Chapter 116 Secretly Wanting to Be Her Man
Chapter 116 Secretly Wanting to Be Her Man
As soon as the car door closed, the rugged off-road vehicle roared to life, startling half the hotel, even though Austin was mindful to keep the speed down before Winona buckled her seatbelt.
By the time Zachary reached the door, he could only catch a glimpse of the red taillights disappearing into the darkness.
He stared in that direction. His eyes were more intense than the starless, moonless night sky.
The waiter, who was helping the injured Fiona, said, "Miss Clark, I'll go get the car. Please wait here."
"Okay."
She stood next to Zachary, leaning on the door frame for support because of the pain in her foot. Her ankle looked more swollen.
Zachary's gaze swept over her.
Fiona felt his eyes on her. She sensed he was about to speak, but she interrupted him coldly, "Go after her if you want. Don't worry about me."
Her gaze was set forward, and her attitude was lofty and proud.
"Why did she suddenly lash out at you?"
Zachary's voice was as cold and impassive as ever, revealing no discernible emotion—indistinguishable from how he would speak to anyone else.
Finally, Fiona turned her head, her eyes still red, and met Zachary's indifferent gaze with a self-deprecating smile. "Don't you want to know about my injury? Instead, you're asking me what I did to provoke her so much that she felt the need to stoop to hitting me."
Fiona fell silent for a moment and then said, "You should ask her."
Her voice, though much steadier and restrained, still carried a hint of choking emotion, almost an air of resigned defiance. "Whatever she says goes."
The waiter brought the car around, and Fiona, too impatient to wait for him to come help her, limped over to open the car door.
Inside the black SUV, Winona turned to glance at Austin. This man was still ostentatious, just like the school days; every cell in his body seemed to scream, "Come and hit me."
A sense of familiarity was slowly returning.
Winona buckled her seatbelt and slumped into the passenger seat, completely relaxed.
Austin's mood had already shifted from the joy of reunion to the grand sorrow of losing the woman he loved, making him sound harsh when he spoke. It wasn't intentional; it was just that he'd gotten used to training recruits in the army, and now, when he got stern, it was as if he were drilling someone. "Why didn't you wait for me?"
Winona felt somewhat wronged. "When did you ever ask me to wait for you?"
If she had known, she would have refused him directly!
At that time, all her thoughts were consumed in a battle of wits with that mother-daughter duo; she had no spare thoughts for romance. And who would have expected that the man she was always arm-in-arm with was secretly hoping to be her boyfriend?
"The night before I reported to the army, I told you to wait for me to come back to treat you to meals for a lifetime. You agreed," Austin said.
Winona turned her head and asked, "Austin, have you really not had a girlfriend all these years?"
She didn't mean it as a personal attack, but she couldn't help herself.
Austin was oblivious to the implication in her words. "I asked you to wait for me. How could I find another girlfriend?"
Besides, in the army, other than the female mosquitoes, everyone else was male.
Austin leaned one hand on the steering wheel while fiddling with a lighter with the other. He was clearly annoyed, wanting to smoke.
"When are you divorcing that man?"
His question was casual, yet it was phrased as an affirmative. Winona responded, "I don't know. I can only file for divorce after three months."
After she spoke, she realized that the person beside her was no longer the same simple school friend.
Austin's lips curled up. "Let's have dinner together tomorrow. If you don't agree, I'll wait for you outside your apartment block."
Winona, having reported her address as soon as she got into the car, felt she had been too careless.
But after a long separation, it was okay to have a meal together.
As for Austin's feelings for her, it was merely a sense of unwillingness upon suddenly hearing the news of her marriage.
The car stopped at the foot of her apartment building. Winona opened the door and stepped out. Austin also got out of the car.
"Why are you coming out?"
"I'll walk you up." Austin took a few strides and stood beside her. "It's dark. Who knows what might be hiding in those bushes or behind the trees?"
"No need. The security here is quite good, and they don't allow parking here. You should go back."
She waved her hand and limped into the main entrance.
Behind her, a car engine started. Winona instinctively looked back and saw a black Bentley stop next to Austin's car. She didn't see the license plate, but from the model, she knew it was Zachary.
The car door swung open, and as expected, it was Zachary who stepped out.
He was still clad in the suit he'd worn at the auction and wore no coat against the cold.
His gaze was fixed on her as he strode forward.
However, before he could reach Winona, Austin intercepted him. "She's going to sleep. You should leave."
Zachary's gaze followed the arm barring his way until his eyes met Austin's rugged and intense face, sculpted by his military career. With a smile that was more of a sneer, he said, "I am her husband. Naturally, I live with her. And I suppose I owe Mr. Robinson thanks for bringing my wife home."
His tone was calm and the words polite, but when spoken by him, paired with his expression, they carried an unmistakable bite of scorn.
Austin's sarcasm was just as biting, but unlike Zachary's, it was crude and blunt. "You're separated now. Why are you living together? Get going, or I'll call the police for trespassing."
Austin just guessed about the separation. While pricey, the apartments here lacked kitchens and usually housed single youths and unwed couples. Considering Zachary's wealth, a villa staffed with servants and on-call drivers seemed more plausible for him than this place.
"Separated?" The gloom in Zachary's eyes shifted toward Winona.
Though silent, his message was crystal clear—did she tell him about that?
Winona didn't acknowledge him and simply walked away.
Zachary sidestepped Austin and aimed to follow her, but he was once again halted as Austin gripped his arm.
His brows furrowed, and his warning was terse. "Let go. Get out of here."
Dear readers, we wish to inform you that the latest installment of our cherished narrative will resume its regular schedule within a week. Your patience is immensely appreciated, and we are devoted to ensuring that the forthcoming chapters meet the exceptional standards you deserve. We entreat you not to forsake the adventures that lie within these pages, for the ensuing chapters promise to unfurl even more enthralling twists and riveting tales. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
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