Chapter 223 A Grand Gift
She mocked him saying "You can get engaged and share a bed with Darcy, but even after I've divorced, I have to be under your control?"
The pain in Winnie's heart dulled, as she remembered how he had allowed Darcy to mock her as "second-hand goods", what did he truly think of her?
Clenching her fist, she coldly said, "Mr. Rodriguez, have you finished speaking? If so, please step aside."
"I don't have the patience to repeat myself!" His hostility pressed down upon her.
Winnie lifted her gaze, and the two pools of pitch-black in her eyes shimmered with tears. "I was forced to get engaged because of you. We have no relationship anymore, and you have no right to control what I do or don't do."
No relationship anymore... those words pricked at the man's eyes. “When did I force you?” he sneered. “Did I force you to crawl into the bed of a wild man, force you to eagerly seek refuge in his embrace? Winnie, you are even more shameless than I imagined."
"You are a shameless woman. Even if I discard you like an old shoe, I won't allow any other man to taint you and disgrace me, understood?" Winnie, yet again, experienced his unlimited humiliation.
Her nails dug into her palm. She understood now that the things he had discarded could be trampled upon, like her, but his pride must not be damaged. How could a man who believed he was above all not allow his ex-wife to remarry? It seemed that love and not loving had become irrelevant.
She felt a sharp prick and couldn't help but laugh. "Mr. Rodriguez, if you feel disgraced, perhaps you should reflect on openly getting engaged to Darcy, right after kicking out your wife. You're nothing but a jerk."
"Darcy has done everything for me. Who are you to say anything about her?"
"Looking at you and Darcy, one venomous and the other scheming, you seem to be a perfect match," she retorted.
He narrowed his eyes sarcastically, gripping her arm tightly as he stared at her intently. "Do you know what has he done behind your back? Do you know?"
"What do you mean?" Winnie struggled to understand.
Lawrence R observed her expression. "He is malicious and not as simple as you think! He is a schemer, using paid posters and public opinion to manipulate your sympathy. The Harrington Group is not really in turmoil.”
“Are you foolish, or are you willingly ignorant? Take today, for example. Do you think he brought you to this store for any other reason than to provoke me?" he scoffed
Rock's previous gaze and Lawrence R's lack of blindness clashed in his mind. And this woman appeared so affectionate with him, remembering how she interacted with the child in front of him, undermining his authority as the father.
Lawrence R was furious. "I warn you, the heirs of Lawrence R, are mine, whether you want it or not! Don't let me see you together again! If I see Rock being inappropriate towards you, both of you will suffer because of it." Rock looking at her waist with an intense gaze, something Lawrence R couldn't forget.
Veins popped out, his eyes turned red with anger, as he wished to grab her by the throat, "Do you understand who he really is now? Leave him, cancel the engagement!"
Winnie snapped back to reality amidst his barrage of warnings. She paused for a moment, then looked at his excessive anger, feeling a calm and coolness in her heart, "Lawrence R, I don't know what misunderstandings you have about him. In my eyes, he has repeatedly helped me through difficult situations.”
“Without him, you would have destroyed Triton. You say he manipulates public opinion and deceived me with the Harrington Group in turmoil? Sorry, your angry words make it impossible for me to believe. Just to get me, he would disregard the Harrington Group? Ruin his own reputation? He is a businessman; it doesn't make sense.”
She defended Rock. “He brought me to this wedding dress shop because of a friend's recommendation. Rock is gentle in nature, you have overreacted, or maybe you don't like me being with him..."
After explaining so much, as she looked at his increasingly cold expression, she was familiar with his stubbornness and self-importance. His eyes became icy as he grabbed her wrist, causing her pain with his grip. "No matter how good he is, you don't believe me, do you?"
Winnie frowned, enduring the pain in her broken wrist, and spoke in a hoarse whisper, "I just feel that you don't need to act this way. You've already chosen Darcy, so stop trying to control whether I get engaged or not, or even fabricating these stories about Rock to force me to cancel the engagement.”
“Even if I were to die, I wouldn't want to be your mistress. I'm not that cheap, don't even think about it." She was incredulous.
"Heh," the man let out a low, mocking laugh. Was this how she saw him in her eyes? Or was she so blinded by her protection of Rock that she ignored her past with him? What a blind and heartless woman. A pang of pain struck Lawrence R's heart, his gaze returning to the glacial state.
He abruptly pushed her away, his features turning cold, "Unrepentant until death, is that right? Protecting him, right? You will pay the price for every word you've said today, dreaming of a happy life with him, Winnie, you're delusional."
He pushed her away, devoid of any trace of emotion in his eyes. Winnie leaned against the wall, her wrist throbbing with pain, her heart feeling numb, and watched him leave with coldness seeing into her bones.
What did his words mean, and what price would she have to pay? What had she done to upset him? Why did he seem angrier now than the day he discovered the video? A strong sense of unease surged within her.
It wasn't until Rock rushed over and found her in the restroom that Winnie regained her senses, "Has Mrs. Harrington left?"
"I escorted my mother to the car. Come, let's continue looking at dresses," Rock said, his hand in his pocket.
Suddenly, the manager of the wedding dress shop ran over, looking extremely apologetic at Rock, "I'm sorry, Mr. Harrington. Mr. Rodriguez from Island Electronics instructed that he exclusively books this place, and he has purchased all the dresses at full price.”
“Please, let's leave here immediately," Winnie said. She paused for a moment, feeling inexplicably relieved. She looked up at Rock. Rock was angry but remained calm. He pursed his lips and locked eyes with Winnie.
"What's your opinion?" he asked.
"Let's go to a different store."
"I have a better idea, let’s deal with this matter," Rock replied nonchalantly.
With that, Rock led Winnie through the VIP sofa area. Darcy was wearing an exquisite diamond dress, rotating to show Lawrence R. The man held a glass of red wine, his profile handsome and focused, not even sparing a glance in their direction.
Rock chuckled softly, "Mr. Rodriguez, you spoil Miss Ordelia so well. I want to learn from you, so that I can spoil you, Winnie. I'll spoil you like you deserve."
Winnie's gaze flickered for a moment, unsure if Rock said that to stand up for her or if he had some other intention. Once they left the bridal shop and got into the car, Winnie thought for a moment before turning her head to ask him a question.
"Rock, did you bring me to this bridal shop on purpose?"
The man's big hand on the steering wheel paused, and he looked at her with a smile in his eyes. "Of course not, did you think I would be childish enough to bring you here to provoke Lawrence R? Silly girl, I'm a grown man."
Winnie frowned and observed him for a while. In the end, she suppressed her doubts. Lawrence R had misunderstood; Rock wouldn't intentionally provoke him, right?
Inside the store, Lawrence R nearly crushed the wine glass in his hand as he gave the least amount of attention to Darcy. He stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the flashy Cayenne leave.
Lawrence R made a phone call, "Luke, set up a grand gesture. I want to give Rock an engagement gift."
To come to the bridal shop to provoke and show off, brainwashing that foolish woman? He couldn't let his possessions be easily taken away by anyone, especially her, who also carried his child. With those thoughts swirling in his mine, Lawrence R's eyes darkened!
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