Chapter 269
Before she could explain, Skyla looked up and saw that Chris had already turned and walked away. He had no interest in hearing her out.
She stared at his tall, broad back as he stood under the porch and lit a cigarette. Then he headed down the steps and left without a single glance behind him.
Skyla bit down hard, her eyes red.
Why hadn’t he said a word about what had happened at Westbury that morning?
Why hadn’t he brought up the fact that she had hired someone to kill Winter?
Was it because of the one thing protecting her from him, her blood?
What exactly was her blood to Chris?
Who was so important to him?
Unfortunately, no matter how many people she secretly sent to investigate, they found nothing.
Before getting into the car, Chris left one instruction for the bodyguards.
“Keep a close eye on her. No more accidents involving blood loss p>
“Yes, sir p>
It was late, and all of Blackwood Manor had gone quiet.
After giving instructions to the guards heading out on patrol, Gavin reminded them to keep the noise down as they passed the main house so they wouldn’t disturb Winter.
Then suddenly, the sound of alarms blared behind them.
What should have been a dark, quiet building was now sending smoke curling out through the windows.
“Fire p>
Gavin’s expression changed at once. Flames had erupted on the dark second floor of the old main house, and smoke was pouring out of the windows.
He immediately ordered everyone to put out the fire. He was about to rush inside himself. Chris was gone, and Winter was still upstairs. He had to get her out personally.
But just as he took a long stride forward, he stopped short, his expression turning grave.
He looked toward the other side of the property.
The fire was so big that nearly all the guards at Blackwood Manor had been pulled here. Only a few were still left at the outer posts.
A gap had opened in their defenses.
It was the perfect chance to escape.
Winter wasn’t an ordinary woman. She was fearless, bold, and just as Dominic had said, once pushed too far, there
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was no telling what she would do.
Setting the house on fire sounded exactly like something she would dare to do.
If it really was her, nobody else here would be able to stop her.
Gavin held his position and stayed where he was, directing the firefighting efforts. At the same time, he sent people up to Winter’s room on the second floor to check for her, while keeping watch on the movement around the outer walls.
Just then, the sound of a car engine came from behind them.
The car pulled straight into the courtyard, and Chris shoved open the door and got out.
The flames on the second floor were growing fast, burning hotter by the second. Firelight reflected in Chris’s dark eyes, and his heart clenched hard.
“ Where’s Winter p>
Gavin answered at once. “I already sent people up to look for her p>
Before he could finish, Chris was already moving toward the burning house.
Gavin instinctively reached out to stop him.
Gavin had time to think through the situation.
Chris didn’t.
It was as if he had no time even to process what he was seeing. His body moved on instinct, charging straight into the fire. His face was drawn tight with tension.
“Woof!
“Woof! Woof! Woof! ”
A large German shepherd came racing down from the second floor, barking wildly at Chris and Gavin.
It ran straight to Chris and barked up at him.
“Woof! Woof p>
The dog was smart and quick. If it had made it out and was barking like that, then someone had to still be upstairs.
And at this hour, the only person upstairs could be Winter.
Gavin hurried after Chris as he charged up to the second floor.
At that same moment, just as the two of them rushed into the fire, a slender figure quietly slipped out from the far side of the house.
The main house was huge, and everyone was focused on the fire. No one noticed the figure sprinting straight toward the black car parked in the courtyard.
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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.