Chapter 323 He Was Her First Love
Winona caught a whiff of pine. It was Matthew.
She paused, straightened up, and stepped back from his embrace. "Thanks, I think I just tripped over something."
She glanced down. The ground was smooth and clear. 'What did I trip over?' she wondered.
Matthew noticed her staring at the ground. "What's wrong?"
Winona shook her head. "Nothing, let's go."
Maybe she just imagined it.
In a car nearby, Zachary watched the whole scene unfold.
He was too far to see how she fell, but on such a flat road, he figured Matthew must've done something sneaky.
Matthew'd seen Winona get out of his car earlier but pretended not to notice.
'This guy's got deep schemes,' Zachary thought. 'Acts all gentlemanly, but he's really cunning. No wonder Winona's so easily fooled by him.'
Zachary's face darkened. He opened the car door, but Winona and Matthew had already gone into the restaurant.
Zachary reached into the glove compartment, grabbed a cigarette and lighter, and got out of the car.
Inside the restaurant, Matthew pulled out a chair for Winona.
Zachary took a drag, his face cold. "So fake," he muttered.
Winona thanked Matthew and sat down. As she bent over, she winced due to the soreness from last night.
'Isn't he supposed to be good at this by now? Three years and Zachary's still terrible in bed,' she thought.
After ordering, they made small talk before Winona asked, "Mrs. Watson, did my mom ever mention the Turner family in A City?"
Phoenix Watson's hand tightened around her cup. She paused, then shook her head. "No."
Winona continued, "Last time Matthew and I went to A City, I saw Mrs. Hall. She used to visit my house before my mom passed away. The painting that disappeared after my mom's death was brought by her."
Phoenix's expression didn't change, like she knew nothing about it.
Until Winona mentioned why she suspected the Turner family.
Phoenix blurted out, "Are you sure the people who kidnapped you were from the Turner family? Impossible, the current head is the second son of the Turner family..."
Realizing she'd said too much, Phoenix fell silent for a few seconds before awkwardly changing the subject. "Winona, let's eat first. We can talk after."
Winona asked, "Do you know the relationship between Frank and my mom? That villa on the hillside is his, but many of the decorations are things my mom liked. Last time in A City, he saved me."
Only someone who had lived there a long time would leave such strong traces. If, as Rodolfo said, they had just been business partners, those traces should've been erased long ago.
Phoenix looked at Winona, who stared back, her face calm but determined.
Phoenix sighed. "I never heard your mom talk much about Frank, but I always suspected they were lovers. She mentioned his name once. If that villa on the hillside is his, then he must've been her first love. She often went there. I was in touch with her a lot back then, and most of the time, she was there. Later, she came back to Silverton and married Carlos."
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Your mom didn't want me to. Before she passed, she came to me and asked me to keep it a secret. She didn't want you to know about her past before marrying your dad. I don't know why, but it was her last wish."
Winona stayed silent, knowing she wasn't Carlos's biological daughter.
"That's all I know. Your mom wasn't one to confide in others; she kept things to herself."
"Thank you, Mrs. Watson. That's already a lot."
The atmosphere grew quiet.
Matthew, who had been silent, frowned and asked, "You encountered something in A City. Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's already happened. Telling you would just make you worry."
Winona spoke casually, but Matthew couldn't let it go. He was about to say something when Phoenix interrupted, "Hey, isn't that Zachary?"
They turned to look out the window.
Zachary was leaning against his car, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette, his gaze fixed on them through the smoke.
He was tall, with a cold and upright posture, exuding a strong sense of pressure.
But knowing he was waiting for her and was probably hungry, Winona thought he looked like a wilted cabbage, very pitiful.
Who could eat with someone staring at them like that?
Phoenix said, "Matthew, go see why Zachary is here. If he hasn't made plans and hasn't eaten yet, invite him to join us."
Matthew didn't want to go; he knew Zachary's plan.
"Mom, Zachary is probably here for a business meeting. Let's not disturb him."
Phoenix glared at him. "It doesn't matter if he's here for a meeting. Since we ran into him, we should at least ask. It's basic courtesy; he might not even come."
Winona looked down at her food, not saying a word.
'You really don't treat me as an outsider,' she thought.
Matthew noticed Winona's discomfort and stood up. "Alright."
He planned to go out and send Zachary away. If he stood there like a wooden post, they wouldn't be able to enjoy their meal.
Outside the restaurant.
Matthew walked up to Zachary and, without even a polite greeting, told him to leave. "Either leave now or sit in your car. Don't stand here being an eyesore. I'll take Winona back later."
Zachary stubbed out his cigarette and stood up straight. "Let's go."
Matthew thought he was going to leave, surprised at how agreeable he was today, but then saw Zachary heading towards the restaurant.
He quickly caught up and asked, "Where are you going?"
"To eat. Mrs. Watson asked you to invite me in, didn't she?"
Matthew turned his head. It was at least twenty meters from here to the restaurant, with glass in between. Zachary couldn't have heard. "I didn't know you could read lips."
"No need to read lips, just use a bit of brain," Zachary looked back at him, his face full of disdain as they were standing at where Mrs. Watson and Winona couldn't see. "Don't just have cunning, use your brain too."
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