Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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He didn’t look away until he heard a door slam in the room next door. Only then did he slowly pull his gaze back and pick up the photo Winter had dropped in her panic.
The picture was bent from her grip. He smoothed it out, glanced once at the tiny foot, then slid it under his pillow.
Winter had barely been back in her room when her phone rang. It was Jimmy.
After she hung up, she took a long, steady breath.
Jimmy said he had already added her to the applicant list for the Eveland foreign correspondent posting.
She didn’t have to guess how that happened. Skyla had helped. Otherwise, Jimmy wouldn’t have moved that fast or given her a definite answer so soon.
She never thought she would see the day when two love rivals could agree on something, especially when she was the one involved.
Still, it meant the plan was finally in motion.
With her background and credentials, the review shouldn’t be a problem. That meant that in less than six weeks, she would be leaving with the media team for Eveland. The assignment would last three years, and it could be even longer.
Winter lay on the bed and rolled onto her side, propping her head on one hand. Her phone rested in the other. On the floor, General lay there nudging the cane with his front paws like it was a toy.
The emptiness in her chest came back, quiet and heavy.
She stayed on top of the covers and drifted off without meaning to. A faint, clean scent lingered in the air. Within minutes, she was asleep.
She didn’t notice the door open.
General, half–dozing on the floor, jolted upright. His ears went up. He stared toward the doorway and let
out a low whine.
Then he relaxed, lowered his head, and went right back to sleep.
The next morning, Winter froze mid–motion as she pushed the blanket aside. When had she fallen asleep last night? How had she slept that deeply?
Her eyes landed on a jacket draped over the ottoman. She had no memory of taking her clothes off.
She rubbed her forehead. Maybe she had just been exhausted and passed out without realizing it. And if someone had come into her room, General would have barked. She hadn’t heard anything all night.
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After she washed up, she went to Mrs. Xander Sr.’s room and stayed with her through the day. Chris was busy, just like he had said at the hospital. After last night, Winter didn’t see him again.
That evening, after dinner, she finally drove away from the Xander estate.
She pulled into a private fitness club.
The club belonged to William. There were security cameras everywhere, and the staff were all his people. It was safe. No random outsiders were getting in, especially with Zion tightening security like William had ordered.
Winter had already changed into workout clothes. She asked Zion, “Is the coach here p>
Zion nodded. “He’s here. He’s always on time p>
Honestly, Zion was more than capable of training her himself. He just didn’t dare. He was afraid he would accidentally hurt her, and William would blame him.
So for something like combat training, they had to bring in an outsider.
Winter tightened her ponytail and walked toward a room down the hall.
Inside, a man sat sideways on a sofa. He was tall and broad–shouldered. He was the kind of build that looked dangerous even when he was still.
As Winter stepped in, he was pulling on black leather gloves.
His head was lowered. A baseball cap shadowed the top half of his face, and a black mask covered the
lower half.
When he heard her, he turned slightly. His dark brown eyes lifted and settled on her, calm and
unreadable.
A soft click sounded as the magnetic clasp on his glove snapped into place.
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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.