Chapter 240
Chapter 240
Half asleep, Winter heard General bark.
She opened her sleepy eyes and had just started to turn over, reaching for the bedside lamp, when a cold voice snapped through the darkness.
“Out p>
General let out a low whine, but the second he met the man’s bloodshot, icy–black eyes, he turned and ran.
It was Chris.
Before Winter could react, the hand she had reached out with was suddenly caught. His tall frame came down over her, pinning her hand beside the pillow as his mouth crashed onto hers. The kiss was burning hot, thick with the sharp taste of alcohol, and it swallowed every sound she tried to make.
“Mmph p>
Winter twisted desperately, trying to get away, but Chris clamped a hand around her jaw and wouldn’t let her. His other hand caught the collar of her pajama top and yanked hard.
Buttons snapped loose and bounced across the hardwood floor.
His burning fingers caught the collar of her pajama top where it had been yanked down her arm. He buried his face against her neck and sucked a red mark into her skin, then let out a rough, uneven breath.
In the dim light, his black eyes were startlingly bright. Winter’s hair was a mess from his kisses, and her eyes were damp.
Chris stared at her for several long seconds, his expression dark and cold, his jaw locked tight. Then, without warning, he pushed himself off her, got to his feet, and walked out of the room. The door clicked shut behind him.
Winter lay there breathing hard, one hand clutched tight around the torn collar of her pajama top. For a long time, there were no footsteps outside the door.
Chris was still standing there.
The next morning, when Chris opened his bedroom door, Winter was just passing by from the direction of his
room.
She had showered and changed too. She carried the same body wash scent he did.
A sharp chill settled over his face.
Three minutes earlier, Gavin had called to tell him that William’s car had already reached the security gate at Blackwood Manor.
William had come to pick her up.
Without a word, they both headed for the stairs.
Just as Winter was about to step down, she caught Chris moving toward the staircase out of the corner of her eye, and her hand tightened at her side.
Then, all of a sudden, Chris grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, steadying her when she nearly lost her footing
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at the edge of the stairs.
He didn’t say a word. He only looked at her with those clear, icy eyes.
Winter’s heart tightened.
She tried to pull her hand free, but his grip only tightened around her wrist.
It wasn’t until she whispered, “That hurts,” her eyes rimmed red, that his expression shifted. He pulled her one step farther away from the edge of the stairs before finally letting go.
A red mark circled her wrist.
Winter didn’t spare it another thought. She hurried downstairs.
Then his voice came from behind her, cold as ice.
“Don’t even think about leaving Liono City. Anyone who helps you will pay for it with their life. William included p>
Winter stopped in her tracks. She bit down hard on her back teeth, then walked out without looking back.
After seeing Mrs. Young’s family, helping them load her belongings into the car, and saying goodbye to her ashes, Winter stood there and watched the car drive away. Then she got into William’s car and left Blackwood Manor too.
William drove her straight to Spring Garden, where Sasha had invited her to lunch.
Winter had originally turned her down. She wasn’t in the mood for anything like that right now. But Sasha had persuaded her for so long that she finally agreed.
Sasha looped her arm through Winter’s, and the two of them walked into the private dining room together.
The moment Winter walked in, she saw Steve already in the private room.
He came over to her, his eyes settling on her face. “Winnie, you’re here p>
His usual sharp, suited–up executive look was gone. Today, he was dressed casual instead.
The restaurant was warm, and he wore a black jacket over vintage–wash jeans. His chestnut hair looked like he had just run a hand through it, giving him a slightly rebellious edge. At first glance, he looked almost the same as he had a few years ago.
“ Aunt Sasha, didn’t you say it was just going to be the two of us?” Winter asked, confused.
Sasha tipped her chin toward Steve. “He was here having lunch with friends and happened to see me. Then he heard you were coming and insisted on waiting. He said he wanted to talk to you in person p>
Just then, Sasha’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen and said, “I need to take this. You two talk p>
On her way out, she pointed a warning finger at Steve. “And don’t bully Winnie the way you used to when you were kids. Got it p>
“Don’t worry,” Steve said. “I’m not about to bully her now p>
Once Sasha left, Steve pulled out a chair beside him for Winter.
Winter sat down without hesitation. “So what is it this time p>
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She still remembered the last time he had blocked her car just to mock her job and say she had brought all this on herself.
Steve bent down until his eyes were level with hers.
All he could think about was the scene from two nights ago, when she and Chris had dinner together at the garden
restaurant.
Instead of sitting down, he crouched in front of her and looked up at her.
“That day, when you were kneeling by the side gate at the Xander estate, did your knees hurt p>
Winter frowned slightly.
The truth was, her knees had still been aching two nights earlier, but when she woke up yesterday morning, they felt much better. When she changed clothes, she had even noticed a faint trace of medicated ointment on her skin.
P
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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.