Chapter 16
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Inside New Beginnings Church, Winona noticed messages from Matthew. She was worried that replying might tip off Travis and ruin her evening plans, so she decided to hold off on responding.
Little did she know, Matthew had already blocked her. She was in high spirits, enjoying the fan, playing games, and scrolling through social media.
As she fiddled with her phone, she’d occasionally look over at the three people baking in the harsh sunlight. Their misery only made her day brighter. Time flew by for her as she watched her rivals struggle while she entertained herself on her phone.
But for Travis, holding a big bouquet of flowers, and Morgan and Felicia, slowly climbing the steps, every second felt like an eternity. It was pure torture.
As dusk settled in, Morgan and Felicia finally made it to the top of the stairs. Their knees were so worn out from the pain that they hardly felt a thing anymore.
With each other’s support, they somehow managed to stand on their wobbly legs in front of Winona, offering her a feeble smile.
Morgan swallowed her resentment and put on a sweet voice for Winona. “Winona, we’ve been praying for you. You’re destined for a life filled with peace, happiness, and a long, healthy future.” She was determined that one day, Winona would pay for this double.
Felicia piped up with a forced grin directed at Winona. “Winona, I’ve been praying for your love life too. You and Travis are going to have a fairytale ending, I just know it.”
“Aunt Morgan, Felicia, thank you so much. I’m genuinely touched,” Winona replied, her eyes glistening with tears as she clasped their hands. “I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you guys.”
“Winona, we’re family, honey. I think of you like my own daughter. No need to stand on ceremony with us,” Morgan said, her voice warm and her smile soft as she looked at Winona.
Felicia offered Winona a friendly smile. “Winona, I think of you as my sister. We’re family, so let’s keep it casual. You’re not a stranger here, okay?”
Travis couldn’t help but notice how exhausted Morgan and Felicia appeared. His own energy was dwindling, and with a face as pale as a ghost, he mustered a weak grin.
“Morgan, Felicia, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for Winona. Your generosity is something we won’t forget,” he said.
He thought to himself, “Those two fools! Even if Winona had got her wits about her, they didn’t have to go through with this crazy climb, did they? I’m about to collapse from the heat and the strain.
Felicia picked up on the frustration in Travis’s eyes and gave him a subtle nod, suggesting that Winona was the one to blame.
It was a silent understanding that passed between them, and soon Travis and Felicia were on the same wavelength. All three of them shot Winona a look filled with anger and resentment.
Winona acted as if she didn’t see the hidden anger in their eyes. With a smile, she said, “You guys must be starving. I’ve arranged a huge feast for you at Regal Heights Hotel, to thank you for all your hard work today. Let’s go and dig in.”
“Sounds good,” the other three chimed in, nodding enthusiastically, happy with her plan.
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22-18 Wed, Dec 25 A
Chapter 16
After about thirty minutes, the Mosley family’s driver pulled up Regal Heights Hotel with Winona and the other three The hotel manager, catching sight of Winona, greeted her and her crew with a warm welcome and ushered them to her private room.
The second Morgan, Felicia, and Travis walked into the plush private room and laid eyes on the table laden with a spread of mouthwatering dishes, their weariness just vanished.
They plopped down into their seats and, without a care for etiquette, reached for their cutlery and dove right into the feast.
Seeing them chow down like they’d been starved for ages, the hotel manager, Robert Larkin, and the chef, Prescott, looked less than thrilled. “Ms. Mosley hasn’t even taken her seat, and youre already digging in?” Robert remarked.
Morgan gave Robert and Prescott a look of irritation, dropping her usual decorum. “What’s it to you?” she retorted.
Yeah, who are these guys to tell us how to act?” Travis chimed in
“You two need to back off and stop spoiling our meal,” Felicia added sharply. After a grueling day in the scorching sun, we’re famished. It’s only natural to eat fast. Who are they to butt in?‘ she fumed inwardly.
Robert and Prescott’s expressions soured. They exchanged a frustrated glance with Winona before turning on their heels. and leaving in a huff
As she watched them go, Winona felt a pang of guilt. She made mental note to compensate them with a bonus this month to make amends.
To keep the peace with the other three, she stayed, reached for the wine that had been decanted, and poured glasses for them. Only after they each had a glass did she pour one for herself.
Winona then lifted her wine glass in the direction of Morgan, Felicia, and Travis, “Aunt Morgan, Felicia, Travis, I’ve got this rare Romance–Conti just for us. I can’t thank you enough for being there for me all these years. Here’s to you guys!”
Despite their eagerness to keep feasting, the mention of the pricey wine grabbed their full attention. They set down their forks, grabbed their glasses, and clinked them with Winona’s in toast.
Travis, Morgan, and Felicia thought the dinner was amazing–they really enjoyed themselves and ended up feeling a bit
buzzed.
Winona was the only one who was still clear–headed. Helping Morgan stay steady, she told Travis, “We’ve all had a long day, so I’ve set up rooms for us upstairs. One for each of us–I’ll take care of Aunt Morgan, and you help Felicia. Let’s get going upstairs.”
“Sounds good,” Travis agreed, guiding Felicia as they followed Winona into the elevator. When they reached their floor, Winona filled Travis in on the room details. “Felicia’s in 608, and you’re right next door in 609,” she said.
She added a quick reminder, “Once you’ve got Felicia settled, head back to your
Chapter 16
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+5
Inside New Beginnings Church, Winona noticed messages from Matthew. She was worried that replying might tip off Travis and ruin her evening plans, so she decided to hold off on responding.
Little did she know, Matthew had already blocked her. She was in high spirits, enjoying the fan, playing games, and scrolling through social media.
As she fiddled with her phone, she’d occasionally look over at the three people baking in the harsh sunlight. Their misery only made her day brighter. Time flew by for her as she watched her rivals struggle while she entertained herself on her phone.
But for Travis, holding a big bouquet of flowers, and Morgan and Felicia, slowly climbing the steps, every second felt like an eternity. It was pure torture.
As dusk settled in, Morgan and Felicia finally made it to the top of the stairs. Their knees were so worn out from the pain that they hardly felt a thing anymore.
With each other’s support, they somehow managed to stand on their wobbly legs in front of Winona, offering her a feeble smile.
Morgan swallowed her resentment and put on a sweet voice for Winona. “Winona, we’ve been praying for you. You’re destined for a life filled with peace, happiness, and a long, healthy future.” She was determined that one day, Winona would pay for this double.
Felicia piped up with a forced grin directed at Winona. “Winona, I’ve been praying for your love life too. You and Travis are going to have a fairytale ending, I just know it.”
“Aunt Morgan, Felicia, thank you so much. I’m genuinely touched,” Winona replied, her eyes glistening with tears as she clasped their hands. “I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you guys.”
“Winona, we’re family, honey. I think of you like my own daughter. No need to stand on ceremony with us,” Morgan said, her voice warm and her smile soft as she looked at Winona.
Felicia offered Winona a friendly smile. “Winona, I think of you as my sister. We’re family, so let’s keep it casual. You’re not a stranger here, okay?”
Travis couldn’t help but notice how exhausted Morgan and Felicia appeared. His own energy was dwindling, and with a face as pale as a ghost, he mustered a weak grin.
“Morgan, Felicia, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for Winona. Your generosity is something we won’t forget,” he said.
He thought to himself, “Those two fools! Even if Winona had got her wits about her, they didn’t have to go through with this crazy climb, did they? I’m about to collapse from the heat and the strain.
Felicia picked up on the frustration in Travis’s eyes and gave him a subtle nod, suggesting that Winona was the one to blame.
It was a silent understanding that passed between them, and soon Travis and Felicia were on the same wavelength. All three of them shot Winona a look filled with anger and resentment.
Winona acted as if she didn’t see the hidden anger in their eyes. With a smile, she said, “You guys must be starving. I’ve arranged a huge feast for you at Regal Heights Hotel, to thank you for all your hard work today. Let’s go and dig in.”
“Sounds good,” the other three chimed in, nodding enthusiastically, happy with her plan.
*****
1/3
22-18 Wed, Dec 25 A
Chapter 16
After about thirty minutes, the Mosley family’s driver pulled up Regal Heights Hotel with Winona and the other three The hotel manager, catching sight of Winona, greeted her and her crew with a warm welcome and ushered them to her private room.
The second Morgan, Felicia, and Travis walked into the plush private room and laid eyes on the table laden with a spread of mouthwatering dishes, their weariness just vanished.
They plopped down into their seats and, without a care for etiquette, reached for their cutlery and dove right into the feast.
Seeing them chow down like they’d been starved for ages, the hotel manager, Robert Larkin, and the chef, Prescott, looked less than thrilled. “Ms. Mosley hasn’t even taken her seat, and youre already digging in?” Robert remarked.
Morgan gave Robert and Prescott a look of irritation, dropping her usual decorum. “What’s it to you?” she retorted.
Yeah, who are these guys to tell us how to act?” Travis chimed in
“You two need to back off and stop spoiling our meal,” Felicia added sharply. After a grueling day in the scorching sun, we’re famished. It’s only natural to eat fast. Who are they to butt in?‘ she fumed inwardly.
Robert and Prescott’s expressions soured. They exchanged a frustrated glance with Winona before turning on their heels. and leaving in a huff
As she watched them go, Winona felt a pang of guilt. She made mental note to compensate them with a bonus this month to make amends.
To keep the peace with the other three, she stayed, reached for the wine that had been decanted, and poured glasses for them. Only after they each had a glass did she pour one for herself.
Winona then lifted her wine glass in the direction of Morgan, Felicia, and Travis, “Aunt Morgan, Felicia, Travis, I’ve got this rare Romance–Conti just for us. I can’t thank you enough for being there for me all these years. Here’s to you guys!”
Despite their eagerness to keep feasting, the mention of the pricey wine grabbed their full attention. They set down their forks, grabbed their glasses, and clinked them with Winona’s in toast.
Travis, Morgan, and Felicia thought the dinner was amazing–they really enjoyed themselves and ended up feeling a bit
buzzed.
Winona was the only one who was still clear–headed. Helping Morgan stay steady, she told Travis, “We’ve all had a long day, so I’ve set up rooms for us upstairs. One for each of us–I’ll take care of Aunt Morgan, and you help Felicia. Let’s get going upstairs.”
“Sounds good,” Travis agreed, guiding Felicia as they followed Winona into the elevator. When they reached their floor, Winona filled Travis in on the room details. “Felicia’s in 608, and you’re right next door in 609,” she said.
She added a quick reminder, “Once you’ve got Felicia settled, head back to your room. If you need anything, just knock on the door across the hall; that’s where we’ll be.”
“Got it.” Travis and Felicia chorused, nodding in unison.
Winona then led Morgan to their room on the other side of the hall.
Travis saw Felicia safely into room 608. With the spark between them and a little liquid courage, they found themselves caught up in the moment. The room’s special scent added to the allure, and they surrendered to their desires.
After ensuring Morgan was comfortable, Winona headed to her room for rest.
Just as the sun was coming up around five in the morning, Winona slipped an anonymous tip to a bunch of big news outlets.
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room. If you need anything, just knock on the door across the hall; that’s where we’ll be.”
“Got it.” Travis and Felicia chorused, nodding in unison.
Winona then led Morgan to their room on the other side of the hall.
Travis saw Felicia safely into room 608. With the spark between them and a little liquid courage, they found themselves caught up in the moment. The room’s special scent added to the allure, and they surrendered to their desires.
After ensuring Morgan was comfortable, Winona headed to her room for rest.
Just as the sun was coming up around five in the morning, Winona slipped an anonymous tip to a bunch of big news outlets.
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Chapter 16
The scoop was about singer Felicia and actor Travis staying together at the Regal Heights Hotel,
3
They were both huge celebrities, so the news took off like wildfire, and reporters rushed over like they were on a treasure hunt.
Travis and Felicia, worn out from a long day and half the night, were dead to the world when suddenly, with a thunderous “bang, their door burst open, jolting them awake. Groggy and bewildered, they found themselves staring at a horde of
reporters, cameras flashing like crazy.
