Chapter145The Truth of That Night
Matthew Watson frowned and shook his head, "I'm sorry, but I genuinely don't recall Winona coming to me that evening. Maybe the waiter took the money and didn't follow through."
After all, Winona Sullivan back then was timid and easily bullied.
No matter what Matthew said, Rebecca was convinced he was lying, "If it wasn't for your custom, one-of-a-kind watch, Winona would never have mistaken Zachary Bailey for you..."
They had ended up in bed and were forced into marriage.
Winona had claimed she was too nervous that night, drinking several extra drinks while waiting and getting tipsy. She was slumped over the table, half asleep, when someone helped her up. She never saw their face; she only noticed the watch on their wrist.
Matthew had mentioned his watch was custom-made, the only one in the world. Add to that the fact she'd sent a tip to get a message to Matthew, and Winona's first thought... was that it was him.
Plus, she recognized the scent on the man.
Without any hesitation, she followed him. Even when she tried to get a clear look at his face, her vision was too blurry—all she could make out was a smooth jawline that seemed like Matthew's.
She had asked the man about his thoughts on marriage, and he'd simply hummed an affirmation, "Mm-hm."
Winona Sullivan took that as a yes.
"A watch?" Matthew Watson, who happened to be wearing that very piece today, rolled up his shirt sleeve, revealing it. "This one?"
It was a replacement from Zachary Bailey; his original had been lost years ago during a night out at the Night Club. Although it had a hefty price tag, it wasn't of much sentimental value to them—lost was lost.
Had Zachary not mentioned it at a party and given him a new one, Matthew would have probably forgotten the whole thing.
Rebecca Davis was in a sour mood; her tone wasn't any more pleasant for it. "What, do you have a whole collection of custom watches or something?"
"Excuse me, I have to step out for a moment," said Matthew Watson, his expression darkening as he quickly excused himself and briskly made his way to the elevator...
Ward 507.
Zachary Bailey fixed his cold gaze on Winona Sullivan, who had been sitting on the stool, utterly ignoring him ever since she'd walked in. His voice was colder still, "What's the matter? Not happy I interrupted your first love session?"
Silence.
"If I hadn't come downstairs, were you planning on running off with him?"
Again, silence.
Zachary Bailey wasn't the type to pamper anyone, nor was he the sort to let a woman treat him with such indifference. After being ignored repeatedly, his face turned thunderous. "Winona Sullivan, I'm speaking to you. What's with the attitude?"
Before Winona could respond, the door to the room swung open.
Matthew Watson walked in, the usual warm smile nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by a frosty demeanor. He turned to Winona, "Winona, do you mind if I have a word with Zachary in private?"
Winona nodded, "Oh, sure, I was going to grab some things anyway."
And Zachary, after being snubbed repeatedly, could only silently seethe, his face grim.
The moment Winona left, the tension in the room thickened palpably.
Matthew extended the watch toward Zachary, "Works well, does it?"
Seeing the watch and hearing the tone, Zachary knew exactly what he meant. His already cold expression chilled even further, an ominous edge creeping into it. "It’s quite functional. Without it, I’d have to think of another way to make her willingly come with me."
Matthew’s face twisted with an anger so intense it was nearly palpable. Wrath bubbled just beneath the surface. In a nearly uncontrollable gesture, he slammed the watch down in front of Zachary—
"You know she never liked you..."
That night, he'd had one too many drinks and ended up renting a room upstairs at the hotel. So, when he saw Winona Sullivan and Zachary Bailey stepping out of the hotel together the next day, he dropped the whole marriage idea.
Zachary Bailey eyed the watch on the ground, the kind that could buy an average Joe a house, and let out a laugh, "So what? Matthew Watson, you're all riled up because you think it's your fault Winona ended up in my bed. But given her situation back then, do you think marrying me or facing her creditors would have been better for her?"
He stood tall, calmly fixing Matthew Watson with a steady gaze, "Or perhaps you're considering meeting her terms, marrying her, and settling her debts?"
Finally, Zachary Bailey sneered, "Winona Sullivan would be a fool to turn to you, but we both know that back then, you couldn't possibly take her as your wife, much less pay off her debts."
Setting aside whether the Watson family would even allow Matthew Watson to marry a fallen heiress, at that time, the Watsons were knee-deep in a major project and in dire need of cash themselves. How could they even contemplate draining their finances to bail out a woman with no apparent value to them?
"I wouldn't have done it, but that doesn't mean you should've deceived her, and definitely not use me to do it."
Matthew's gut churned with regret. He had been abroad, oblivious to the nature of Winona's relationship with Zachary, but it was evidently strained; otherwise, she wouldn't be so adamant about divorcing him. And now, after Rebecca Davis' biting words... He felt it was all somehow his fault.
"But she liked you," Zachary said, a masochistic pleasure surging through him as he uttered the words, "That night she thought it was you with her, calling out your name."
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