Chapter 561
Chapter 561
Wendy noticed the change in Winter’s expression and hesitated.
“What’s wrong? You don’t want to go back to the station p>
“That’s not it p>
Winter shook her head.
“Even if I go back, I want to apply like everyone else. Keeping a position open just for me wouldn’t be fair fo anyone else p>
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Once she decided to raise Richie together with Chris, she had already accepted that she would need a job in Liono City.
She wouldn’t go back to the kind of investigative reporting she used to do.
Now that she had Richie, there were more things she had to think about, and she couldn’t take the same risks she used to.
“Besides,” Winter added, lifting one eyebrow at Wendy, “with my qualifications, do you really think I need someone pulling strings for me p>
Wendy’s cheeks immediately turned red.
She couldn’t stand it when Winter raised an eyebrow like that.
They were both women, so why did Winter somehow manage to make such a simple expression look so unfairly attractive?
Winter handed Richie to Wendy, picked up her phone, and walked somewhere quieter.
It was lunchtime on a weekday, so the dessert shop was not very busy.
Toward the back was a small garden.
Most of the snow had melted, revealing bare patches of grass and dried rose vines climbing over a trellis.
Winter sat down in a white chair and dialed a number.
During the three years they had been “married,” Chris rarely answered her calls.
Even when he did, he usually let the phone ring several times first.
Her body still remembered that pattern.
She had already prepared herself to wait.
But the call connected after only two rings.
Winter was surprised.
It felt unfamiliar enough that she couldn’t help commenting on it.
“You answer pretty fast now p>
It was meant as nothing more than a casual remark.
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But on the other end of the line, Chris’s hand tightened around his phone.
As throat moved before he answered in a low voice.
“I don’t have to pretend anymore. ”
Back then, his coldness had been deliberate.
Winter thought of how much that had hurt her at the time and gave a dry laugh.
“That must’ve been exhausting for you p>
She heard his breathing deepen slightly.
“Did you arrange for the station to keep my position open p>
She didn’t want to waste time on old wounds, so she changed the subject and went straight to the point.
At least there was one advantage to where they stood now.
They no longer had to dance around each other.
There was still plenty left unresolved between them, but they knew each other too well for pointless games.
Chris had already guessed why she was calling.
She had gone to see Wendy.
His gaze fell on the small ceramic dog sitting on his desk.
“That job was yours to begin with p>
If Winter hadn’t been trying to get away from him, she never would have resigned from the work she loved most.
And he hadn’t made the arrangement recently.
He had asked someone to hold the position for her a long time ago.
So it really had been him.
Winter gave a faint, self–mocking smile.
“I appreciate the thought, but I can get back into the station on my own. I don’t need anyone doing me favors p>
She paused.
“So please undo whatever arrangement you made p>
Nathan had made it clear that Winter wasn’t fully recovered yet.
She had only returned to Blackwood Manor the night before.
Seeing Richie again had brought up guilt, relief, and a flood of emotion all at once.
It was only natural that she had been overwhelmed.
But now that she had settled down, the sharpness in her voice was back.
Chris could hear the life in her again.
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She sounded like herself.
She really was back.
And aside from Richie, she had drawn a clear line between them.
“Okay,” Chris said hoarsely.
Winter had one more thing to ask.
“For Richie’s birthday, I’m planning to invite William, Nathan, and Wendy. Could you let security know they can get through the gate tomorrow p>
If Richie weren’t already so comfortable at Blackwood Manor, Winter would have considered having his birthday somewhere else.
Chris’s voice softened slightly.
“You’re Richie’s mom. You can invite whoever you want p>
Winter’s tone remained polite.
“Thank you p>
Chris’s voice dropped.
“You don’t have to be so formal with me p>
Winter’s tone stayed polite, but distant.
“Even family keeps things clear. You’re my ex–boyfriend, so I think a little distance is appropriate p>
She paused.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll let you get back to work p>
Then she hung up.
Chris stared at the dark screen of his phone.
His reflection stared back at him, his eyes dark with frustration.
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Sara Lili
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.