Chapter 325
Chapter 325
“Are you insane?” Winter snapped.
But the neighbors next door were never around. As far as she knew, no one even lived there. So how could someone have opened the door for Chris this late at night?
Then it hit her.
“The place next door is yours p>
She stared at the man walking toward her, disbelief all over her face, and took an unsteady step back.
She didn’t know whether the tears burning in her eyes came from belated fury or from the hopelessness of realizing just how much control he had over her life. Her voice shook as she demanded, “Did you buy it to keep tabs on me p>
She spun around at once, only to remember that she had shoved the cabinet in front of the door with almost all her strength. Now she had to push it back out of the way.
Chris watched her, her face flushed red with anger and panic, her eyes red too, as she braced herself and tried to shove the cabinet that was nearly as tall as she was.
His expression darkened. He strode over, grabbed her arm, and pulled her back against his chest. With his other hand, he caught the edge of the cabinet and shoved it aside with ease. Then he looked down at the humiliation and fury on her face.
“ With that little strength, what exactly are you trying to do p>
Winter looked up at him. Then, all at once, the fight seemed to drain out of her.
“Go to your Skyla,” she said. “Just stop showing up in front of me, okay p>
“She’s not my Skyla.” His dark eyes locked on hers.
Winter gave a short, bitter laugh. “Who the hell cares p>
“Watch your mouth p>
“Oh, you don’t like hearing it?” Winter tipped her head back and started cursing at him outright.
“Enough.” Chris grabbed her jaw, forcing her mouth open so that only muffled sounds came out.
But even then, she was still trying to curse him out.
His breathing turned heavier. He glanced toward the suitcase by her bedroom door.
He couldn’t tell whether it was the one from the airport that she had never unpacked, or whether she had packed it again herself.
After only a few insults, Winter ran out of words. Chris lowered his eyes to her pale lips. He had noticed the color was off the second he came in through the balcony.
Thinking of how she had coughed up blood and ended up in the hospital the night before, his expression darkened. He lifted her into his arms and carried her over to the couch.
He sat down with her on his lap, unscrewed the lid from her insulated tumbler on the coffee table, and held it to her lips.
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+25 Bonus
“Take a sip p>
Suddenly, Winter swung at the cup, trying to knock it away. But Chris reacted even faster. The instant she moved, he pulled it out of reach.
Her hand missed and dropped weakly back down.
She wanted to curse at him again. No matter what she did, it always felt like she could never win against Chris. In front of him, she was always the one pinned down, the one with no room to fight back.
It wasn’t the first time she had felt that way. Every time, she pulled herself together afterward. Every time, she lost again.
But she refused to believe she had no way out.
“Chris p>
The moment she said his name, the arm around her waist tightened slightly. But this time, she didn’t struggle.
Winter spoke with unnatural calm. “I’m tired. I really am. I don’t want to keep doing this anymore. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but can we just talk p>
“What do you want to talk about?” He lifted the cup to her lips again.
Her gaze flickered. Steam rose from the hot water, blurring her vision. This time she didn’t resist. She lowered her head and took a sip.
She was quiet now. No fighting. No shouting.
That only made Chris’s eyes darken further.
Once she had swallowed, he moved the cup away. But before she could say anything, he spoke first, his voice low and steady.
“Come away with me for two days. You can say whatever you want. I’ll listen p>
A soft, mocking laugh slipped from Winter in his arms.
“How do you even say that with a straight face?” she said. “Do you really think you have any credibility left with me? ”
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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.