Chapter 83
When Winter opened her eyes, someone was sitting by her bed.
He looked like he had just crawled out of a construction site, dusty and disheveled. It startled her. “You… why are you back?” Her throat was raw and dry. Swallowing felt like dragging a blade down her
throat.
William frowned at the sound of her hoarse voice. He stood, poured a glass of warm water, and walked back to her bedside, about to help her drink.
Winter’s first thought was that lying down like this made drinking awkward. The hospital room probably didn’t have straws either.
Before he could say anything, she spoke first. “I’ll open my mouth. Just tilt the cup and pour slowly. Not too much or I’ll choke p>
William froze, instantly picturing what she described. He clicked his tongue. “You’re ridiculous p>
He sat on the edge of the bed, slid an arm behind her back, and pulled her up against his chest. He brought the rim of the cup to her cracked lips. “Are you allergic to romance p>
“We’re both just…” Winter thought better of it and stopped, continuing to drink instead.
After finishing the water, she looked at him again. “I can’t exactly feel romantic looking at you like this. Weren’t you filming? When did you switch careers to coal mining p>
William almost rolled his eyes. “I just wrapped a demolition scene. Then I heard you were kidnapped. I didn’t even wash my face. I came straight back. And this is the thanks I get?” 1
She knew he had been filming. The coal–mining comment was her attempt to lighten the mood.
Truth was, getting kidnapped had been her own carelessness. Seeing his sour expression made her feel
guilty.
“It wasn’t that big of a deal,” she said lightly.
Not a big deal?
If Chris had arrived even a little later, she would have been blown apart.
There was a knock at the door. Zion stepped in. “Sir, Skyla’s here. She says she wants to see Ms. Scott p>
Winter frowned.
If Skyla came, it was probably because of Chris.
She was about to respond when William covered her mouth with his hand and turned to Zion. “Let her wait p>
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He eased Winter back down against the pillow. “Not everyone deserves to see you. I’d like to see how someone who doesn’t even have a rightful place here still has the nerve to walk through that door.” Winter lay back and watched him drag a chair toward the door with one hand. If someone didn’t know better, they would think he was going to start a fight.
He opened the door and saw Skyla sitting in her wheelchair. A smirk flickered across his lips.
He shut the door behind him, pulled over a chair, and dropped into it across from her like he owned the place. He crossed one leg over the other, every inch the Zeller heir.
“See? I’m sitting,” he said. “Now you don’t have to strain your neck looking up at me p>
He made it sound thoughtful.
Skyla had known him her whole life. If William Zeller was ever truly being considerate, sarcasm wouldn’t
exist.
He had always been biased. All his loyalty had leaned toward Winter from the very beginning. He had known Winter first. Skyla had only grown close to him because of Winter.
“Is Winter awake?” she asked calmly.
“What does that have to do with you?” William folded his arms. Even seated, his height dwarfed her. He looked down at her. “In another era, you’d be the woman hidden away on the side. Not even acknowledged. So what right do you have to be here p>
“I just heard she was hurt and wanted to check on her. I didn’t mean anything else p>
Skyla’s voice remained perfectly calm. There wasn’t a flicker of irritation at William’s sarcasm.
He had seen this before. Her composure wasn’t ordinary.
“What could you mean? Chris got hurt saving her, so you’re feeling miserable and decided to come here to assert your presence p>
A faint, serene smile touched Skyla’s lips. “Chris saved her because he’s a man of honor. Why would I be miserable p>
Honor. What a convenient word.
William remembered that night outside Winter’s apartment. Skyla had played the gracious old family friend, polite and perfectly detached.
The second she realized a divorce was on the table, she stopped hovering on the sidelines. She started acting like a contender.
William had seen ambitious women move fast. He had never seen anyone this eager to stake a claim.
“Believe whatever you want,” William said coolly. “You saw how Winnie treats him. He went to save her because he chose to. She didn’t beg. So you can stand in front of her all you want. She won’t care p>
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His eyes darkened, a sharp edge flashing through them. “Stay away from her. Or even Chris won’t be able to protect you p>
He turned to Zion. “Zion, watch the door. Don’t let any uninvited guests in to disturb Winter.” William went back into the room. Winter was staring at the ceiling, clearly having heard everything outside.
He walked over and leaned into her line of sight, his face appearing above hers.
For a split second, something slipped through her eyes. There was a flash of disappointment she didn’t manage to hide in time. But the moment she took in his dust–covered, ash–smudged face, she burst out laughing.
The thought of him going off on Skyla looking like he had just crawled out of a demolition site made it worse. She couldn’t stop.
She laughed until tears slid from the corners of her eyes.
William reached out and brushed them away with his thumb.
So she was still hurting after all.
He let out a quiet sigh.
“Get some sleep. In the morning I’ll go buy you something good p>
Winter closed her eyes.
She was exhausted. Her body weak. It didn’t take long before she fell asleep. William sat there a while longer before finally getting up to wash his face.
When she woke again, daylight filled the room. William was gone. She stepped out and learned he had gone to buy breakfast.
“Ms. Scott, where are you going?” Zion followed closely behind her.
He wasn’t about to lose her again. William would skin him alive.
“Just for a walk, ” she said casually.
She flexed her sore arm. Her gaze drifted toward another room down the hall.
Only two rooms on this floor were occupied. She didn’t need to guess who was in the other one.
Skyla had come in the middle of the night. William had said Chris was hurt saving her.
Before she realized it, Winter found herself walking toward that room.
As she reached the door, a nurse stepped out. The nurse paused, gave her a slight nod, and left.
The door wasn’t fully closed.
Through the gap, she saw Skyla sitting by the bed, using a cloth to gently wipe Chris’s hand. Suddenly, Chris’s hand moved. He reached out and caught Skyla’s hand in his.
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Florence
A passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.