Chapter 9
Matthew wavered, torn between his urge to turn Winona down and the promise he’d given.
Sensing his waver, Winona reached out, her voice sincere. “I mean it, Matt. I’ll be there for you, through thick and thin.”
With blood streaking her face, Winona looked up at him, her voice gentle and imploring. “Please, Matt, one more shot. Let’s not call it quits on the engagement, okay?”
Matthew’s eyes held a whirl of emotions as he looked at Winona, her face streaked with blood. There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes, and against his better judgment, he found himself nodding.
“Alright,” he agreed. It wasn’t because he was indecisive, but because he felt bound by his word as a man–at least, that was what he told himself.
As Matthew gave a nod, Winona’s dizziness overwhelmed her. Her eyes fluttered shut, and with a sigh of relief, she sagged against Matthew’s chest, her body going limp as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Steven Fisher, Matthew’s right–hand man, let out a frustrated sigh. He’d heard about Matthew’s intention to end the engagement, thinking Matthew had finally found the courage to stand up to Winona.
But it was clear Matthew’s determination wasn’t as firm as he’d thought. Steven just couldn’t figure out why someone as outstanding as Matthew kept getting entangled with Winona.
Wanting to shake some sense into Matthew, Steven decided to intervene. “Mr. Langford, this might not be my place, but I’ve got to speak up.”
“I’m listening,” Matthew said, his attention divided between Steven and the delicate task of wiping the blood from Winona’s face.
Steven got straight to the point. “You keep giving her another chance, and she keeps stringing you along. It’s a vicious cycle that’s going nowhere.”
Matthew’s face hardened as he shot a cold stare at Steven. The intensity of his gaze sent a chill through Steven, making his voice tremble slightly as he continued. “Mr. Langford, the truth Hurts, but Winona’s got a thing for Travis; she’s just using you.”
Steven’s tone was cautious, yet insistent. “Think about it. Every time Winona’s been sweet to you, it’s been about Travis.”
At that, Matthew stopped cleaning Winona’s face.
Steven’s voice took on a note of urgency. “Remember that close call with an assassination attempt? Maybe Winona’s friendliness isn’t just about getting resources for Travis this time. It could be a threat to your life. Don’t let her deceive you again.”
He continued, “You’ve got prestige and charisma. There are plenty of women in Drexington who’d be thrilled to marry you. Any of them would be a better choice than Winona.”
Steven bent forward, his tone almost pleading. “Mr. Langford, please, don’t turn a blind eye to this. Consider your mother’s plight in the Langford family. She’s in a tough spot and she needs you.
“You can’t just focus on your own emotions. Your mother’s safety should be a priority as well.”
“This is the last chance, Matthew declared, his hands balling into fists.
He was giving Winona one final chance. If she wasn’t sincere this time, if she didn’t truly regret her past and wasn’t fully committed to him, he’d cut her out of his life for good.
1/3
22:15 Wed, Dec 25
Chapter 9
Steven realized Matthew wasn’t completely sold on Winona’s promises. She’d duped Matthew more times than he could count. It was like the boy who cried wolf; when the wolf actually arrived, no one was left to believe him.
“So you’re giving her a probationary period?” Steven inquired.
“Exactly,” Matthew confirmed, his voice cool as he stared down at the unconscious Winona with an unreadable expression.
Steven let out a sigh of relief. “Mr. Langford, please keep a clear head around her during this time. And for heaven’s sake, don’t do everything she asks of you. She’ll eventually reveal her true intentions.”
Steven was convinced that Winona didn’t live up to the standard Matthew deserved. He was determined to help Matthew see through Winona’s facade to the person she truly was, and then Matthew would be able to make a clean break from her for good.
“When she shows her true colors, please don’t waver. Stick to your guns,” Steven urged.
“Absolutely,” Matthew replied, his voice icy as he clenched his fist He knew he needed to stay clear–headed when dealing with Winona; wavering would only make things worse.
Over at the Mosley residence, Leonard finally snapped back to reality as Matthew hurried Winona off to the hospital.
The guests glanced at each other, confused, with Morgan lying there, out cold near the stairs. “What just happened?” one of them whispered, puzzled.
Seems like Ms. Mosley shoved Morgan down the stairs,” one said.
“But then Winona tried to catch her,” another added. “She fell, hit her head, and was bleeding pretty badly. It was terrifying.”
“Food for thought: Maybe Morgan orchestrated the fall after hearing, her daughter got kicked out because of Winona. She could’ve been trying to pin it on Winona and use Leonard’s guilt to get Felicia back into the Mosley residence,” one person speculated.
“High society is all about the drama. Your theory sounds plausible,” another agreed. “Winona never saw through Morgan’s manipulation, so she put herself in danger to help her. She’s an amazing person–so full of heart and generosity.”
“But risking her life for her stepmother was pretty silly, don’t you think?” someone else questioned.
“Do you guys think Winona could lose too much blood and die?” another asked.
Morgan, feigning unconsciousness while eavesdropping around the corner, seethed at the guests‘ candid gossip about her. The desire to burst in and confront them was almost too much to bear.
She itched to confront them, but she knew she had to maintain her facade. If Leonard started probing, she might slip up and reveal her true intentions. She couldn’t risk Leonard discovering her cunning schemes.
It irked her that Winona had actually come to her aid. Always seen as the virtuous one, Morgan now found her reputation under the microscope, all because of Winona. Meanwhile, Winona, once the subject of everyone’s scorn, was now being praised as extraordinary.
She knew she needed to act quickly to regain control of public opinion, using Winona to her benefit. Most importantly, she had to use Winona to bring Felicia back into the Mosley residence.
Listening to the whispers of the guests, Leonard felt a whirlwind of emotions. His gaze flickered to Morgan, who was lying still at the staircase.
2/3
