Chapter 556
Chris stopped.
Thank you, Chris,
The simple words hit harder than they should have, sending a ripple through something deep inside him.
He turned back toward the room.
Winter had already lowered her head and was wiping Richie’s hands, patiently teaching him the names of his fingers.
“This is your thumb. This is your index finger. And this one is your ring finger p>
She brought his little hand closer and pretended to sniff it.
“Let Mommy smell. Hmm. Stinky p>
“Hehehe p>
Richie burst into giggles and immediately held up his other hand, grinning from ear to ear.
“Mommy, smell p>
Winter’s attention was completely on him, as though the thank-you from a moment ago had never happened.
Chris looked away and headed downstairs.
Maybe Winter was deliberately avoiding him.
Either way, she didn’t bring Richie downstairs again before Chris left Blackwood Manor.
As the car pulled away, the morning sun was just rising over the hills.
Thin rays of light filtered through the bare branches lining the road and spilled through the car windows.
Most of the snow along the roadside had already melted.
Upstairs, Richie was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, playing with Winter’s fingers.
When he noticed her looking outside, he climbed into her lap and followed her gaze.
A black sedan was disappearing down the tree-lined drive beneath the pale morning light.
Richie’s eyes lit up.
“Daddy! Car p>
Winter came back to herself.
Her expression remained perfectly natural, as though she had only happened to glance outside.
She picked Richie up and headed toward the door.
3/4
Chapter 556
+15 Bonus
“After breakfast, we’ll go see Uncle William p>
In the car, Chris lowered the window and reached into a hidden compartment.
He pulled out an unopened pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
He flicked the lighter.
A blue flame appeared with a soft click.
The cigarettes had not expired.
The lighter still worked.
Chris tapped one cigarette from the pack, placed it between his lips, and lit it.
He hadn’t smoked in more than six months.
Ever since he started taking care of Richie himself, he had simply stopped.
Quitting had come surprisingly easily.
People always talked about how difficult it was to give up cigarettes.
Compared with forcing himself to stay away from Winter, quitting smoking had been nothing.
For three years, they had been married in name while sleeping in separate rooms right next to each other.
Chris had tried to keep her close without getting too close.
He had wanted to preserve whatever relationship they still had without driving her away, while also making sure too much contact with him didn’t trigger the memories hypnosis had buried.
He couldn’t let go of his hatred.
And he couldn’t let go of her either.
Dominic had told him more than once that there was something wrong with him.
There wasn’t.
Chris simply couldn’t live without her.
He had wanted a cigarette from the moment Winter appeared in front of him the night before.
A beam of sunlight passed through the window and fell across his eyes, but the darkness in them seemed to swallow it without leaving a trace.
Chris tapped the ash from his cigarette.
Then he spoke to Gavin, who was driving.
“Arrange a meeting with Dr. Nathan Gibson p>
Nathan Gibson was Winter’s therapist.
2/4
Chapter 556
Later that morning, Gavin escorted him to a private lounge at an exclusive club.
He stopped outside the door and knocked.
Chris’s cool voice came from inside.
“Come in p>
Gavin opened the door and gestured politely.
“Dr. Gibson, please p>
Chris looked toward the entrance.
The man who walked in wore a black leather jacket and casual pants.
He was lean, a little shorter than Gavin, probably around six feet tall.
His skin was fair, and his dark brown hair fell neatly around a pair of clear, sharp eyes. “Mr. Xander,” he said calmly. “Did you ask to see me because you need treatment p>
His tone was neither deferential nor confrontational.
Chris lifted his chin slightly toward the seat across from him.
“I think you already know why I asked you here p>
Nathan pressed his lips together briefly before sitting down.
“If you’re asking about Winter’s condition, I’m afraid I can’t discuss it with you p>
He met Chris’s gaze.
“She’s my patient. Her medical information is confidential p>
COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus
P
Comments
+15 Bonus
+2
Support
Share
GET IT
Sara Lili
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.