Chapter 108 - Encounter With The Supposed-to-be Fiance

Winter had to take a moment to let it settle upon her.

The e-mail she received is about the homecoming party that will be held to celebrate the return of the former head of Lexington Empire, Harold, who is also Marcellus's uncle. He had been travelling from one country to another ever since he passed down the position to his nephew a year or so ago. However, rather than inviting her as a Middleton, she is invited as the mysterious investor of several businesses whose identity remains a secret up until the present. 

That alone already gave Winter the impression that Marcellus didn't know about this invitation being sent to her. If he did know about it, his company wouldn't have to send an e-mail to her alias. He would've just informed her in personal.

'Mr. Harold Lexington, huh…?' she pondered, trying to recall any memory she had of her uncle-in-law in her past life.

"I didn't see him that much since he's always travelling. The first and last time he showed up was during our wedding. This comeback party of his was held before I met Sir Lexington and got in an arranged marriage with him. So, I'm not sure what to expect. It can turn out to be a bit of a problem, though. This is the first time my alias has been invited to such a huge gathering instead of my representative. The invitation even specifically mentioned that I should attend.' 

Winter knows that she can just turn it down, but because this is a Lexington she is dealing with, she will still have to cross paths with Harold sooner or later and in one way or another. She is also getting the feeling that Marcellus will introduce her to him. Moreover, considering that he rarely returns to this country, this homecoming party is a very special event for both him and his nephew. 

'In all honesty, I'm still not sure how exactly I will reveal my identity as an anonymous investor. I have to do it before I succeed Uncle Cyrus since all of my prior transactions and dealings will be part of Middleton Corporation. Once they're officially recognized as our company's projects, I'll be able to attract more business partners and strengthen my relations with our existing ones, considering that the influence of the Middleton's is more widespread than that of my alias.' 

Winter remains absorbed in her thoughts for a moment longer.

That's until she realized that she forgot about her stalker once more. Fortunately, she has now arrived in a crowded spot at the park. Whoever is following her will not be able to take her away that easily – if ever that is his plan. But since there is also the possibility that it's only a spy, she decides to act as natural as a normal teenage girl. And by that, she needs to avoid getting into contact with anyone who is involved with her alias. 

'If this is Uncle Cyrus or Bianca or Aunt Grace, there's no doubt that they will gather as much information as they can on me. They've probably started to get suspicious of me-'

Right then, Winter came to a pause. 

All of a sudden, she heard an infant crying, and soon as she turned in that direction, she found an all-too-familiar someone sitting on a bench and attending to a baby stroller at the side. The wails went on and on until they began catching attention from other people. The parent of the child must not be around since she can't see any sign of them.

With that, they're left at the care of the least person she thinks will care about some toddler's needs.   

'Jacob Minerva?' 

Winter seems to have started to get used with getting into accidental encounters with her adopted elder sister's fiance, so she isn't really as taken aback as she thinks she should be. 

Apparently, Jacob is the one who is sitting on that beach right now, babysitting an infant. It's the first time she's seeing him wearing a casual attire, which gives her the impression that he doesn't have work today. He also has his eyeglasses on as well as a couple of books to keep him company – and also, a toddler who keeps on crying.

'Why isn't he trying to calm the baby down? He's only staring at them as if they're gonna stop once he does it intently enough…' Winter wondered as she watched how useless Jacob could be at this kind of situation.

'Oh, who am I kidding? Of course, this guy doesn't know the first thing in babysitting.'

Out of pity for the infant, she decided to approach them even though she was considering the likelihood that he was also spying on her along with that stranger earlier. Doing what she's planning to do will not do her any harm, though. It's not like he's someone she should avoid at all costs no matter how cunning he is.     

In fact, since Jacob is Bianca's future husband, Winter should at least act like she is on good terms with him. 

"Sir Minerva," she called out to him, making him perk up in surprise.

"Ms. Middleton? What are you doing here?" he asked with a baffled look, and for a second, she almost bought that he was not connected to the spy who had been trailing after her.

"I'm on a picnic with my friends nearby. More importantly, aren't you going to do anything about the baby?"

"Oh, ummm… Right. I should do something."

Though he said that, he still didn't do anything. He just looked at them with palpable uncertainty. Sighing, she then asked him again, "Could it be that you don't know how to calm a baby?" 

"I'm afraid I don't."

"Figures. Whose child is it, by the way?"

"Her mother asked me to look after them. She left in a hurry, so apart from not being able to know the reason why, I had no choice but to do as she told."

"Gosh. What kind of mother would leave her baby to a stranger?"

"Tell me about it."

For the first time, they seem to be on the same page. 

Since the child is their priority right now, she put aside their strained relationship and other circumstances in the meantime. She offered to help him and went ahead to take the infant out of the stroller. He was caught off guard to see her carrying them with ease.

"You…" Jacob breathed then trailed off, standing up to take a closer look on how to do it.

"You know how to take care of a baby?"

"I'm not an expert, but I at least can tell what they need…" Winter said before letting out a small giggle, endeared by how cute the baby was as they bubbled with laughter. 

"And right now, I think they want some upsy-daisy~!"

"Oh, you're pretty good at it."

"Yeah? I may have some sort of babysitting talent."

She didn't mean to say that as a joke, but he appeared to have found it funny as he chuckled a little. For once, she thought he looked like an ordinary guy. And for some reason, she doesn't feel tense and guarded around him like how she usually feels.

"Say, Sir Minerva…" she started again, wanting to inquire something.

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh, my secretary and colleagues forced me to take a break…" he replied then cut himself off as soon as he realized he must have said something he should not.

"I mean, I'm on a break."

"I heard you, you know. What's this about being forced to take a break?"

"It's nothing you should concern yourself with, Ms. Middleton."

When Jacob said that with a downcast gaze, Winter felt like she was meddling. 

But she doesn't regret it at all. Between the two of them, he's more of a busybody. Not only is he most probably aware that she shares a close relationship with Marcellus and Ace, but she also keeps crossing paths with him like this. Whether it's intentional or not, it makes her want to be on guard around him all the time.

Yet strangely, at this moment, she doesn't feel the need to.

"You're still as little as this baby when I first saw you..." he commented out of nowhere, much to her surprise.

"The last time was before you went missing. You were just a year old back then."

"Wait, you met me before…?" she questioned while tilting her head quizzically.

"Surely, my sister is still not your fiancée at that time since she hasn't been adopted yet, right?"

"You're right. I met you for a reason, though. Before you disappeared, you're supposed to be my future bride."    

Winter was thunderstruck upon hearing that. Jacob remained silent, somewhat enigmatic. 

She didn't know that. She had no idea at all. 

To begin with, she thought that he was the one who proposed to Bianca, going by how smooth-sailing their relationship was. She doesn't know about him, but she's certain that her adopted elder sister loves him. Yet to think that she's supposed to be his fiancée – that's quite shocking.

'So then, if I hadn't disappeared, I would've been engaged to this dude?'