Chapter 9

Winter grimaced as the morning sun streamed through the window, rudely intruding on her sleep. With a soft groan, she shielded her eyes with her hand, attempting to block out the unwelcome brightness before groggily stirring from her sleep. She had a sweet dream last night, with Aiden pulling her hand to walk in a vast, empty meadow where nobody would disturb them.

It was peaceful and quiet, with him slowly caressing her cheek, telling her to rest because she had already gone through a lot. 

'Too bad it's just a dream…'

Winter got up as she had to be ready to face her reality. She took a long shower before emerging from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body.

Standing before the dresser, she stared at her reflection. 

Her straight, dark brown hair was still a little damp because the hair dryer didn't work, somehow. 

She was thin and frail, a delicate figure she had carried since she was young. She also had a pale complexion that made her look sickly. However, over the next two years, the weight of Sebastian and Camilla's cruel treatments bore heavily upon her slender frame, making her even thinner.

Winter laughed wryly at herself. "No wonder Sebastian cheated on me. I don't think any man except Aiden would fall in love with this face and body. "

It also confirmed her suspicion that Sebastian never saw her as wife material.

"He married me for money. That's all." Winter had a self-mocking smile as she accepted her fate.

"Well, what should I wear to the office today?" Winter talked to herself as she went through her wardrobe in the dressing room. 

Honestly, Winter didn't know what she would do in the office. She rarely went there because she knew that Aiden was very busy in the office, and thus, she kept her distance when she married Sebastian and let him run the company completely without intervention. 

It was so bad that nobody except Sebastian recognized her anymore because she was never there.

And even after she confirmed her identity, those workers simply thought of her as 'Mr. Sebastian Saenz's wife.'

Even though she was actually the one who owned more than half of the company's stock, she was the de facto owner of Goldmine Realty because Aiden gave everything to HER, not Sebastian. 

Thus, even if she did nothing in that office, she still had to come and show her face so everyone wouldn't forget her and would gradually understand that she was the company's true owner. 

On top of that, she also wanted to know what Sebastian had been up to. Even if they weren't on good terms, he wouldn't kick his wife and make a scene in the office, right?

"After all, you're a man who cares so much about people's opinion, Sebastian Saenz," Winter sneered. 

Since Winter had a thin body, she avoided wearing jeans or any tight outfit, fearing they would only make her look thinner. So, her wardrobe was filled with dresses, ranging from loose maxi dresses and luxurious party gowns, to sundresses and vintage styles that most women wore in the 50s.

She had a lot of choices, but her eyes darted at the black dress she wore during Aiden's funeral.

She actually had a few more black dresses because she liked the colour that made her feel safe and secure. But she rarely used them because Aiden had commented that they made her look somber. 

Running her fingers over the fabric of the dress she had worn to Aiden's funeral, Winter remembered the tears that had stained it.

"You told me that you don't like me wearing a black dress because it makes me look sad and depressed. But I am sad and depressed now that you're gone. So I'm allowed to wear this, right, Aiden?" 

Winter smiled as she picked the black dress, deciding to wear it to the office today. 

She applied light makeup and sunscreen because of summer, and then let her hair cascade loosely around her shoulders. 

Staring at herself in the dressing mirror again, she nodded. "Alright, I'm ready to face him now."

Winter called Arthur and instructed him to prepare the car while she headed to the basement parking lot. 

Arthur was stunned seeing his Madam wearing a black dress today, especially in the summer.

"What's with your reaction, Arthur? Do I look ugly in this dress?" Winter teased.

"No, Madam, you're as beautiful as ever," Arthur complimented truthfully. He opened the car door for his Madam and asked, "But, do you have to attend a funeral today? Where do you want to go?"

Winter raised an eyebrow. "Can I not wear a black dress to go to the office?"

"Mr. Kirk's—I mean, Goldmine Realty?" Arthur quickly corrected himself after he accidentally mentioned Aiden's surname. 

"Yes."

"But… are you sure you want to go there?"

"Why do you ask that? Am I not allowed to visit a company my late husband owned?" Winter challenged. "Don't forget, I'm the new owner now."

"It's not that, Madam. I'm just worried that you might not be well received there by that greedy bloodsucker," Arthur explained. "Maybe I should accompany you inside the office, just in case something happens."

"You don't need to worry about me. I'm sure Sebastian knows better than to cause a scene in a public space," Winter reassured him. 

Arthur started the engine and pulled out of the basement parking lot. 

"Is there any specific reason you want to go to the office, Madam?"

Winter thought Arthur was a bit fussy, but she knew he was just worried about her safety. So she replied, "I don't want to be an ignorant woman who knows nothing about the company that she owns. I want to see what Sebastian has been up to, and I want the employees to recognize me as Madam Winter, the one in charge, not just Sebastian's ignorant wife."

Arthur was amazed by his Madam's dedication, and he nodded firmly, "Let's go to the office, Madam. You deserve to be seen and acknowledged by your employees."