Chapter 1337
Winona’s eyes were ice cold.
“To be honest with you, that year you kept me locked up? I was in pain every single day. Not just pain-despair p>
She gave a bitter laugh. “Can you imagine? The guy I loved basically put me under house arrest, then paraded his side chicks around like it was nothing. My heart hurt, my pride hurt-it was humiliating p>
“It wasn’t just humiliation-it was complete hopelessness. I really thought I’d never escape you… It was hell, Zane. Pure hell p>
As she spoke, Winona ground her heel down and snapped Zane’s finger with a sharp crack.
She reached for the paring knife, unlocked the basement cage, and stepped inside.
Zane hadn’t eaten in days. He could barely move, let alone fight her off.
He cradled his mangled hand, blood dripping everywhere, staring at Winona in terror.
“Wh-what are you doing? Y-you can’t… You can’t kill me. That’s illegal p>
Winona murmured, almost to herself, “All you’re feeling is a bit of fear. But you have no idea what real despair feels like p>
“You know I won’t actually kill you,” she continued, her voice eerily calm. “And I can’t keep you locked up as long as you did to me. So you’ll never truly understand what I went through p>
“But if you don’t at least taste a little of that hopelessness, how can we ever be done p>
She smiled, but there was nothing friendly about it. “Zane, remember what I told you? If you don’t love me, don’t mess with me. Because I am Winona p>
Her eyes dropped to Zane’s most vulnerable spot.
“I’m not some pushover like Sarah. Not a chance p>
Her smile turned wicked. Zane must’ve sensed what was coming his breath caught, total panic on his face.
“Winona, please don’t do anything stupid. We were married! I know I did you wrong, but-ahh p>
Winona kicked him hard between the legs. Zane doubled over, wheezing, almost passing out from the pain.
And then-
The knife flashed. One clean, brutal move. It was over.
Zane screamed—a single, ragged cry-then collapsed, unconscious.
A few minutes later, Winona was upstairs washing her hands with disinfectant. As she finished, the doorbell rang.
She opened the door to find the Newsom family’s old family doctor on the porch. “Ma’am p>
“He’s in the basement,” Winona said coolly. “You can take him straight to the hospital. Oh, and do me a favor-call Priscilla and tell her not to bother begging me for her son. He’s all hers now p>
“And if she has any ideas about calling the cops? Well, let’s see who ends up behind bars first-me, or her precious boy p>
“If she wants a fight, she knows where to find me p>
The doctor nodded, barely blinking, and hurried downstairs.
He took one look at Zane’s injuries and his lips twitched in shock. But he didn’t feel sorry for him-after all, Zane had almost ruined the entire Newsom family. Honestly, he was lucky to be alive.
Soon enough, Zane was taken away.
Winona sank onto the living room couch, wrapped her arms around a throw pillow, and just stared into space.
She’d loved once, really loved. Gave away the best years of her life.
From college sweethearts to wedding bells-the kind of love story people wrote movies about. And this was how it ended.
What a joke.
Keaton was right, she thought bitterly. Why get married at all? Wouldn’t it be better to just stay single? Marriage is nothing but trouble.
Her mind drifted to Keaton. She glanced at the time—just past five in the afternoon.
She exhaled, dragged herself up, and took a long, hot shower.
Afterward dressed in her comfiest pajamas, she tried to make dinner. Her cooking was as bad as
els
ever she burned the oatmeal to a
black crust.
Whatever. She gave up and ordered takeout.
While waiting for her food, she did her makeup, bold and glamorous, and slipped
into a striking red dress.
She stood in front of the mirror, taking herself in.
Divorced, vengeance served, soul in tatters-but what else did she have to lose?
Nothing, really.
She and Zane were done. Over. For good.
Winona tossed her long curls and winked at her reflection.
Still sad? Hell no.
Love who? Please. This woman doesn’t waste time on regret.
She’d survived the worst-she was still standing. She was still the queen.
Winona put on her sunglasses,
grabbed a lucky stone, tossed two bottles of expensive wine into ker Hermes bag, and slipped on a
pair of heels.
She hopped into her sports car and headed toward the Huber estate.
On the way, she picked up her pre-ordered takeout-pizza, wine, and a new
beginning.