Anna Navare could clearly hear the beating of her heart, so strong that she could not help but worry about being noticed by Mr. Leo on the other side of the dining table.

The "sudden attack" of the bad thing was not discussed with her in advance, so at this moment, perhaps she was the person who was most surprised at the dining table.

But she tried her best to keep her restrainedness and acted in line with Winters' attitude.

Anna couldn't help but start to think randomly. She felt panic and uneasy, and even a little annoyed: "He...I haven't agreed to him yet!"

However, deep down, an emotion called expectation ripples irresistible.

Anna held her breath and waited for Mr. Leo's reply.

Leo put down his spoon, sat upright, and answered sincerely and formulaicly: "Marriage is a big event, with etiquette and process. Mr. Montane, if you want to marry Miss Navare, your elders should first negotiate with Madame Navare. As for me? I cannot represent Madame Navare's attitude."

"It's not difficult." Winters had a plan, so he sighed: "General Serbiati understands and respects my wishes. He will bless Anna and me. As for procedures such as signing a marriage contract, my aunt can come forward, and I will write to her now."

Hearing Winters' optimistic plan, a bitter smile appeared on the corner of Leo's mouth, and he shook his head.

Winters was puzzled and wanted to continue asking questions. But he didn't speak because he noticed that Anna's face suddenly turned pale.

He subconsciously held Anna's hand, and faint feedback was transmitted from his palm and Anna also held his hand.

"Mr. Leo." Anna's voice trembled: "Where is Mrs. Navare?"

“In the sea blue.”

"Please allow me to ask another question, where is Anna Navare?"

"You are asking knowingly, Miss Anna." Leo replied with a smile: "Of course, it's also in the sea blue."

Winters felt as if Anna had been exhausted for a moment, and her body became shaky. He subconsciously wanted to get up and cross the table to hug Anna, but Anna had recovered as usual in an instant.

"Please stop playing the puzzle." Winters questioned Mr. Leo with anger: "Isn't Anna sitting in front of you?"

"You are joking, Mr. Montagne." Leo replied slowly, "I can guarantee with my life that Miss Anna Navare will not appear anywhere except Sea Blue at this moment. To be precise, she is in the Convent of San Mie and Miss Catherine, and she is there too."

By the time Mr. Leo was halfway through, Winters had roughly understood Mrs. Navare's attitude.

Recalling the amiable image of the lady in my memory, Winters realized that he actually didn't know Anna's mother at all.

He looked at Anna with concern. Mrs. Navare's toughness and coldness were beyond imagination. Winters blamed himself for not discussing with Anna in advance what the worst situation would be.

Anna also looked at Winters and said with her eyes, "Don't worry, I'm fine."

Leo sighed deeply. Although he was prepared for it, he felt a little reluctant to do so when it was time to showdown.

"Miss Anna, Mr. Montagne." Leo coughed lightly and looked at the two of them sincerely: "Can I not be a partner of Navare's business in private, but only half of Miss Anna's uncle and half of your friends say a few words?"

"How come it's just half a friend?" Winters held Anna's hand: "Please say."

Winters dared not try too hard, for fear of pinching Anna; he also wanted to hold it as tight as possible because he wanted to give Anna even the slightest support.

"When starting from Hailan, the lady only entrusted me to do one thing." Leo carefully considered the words and tried not to stimulate Anna as much as possible: "That is to bring Miss Catherine back to Hailan."

Although Leo said it very tactfully, the message conveyed was clear: as long as Madame Navare went back, as for Anna, she was not even mentioned.

Winters' heart sank. Judging from Mr. Leo's previous statement, Mrs. Navare's failure to ask Mr. Leo to bring Anna back to the sea blue does not mean that Mrs. Navare acquiesced to Anna stay by his side. On the contrary, indifference is the most severe punishment.

Leo thought about it over and over again and decided to make the words clearer.

Leo looked at Anna, slowing his tone as much as possible: "Miss Anna."

Anna also looked at Mr. Leo and signaled that she was listening.

"So keep staying in the Iron Peak County." Leo said word by word: "You can be Anna Montagne, you can be Anna Serbiati, you can be anyone, but you will not be Anna Navare. Anna Navare will be the nun in the Monastery of St. Miye who gave up all worldly rights."

Anna nodded slightly while listening, her calm expression made Winters feel a little uneasy.

"But even if you return to Hailan, how will the lady react... I don't know either. You may be the heiress of the Navare family, you may be sent to a convent, or you may be arranged to marry directly." Leo was silent for a long time and said helplessly: "You really made the lady very angry, very angry, very angry, she... she hasn't even mentioned you once."

Another depressing silence.

"Thank you, Uncle Leo." Anna nodded calmly: "I get it."

Winters was very uneasy. The more calm Anna was, the more uneasy Winters was.

When Winters wanted to continue asking Mr. Leo, Anna was already urging the two to start.

"Please try this braised beef tripe." She smiled and handed the plate: "I have tried my best to restore it according to the Hailan method, but because I lacked a few seasonings, I don't know if it suits your appetite."

The material of [Braised Beef Tripe] is beef wrinkle stomach. This dish originated from Baihuacheng and is a favorite food for textile workers. Beef shui is a despised ingredient, so the price is very cheap and ordinary hired workers can afford it.

After the introduction of the sea blue, the braised beef wrinkle stomach quickly captured the stomach of the dock workers. Therefore, according to the unwritten division method, the braised beef wrinkle stomach is a "dock dish". Before Winters went to Benwei's house to eat it every now and then, the braised beef wrinkle stomach was at least half the responsibility.

It is rare for Anna to cook sea blue vegetables in person, but unfortunately Winters is really not in the mood to enjoy it.

The dinner ended in a dull atmosphere, Winters didn't know what to say, and Mr. Leo also lost his usual skills of making jokes.

Only Anna is still performing her hostess’ duties: maintaining the atmosphere of conversation and introducing meals to guests…it seems like nothing happened.

Leo didn't stay for a long time, so he moved the tableware a few times and said he hurriedly.

Winters and Anna sent Mr. Leo out of the compound of the single officer's apartment. Compared to the male owner who was somewhat unnatural, the female owner was polite and reserved throughout the whole process.

Seeing Mr. Leo disappear into the night, Winters felt that he should say something.

He hugged Anna and said in as relaxed tone as possible: "It seems that your mother gave you to me."

But the next moment, Winters could no longer say any jokes, because Anna was already crying.

"How can mom do this?" Anna cried so sadly.

...

...

Hearing the guests left, Catherine and Scarlett sneaked into the restaurant.

Catherine glanced at the dining table and said confidently: "It seems that the atmosphere is not very good."

"How do you know?" Scarlett asked back.

"You'll know when you look at the plate?" Catherine picked up the knife and poked the fish on the plate: "I didn't move much."

"Don't touch if you don't eat." Scarlett hit Catherine's hand, and she felt very sorry: "It's a waste, I'll take it to the guards."

At this moment, Winters helped Anna, who was almost unstable, walk back to the apartment.

Katherine heard Anna's crying and rushed out of the restaurant to check.

"What happened?" Katherine stood at the door in surprise, glaring at Winters: "Did you bully her?"

When Anna heard her sister's voice, she rushed into her arms and cried sadly.

Anna's sudden abnormal behavior surprised and scared Catherine. She hugged her sister stiffly and patted Anna's back gently: "Okay, it's okay...what is wrong?"

"Mom." Anna's tears wet her sister's hair: "How can mom do this?"

...

...

Five minutes later, the living room of Winters' residence.

Anna no longer continued to cry uncontrollably, but was still sobbing quietly.

"What the hell is wrong?" Catherine sat in the soft chair with her sister in her arms, looking at Winters suspiciously: "Did mom threaten Anna?"

Winters sat across from the other side and sighed: "Even worse, Mrs. Navare didn't even make any threats."

So Winters repeated Mr. Leo's words. Katherine frowned and listened carefully at the beginning, but the more she listened, the less she disagreed.

"What did I think it was?" Catherine exclaimed and took the opportunity to rub Anna's hair, enjoying the pleasure of being a sister for a while: "It turns out that it is just a severance of the mother-daughter relationship?"

As soon as this was said, not only Winters, but even Anna also opened her red and swollen eyes and looked at Catherine.

"After all, sister, you just have experienced too little. You have never been taught a lesson by your mother, so when you really get angry, you will be scared into a little bird." Catherine was a little satisfied: "I don't believe that my mother really dares to break off a mother-daughter relationship with you."

Winters adjusted his focus uneasyly: "No, I feel that Mrs. Navare's attitude is firm, not like she is bluffing."

"Yes." Catherine snorted: "If you don't think she's serious, why can't my mother bluff?"

"Kate." Anna sobbed quietly, saying intermittently: "I think my mom is really angry."

"Of course! Mom must be so angry. She might even think about killing someone." Catherine glanced at Winters and looked at her sister: "But, just like I said. She won't do anything to you."

"But..." Anna wanted to speak but stopped. Catherine's words obviously couldn't reassure her.

Winters also felt that Catherine's attitude was too frivolous and unreliable.

Seeing that Katherine could not convince Anna or Winters, she couldn't help but feel annoyed.

She plucked up her courage and pinched her sister's face: "You, you have been holding you tightly since you were a child. Even if you are so far away, she is still controlling you. Since you don't believe me, I will not say anything, just let you do."

"Don't...don't..." Anna hugged her sister tightly and begged in a low voice: "Kate, don't..."

This moment may be Anna's most vulnerable time, at least in her unfinished life, Katherine has never seen her sister in this state.

"Oh, what are you afraid of?" Catherine also hugged her poor sister and comforted her softly: "Isn't there any grandpa? Grandpa loves you so much, why are you afraid of your mother doing? Mom threatens you, but her father is standing by your side."

"Grandpa...I don't know if my grandfather will stand on my side..."

"It will definitely happen." At this point, Catherine felt a little jealous and she snorted softly: "Grandpa likes you the most. He has always been on your side, always."

Anna let out a soft "um" and her sob gradually subsided. She leaned against her sister's shoulder, and the two supported each other.
To be continued...