks cold.   

She did plan to keep this a secret for a while longer, but it seemed like it was just really bound to get found out in one way or another. 

"There's nothing going on between us. We only know each other," Winter eventually answered after a moment of silence on her part.

"Oh, really? Acquaintances? That's it?" August muttered with skepticism.

"What do you want me to say? He's my sugar daddy or something? You know me better than that, August!"

"No, I don't. I no longer know anything about you lately, Winter-"

"Well, you never cared!"

She didn't mean to say that out loud, but she already felt like she was getting cornered.

He fell silent right then, and so did she. For a fraction of time, he remained thunderstruck as he stared down at her. She chose to turn away and evade his gaze, regretting getting too caught up in her emotions. Saying that he didn't care wouldn't be a reasonable excuse - he did care.

But it's just that he never cared enough back then.

"Then, how were you actually seeing my meddling and snooping around...?" August then began once more, offended by what Winter said.   

"I may have felt obliged to take you in so that you would not get sent back to the orphanage, but that did not mean I never cared about you. I know we're not that close, and I don't open up to you. I had been taking you for granted too. But why would I be this troubled and worried? Why would I keep thinking about you and what you were doing every single time? I'm very concerned, you know."

Looking in pain, he then turns back around and takes a moment to gather himself together, keeping his feelings at bay. 

She can only stand still the whole time, watching him in nonplus. For a second there, she thought for sure that he was about to go bare with his emotions. He seemed really hurt and frustrated. 

Winter couldn't help but feel guilty - she must have been too absorbed in what happened in the past.

Perhaps, August had changed too. Like how her relationship with Marcellus changed, theirs did too. She was so focused on other things that she forgot about this particular matter. And because of that, she failed to notice the signs. She does recall that he keeps asking her in every opportunity he gets.

He is not merely paying attention anymore - he probably does care in a sincere way.

"I'm sorry. I may have said too much..." August trailed off and took a deep breath before sparing Winter one last glance.   

"I will not force you to tell me. Going by what you said, you must have already felt too restrained because of me. It's my fault for not taking care of you well enough. And I get that you'd been holding back for a long time. I'm sorry for being a failure of a brother." 

With those as his last words, he started to walk away and take his leave. Conflicted, she couldn't respond until then - she was still absorbing it all in. But at least now, one things is for certain.

August valued Winter much more than she thought.