Chapter 690 You Saw Everything
"Yo, did Jesse roll up on his own, or did someone put him up to it? Dude brought a whole squad, so he was definitely ready for something. Did you get anything outta him?" Ray asked.
Lawrence's voice turned icy as he remembered, "Yeah, I asked Jesse if Rock was behind it. He looked guilty as hell. It's gotta be Rock again."
"What beef does Rock have with you? Dude's always gunning for you, trying to mess you up," Ray fumed.
Lawrence stayed stone-faced, "It's 'cause of Winnie. Plus, I dissed him back in the day."
"Only a shady dude would pull this kinda crap! Rock's probably scheming with Mars now. They can't wait to see you crash and burn," Ray said, fired up. "Last time at the station, Rock already sent his goons after you. He wants to break you, make you watch him and Winnie all lovey-dovey. Lawrence, you gonna take this lying down? I know you're feeling low, like your world’s gone dark without Winnie. But don't let it drag you down. Rock used to be nothing to you. Stand up and fight back!"
Lawrence's face went blank, his mind spinning. After a bit, a bitter smile crept in. He'd dreamt of Winnie last night, and she was sweet and kind. He'd poured his heart out to her, stuff he'd kept buried. He used to be so cocky, thinking she'd just get it, too proud to say he loved her, too scared to show he cared. Now he knew he was wrong.
Ray, seeing him quiet, kept going, "Lawrence, you're my bro. Wake up and I'll have your back. When we find Jeremy, he'll help too. Failing ain't the problem; it's not having the guts to start over. Get back on your feet and take these guys down. You're Lawrence, man!"
Lawrence couldn't find the words, closing his bloodshot eyes. After a bit, he noticed the hotel's business card and switched gears, "Ray, did you bring me to the hotel?"
"Nope, I just heard about you getting jumped this morning," Ray said.
"Then who brought me here?"
"Probably some good Samaritan."
Lawrence looked down, confused, suddenly noticing ointment on his hands and body, and his clothes had been changed.
His face changed, and he quickly hung up. He checked his pants and found even his underwear had been swapped. Someone had seen his private parts.
'Who was it?' Winnie's face flashed in his mind. She'd been in his dream last night, and it felt so real. He'd hugged her, kissed her, cried on her face. Her eyes had reddened too, but she pushed him away in the end. Could it have been her?
Lawrence's heart pounded as he rushed to find the hotel manager, demanding to see the surveillance. When he saw Winnie's slender figure, struggling to carry him into the elevator and up to his room, he felt a chill. 'It really was her. She noticed my bandages and re-did them. Knowing I'd been drinking and might get an infection, she left painkillers on the table.'
Lawrence's eyes were full of regret, feeling totally crushed. 'What's worse than having the woman I love find out I'm impotent? I hate myself. Why did I have to drink last night? Now even my last bit of privacy is gone. She must think I'm pathetic, right?'
He picked up the phone on the table but couldn't bring himself to turn it on. His lips were pressed so tight they were almost turning blue.
Over at the Blanchet family HQ, Winnie and Melanie had just wrapped up a chat about a real estate project when Lawrence's call came in. Winnie saw the number, her face stiffening under Melanie's curious gaze. "Can you give me a minute?" she said.
"Okay, Winnie." Melanie closed the door behind her. Outside, she bumped into Bentley and couldn't hold it in. "Mr. Jenkins, Winnie’s on the phone with Lawrence."
"What?!" Bentley acted all surprised, staring at her.
Melanie, a bit worried, said, "Last night, Winnie saved someone in an alley, and it turned out to be Lawrence. This morning, the news about him getting beat up is everywhere. I didn't dare tell Rock."
"Don't say anything." Bentley thought for a moment. Winnie was sharp, and if she was sniffing around Rock, it meant there might be something there.
"Okay." Melanie nodded.
Seeing her being all obedient, Bentley's eyes narrowed. "Let's go. I'll buy you a coffee."
"Thanks, Mr. Jenkins. By the way, Winnie’s thinking about having the Blanchet family’s real estate join Rock's project. We were just talking about it," Melanie said.
"I'll ask her if she's down to have the Blanchet family team up with the Harrington Group later," Bentley said, thinking, 'Winnie won't let emotions mess with business. Once the families are tied through marriage and deals, the companies will be inseparable. Who knows if she and Rock will stay together?'
They walked off.
Back in the office, Winnie finally gave in to Lawrence's persistent calls and awkwardly answered, "What's up?"
There was no sound from Lawrence's side, just heavy breathing and a deep cough.
"You okay?" Winnie asked, thinking, 'He was pretty messed up last night. Could he be infected?'
"Lawrence, if you don't talk, I'm hanging up," she said coldly. Finally, Lawrence's hoarse voice came through, "Thanks for bringing me back last night and for bandaging me."
His tone was awkward, like a shy kid, and Winnie couldn't even picture his expression. He used to be so cocky and mature. Hearing him sound uneasy now was weird.
Winnie felt awkward too and was still feeling complicated. She brushed it off, "Don't get the wrong idea. I was at a dinner last night and saw you guys fighting on the roadside. I didn't know it was you until I got closer and saw you knocked out. You looked pitiful, so I brought you back. The bandaging? Just a doctor's instinct," she explained. "Even if it was a stranger, I would've done the same."
Lawrence listened to her calm voice, his heart sinking. 'She'd help a stranger too? I get it now. To her, I'm just a stranger. Even though I don't expect her to care, it still stings.'
Winnie said coldly, "I've explained everything. I have work to do, so I gotta go."
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