Chapter 310 I Was Trying to Seduce Him
At the mere suggestion of engaging in a joint workout, Winona's mind conjured vivid images of Zachary drenched in sweat, his breath ragged, the sinewy expanse of his physique straining enticingly against his snug sweater. A subtle flush colored her cheeks as she swallowed, the intensity of her desire palpable.
Anxious that Zachary might discern the fervor of her thoughts, Winona hastily averted her gaze, her pulse quickening, and replied, "Nah, I'm good. I'mma catch some Z's."
As she rushed upstairs, Zachary squinted, his lips pressed tight.
Zachary went back to his room, took a long shower, and lay down. The bed still had Winona's scent from the night before.
He closed his eyes.
Last night, he'd fallen asleep quickly in this very spot. But tonight, sleep wouldn't come.
The scent that had soothed him now felt like a hook, pulling at his thoughts, making him restless and excited.
Both mentally and physically.
Half an hour later, Zachary threw off the covers, got up, and with a frustrated look, knocked on the door next to his.
No answer.
The knocking echoed down the empty hallway.
His patience ran out, and he pressed down on the door handle. It opened easily.
No need for lights. The dim glow from the window showed the bed was empty and unmade.
Winona wasn't in this room.
He let out a cold laugh and started checking other rooms. Finally, at the last door, the handle was locked.
Locked from the inside.
A smile crept onto Zachary's face. 'She is really keeping her distance,' he thought.
He knocked. A few seconds later, Winona's guarded voice came from inside. "What do you want?"
"Open the door," he paused, "I need to talk to you."
"Say it at the door. I'm already in bed."
Zachary leaned against the wall, chuckling. "Are you really in bed, or just treating me like a man of ex-con?"
Winona's unpleasant memories flared up. "Aren't you?"
He couldn't deny the awful things he'd done. "I'm sorry."
Winona stayed silent.
Since overhearing Zachary and Matthew's conversation at the hotel, she hadn't blamed him as much. She even considered his situation and had to admit things might've gone as he said.
In that situation, dignity and pride didn't matter.
The only difference was that in the former, she was the victim and could demand he be a good husband. In the latter, she'd see the marriage as a transaction, silently enduring until the debt was paid.
If Zachary had protected her dignity this way, it wasn't entirely wrong.
"Sorry, is that enough? If not, I'll say it again," he said, far from apologetic. It was clearly a provocation. "But even if I had to do it again, I'd still choose the same."
Even though Winona had convinced herself not to blame him, hearing him say that made her scream, "Just get lost."
There was silence outside, and she couldn't tell if he had left.
But she had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds, and this disturbance had completely ruined the little bit of sleepiness she had managed to gather.
'So annoying, that jerk,' she thought.
Just as she was about to watch a couple of episodes of TV show on her phone, Rebecca messaged her: [Winona, are you not home? I knocked, but no one answered.]
Winona replied: [I moved to Regal Oaks.]
Rebecca's chat box showed she was typing, but it took a while for a message to come through, and it was just one word: [Impressive.]
[It's not what you think.]
[I didn't think anything. That's it, I'm out. You know what I told you.]
She also attached a nine-grid cartoon image with various sexual positions.
Winona: [You talk about me, but what's going on with you and Mr. Lewis? How did your bra clasp end up with him?]
She always felt Rebecca was hiding something from her. Last time in the store, she had been evasive and seemed preoccupied. And not long ago, she was shipping Anthony with another man. She couldn't have ended up in bed with him, right?
After a few minutes with no reply from Rebecca, Winona added: [If you don't tell me, I'll ask Mr. Lewis.]
[I was trying to seduce him, but he said he'd charge me with attempted rape, sexual harassment, and public indecency. I was so flustered that I ripped off my bra clasp. Who knew he'd pick it up and return it to me.]
This was even more shocking than the nine-grid image.
Winona: [Why were you trying to seduce him?]
This time, the wait was even longer, and there was no typing indicator. Just as Winona was about to call, Rebecca finally replied: [Howard was detained for intentional injury. The other party refused to settle privately and insisted on pressing charges.]
Howard Robinson was Rebecca's younger brother, a sophomore in college.
Winona couldn't just lie there anymore. She got up and started changing clothes while dialing Rebecca's number. As soon as it connected, she asked, "When did this happen?"
"Five days ago."
"Wait for me at your apartment entrance. I'm coming over."
"No need, it's late. Don't run around. I'm already calm. My only worry now is the lawyer. The other party is well-off and has connections. Their lawyer specializes in criminal cases."
Winona knew Rebecca didn't want her to worry, but after keeping it a secret for five days, Rebecca reached out to her tonight; if it hadn't been too much for her to handle, she wouldn't have come to the apartment so late.
"Tell me the details, and I'll come over now," Winona glanced at the door and said, "but it might take a while."
The incident was simple. Howard's girlfriend was bullied, and he went to confront the bullies. They ganged up on him, beat him up, and even harassed his girlfriend in front of him. In a moment of rage, he lost control and stabbed the other party.
Winona opened the door and met Zachary's gaze as he smoked in the hallway.
Seeing her, he instinctively put out the cigarette, then noticed she was dressed to go out. He frowned and asked, "Where are you going this late?"
"If I want to hire Anthony as the defense lawyer, what are the requirements?"
It definitely wasn't about money. The Robinson family could afford it.
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