Chapter 353


    The atmosphere in the hospital room seemed different.


    Giada smiled a smile that epassed the warmth of a spring breeze, one that Philip knew there was


    more than met the eye.


    It was a smile that removed herself from the narrative while she mocked and threatened at the same


    time.


    Standing from her seat, she walked toward Philip who looked as if his entire world had crashed. She


    spoke gently, “Take your time as you exin to Wynn, would you? We’ll meet again, very soon.”


    With that, Giada waved to bid Wynn farewell. “I’ll be leaving first then, Wynn. I’m sure Philip has his


    reasons to hide from you, so I do hope you’ll keep an open mind and hear him out.”


    Wynn was about to stand and send her out only to be held back by Philip.


    With no other choice, she smiled politely. “You cane over next time then, Aunt Giada.”


    “Oh?”


    There was a new hint of shock in Giada’s expression at the invitation. Her brows curved into a smile.


    “Very well then, I’ll visit when I have time. I’ll get going now, wouldn’t want to intrude on you two any


    longer after all.”


    Only after Wynn respectfully bode Giada farewell did Giada leave the room.


    This left Wynn and Philip alone in the hospital room.


    “Close the door,” Wynn instructed indifferently.


    Like a child who had been caught red-handed, Philip hummed a sound of acknowledgment and went to


    close the door.


    Anxiety stewed in his chest for he felt a fear he had never before.


    What did Giada tell Wynn?


    Was it his identity?


    Was it something else?


    “Sit.” Arms crossed, Wynn wore an expression of detachedposure.


    Earnestly, not unlike an elementary school student, Philip sat as he was told.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    “Good job, Philip rke. For how long have you been hiding this from me?”


    Wynn inquired, though the coldness of her tone seemed to carry hints of reproach.


    After sneaking a nce at Wynn, Philip got a p at his shoulder before he muttered, “S-Seven


    years…”


    ‘What?’


    Wynn’s eyebrows furrowed, unease written on her face as she pressed on. “Why’d you hide it from


    me? I’m your wife, am I not?”


    Philip, too, felt disheartened. Tugging on Wynn’s hand, he yed the guilty card. “Wynnie, I didn’t


    mean to… I had my reasons, I…”


    Watching Philip crestfallen before her, Wynn reached out a pale arm and flicked Philip’s forehead with


    a slender finger. “You’re my husband, Philip. You have to tell me about these things, okay? Sure, Aunt


    Giada’s your stepmom, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Why didn’t you tell me?”


    ‘Stepmom?’


    Philip was confused. In a rush, he asked, “What else did Giada tell you?”


    Wynn blinked. “Yeah! She told me she got married to your father after the death of your mother, and


    that the actual reason why she’s here in Riverdale is to check on how you’re doing. She also said that


    she hopes I can persuade you to go home, something about how your family needs you and how your


    dad’s side of the family wants you back too. Why didn’t you say yes? You’re father and son, what


    resentment can there possibly be between a father and his son? Find a time and clear your schedule.


    Go back and take a look, okay?”


    Despite understanding what was happening, Philip still felt uneasy and pressed on. “Did she say


    anything about what my family does? Or who I am?”


    ‘Just what is Giada Wallis nning?’


    “Isn’t your family in the restaurant business? You told mest time right?”


    Wynn asked suspiciously. Was Philip hiding something from her again?


    “Yeah, yeah. We’re in the restaurant business.”


    Philip’s hand came up to scratch at the back of his head while he continued to contemte what


    exactly Giada was plotting.


    ‘Holy sh*t! I almost sold myself out!’


    “Oh, and Philip? Aunt Giada said something about how Dad isn’t feeling very well these days. Are you


    really not going to visit?” Wynn asked.


    The hand holding the fruit knife froze at the question before Philip smiled and passed Wynn the apple


    he had cut. “Don’t worry about it so much. I’ll bring both you and M to visit after you get better, okay?”


    Wynn epted the apple. “I know there’s some sort of misunderstanding between you and Aunt


    Giada, but I don’t think she’s a bad person… She’s pretty well versed in a variety of topics. I think it’ll


    do both of you some good to sit down and chat sometime.”


    Despite not knowing what the misunderstanding Philip had with Giada, Wynn could tell that Philip was


    reluctant to let her know of Giada’s true identity from how he hid it from her thest time.


    However, Giada was still Philip’s stepmother.


    “It can’t be, right, Philip? That the reason why you hate her is ‘cause she hit you when you were a


    child?”


    Shocked, Wynn’s hand covered her petite mouth. Her eyes were blown wide as she recalled


    stereotypical rich household scenes from Korean dramas.


    ‘Does Philip have such a heart-wrenching childhood?’