Chapter 212

"The Harrington family has strict rules, and now the uncles and cousins are doubting Mr. Harrington for his involvement with married women. At this point, the only way to justify your identity is... Actually, I don't need to remind you. Even if you redeem Triton Towers, the company will still face instability, and your shareholders will continue to sell their shares one after another!

Why not do something that benefits both parties? As long as you agree to be engaged to him, that video will become legal, and he can stabilize the Harrington Group. And as for your company, he can protect it too. Weighing the pros and cons, this is the best solution."

Winnie held her breath, feeling like there were two little people fighting in her mind. In the end, the rational side won over the emotional side. She couldn't not help Rock, as he had done too much for her. And Triton, under Lawrence's ruthless pressure, would soon go bankrupt, leaving her feeling helpless. She had no choice but to seek refuge. It was all his doing.

Winnie let out a silent, desolate laugh, closing her eyes. "I am not an unfeeling person. Please tell Mr. Harrington that if he needs me to pretend to be engaged, I am willing, as long as he can get out of the crisis."

"Thank you, Miss Anderson."

The assistant happily hung up the phone and turned, looking at the refined man before him. "Mr. Harrington, congratulations on getting what you wanted. However, Miss Anderson is smart and hinted that it will be a fake engagement."

Rock raised his dark gaze, took a drag from his cigarette, and smiled. "No wonder I chose her. It doesn't matter, the future is long."

"As long as we enter the Harrington family, everything will be easier, right?"

He squinted gently.

The Harrington Group released the news of Winnie and Rock's planned engagement. No matter what speculations the netizens had about the video, it now seemed reasonable. Netizens exclaimed at the unexpected turn of events, and public opinion attacking Rock underwent a significant shift.

Winnie wearily returned to Olivia's apartment. A message from Rock soon arrived. "I didn't expect my subordinate to secretly coerce you behind my back. Winnie, if you are unwilling, I can clarify it again."

"No one coerced me, Mr. Harrington. Besides, it's a fake engagement, and I haven't sacrificed anything. You don't need to feel guilty."

Rock replied deeply, "Winnie, it may be a fake engagement for you, but for me, it's like a dream come true."

Winnie paused her typing, suddenly unsure of how to respond.

"Winnie..." Olivia came to open the door, with Laura by her side. They both looked at her expression, feeling slightly puzzled. "Is it true in the news? Have you made up your mind?"

Winnie sighed, feeling helpless.

With a smile, her eyes filled with exhaustion and fear, she replied, "I can't afford not to think it through. I want to protect Triton, and I owe a debt to Rock."

Laura nodded, understanding the predicament, and chose to remain silent. As she watched Winnie enter the room with her pregnant belly, Olivia quietly raised an eyebrow and said, "Actually, I think Mr. Harrington is a good person. If Winnie could..."

"It's too hasty. I also hope that Winnie can free herself from Lawrence's influence, but it will be difficult. I hope Rock brings some pleasant surprises. He is an extraordinary person, and his gentle gaze towards Winnie doesn't lie," Laura sighed.

In the small bedroom, Winnie took off her scarf and gloves while checking the time. It was already evening. She had been worrying about her cousin Lena. Using the contact information Bryan had given her, Winnie nervously made the call. After a long wait, a girl's voice answered, "May I ask who's calling?"

"Lena... Are you safe? I'm your cousin, Winnie. Has your father mentioned me?"

"Winnie!" The girl's voice sounded excited, and she started crying, "I was kidnapped over ten days ago, and they only released me this afternoon. They didn't hurt me, just starved me for a few days... Winnie, is my dad okay after returning to the country? Where is he? I want to talk to him."

Faced with her request, Winnie suddenly choked up. Her uncle's daughter seemed like a well-behaved child. That was why her uncle was so resentful; his wife had abandoned him, and he couldn't care for his daughter, so he desperately wanted to succeed and take what didn't belong to him. In the end, he ended up in prison.

Winnie covered her mouth to hide her crying, unsure of how to tell her cousin that their uncle was in jail. "Your dad... It might be a few years before he can reunite with you. You're doing well abroad, and when I have time, I'll come to visit you."

As she spoke, Winnie curled up, knees pulled close, and closed her eyes slightly. It was reasonable for her uncle to spend a couple of years in prison, but permanent imprisonment was clearly unjust.

Since she had left Lawrence, she would find a way to appeal for her uncle and rescue him. Triton, her uncle, her mother-Winnie still carried a heavy burden on her shoulders. She took a deep breath, telling herself to stay strong.

Ding dong, her phone rang, and Rock sent her a text. "Winnie, where are you now? Should I come pick you up? It would be more appropriate for you to stay at my villa." Winnie was stunned, remembering that they would soon be "engaged."

She immediately replied, "I'm at my best friend's house, but I won't stay at your villa. Tomorrow, I'll find an apartment." "Then I'll come later tomorrow to take you to see the apartments." Rock was cautious and didn't insist.

"Now, you have to eat properly and think of the baby in your belly." The woman smiled; she had actually forgotten to eat. She gently touched her belly and murmured, "Baby, even though your father has left you...

"But your mother would love you very, very much, and look forward to your birth."

Late at night, Darcy knocked on the door of the second-floor study, holding a cup of coffee.

A deep, low and hoarse voice came from inside, "Come in."

Darcy entered with a charming smile, "Mr. Rodriguez, you've already had four cups of coffee. It's not good for your stomach. Whatever important work you have can be left for tomorrow. Let me accompany you and take a rest?"

Work was just an excuse. Lawrence wanted to keep himself busy like a machine.

His expression was cold, and his handsome face had a faint bluish tint under the light. "I only slept in the afternoon... Darcy, I've fallen asleep twice after you gave me those injections. I have a slight headache. Can these acupuncture techniques really treat my insomnia?"

Lawrence was somewhat skeptical.

Darcy's hand holding the coffee trembled for a moment. She had been too hasty in applying the sleeping pills and had not mastered the dosage.

"Mr. Rodriguez, ever since you told me that Winnie used some dubious means to make you fall asleep, I've been worried. I rushed to develop this set of Dry Needling techniques, and they are safe and harmless."

Winnie was gone anyway, so Darcy could blame her all she wanted.

Feeling wronged, Darcy walked behind the man and gently pressed his temple, where he had a headache. "Maybe it was the side effects of the pills Winnie gave you? She had ill intentions, as you've seen."

His pupils turned as cold as an ice cave whenever that woman was mentioned.

Before, he could choose not to believe Darcy and still hold illusions about that woman.

But now, why shouldn't he believe her? Maybe she did want to harm him.

Seeing him remain silent, Darcy's mouth curled slightly. She had enough time to slowly attribute everything to Winnie, but now there was an urgent matter at hand.

Darcy placed her hands on his shoulders, hesitated for a moment, and began, "Mr. Rodriguez, you've shut yourself in this study and haven't been keeping up with the news. There's something... I don't know if I should tell you."

"What is it?"

Darcy's mouth curled again. "Winnie and Rock announced their engagement this afternoon."

She could feel the man's shoulders suddenly tense, as if frozen.

Then, the entire room seemed to freeze as well.

After a moment of silence, a surge of violent fury filled the air.

The schemes she had played today were all aimed at making Winnie join forces with Rock, and Rock's actions pleased her very much!

Darcy poured fuel on the fire, feeling furious. "How could Winnie do this? She's despicable. She divorces you one moment, then happily gets engaged to another man the next. Isn't this like stabbing you in the heart with a knife?"