Chapter 176
Chapter 176
Her father had killed Chris’s parents.
He had destroyed Chris’s happy childhood too.
Mrs. Xander Sr. had loved her like her own granddaughter, never knowing that Winter’s parents were the ones who had killed her son and daughter-in-law. All these years, she had raised the daughter of the people who had ruined her family.
How was Winter supposed to face her now?
How was she supposed to face all the times Mrs. Xander Sr. had protected her, cared for her, and shown her so much love?
And how did she have any right to question Chris?
She was the daughter of the man who had killed his parents.
The way she lowered her head and murmured to herself startled Zion.
“Ms. Scott. Ms. Scott p>
His heart was in his throat, but he had never imagined it would be something like this.
This wasn’t something he could interfere in.
Not him. Not Gavin. Not anyone.
Tears trembled in her eyes, then fell one by one. In a daze, Winter looked at the man standing across
from her.
Chris’s fist was clenched so tightly that the veins stood out sharply beneath his skin. He stared at her bloodless face and her empty, unfocused eyes.
“If I hate you, will that bring my parents back p>
Winter stared at him blankly.
He was right.
It would not.
Death could not be undone.
And because it could not be undone, hatred could last forever.
If Chris hated her, that was only natural.
She was the daughter of the guilty party.
That was why he had never liked her growing up. He had always thought she was a nuisance. After he
1/3
TE
+25 Bonus
was forced to marry her, things between them had only grown colder. He had even given away the things she treasured most without a second thought.
So that was why.
Everything had always been there, if only she had known how to see it.
What she had never understood was that Chris had never simply been tired of her.
He had hated her all along.
Still dazed, she nodded. “You’re right. Hating me won’t change anything. I should disappear from your life forever. At least then, every time you see me, you won’t have to remember that your parents died because of my family p>
Disappear from his life. Those words echoed over and over in Chris’s ears.
He stared at her expressionless face. The darkness in his eyes seemed to peel back layer by layer, revealing the ruthless obsession underneath.
“Disappear?” he said. “Where exactly do you think you’re going? Let me make one thing clear, Winter. You’re not going anywhere p>
“You want to keep me by your side so I can spend the rest of my life making up for my family’s sins?” Winter asked softly. Then she repeated it. “Chris. Is that it p>
Chris’s face was cold as ice.
Inside the car, Gavin’s phone rang.
It was the bodyguard he had left at the hospital to watch Skyla.
He had given strict orders that if Skyla showed any unusual signs, he was to be informed immediately.
At this hour, she should have been asleep already.
Had something happened?
Because Skyla’s situation was too sensitive, Gavin didn’t dare waste a second. He swiped to answer.
The bodyguard’s voice was tight with panic. “Gavin, something’s wrong. Ms. Jasper slit her wrist. She’s been taken into emergency surgery p>
Gavin’s expression changed instantly.
Skyla couldn’t die.
If anything happened to her, then Mr. Xander’s…
No. That couldn’t happen.
He immediately threw open the car door and hurried to Chris’s side, his expression grim. “Mr. Xander,
2/3
47-487 1916
+25 Bonus
Ms. Jasper slit her wrists p>
Winter’s whole body went rigid.
She saw a storm of fury rise in Chris’s eyes, along with something dark and unreadable she couldn’t understand
But before he got back into the car, he turned and looked at her. His voice was dark and obsessive. “Listen carefully, Winter. You’re not going anywhere. For the rest of your life, you’re staying by my side.
“Unless I die p>
As Chris’s car drove farther and farther away, dizziness hit Winter in waves. She pressed a hand to her lower stomach, where a dull ache was starting to spread.
Comments
Support
Share
8/3
Florence
A passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.