Chapter 577 A Cold Passage
"Winnie..." Rock exclaimed, his surprise evident upon catching sight of Lawrence.
He loosely wrapped his arm around Winnie's slender waist, his smile beaming, his voice uplifted, "No matter how much others may doubt us, I can only say that our happy moment is drawing near. Also, Triton will release a limited edition collection inspired by our love, priced competitively in the market. As for the quality of the jewelry, connoisseurs can judge that for themselves."
A pause lingered, a moment of reflection as the words settled in the air.
Rock then added, "Everyone was invited to make their selections and offered the option to reserve a spot today. These spots were considered quite precious."
The lady was startled; she hadn't expected that their wedding date had already been set.
Other passing guests began to hesitate as well. The quality of the jewelry was apparent to all who looked at it. Triton was known for its curated selection of fine pieces. However, these guests had just mocked the female company owner.
With a calm demeanor, Winnie observed the atmosphere beginning to swing in her direction. She addressed Manager Nelson, "Could you please bring some tablets and display last night's news for the guests? Triton's jewelry always catches their interest and might turn them into regular customers. I wouldn't want any misconceptions about me to hinder anyone's jewelry shopping experience."
After her playful remark, the expression on the refined lady's face became especially stiff, as Winnie immediately handed her a tablet.
"Ma'am, the pictures of me and my boyfriend were taken by someone with the intention to invade our privacy and cause trouble by posting them online. I've identified the person who hired the detective through evidence. It was my own sister, Ishara, trying to stir up public sentiment to scare me away from Lawrence. But she thought too much. A man like Lawrence, even if offered, is not someone I would want. Here in black and white, the truth is clear for you to see. She only wanted to embarrass me and tarnish my reputation," Winnie said assertively.
The lady, after reading the clarification in the news, was completely dumbfounded. The outpouring of sympathy for Winnie from netizens left her feeling exposed, with no place to hide her shame.
Grimacing unnaturally, she exclaimed, "Then why didn't you show me this evidence sooner? The entire public opinion yesterday accused you of being indecent, caught between two men. I was furious because I've encountered such a shameless mistress before. Ms. Anderson, I apologize. The jewelry seems fine, and since your character is intact, I won't be returning it."
Her demeanor exuded wealth and confidence, and as she spoke, many customers observed the shift in her disposition, falling silent as they comprehended the full story.
Winnie stood upright, hands on her hips, her suit skirt gracefully revealing her slender legs. Retrieving her smile, she raised a hand, "Triton's event continues today. There's a 20% discount on purchases over $82,000, and all the items on display are of select quality. I hope everyone takes advantage of this excellent opportunity to acquire jewelry that's just as luxurious as the top designer brands."
The clerks swiftly attended to the guests, and the tense atmosphere in the room gradually dissolved, order restored once more.
As Winnie turned around, her gaze met someone else's. She froze, lips pressed tightly together for a moment.
Lawrence strode purposefully toward her, his path clear, his silhouette impeccable in a perfectly tailored suit, radiating mature handsomeness.
He passed by her.
The female customers couldn't help but fixate on his striking profile, marveling at his chiseled jawline.
Yet, only Winnie sensed his fury, his expressionless face akin to ice in a cold pool; distance did nothing to diminish the dreadful aura surrounding him.
He didn't spare her another glance. His deep, dark eyes brimmed with hatred.
With his fists clenched in his pockets, tall and commanding, he exited the mall.
Jeremy hastened after him, "Mr. Harrington…" He had witnessed everything: Winnie being surrounded and harassed, Mr. Harrington perhaps instinctively coming to her aid.
Initially headed toward Winnie's counter, Lawrence's demeanor now was cold and stern as he passed by.
Jeremy paused briefly, considering his next words carefully before veering the conversation. "Mr. Harrington, the mall's meeting has concluded, but the general manager still wishes to update you on the planning. Also, regarding the leasing issue for the shops, since you had no objections, it's provisionally decided to allocate the largest counter space to…" His voice trailed off as his gaze locked with Winnie's.
In that instant, Jeremy and Lawrence disappeared.
Taking a deep breath, Winnie steadied herself with a hand on the bright glass counter. Jeremy's words were directed at her.
The realization struck that Stellar Mall was part of the Rodriguez family's empire. Her securing such a prominent space for her counter wasn't solely due to Triton's influence—it was Lawrence, the enigmatic figure behind the scenes, who had approved it. He hadn't come to cause trouble. Jeremy's words felt almost like a gesture of kindness to her.
This reality landed as an embarrassing blow, leaving a tangled mess of emotions within her. Just moments ago, she had proudly shared with customers that she and Rock were to be married next month, wondering if Lawrence had overheard. Even if he had, perhaps it was for the best...
"Winnie, what's on your mind? Seeing Lawrence—did it bring up something? Do you regret what you said about us getting married next month?" Rock's voice broke through her thoughts, his sharp gaze noting Lawrence's departure.
Winnie lowered her eyes, gently shaking her head. "I've moved on."
But her uneasy explanation followed, "Rock, I haven't really thought about when we should get married... I just said that to handle the crisis."
Rock's expression fell, disappointment shadowing his features. "You don’t need to explain; I understand. Whether you want to marry soon or wait until everything falls into place, I respect your decision. For now, at least, you're mine."
Winnie nodded absently, her mind swirling with possibilities. Perhaps an early marriage was still in the cards, especially with Oscar's fate hanging in the balance.
As if summoned by her thoughts, the phone rang, just as the proverb goes, "speak of the devil and he will appear."
With a cold gleam in her eyes, Winnie glanced at Ishara's name flashing on her phone. She knew exactly why Ishara was calling. Curling the corners of her mouth with a hint of disdain, Winnie made her way to the emergency exit to take the call. "Not too preoccupied spinning the scandal you leaked to salvage your own image of innocence to bother calling me?"
"Winnie, you're truly something else!" Ishara's voice seethed with anger, her face contorted with fury as she scrolled through the online insults—scheming bitch, deceitful—each one stoking her resentment.
"Have you lost your mind? You dare seek revenge on me and forget that I still have your son?" Ishara spat out, her tone laced with venom and pale with rage.
Winnie gripped her phone tighter but remained silent. Even with Oscar at her mercy, Ishara wouldn't harm him out of spite. After all, he was the leverage she needed to pry herself away from Lawrence.
"Speaking of my son, I should see a picture of him to ensure his well-being before I comply," Winnie challenged firmly.
At the other end of the line, Ishara's breath caught in her throat. Eleanor's gaze bore into her daughter's, a silent understanding passing between them—they had reached a conclusion.
Ishara's eyes narrowed, a malicious grin tainting her voice as it steadied, "Tonight, I'll send you a picture of him. I've noticed your and Rock's efforts at the mall, aggressively promoting Triton's entry into Trento City's market, even leveraging your upcoming wedding for publicity. Well, let's expedite matters, shall we? Early next month it is! Once you tie the knot with Rock, I'll return Oscar. The nights are ripe with possibilities—let's see if you're eager for a swift reunion with your son to escape far from here."
With this declaration, Ishara applied pressure for an early wedding. But whether sooner or later, the outcome appeared inevitable. All she desired was Oscar's safe return; he was far too young to endure any harm.
"Agreed. Lay a hand on Oscar during this time, and you'll regret it deeply." Winnie's voice turned steely as she swiftly ended the call.
Stepping out of the emergency exit, Winnie was met by Manager Nelson holding out a phone. "Your line was occupied earlier, but I received a call from a stranger claiming to be your father's assistant, with an urgent message for you!"
Furrowing her brows, Winnie immediately dialed Lysander, "Lysander, is there something going on with the Blanchet family company?"
"It's not related to the Blanchet family company. It's the hospital. The caregiver informed me of suspicious activity around your father's hospital room for the past few days, as though someone is scoping the place out. I suspect Patrick is plotting something against the chairman! You need to beef up security."
Winnie's breath caught, "Not only do I need to beef up security, but I also need to get ahold of Patrick's hair as soon as possible."
Lysander nodded, "Indeed. Whoever can outmaneuver the other, it all comes down to this."
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