Chapter 92 - Farewell To A Happy Normal Life

Winter has no idea what's happening with Marcellus at this moment.

But she can tell that he's going through a hard time. She can tell that there's something terribly wrong. Be it in their former life or their present one, not once did she see him this weak, delicate and vulnerable. She didn't even know that he had this side with him all along.

'He is just human, after all. No matter how perfect he looks on the outside, he still has his faults…' Winter sadly thought.

'In this case, I can't tell him about the Middleton's. At least not yet. I can't possibly burden him with my personal matters. I can't add to his problems. I'll have to save my confession for later. Right now, what's important is to get him back to his normal state and to know what's wrong.'    

With that in mind, she reaches out his hands to cup the sides of his head. She then gently pushes him back so she can look at him and says, "It's okay, Marcellus. You can tell me anything."

"It's not…" he croaked out, his voice breaking. 

"You don't know... You don't know what I did."

"What you did? What do you mean-"

"You don't know what I've done. You don't know what I've helped them do. You don't know how I used to be. You don't know how bad I was-"

"Indeed, I don't. I don't know. But I know you. And I know you're a good person."

"Being good doesn't excuse the horrible things that I did." 

With a trembling sigh, Marcellus places his hands on her arms and tries to push her away. But he is sick, so he fails. Using that to her advantage, she firmly keeps her place in front of him.

"I'm not going anywhere. Nothing you say or do will convince me otherwise," Winter told Marcellus at his weak attempt to shove her away. 

The words and the sentiment are so irrefutably 'Winter' that a feeble chuckle escapes his throat. With a small smile, he then blurted out, "You're always so stubborn. So bossy."

"I need to be…" she retorted as she pushed his hands off her arms. 

"For you."

And then, she lunges forward and pulls him in a tight embrace that catches him off guard.

The gesture causes him to recall a chant in his head – a chant that his grandmother had taught him in the hopes that he'd learn to leave his past behind and live in the present. The words had always felt like a meaningless chant, but in this girl's arms, they are finally set in stone.

'You're safe. You're free.'

With that, Marcellus hugs Winter back.

He buries his head in the crook of her neck, reveling in the embrace. There is still shame in him. There are still guilt and frustration and a helpless feeling of vulnerability. But there is also affection. There is relief. And there is the sensation of taking flight for the first time.

Winter pulls back and looks at Marcellus then. 

There's sincere devotion in her soft gaze that offers him something much greater, something much more powerful than forgiveness. And in that moment, with her arms still wrapped around his neck, the world seems to still, and all that remains is him and her – a fulfilled promise enveloping the space between them.

And Marcellus realizes that no matter what he did, no matter what he will fail to do or fail to be, this one area where he will never falter is with Winter.

Because no matter what happens, she always does the most important thing – 

She stays. 

---

Eventually, a whole month passed.

Winter felt like it was only yesterday that she had her reunion with Cyrus and Victor. As expected, news about the Middleton's long-lost daughter being found had spread across the country and even the neighboring nations. To this day, everyone's trying to figure out who she truly is while anticipating for the grand reveal that'll happen at the start of the succeeding month.

And now, Marie Claire High School's graduation finally arrived.

'There are rumors that say I'm an overachiever, a prodigy and even some sort of girl wonder. I can't say that they're completely wrong. After all, there are also rumors about my relationship with several esteemed personalities as well as my outstanding grades at school. Because of that, there are instances when people forget that I'm but a commoner from a middle-class family…' Winter thought to herself as she walked up the stage to deliver her Valedictorian speech.

'That's just the perfect first impression I've been looking for.'

Graduation is both the finish line and the starting gun of a student's life. 

It's elevating and humbling – for once a position of responsibility is reached, one has a greater sense of the challenges that they overcame. But as soon as the ceremonial rites are over, it becomes one emotional mess. 

Farewells filled with tears and laughter. Heart to heart talks and last-minute confessions. Then, of course, picture-taking everywhere.  

The senior year students of Marie Claire High School, in their pristine white robes, fill the school's front yard while exuding life and energy as if they are the perfect converters of emotions to movement. Everyone is in high spirits. But one group in particular is taking the spotlight like always. 

"Congratulations, my beloved idiots!" Courtney chirped, and for once, she did not get a retort.

"Despite being idiots, we can finally move on to college! Woohoo…!" Xander exclaimed zealously. 

"Who would've known we'd all get accepted to the same university, though?!" 

"Yeah, who would've known?" Maxine quipped with a teasing look.

"Says the school's number one troublemaker! You getting accepted is the most surprising!"

"And you graduating is the most surprising!"

"How come if you're dumber than me?!"

"Oh, yeah?!"

"Yeah!"

Through it all, Winter and Ace only watch them in silence from the side. 

They've already taken tons of pictures, so there's nothing left for them to do. Right now, everyone's in their own devices. August and Violet are together with the other guardians, talking about college, planning some after party or just simply making acquaintances.  

That's until a bright white limousine pulls into the school gates, attracting everyone's attention right away. 

Everyone marvels at the sheer whiteness of it – it's spotless. Almost like it's mainly designed to draw attention to itself. The door of the car opens and out steps a striking gentleman no one there has ever seen before.

Except for Winter, of course.

She knows his appearance all too well by now. As for her other classmates, though, the first thing they think of the stranger is, 'Damn. Snobby rich boy has come to town.'

Said snobby-rich-boy turns his head to smile and say something to whoever's driving. Ace hears Courtney pull Winter and Maxine close to whisper something. He and Xander listen in, somewhat intrigued.

"I've heard some of the girls in my cheerleading club talk about him…" Courtney said. 

"He appears in TV sometimes, and he's supposed to be loaded! Lots of girls are taken by him. He's only two years older than us, too!"

Winter glances at snobby-rich-boy, watching as he closes the car's door so gently she doubts he actually closed it properly. The others also observe quietly. He then looks in their direction the moment they do the same. Maxine nudges Courtney to keep her from saying anything more. 

Winter looks at them again before following their gazes.

Green eyes meet brown ones.

She grins, and waves a little. Trying to act lively, she then greets, "Hello there".

His eyes widen in surprise before softening. He then offers a small wave in return. With that, he walks into the school and makes his way to them.

Seeing this, August approaches Winter. 

She only gives him a nod, wordlessly telling him that she already knows what to do. It's not like he's not expecting an escort as well. Perhaps, he just didn't expect that someone he didn't see before would come instead of her uncle or their family's lawyer.

In accordance to the deal that August made with Cyrus and Victor, they will take Winter away 'right after' her graduation – and for some reason, the one who'll be doing that is her future brother-in-law, Jacob. 

"It's time to go, Ms. Winter Middleton." 

---

The Middleton family arranged a welcoming party for Winter on the afternoon of the same day.

'They're really rushing things, huh? They didn't even attend my graduation this morning. Now, they're acting all welcoming by throwing a party that I didn't have any say about.'

Along with August, she was escorted by Jacob to the venue of the event which is in one of the Minerva's resorts. It was Bianca who organized the whole thing. And what she came up with was an outdoor party at the resort's garden. 

'Since there'll be guests and all, she'll brag about this, of course. Not surprised that she took a fair amount of time preparing for it.. She did it more for herself than for me, though.'