Chapter 373

Winnie wished she could throw those groceries away. She glared at him fiercely, her eyes filled with resentment. "What do you want, Lawrence? I already said that you're not welcome here."

"Aren't you hungry?" the man said, focused only on himself. It was as if he had made up his mind and become thick-skinned.

He entered the kitchen, holding two bags of ribs. His elegant and clean wrist extended as he looked down at her. "Help me take off my watch."

Winnie ignored him, opting to sit directly on the sofa and begin opening the company's files.

Lawrence's face stiffened. He reached out to Sidney and said, "Grilled ribs, your favorite."

"Fine." Sidney, who could be easily swayed by food, glanced at his mother's cold profile and secretly helped his father take off the watch.

The man stepped into the kitchen, and soon a sound of organized movement could be heard.

Winnie knew that he knows how to cook. He had shown off his skills three years ago, and according to Sidney, he had made almost every lunch for his son during these years.

But this didn't change the fact that he was a jerk, indifferent to everything, protecting Darcy regardless of right or wrong. The more Winnie thought about it, the colder her expression became.

"Winnie, where do we keep the salt and vinegar?" a deep voice came.

Winnie's eyebrows twitched. After a brief pause, the man poked his head out from the kitchen, urging her, "Hurry up, Sidney is very hungry."

She closed her laptop, walked into the kitchen, and took them out from a prominent shelf, placing them all on the table for him.

Lawrence looked at her mocking face and innocently said, "Oh, so you were here. I didn't notice."

"Oh, so Mr. Rodriguez needs my help? Lawrence, you're blind. Use your eyes next time," Winnie mocked.

With a double meaning in her words, Lawrence furrowed his brow and didn't respond. Instead, he stared at her, saying, "If you don't talk to me, I have to find an excuse."

"As long as you protect Darcy and don't seek revenge for our son's kidnapping, I will continue to remain at odds with you," Winnie said bluntly.

His movements in the kitchen paused, his slender and lean arm hung there silently. He turned his head, a glimmer of helplessness appeared in his cold, star-like eyes. He spoke resignedly, "Winnie, how should I say it for you to understand? I owe her my life."

"Then you should go and take care of her instead. Don't try to please both women like a shameless jerk. And I have no intention of making a comeback. If we break up, we break up. I don't want to be associated with you, and you have no right to interfere with my life," Winnie asserted firmly.

Lawrence instantly became displeased. "You mean you don't want me to interfere with your love life? In Lymington, there is nothing that I don't have the right to intervene in. The same goes for you!"

Furious, Winnie clenched her fists. Just then, Lawrence's phone rang in his pocket.

He freed one hand, but his gaze remained on her as he answered the call, "Hello... Ray?"

The phone wasn't soundproof, and Winnie could clearly hear Ray's frantic shouts on the other end. "Where the hell are you? Darcy is in big trouble! Lawrence, you heartlessly kicked her out and let her live alone in that broken villa without any security. Don't you know how much she's being attacked by netizens right now? Tonight, a pervert climbed into the villa, trying to harm her. Darcy got scared and fell from the second floor when she ran, and her leg is bleeding badly!"

"What?" Lawrence's face turned cold, and he furrowed his brow. "I had already assigned two bodyguards to her earlier."

"The bodyguards were nowhere to be found when it happened. How can they protect her with your cold treatment? You better come to the hospital now!" Ray angrily hung up the phone.

Lawrence was momentarily stunned, then turned to leave.

Winnie abruptly blocked him, narrowing her eyes mockingly. "Darcy is in trouble again?"

"I believe it's true. Ray wouldn't lie to me."

Winnie chuckled. "Why is it that every time you come to me, something happens to her? During the trial, she got a perforated stomach from drinking, and now she has broken her leg? Well, when something happens to her, you rush to protect her, comfort her and end up holding her tenderly, right?"

"Winnie..." Lawrence's brow furrowed deeply. "She's in an unfortunate situation, so please don't speak in that tone."

Winnie observed his guarded demeanor, feeling as if each cautious movement were a thorn digging into her heart, leaving a lingering ache.

She opened her arms wide in an attempt to block his path. Feeling intrigued, she raised an eyebrow and said, "If you trust me, don't go tonight. Darcy is capable of staging her own kidnapping and returning with injuries to gain your sympathy. She's good at being cruel to herself. If you don't go, she'll be just fine. But if you do go, you won't be allowed to come find me anymore. I won't tolerate a jerk toying with my emotions." Winnie's eyes were clear and firm, presenting a condition for him to choose.

Lawrence frowned, struggling. He had indeed considered Winnie's words. Darcy, being capable of orchestrating her own kidnapping, might have used a similar trick tonight. However, she only had one kidney and was much weaker than an average person. She couldn't bear any dangers or accidents.

Seeing his silence, Winnie looked at him coldly and lazily said, "If she pretends even a little and you soften up, have you considered that your indulgence might give her false hopes, allowing her to go too far and never leave you?"

Lawrence was furious. By canceling the wedding and asking Darcy to move out, it meant breaking up. He didn't want to give her any hope.

His gaze gradually turned cold, retracting his steps. However, when he looked at Winnie, he explained with a heavy tone, "I'm just afraid something might really happen to her; not that I want to visit her. Winnie, don't misunderstand me. You were right; indecisiveness will give her hope. So, I won't go."

Winnie stared at him expressionlessly.

The man picked up the spatula again, placing it in her hand and pushing her toward the stove. "Let's continue cooking. Also, you just stated that I'm not allowed to play with people's emotions, so does that mean you have feelings for me?"

Lawrence approached her with a condescending air, raising an eyebrow.

"You misunderstood. I only have animosity toward you." Winnie quickly evaded him, her heart skipping a beat. She cursed inwardly, 'Damn it, why did I say such words? Plus, who would still harbor fantasies about him?' Winnie slightly tugged at the corner of her mouth, eyes icy cold.

With the meal ready-four dishes and a soup-Winnie casually threw Lawrence's phone in the kitchen.

A hint of helplessness flashed through the man's eyes. "I said I won't go. Why are you so jealous?"

Winnie couldn't be bothered with him. She was merely using him.

As they sat down to eat, Sidney quickly became drowsy. Reluctantly, Lawrence picked up their son to bring him back home.

At the entrance of the apartment, Winnie returned his phone to him while raising an eyebrow, saying, "Remember the promise you made."

"I know, I won't go. So, from now on, can I just come here whenever I want?" he raised an eyebrow, taking advantage of the situation.

"Dream on," Winnie closed the door. But as she looked at the closed door, she faintly bit her lip. Lawrence finally showed some clarity tonight.

She rushed into the bedroom and reunited with Oscar.

Lawrence took the sleeping Sidney back to the villa and tucked him into bed.

After personally wiping the child's body, he came out and went downstairs to take a shower.

At that moment, his silenced phone fell out of his pocket. Looking at it, Ray had called him thirty to forty times.

Unable to hold back anymore, Ray sent another text message. One of the messages contained a photo. In the photo, Darcy was lying on a hospital bed, her left wrist hanging out, with a glaring bloodstain.

Ray: "Lawrence, please come and see Darcy. She is being threatened and harassed by a psycho. She has been so traumatized, and won't eat or drink if you don't come for one night. Earlier, she even attempted suicide while I was out with the maid paying the bills."

Lawrence took a step back, his gaze fixed on the photo, his expression shifting. Winnie's words echoed in his mind, offering him a slim chance, akin to a lifeline thrown by a woman. However, Darcy's attempted suicide interrupted his thoughts. With a cold sidelong glance, Lawrence snatched up the car keys and hurried out.

He would comfort Darcy and then leave. Winnie would never find out.

Not long after falling asleep, Winnie's sleep was disturbed by a phone call.

It was Olivia on the other end, sounding a bit helpless. "Winnie, maybe because we moved to a new place, Mia is having a high fever and isn't adjusting well. I can't handle it alone. Can you accompany me to the hospital?"

Winnie immediately sat up. "Sure, just wait for me. I'll come to your place first."