Chapter 113 Lifelong Impotence
Chapter 113: Lifelong Impotence
Winona, who had been contemplating playing matchmaker out of the goodness of her heart, was left dumbfounded: "??"
Her eyes widened in shock as she watched Lydia coolly wove lies, her mind filled with exclamation marks.
When had she ever been sick?
Compared to the feeble Fiona, who could barely catch her breath, Winona almost felt like she could take down an ox on the spot—she couldn't look any healthier if she tried.
But Winona's internal monologue was interrupted as cameras from the media swarmed on her, their lenses focused and captured every moment.. Some reporters, well informed about the rumors, had been waiting for a chance to see both women together. Without an official statement, the truth remained unclear.
Now Lydia, as the mother-in-law, had seemingly confirmed the news herself — how could they doubt it now?
"Mrs. Bailey, regarding Miss Clark 's attendance at the auction with your husband's invitation, were you aware of this?" one reporter probed.
"Did Miss Clark know about your marriage?" asked another.
Knowing Zachary would be tight-lipped, most of the reporters had encircled Winona. The narrative of a wife confronting her husband's lover was a tale as old as time and always a hot topic.
Especially when the lover was a semi-public figure.
They knew what tomorrow's headlines would read.
The crowd pressed tighter, microphones nearly smacking Winona's face several times.
Zachary, frowning, made his way through the throng. On his way, Fiona, pale as a ghost, suddenly blocked his path: "Those photos of you and Winona leaving the hotel—I know it was you who leaked them to the press."
The incident had made quite a stir, and she had seen the reports even abroad, although her constant tracking of Zachary's whereabouts could have played a part.
At first, she found it odd that the media dared to expose such gossip about him.
To Fiona, it still counted as gossip because she refused to believe that Zachary would be with another woman right after she left.
But as the situation worsened, it became harder to deceive herself with her laughable denials.
Zachary's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint flickering in them, but his voice remained steady, only slightly lower: "Fiona, are you threatening me?"
For Fiona, this familiar endearment held no humor now.
She knew that, to others, the term might sound distinctly affectionate, but for Zachary, it wasn't about sentiment. It was sheer laziness, an unwillingness to bother with a change of nickname. To him, whether he called her Fiona, Jane, Ningning—it made no difference. Just a placeholder.
Why expend effort on something as trivial as a name?
"Zachary, I'm a public figure. My next tour stops in New York in half a month," she reminded him, her tone implying concealed urgency.
Therefore, no scandalous rumors could afford to surface.
Fiona had indeed made progress lately, learning when to retreat in order to advance.
Given her former high-and-mighty nature, she was the type to never back down, preferring to go down with the ship rather than give an inch.
Lydia, peering through a crack, almost passed out with fury as she saw the two people standing face to face, exchanging affectionate glances. Here she was, bending over backward to help him woo a wife, and there he was, openly defending his mistress.
Sensing her resentment, Zachary pulled his gaze from Fiona and walked past her without a word.
Winona gripped the nearest microphone as if it were a lifeline. She had to; with the press of the crowd, one wrong move and that mic could end up in her mouth.
Her smile didn't waver as she responded to the media, "I apologize, but regarding Mr. Bailey's relationship with Ms. Jane, the parties involved are here; perhaps you should ask them for clarity."
Cutting through the ring of reporters, Zachary made his way to Winona.
The crowd parted, creating a path for him.
Winona's crisp voice carried through the microphone, "As for Mr. Bailey and myself... we are in the process of divorcing. When the papers are final, the media will be the first to know."
"I apologize," Zachary's voice followed as he wove through the crowd and took Winona's hand, pulling her into an embrace in front of everyone. "My Mrs. has been a bit emotional lately, prone to jesting."
One female reporter quipped, "She must be pregnant then. Expectant mothers have such mood swings. Mr. Bailey, you're in for a ride."
A spark of delight was visible in Zachary's eyes."Thank you for the well-wishes."
These seasoned reporters had staked out Zachary countless times and had never seen him this amiable or polite. The respectful tones confirmed it—Mr. Bailey and Mrs. Bailey were deeply in love.
Winona turned her head toward him, her voice throaty, "A liar is struck by lightning, doomed to impotence for life."
Zachary looked down at her, matching her tone, "Are you suggesting I need to make sure you're actually expecting?"
Doubting, someone sought a scoop, "Mr. Bailey, what exactly is your relationship with Miss Jane? It looked like she had your invitation."
This redirected the attention back to the pair in question.
Zachary responded coolly, "Miss Jane and I have been friends for years. The invitation was a simple favor, nothing more. I apologize for the confusion this has caused her and the unintended trouble to everyone."
Winona didn't bother to expose his lie. Anyone with a brain wouldn't buy it. Was it so hard for someone like Zachary to get another invite from the hosts?
You didn't need to be a seasoned fox in the business world to know what giving someone an invite with your own name meant.
Finally free from the media, Lydia, eager to facilitate their interaction, excused herself to chat with a friend, suggesting they go in first.
Winona tilted her chin up, a defiant grin playing on her lips, "So, you want to have your cake and eat it too?"
"You want to protect Fiona's reputation but also string her along because you don't want a divorce."
Zachary's eyebrows knotted as he cautioned with a weighted voice, "Winona, don't jump to conclusions."
Winona, called by her full name, let out a knowing smile, her eyes locked onto his, unwavering, "Well, I'm not about to let you have it both ways."
With that, she turned on her heel and strode into the auction hall. Winona had arrived with Lydia, claiming seats in the coveted front row, right next to Zachary, with an unobstructed view.
No sooner had Winona taken her seat than Zachary was there beside her, "You're representing the Bailey family now. There's media here, don't cause a scene."
He didn't know what she planned to do, but from his understanding of Winona, it was bound to be a spectacle
"Just stand up and shout out that we're divorced, and I'll make sure nothing I do can tarnish the Bailey family's good name," she retorted.
Zachary scoffed, his words deliberate, "Forget about the divorce."
Rolling her eyes, Winona was about to plug her ears with earbuds when she felt a shadow loom over her.
"Winona."
The familiar male voice drew her gaze upward, and she faced the newcomer. A genuine, heartfelt smile broke through her sarcasm, "Austin?"
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