Chapter 596

Cheryl had returned to the Lynn residence. Donald waited until the whole family had gathered before telling Cheryl, “Actually, today is Mom and Dad’s wedding anniversary.”

Cheryl had no idea about this, and Werner looked visibly awkward. He’d completely forgotten the day, his eyes flickering with a mix of guilt and shame.

Seeing the blank look on Werner’s face, Cathy felt her heart plummet yet again.

“Celebrate what? What’s even worth celebrating?” Cathy muttered bitterly, then turned and walked straight to the kitchen alone.

“Mom!” Cheryl called out sweetly as she ran over and wrapped her arms around Cathy’s shoulders, putting on her most charming pout. “It’s all Donald’s fault for not telling me sooner. Let me order you some flowers right now, okay?”

Cathy said flatly, “No need.”

“But I’m still going to order them anyway,” Cheryl insisted playfully. “Let me check with Donald if he’s ordered a cake yet; if not, I’ll just get both together.”

Cathy stayed silent, her face unreadable.

The children had arranged this anniversary celebration for her and Werner, but as the wife in this marriage, Cathy had absolutely no desire to mark the occasion.

Only she knew that if it weren’t for the kids, she would have had it out with Werner long ago.

Donald ordered some takeout. Since Jennifer was working late and couldn’t make it, it was just the four of them.

“Mom, Dad, you’ve both worked so hard all these years,” Donald said as he poured red wine into two wine glasses, handing one to Werner and the other to Cathy.

Cheryl teased playfully, “Come on, Mom and Dad, how about a sweetheart toast?”

Werner chuckled and looked at Cathy. “Well, since the kids said so, why don’t we have a sweetheart toast?”

Cathy’s glass slipped from her fingers and crashed to the floor, shards scattering everywhere, an ominous sign of things to come. With an eerily calm expression, she said flatly, “Go get the broom and clean this up.”

“Mom, let me get this. You don’t want to cut yourself,” Donald said, quickly standing up.

Werner pressed his lips together, his expression strained as he set down the solitary glass in his hand.

Cheryl propped her chin on her hand, looking puzzled as she asked Werner, “Dad, what’s up with Mom?”

“Your mom’s perfectly fine,” Werner said without missing a beat, casually picking up some food for Cheryl as he continued eating.

Cheryl pouted. “Dad, don’t you think Mom’s acting kind of weird? There’s nothing going on between you and her, right?”

Werner reassured her, “Your mother and I are perfectly fine. Don’t go reading into things.”

“Oh, right! Dad, what about that car you promised me? I’ve already gotten my driver’s license,” Cheryl said excitedly.

Werner’s hand, holding the fork, froze mid–air. He fidgeted and stammered, “I already ordered it for you a while back.”

Cheryl pressed impatiently, “So when exactly will my car get here? I’m dying to drive it.”

Werner replied, “Soon.”

‘How soon is ‘soon,’ exactly? Will I be able to drive it this month?” Cheryl pressed eagerly.

Faced with Cheryl’s barrage of questions, Werner averted his gaze, unable to give her a straight answer.

With the broken glass cleaned up and Donald still busy in the kitchen, Cathy had just settled back into her seat when Cheryl went over, clung to her mother’s arm, and pouted, “Mom, Dad said he ordered my car. When exactly is it coming?”

Cathy’s eyes finally flickered with emotion. Her lips twisted into a bitter smile as she said flatly, “Your car is gone.”

Cheryl froze. “What do you mean?”

Cathy shot Werner a sharp glare, then snapped at Cheryl, “Go ask your dad.”