Chapter 111 Loss of Control
When Winona snapped back to reality, she focused on the man's lips approaching her. Instinctively, she leaned back, but before she could move far, she found herself wrapped in his embrace. "Ten minutes."
The statement was abrupt, yet she understood it.
His scent was familiar. Winona was pressed against his chest, listening to the steady, even rhythm of his heartbeat.
In that moment, silence enveloped the world around them.
Winona didn't feel the slightest urge to push him away, perhaps due to the exhaustion from the draining argument that sapped her of all her vigor.
She relaxed and let her body's weight lean on Zachary. "He used to do the same for me."
It was a memory so distant that she needed to concentrate to recall the details. Winona spoke slowly, yet Zachary did not interrupt, not even displaying the slightest impatience.
Had the recent maligned executives of the Bailey Group witnessed this, they might have thought they'd seen a ghost!
"Back in elementary school, I was falsely accused by a classmate of stealing his things. During the argument, he pushed me, and I hit the back of my head on the corner of a desk. The matter escalated. The accuser brought parents, grandparents, and over twenty other people and crowded the teacher's office. He stood against them all and fiercely beat up the classmate who slandered me. He denied it stubbornly and scratched his face."
She could barely remember the specifics, as the memories of him punishing her for Layla's sake became the clearest in her mind.
Zachary remained quiet but patted her head gently.
He could see her fair, delicate cheeks and lips tinged with a blush. This docile and gentle demeanor was much more endearing than her usual fierce and prickly manner.
It was exceedingly tempting.
But the thought was fleeting; he wasn't that desperate.
After ten minutes, Winona pushed him away and rubbed her stomach. "Why hasn't the food arrived yet? I'm so hungry."
Zachary scoffed. "Why haven't you starved to death?"
It wasn't long before the server began bringing out the dishes, filling the table to the brim.
Ironically, Winona, who had earlier proclaimed a lack of appetite, ended up eating more than anyone else. In contrast, Zachary barely touched his meal.
After being fed well, drowsiness began to set in. Winona sat in the car, and as the heat was pleasantly balanced, she soon dozed off. Her seat was by the window, so when the car jostled along, her head bumped against the glass with a 'thud, thud' sound.
Zachary, after enduring this for a moment, eventually reached out to pull her closer, making her rest against his shoulder.
Her soft body pressed against him, rekindling the urge he had managed to suppress back at the restaurant. He finally let go of the resistance and bent down to kiss her lips.
The kiss almost spiraled out of control. Had his rational mind not reminded him that they were in a car and, more importantly, that Brian was present, it would have gone too far.
Zachary released Winona and turned his head toward the window. He closed his eyes and tried to calm the impulses that had stirred within him.
Up front, Brian's tense back finally seemed to relax a bit. It had indeed been trying for him.
In the following week, life for Winona remained exceptionally calm, devoid of any ups and downs.
Carlos had returned to his country. Whether it was Zachary's warning that had an effect or perhaps Carlos had recognized her cold-heartedness and realized he would gain nothing further from her, he had not sought her out again.
As for the matter with Layla, Winona hadn't followed up and wasn't sure if it had been resolved, but considering Carlos's determination to protect her, it likely wasn't anything serious.
That day, Lydia called her, asking her to accompany her to an auction. Winona was reluctant, but Lydia was already waiting downstairs.
Before leaving, Winona also picked up the car keys from her drawer—the keys to the car she had driven back from Regal Oaks. Due to its exorbitant cost, driving it garnered too much attention, and keeping it meant unnecessary parking fees. She couldn't sell it since she wasn't the owner.
Winona planned to return this car to Zachary, considering it as settling the money he had used to extricate Carlos from their entanglement.
Lydia had parked in a conspicuous spot, so Winona spotted her immediately. She opened the car door to get in and saw Lydia looking downcast and lacking in enthusiasm. She asked with concern, "Mom, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
After going public with her divorce from Zachary, Winona's biggest worry was Lydia's health.
Lydia glanced at the apartment building Winona had just exited and then shook her head. "No, I'm feeling quite fine. Don't worry about me."
Winona was aware; Matthew had sought Zachary's opinion before making the purchase, and she had been right there next to them.
Were they living together now?!
"How did you know I was living here?" Winona asked.
"I asked Zachary, and that's what he told me." Zachary knew she was staying with Matthew, but he didn't seem the slightest bit jealous. It appeared that her daughter-in-law might indeed belong to another family soon.
She couldn't bear to think about it, for just the thought would cause her heartache.
After pondering for a moment, she finally said, "Winona, even though you two are deeply in love now, don't agree to him too hastily. What if he takes you for granted once he gets you? Although he doesn't seem like someone who starts things without finishing, you can't be careless. When you and Zachary..."
Lydia fell silent, as she couldn't bring herself to say the word "divorce."
"Winona, when the time comes, I'll speak on your behalf. I'll convince his family to accept you."
Winona was utterly confused. "What are you talking about?"
"You and Matthew are dating, right?"
"Where did you hear that?" Winona said with a wry smile, "Matthew and I are just friends. I'm staying here temporarily and paying rent."
Lydia was instantly thrilled. Her gloom of several days was finally lifted. "Paying rent is good. Pay a bit more. We don't owe anyone any favors. I'll transfer some money to you later. You can use it as you wish."
The auction mainly featured jewelry and accessories. It was held at a five-star hotel and attended by dignitaries from all walks of life.
Winona had gone to the restroom. Lydia waited for her at the entrance, taking the opportunity to chat with friends. She overheard someone exclaim in surprise, "Isn't that the dancer? What she's holding looks like Mr. Bailey's invitation."
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