Chapter 108
Winter recognized it instantly. It was the sapphire brooch from the auction, the one that had once been
hers.
Holding something she thought she had lost forever pulled her back to that bleak afternoon. Chris had been covered in blood, trapped in the wrecked car, unconscious.
Back then, she thought she was about to lose her whole world.
Her blood seemed to rush back into her chest. Winter closed her eyes slowly and curled her fingers tight around the brooch. Even now, the aftershock still made her heart clamp and tremble.
She didn’t have to guess who had put the box in her bag.
Maybe he slipped it in last night in the car. Maybe he came into her room after she fell asleep.
The petals dug into her palm, hurting just enough to pull her back to herself.
Winter opened her eyes and placed the brooch back into the small wooden box.
It carried a faint, clean wood scent, eerily similar to Chris’s.
Just smelling it made her chest ache.
Today was Saturday, but because of the adjusted holiday schedule, she still had to go in. She set the box on the nightstand and got up to wash up and get dressed.
She couldn’t settle down. Maybe it was the strange dream. Maybe it was the brooch. Either way, she felt off.
She knocked over her toothbrush cup while brushing. Then she caught her skin with the zipper while getting dressed and hissed in pain.
After a chaotic few minutes, she grabbed her bag and left the room.
The wooden box sat quietly on the nightstand.
Mrs. Young had made breakfast early and was waiting for her downstairs. The table was full of food Winter loved.
It had been days since she had eaten Mrs. Young’s cooking. Winter never neglected her own appetite. She sat down and tasted everything slowly, one bite at a time.
“Mrs. Young,” Winter said, half joking, “you should stop working here and come with me. I’ll take care of you when you’re older p>
Mrs. Young laughed and shook her head. “Work for you or work for him? You’re married. I’m staying right here and taking care of both of you p>
Winter ate her bowl of seafood chowder and grinned, carefree as ever. “No. You have to pick. If Chris and
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Chapter 108
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I both fell into the water, who would you save first p>
“Oh, stop.” Mrs. Young didn’t know whether to laugh or scold her. “Why would you even ask me that? Mr. Xander can swim. Of course I’d save you. But you two shouldn’t be apart p>
Winter just shook her head.
To Winter, Mrs. Young was impossible to convince. To Mrs. Young, Winter was exactly the same.
After breakfast, Winter stood up, ready to leave.
“Ma’am,” Mrs. Young called after her, hesitating.
Winter smiled. “What is it, Mrs. Young? Did you change your mind and decide you’re coming with me p>
Mrs. Young looked at her with a kind of helpless pity. Something about that expression made Winter’s smile fade.
“No.” Mrs. Young held out a small clear box. “Mr. Xander told me to give you this before he left p>
Inside was a white tablet.
Winter froze for only a second. Then she understood what it was.
She reached for it without hesitation. Relief softened her face. “Perfect. That saves me a trip p>
She picked up the water she had been drinking at the table and swallowed the pill.
Mrs. Young watched, looking pained. “That medicine isn’t good for you p>
“If I end up pregnant, I have to go to the hospital and deal with it anyway.” Winter’s voice was calm. ” Which is worse, that or a pill? I know the answer p>
Last night Chris had lost control in the car. If she wasn’t mistaken, it was his possessiveness acting up. Seeing her at the charity auction had set him off.
Once the interview was done, she would stop appearing in front of him. Then it wouldn’t happen again, and she wouldn’t have to keep taking things that harmed her body.
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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.