Chapter 201 Who Started This Damned Rumor
"Remarried? To who?" Samuel's voice rose, "Winona Sullivan?"
"I’m remarrying an ex. A new person. Now, that's a second marriage," said Zachary with a tinge of disdain in his voice.
Samuel laughed coldly, glancing at the door to the study that had remained slightly ajar all this time without a hint of movement, and felt the suppressed rage inside him ignite, "Well, don't expect a wedding gift from me."
"Wouldn't value your lousy gifts anyway."
"Then why the hell are you calling me? Just go get your license back in secret, why bother? What, you want to throw a big party, and have me as your best man?"
"Given your rocky love life, having you as a best man would be bad luck. Just thought I'd let you know."
"Hah," Samuel actually laughed, though it was more of a scoff, "I'm not fixing your hair, man. Don't worry about my issues. And in the future, keep your personal life off the phone."
With that, he hung up the phone.
Zachary didn't take it to heart. He sat on his couch, massaging his temples and playing with his phone for a bit, then had a smoke before heading to the bathroom to freshen up.
...
The next day was another busy one.
Leaving the museum, Winona Sullivan headed straight for Watson Group.
Matthew Watson was out, and the atmosphere in the project department was tense. Only the sound of papers being flipped and the tapping of keyboards could be heard – it wasn’t quiet, yet the silence seemed even more pronounced. Her co-worker Sam sneaked over and whispered, "Winona, did you and Manager Nie have a fight? The guy looked pretty upset all afternoon."
"No," Winona Sullivan booted up her computer, "Manager Nie and I are just friends. Don't start any rumors."
Sam looked sympathetically at her, "So it's true you turned him down, no wonder he's in a bad mood."
Despite Winona's many explanations about her and Matthew Watson, both public and private, the rumors persisted. So she decided to let things take their course.
Sam said, "I don’t know how you could not be into someone as great as Matthew, and speaking of the devil..."
Right then, Matthew Watson stepped out of the elevator with a typically calm expression on his face. His gaze swept over the office, and the clacking of keyboards seemed to grow louder.
Sam immediately shut up, quickly scooted back to his desk on his office chair, and buried himself in his work.
The office bustled with activity, making the newcomer Winona Sullivan stick out like a sore thumb.
Matthew Watson's eyes landed on her, "Winona, come to my office."
The design team gathered in his office for a quick meeting to review the revisions made yesterday. Wrapping it up, Matthew said, "That's it for the meeting. Everyone get off an early shift today and get some rest. Winona, stay back for a minute."
Everyone filed out except Winona Sullivan. She thought he wanted to discuss work but was blindsided by his question, "You're getting back together with Zachary?"
Winona Sullivan was baffled.
Not getting a response, Matthew assumed she was silently confirming and wore a self-deprecating and bitter expression, "So, we've missed our chance again?"
Winona's brow furrowed slightly, "Who told you I'm remarrying Zachary Bailey?"
Matthew frowned too, "It's the talk of the town."
"Who the hell started that rumor?" Winona Sullivan was livid. Throughout three years of marriage, hardly anyone knew she was Mrs. Bailey. Post-divorce and Zachary Bailey's name was ironically more entangled with hers than ever, echoing everywhere she went.
"So, you don't want to get back with him?" Matthew watched the woman before him become more animated with irritation, a slight smile touching his lips.
"No, I don't," Winona declared firmly.
She had barely escaped that sham of a loveless marriage. She'd be insane to dive back into those waters. Three years had been enough; another three would push her to the brink of madness.
"But don't waste your time on me, Matthew. I can tell your mother is worried about your bachelorhood. Don't let her wait too long."
"How long she waits isn't up to me. It depends on when you're willing to be my girlfriend." Beneath Matthew Watson's seemingly calm demeanor was a resolute heart. Unlike Austin, whose passion was overt and unruly, Matthew was like the ocean—no matter the turbulence beneath the surface, it remained tranquil above.
Winona Sullivan was speechless.
"Winona, didn't you once have feelings for me? Maybe if we gave it a shot, you'd fall for me again. Feelings that once were there can be rekindled. Zachary hasn't treated you well these past three years. Any affection you had for him probably isn't as deep as you think."
Winona Sullivan pondered for a moment but ultimately shook her head. "It's different, Matthew. You've always been exceptional since you were a kid, with such an amiable personality. You're like a lighthouse standing strong amidst the darkness..."
She struggled to put her feelings into words. When her mother was alive, Winona Sullivan lived carefree, the little princess who thought the world revolved around her, always seeing Matthew Watson as an older brother figure. But after her mother passed away, her life flipped upside down. She turned into a Cinderella that everyone seemed eager to trample on.
The abrupt upheaval in her life left Winona reeling, even her once-doting father found new love, sparking a rebellious streak in her. During that time, apart from Matthew Watson, everyone else seemed to drift away for one reason or another.
A man who's exceptional, handsome, tolerant, and consistently kind to you... In such dire straits, anyone's heart would flutter.
The youthful infatuation was intense but fragile, especially after the crushing blow that led to three years of complete silence between them.
Matthew Watson said, "So, you're telling me that your feelings for me were just admiration and a subconscious chase after the light, not true affection."
After a few seconds of silence, Winona Sullivan replied, "I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize. From now on, just try to actually fall for me," he teased with a low chuckle. "Don't view me as a lighthouse, but as a regular guy—a man who can laugh, cry, get angry, and jealous. You and Zachary haven't remarried, and there's no one else in your life. Having an extra admirer won't complicate things."
Matthew Watson closed the topic, "Let's go, I'll take you back."
"No, I drove myself here."
Her car had been fixed, and she picked it up from the repair shop that morning.
"Alright, drive safely," he said, not wanting to cause any inconvenience; he respected all her decisions.
As Winona Sullivan headed down to the parking lot, she opened Facebook. After recent trending topics, her profile was no longer private. Immediately, she noticed several comments inquiring whether she was planning to remarry Zachary Bailey.
Winona didn't respond.
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