Chapter 119
His dark eyes flashed with warning. “Don’t you dare p>
Winter’s lashes trembled, but she forced out a mocking laugh. “So it’s fine for you and your precious childhood friend, but you’re losing it over me even talking to Zac p>
She scoffed. “I could date as many men as I want and it’s none of your business. You took a swing at Zac today. What’s next, are you going to pick fights with every man I speak to?
“And don’t tell me you’re jealous,” she added, her tone sharp with disgust. “That would make me sick p>
Winter turned and headed downstairs.
Chris watched her go, his expression dark. He ground his cigarette out and started after her.
“Sir,” Mr. White called from behind him. “Mrs. Xander Sr. wants to see you p>
Chris stopped as Winter disappeared around the corner of the stairs. He turned and went into Mrs. Xander Sr.’s room.
A divorce agreement lay on the table in front of him.
Chris slid both hands into his pockets. He gave it one glance and looked away. “What’s this supposed to
be p>
Mrs. Xander Sr. drew a shaky breath. Her voice sounded thin with age. “Sign it. I pushed you into marrying Winter back then. Now I’m telling you to give Winter her freedom back p>
“Grandma.” Chris let out a soft laugh, sat on the edge of the bed, and smoothed a hand over her white hair. “People say the older you get, the more you turn into a kid. Are you really this naive p>
Winter reached the second floor and headed toward her old room. Suddenly, a large German Shepherd with a black and tan coat came charging down the hallway. Just as it reached her, the dog leaped up from the top of the stairs.
“General!” Winter threw out her arms on instinct. He nearly knocked her over. She caught him, wrapped her arms around his head, and laughed. “I thought you were asleep p>
When she came to the Xander estate at seven, she hadn’t come alone. She had a shepherd with her too, a gift her parents gave her on her first birthday. He had been her companion ever since.
However, a shepherd’s lifespan was limited to a little over a decade.
The day her old dog died, she hid in the woods behind the estate and cried until she lost track of time. By the time she realized how late it was, night had already fallen. Chris was the one who found her.
He had a puppy in his arms.
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Chapter 41
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He told her the puppy had been born at the exact same time her dog died.
Seeing the puppy made her cry even harder, but the hollow ache in her chest slowly started to ease. Later, after she married Chris and moved to Blackwood Manor, work kept her busy. General hated new places, so she left him at the Xander estate, where Mr. White took care of him.
General nuzzled into her arms.
Winter was about to take him back to her room when he suddenly wriggled free and sprinted down the hall.
“General p>
Winter chased after him, but she couldn’t stop him in time. He slammed Chris’s bedroom door open and bolted inside.
Chris wasn’t a dog lover. Winter knew that if he found out General had intruded into his private space, he would surely punish him for it.
Winter hurried to the doorway, calling his name.
But General didn’t come out.
She had no choice but to go in.
The room was dark, but light from the courtyard below filtered in, enough for her to see. She just wanted to grab General and get out.
“General, come on. Let’s go back to my room p>
She finally found him near the bed, lying on the floor. His dark eyes caught the faint light.
Winter crouched and patted his head. “Why did you run in here? If Chris finds out, he’s going to be
furious p>
General shook her hand off, lowered his head, and sniffed at the foot of the bed.
Then he nudged something out with his paw.
A photo slid into view.
In the dim light, Winter looked down and saw that the photo was a close–up of a newborn baby’s tiny feet.
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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.