Chapter 178 Zachary Bailey's Charm Offensive
Winona Sullivan remained seated in the car, and Zachary Bailey didn't force her to leave. But his unwavering presence blocking the car door felt coercive enough.
The stalemate continued as the mountain air crisp and cutting, more relaxed than the city's and biting like a blade against their skin, whistled around them.
The silence was finally broken by the sudden ring of a cell phone—Winona’s. On the screen: ‘Matthew Watson,’ his name glared at Zachary Bailey, whose usually nonchalant expression darkened instantly.
Winona answered the call, her voice devoid of the usual weariness she exhibited around Zachary. "Matthew, what’s up?"
Matthew Watson said, "Some friends dropped off a bunch of fireworks. Thought you might be Interested in setting them off somewhere?"
Knowing Winona was alone in New York and had fallen out with Melissa, he had bought the fireworks himself, hoping to cheer her up without burdening her.
Winona shot Zachary Bailey a disdainful look, her eyes filled with unspoken words of reproach.
Men always desire what they can't have.
The winter mountain was peaceful, Matthew’s voice coming clear through the phone.
Zachary Bailey, unsure of what was on Winona's mind and seeing her turn to look at him, guessed she was figuring out how to ditch him to meet Matthew.
With a mockingly curved smile, he said, "When will you be done? I'm waiting to light up those fireworks for you."
Matthew paused, "You're with the Baileys?"
Knowing that Lydia treated Winona like her own, he was sure she wouldn't be left alone in an apartment for the holidays. "Should I come get you?"
"No need," Winona replied, wondering whether he genuinely wanted to join her for the fireworks or was just trying to one-up Zachary. "Stay home with your folks. Give them my regards!"
Matthew fell silent for a long moment before finally responding, "Okay."
With that, Matthew Watson was the first to hang up.
Winona Sullivan's hands were so numb with cold that she still clutched the phone even after the busy signal had stopped. "Can't let go?" Zachary Bailey sneered. "Too bad the guy's already hung up without a second thought."
Winona pocketed her phone, brushed past him, and exited the car. "Where's the lighter?"
Zachary handed her the lighter. "It's not completely dark yet. Let's grab some grub first," his lost in the explosions of fireworks lighting up the evening sky.
Winona crouched down, one hand wielding the lighter, the other holding a small piece of fireworks. Her face etched with reluctance as if she was on a tedious task, longing for the shift to end.
The fireworks Zachary had bought were top-notch, not your run-of-the-mill variety. Yet, watching the bright colors burst and fade, he found them disappointingly mundane.
"Winona Sullivan," he pulled her up abruptly, snatching the lighter from her hand. "Even if you don’t appreciate the good stuff, don’t make your ignorance so glaring. Is this how you light fireworks?" His anger was building inside.
The fireworks drowned out his words, leaving Winona to just watch his lips moving, his expression speaking volumes.
After what felt like an eternity, the cacophony finally died, and the silence around them deepened.
"Let me handle it," Zachary snapped.
He crouched to light the fireworks, the movement accentuating the muscular lines of his back and the curve of his hips.
Winona's gaze lingered on his silhouette, and she suddenly remembered when she had made that wish – on her birthday during their first year of marriage.
That day, Zachary had returned just before midnight, tossing her a mangled cake—a botched mess from Dylan Collins intended for his girlfriend. Despite its appearance, Winona was happy. Since her mother's passing, besides her friend Rebecca Davis, no one else had remembered her birthday. So she had made her wish with heartfelt intent.
Zachary came back and stood beside her, noticing her contemplative stare at the fireworks. A trace of pleasure crossed his heart. "Are these not more dazzling than any fireworks you've seen before? The ones you can buy are all pretty standard, let alone those given as hand-me-downs."
Winona glanced at him. "You and Matthew have been brothers for so many years; there’s no need to snide remarks."
" if Rebecca Davis tried to steal your man, could you still call her your best friend?" Zachary asked.
"No way, Rebecca wouldn't give you the time of day," Winona replied without a hint of hesitation.
Zachary Bailey fell silent.
No one spoke again.
Winona looked up at the fireworks display bursting into the dark sky; it was spectacular and unlike any ordinary display. She watched as a cascade of purple blossoms tumbled like a waterfall, their beauty and magic breathtakingly lifelike.
You had to hand it to Zachary Bailey; his taste was impeccable for a guy with low EQ. A smile played on Winona's lips; the scene's grandeur made it challenging not to be in high spirits.
Zachary turned to see her face, a smile touching her lips and her eyes shimmering, the fireworks painting her fair complexion with a kaleidoscope of colors. The tense atmosphere between them eased considerably.
Half an hour later, only one firework was left.
Zachary Bailey said, "I hear making a wish on the last firework is pretty effective. Wanna give it a shot?"
He didn't know whether it worked or not, but considering she had chosen to watch his fireworks over Matthew Watson's that evening, he felt inclined to grant her a wish.
Winona, captivated by the colorful bursts overhead, turned to Zachery with a grin, “Really? How effective?”
Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Zachary nodded, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Ninety-nine percent."
As long as she didn't wish for something beyond human capabilities—though he might just take her to the moon if she asked.
Winona, looking at the fireworks overhead, brought her hands together ceremoniously. "I hope in the new year, and in every year to come, I never have to cross paths with Zachary Bailey again."
Before she could finish, Zachary's lips pressed against hers. But as he leaned in, Winona dodged swiftly, his kiss missing its mark.
His gaze, dark and edged with anger, bore down on her; each word was bitten off with extreme heaviness, the fury evident enough to strangle her, "Is that how badly you want to get rid of me?"
It was his first time trying so hard to please a woman, and not only was she unimpressed, but she was eager to get away from him. It was absurd.
"Yes," Winona confirmed.
The peace from moments ago was gone instantly, leaving only tension and silence.
Zachary stood up, a cold laugh escaping him, "If you're worried I'll bug you, rest easy; tonight's fireworks..."
He touched his cheek thoughtfully, "this was Samuel's idea to impress Julia. He wasn't sure it would work, so he asked me to test it."
After speaking, he dialed Samuel Anderson's number in front of Winona Sullivan. Without waiting for a response from the other end, he blurted out, "Tried it, doesn't work."
Then he hung up, leaving the person on the other end utterly confused, with no clue what had happened.
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