Chapter 115 Winona, You Dare!
Chapter 115 Winona, You Dare!
Winona's eyes gleamed with a dark intensity, lit by a spark of defiant amusement.. The bottom of her eyes was brimming with a challenging laughter.
Zachary's brow furrowed gradually at the recollection of Winona's words—she swore he'd never have it both ways.
During this brief moment of distraction, the auctioneer commenced the count with renewed vigor.
Winona raised her paddle again, bidding with calculated minimal increments, as if teasing a cat.
Sensing the charged atmosphere, the other bidders interested in the bracelet backed off, deeming any offense for the sake of an accessory unworthy.
Fiona clenched her teeth, discerning Winona's intent. She refrained from further bids, and ultimately, Winona secured the bracelet.
As the auction continued, she stood and exited the scene.
Winona worked as an antiquities restorer. She was accustomed to the intricate craftsmanship of jewelry once adorned by ancient nobility—a standard modern diamond-studded jewels couldn't match. She glanced at Lydia, who was engrossed in the event, and whispered, "Mom, I'm going to the restroom."
Lydia responded, "Alright, have Zachary accompany you."
Winona declined; she'd be mad to let Zachary accompany her to the restroom.
She thought Fiona had left, but she was surprised to encounter her again at the washstand.
Fiona glared at her. "Winona, did you do this on purpose?"
"Yes," Winona admitted flatly.
"I haven't wronged you. I like Zachary, but I've only competed fairly with you..."
"Does that include colluding to buy my painting?" Winona interrupted impatiently. "For that reason alone, Fiona, crushing you isn't enough to appease my anger."
Though the matter concluded due to insufficient evidence and a public apology from a classmate, it still tarnished her reputation, leading to several rejections from studios and companies post graduation.
Fiona sneered, "Winona, do you know who sent those photos of you and Zachary at the hotel to the media?"
It was Layla who confessed.
Yet Fiona's tone hinted at secrecy. Winona remained silent, calmly meeting her gaze and awaiting her next words.
"Without Zachary's consent, who would dare publish his scandal consistently for days?" Fiona boasted, attempting to discern any emotional fluctuation on Winona's stoic face. "Back then, despite his pleas, I insisted on going abroad. I even broke up with him. What do you think was his reason for sharing those photos?"
Provoking Fiona's jealousy and compelling her to return was the only motive Winona could fathom.
"Why are you clinging to a man who doesn't love you, Winona?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Winona lifted her hand to slap her. Fiona, seemingly unprepared for such an immediate physical reaction, widened her eyes in shock and staggered a few steps backward.
But in her panic, she forgot she was wearing sky-high heels. She lost her footing and twisted her ankle.
"Ah!" Fiona cried out in pain. Her face contorted as she bent down to rub her injured ankle.
In the midst of this, Winona's raised hand was quickly restrained by another hand that reached out from behind. Judging by the strength, it was likely a man's.
She had a hunch about who it might be.
She turned her head to look, and it was indeed Zachary.
His handsome face had a cold expression, and his eyes were fixed on her.
With a slight smile, Winona said, "You and Fiona are really a match made in heaven. You two are equally nauseating."
Zachary was baffled and enraged by the barrage of insults. He gritted his teeth and said, "Winona, there's a limit to being ridiculous. Take a look around you and recognize where you are."
The reporters were still lurking around. Had they captured the previous scene and coupled it with the deliberate targeting at the auction, it would have been a disaster. Those paparazzi would do anything for traffic. They would even turn white into black.
With Fiona's multitude of fans, a little manipulation could lead to countless rounds of cyberbullying against her.
Winona didn't wait for an explanation. She withdrew her hand disdainfully, and the harsh words tumbled out one by one. "Since you two are so in love, just go ahead and get married. I'll leave you two alone."
Zachary's gaze remained unmoved as he repeated his point, "Don't even think about divorce. From the moment we registered our marriage, I never intended to replace our marriage certificate with a divorce document."
Winona didn't believe it. They had signed an agreement for a divorce after three years when they got their marriage certificate. If he never intended to divorce, then why did he make her sign that agreement?
She pulled the car keys from her bag and threw them at him. "Save that talk for someone who'll believe it. Even ghosts would scoff at such nonsense."
She turned on her heel and walked away, not wanting to spare a glance at the pair for a second longer.
Hobbling on one foot with a swollen ankle, Fiona remained silent.
Her quiet demeanor, bearing her injuries without complaint or fuss, was far more touching than any loud crying.
"I'll have the hotel staff send you back," Zachary said.
"Okay."
Watching Zachary follow after Winona's retreating figure, Fiona gritted her teeth and forced herself to conceal her anger. Only when they were out of sight did she allow a self-mocking curl on her lips.
This scene was exactly what a reporter, hidden in the shadows, had been waiting to capture.
Winona didn't return to the auction hall; she messaged Lydia to say she was leaving early and then headed straight out of the hotel.
A black SUV was parked in front of the hotel's glass doors, the engine on and idling. The vehicle trembled slightly, and a low rumble from the engine filled the air as it blocked most of the entrance.
Just as she was preparing to criticize the driver, the car window rolled down. It was Austin. "Get in, I'll give you a ride."
"No, thanks. I can just catch a cab."
Even though they used to be close, time had indeed created a distance.
Winona didn't like to trouble others.
Austin glanced behind her and, seeing Zachary striding in their direction, asked, "Or would you prefer to ride in his car?"
Winona turned her head just in time to meet Zachary's gaze.
Zachary had already deduced the situation from her expression and shot her a 'dare you' look.
Winona, who was previously hesitant, opened the passenger door of Austin's car and sat down.
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