Chapter 566 Rock and Winnie's Scandal
As Ishara looked at his emotionless profile, she nearly lost her grip on the fork. Her lips trembled uncontrollably. Eleanor was too afraid to speak. Bob was shocked, strongly dissenting, “You won't lay a finger on her. You have to wait at least until the baby is three months old, so we can get a paternity test done.”
“A paternity test won’t change my decision. I have no intention of marrying her or keeping the child. Father, I advise you not to get emotionally involved.”
The temperature seemed to drop with Lawrence's cool tone as he stood up, nodding to his mother before leaving his seat. The lady of the house, seeing he hadn't touched his food, cast a glance at Ishara, the atmosphere at the dinner being heavy and awkward. Ishara, under the weight of the lady's stern look and remembering Lawrence's harsh and sinister words, lost all appetite. Her face was ashen and she felt uneasy even though Bob had offered her a lifeline.
Bob only had a few bites before setting down his utensils; the sound of a car horn honking and driving off filled the air. The patriarch remained composed as he wiped his mouth and rose, “Don't mind him. Ishara, you take care here, and rest assured that as long as the child in your womb is Lawrence's flesh and blood, the Rodriguez family will take care of you.”
Despite the dinner party ending prematurely, Eleanor had secured the promise she desired. She was overjoyed. Ishara, on the other hand, had many concerns as she returned to her room and fell into deep thought. She felt that if Lawrence still hadn't gotten over Winnie, that was the reason for his coldness toward her. If he was still harboring hopes, then she needed to find a way to shatter them, to make him loathe Winnie instead of pining for her. Her eyes narrowed in determination.
The following day, Sidney extended an invitation to Winnie to visit the hospital and see Madam Rodriguez, mentioning, "Grandma should be discharged in a little over a week!"
Winnie managed a smile without much feeling. “Sweetie, please congratulate her for me.”
Sidney's face fell. “Won't you come? Mom, Grandma really wants to see you. She says her heart feels uneasy not being able to catch sight of Winnie.”
Winnie didn't elaborate; she just brushed off her son, “My company is swamped.
“Just tell Grandma that, and she will understand.”
It was inevitable. Kathy was bound to be upset.
Sidney sank into Olivia's car, despondently bidding her goodbye.
Winnie got into her own vehicle. She wasn't lying, the Triton Company was buzzing with activity.
Having recently settled in Trento City, she was determined to break into the local market. This meant frequent jewelry exhibitions, strategic marketing, celebrity endorsements, and so forth.
Rock called her, “Winnie, have you reached Pearl Mall yet?
“Manager Nelson is on your case. The jewelry counter's all set, and as soon as the mall opens at ten, customers will pour in for the ribbon-cutting.
“As the stunning owner of these gems, you need to be front and center, representing your brand!”
“Alright, I'm racing over.” Winnie ignored his teasing, “I'll try to speed up.”
Still, she was late.
Luckily, Rock was there to hold the fort; he and Nelson kicked off the ceremony without a hitch.
In the mall, Triton's booth was large and lavishly decorated, showcasing a dazzling array of jewelry, sparkling gemstones and even gold pieces.
The display drew in numerous female shoppers.
After setting down her purse and paperwork, Winnie took a walk around and noticed a well-off lady unattended. She swiftly approached her, slipping on a black glove. “Come, Madam, your fingers are so delicate and beautiful. Try this three-carat diamond ring.
“It's a rough diamond imported from Dubai, intricately cut and polished. When I saw its unique heart shape, I knew it had to be part of our collection. Wearing it, your elegance is truly complemented, elevating your stature.”
The lady, flattered, examined her hand from all angles. “Really? My hands aren't that lovely. Perhaps it's the ring that enhances them. What's the price for this piece?”
“This is one of our premium items. I can only recommend the best, for fear of underselling your charm. Around three hundred thousand.”
“My, you do have an eye! None of the diamonds in my collection is below that price. You're good at picking your customers. By the way, what's your jewelry brand?” the lady asked with interest.
Winnie's eyes sparkled. “Eternity Jewelry Co., renowned back in Lymington.”
“Oh. A smaller brand, but the designs are appealing. Wrap this up for me. Are you a salesperson or the manager? Quite the sweet talker,” the lady remarked with a smile.
“Apologies, Madam. She's actually the owner of Eternity Jewelry Co., and yes, she does have a sweet look with an approachable personality,” Rock said, strolling over and teasing Winnie with a smile lurking in his eyes.
Upon seeing Rock's handsome features, the affluent lady's cheeks flushed. “Oh, so she's the boss. You're very well-maintained. How old are you? Is Mr. L here your boyfriend? Did you start the business together?”
Winnie blushed at the barrage of questions.
As if unintentional, Rock closed the distance between them. While Winnie turned to wrap the diamond ring box, Rock let out a low chuckle. “Madam, you have so many questions. Which one would you like me to answer? You're quite beautiful yourself; I bet you've had no work done.”
“Oh, you two are quite the pair, smooth talkers indeed,” the lady gushed.
“I'm not finished yet. How can I tell, you ask? Because my girlfriend is also naturally stunning. Don't believe me? Take a look at her face. Does it look touched up to you?”
With those words, Rock leaned in affectionately, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from Winnie's ear. The soft strands caught the light, revealing a delicate brown hue. Winnie's hair was naturally fine and warm-toned, making her profile as delicate and fair as an eggshell, stand out even more, and her flawless skin appeared poreless.
A shiver went through Winnie when his fingertips grazed her earlobe. It was then that she lifted her gaze from the order form and realized she was halfway embraced by Rock. She thought to pull away, but reminded herself mentally, ‘You are actually dating him.’
She would have to get used to these light touches, as Rock had said he didn't want their relationship to be just for show. Winnie stood still, rigid.
Rock playfully tugged at her emerald earrings.
The wealthy woman's attention was captured instantly. “Your girlfriend's earrings are quite lovely, they make her look even more radiant than snow. What kind of jade is that? The quality is exceptional.”
In a low voice, Rock grinned at Winnie. “Those earrings are worth a fortune, looks like we've got a big order coming in.”
Winnie was taken aback before realizing his real intention. She seemed reserved for a moment before looking up with a smile. “You've got quite the knack for sales, knowing just how to capture a woman's heart.”
“Is that a compliment or a slight? You know whose heart I'm most interested in capturing,” Rock said and then walked away with a smile.
With his warmth gone, Winnie relaxed and immediately engaged the lady in conversation about the earrings.
The sales floor was bustling, and no one noticed the moment when Rock embraced Winnie being captured by a camera in the corner.
Two hours later, “Miss Blanchet” was trending online.
Her identity was revealed; her name was Winnie.
The men of Trento City were abuzz with talk. “Isn't that Winnie, the same girl Lawrence was spouting off to the press about marrying a few days ago?”
“Miss Blanchet, isn't she the Winnie that's engaged to Lawrence's fiancée, Ishara?”
“No matter how complicated things get, Lawrence sure has a knack for stirring the pot. He's set on marrying her, but there she is, openly embracing another man in the street. Either she's playing the field or trying to embarrass Lawrence on purpose. Could that guy be her boyfriend?”
Soon, the whispers turned into trending gossip. “Winnie, intended bride of Lawrence, seen dating another man in streets with a sweet embrace.”
“Lawrence's courtship falls flat, lady love suspected of having another”
“'Miss Blanchet two-times, trampling over Lawrence's affections.”
Jeremy hurried to the headquarters of the Hawks Corporation, intending to caution Luke to safeguard Lawrence's personal and business phones to prevent him from witnessing the unfolding events.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the CEO's office.
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