Chapter 43

Jeremy was about to speak when Olivia immediately complained, "Mr. Rodriguez, don't you know what happened to your wife? Today, Ava plagiarized her work and used her connections to present it first. Winnie didn't expect the judges to unanimously attack her for plagiarism. Now, the whole city is reporting about her copying Ava's work. It's already good enough that she hasn't cried till her eyes are swollen shut and yet you're still giving her a hard time."

Upon hearing this, Lawrence looked slightly puzzled.

Jeremy gestured with his eyes and pointed. "Ms. Winnie has walked toward the elevator and it is raining outside..."

Lawrence snatched Jeremy's car keys and quickly chased after Winnie into the elevator.

"Is it really raining outside?" Olivia asked Jeremy, concerned.

"I was just making it up."

Olivia looked at him in disbelief. "How are you even more cunning than me?"

"Male nature." He sneered, a sense of wickedness in his eyes.

"Oh, interesting." Olivia stood at a distance.

Winnie walked out of the Pearl Club, unsure of where to go. It was late at night, and it started to rain.

People hurriedly strolled along the streets. She observed couples sharing umbrellas and parents shielding their daughters from the rain.

However, she was alone with no mother and a father who wished for her death. As for men, she had given up on the idea.

Crouching beside the flower bed, she retrieved her phone and checked the news, only to encounter a barrage of words hurling curses at her.

Today, she failed for the first time since seeking revenge. Even though the Anderson family was so vicious to her she hadn't cried since she returned.

But now, she felt like crying a little because of Lawrence's disregard. At some point, she seemed to have entrusted something to him.

Perhaps it was because he had saved her twice in times of difficulty. She was walking on a path of despair but he unintentionally extended a ray of warmth to her.

When someone sought dependence, vulnerability tended to follow. Winnie sniffled and vigorously shook her head.

Suddenly, a sports car stopped in front of her.

Pedestrians on the street turned their heads to look as a handsome man got out of the car.

He was dressed in a black shirt and pants and his rolled-up sleeves revealed strong and muscular arms. A discreet wristwatch displayed his mysterious identity and his whole being mirroring an aristocratic aura that drew gasps from the girls.

Lawrence walked to the edge of the flower bed as he recalled what Olivia had told him, that she had been betrayed by someone.

Despite her lack of strength, he made a sarcastic comment about her remaining arrogant.

With a hint of seriousness, he stared at the woman like a lost puppy and softened his tone.

"Don't you know it's raining?"

Winnie looked up. "Why did you come?"

When she saw him, she wanted to leave.

However, Lawrence quickly approached and scooped her up in his arms.

"What are you doing?" Winnie angrily pushed him away.

The girls who were spectating cheered on from the side.

Winnie was smacked on the rear by him, her face turning red. Angrily, she said, "Who gave you the right to catch me? I'm not going with you."

"Can't I take care of my child? After all, the baby is in your belly and not in another woman's belly," he said coldly.

"The audacity" she murmured.

Winnie was brought back to the Pearl Club by the man. Inside the presidential suite, the butler had already prepared a hot bath.

Lawrence carried Winnie like a princess to the door of the bathroom and let her down, a look of disgust on his face.

"You're as light as a feather. Go take your bath or else you will catch a cold."

She shivered from the cold, glared at him and immediately walked inside.

An assistant knocked on the door and delivered the women's suit that he had ordered.

After Winnie finished bathing, she realized she had no clothes. She bit her lip and knocked on the door.

"Where are my clothes?"

He seemed to have been waiting outside.

The man opened the door slightly and said, "Come in here."

Winnie angrily said, "Why are you standing so close? Were you peeping at me while I take a bath?"

The man opened the door a little more, revealing his deep and intense black eyes as he coldly chuckled. "So, how long do you think I've been watching?"

"Ah!" Winnie blushed with embarrassment. She wrapped the towel around herself and cursed. "You're such a pervert."

He chuckled softly and immediately held her steady, making her stand still.

Lawrence sneered. "Who wants to look at you? If you slip and fall in the bathroom without a non-slip mat, what will happen to my baby in your belly?"

"Uh" Winnie lowered her head and glanced around. Only then did she remember that there were non-slip mats in every bathroom at home but not in the hotel.

The allure of this rogue man was evident in the details that proved irresistible to these women.

A feeling of being taken care of suddenly overwhelmed her mind. Winnie pursed her lips and said, "Give me my clothes."

Lawrence handed them to her.

She took them but he didn't let go of her clothes.

Winnie tugged at it several times but he looked at her with a charming smile as she emerged from the bath and he mischievously asked, "Do you need any help?"

"No." Winnie quickly closed the door. She felt her face turned a crimson red and thought that he really was an experienced player.

Having dressed and emerged, she caught a whiff of mushroom soup in the air. The presidential suite exuded luxury, and there stood the man, towering in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up as he prepared the soup.

Winnie leaned against the door frame and watched him cook.

She couldn't believe that this man, who had such a bad temper was actually making soup for her personally.

Her heart began to beat irregularly so she quickly looked away and started to inspect the house.

When the man came out with the soup, he saw her scanning the room like an X-ray.

He approached her, his soup bowl placed on the bedside table and asked with a cold smile, "So, did you find any traces of other women?"

"Hmph!" Winnie quickly turned around and said, "Even if there were stockings or underwear from another woman, you would have definitely gotten rid of them in advance."

He lifted her and placed her on the bed. "I think you're just trying to anger me," he said.

Winnie ran her hand over the blanket, intentionally expressing her discernment. "Has any other woman used this bed?"

Her behavior nearly drove him to madness.

He coldly chuckled. "It's not clean. Smell the blanket and you can catch a whiff of another scent."

Winnie, being silly, actually leaned over and sniffed the blanket. Besides his scent, there was the clean aroma of a masculine musk. Her face blushed, realizing there was no other scent.

She immediately got up but he came down from behind and leaned close to her ear and whispered, "If you want to check, there's a more direct method."

"What?" Winnie asked confusedly.

The man took her hand and placed it on the button of his pants around his waist.

He didn't say anything but his deep gaze hinted at something provocative. "How should we check?"

Winnie saw his gesture and quickly blushed, pushing him away in frustration. "Mr. Rodriguez!"

"If you're suspicious, then why?" The man suddenly cold-faced, muttered, "I've been living here alone for the past few days, not even a single fly. Why haven't you gone home? Isn't it because you're trying to make me angry!"

Winnie looked up at him, and indeed, his suite was so luxurious and comfortable.

The room was very clean and immaculate without a trace of femininity.

"Lately, you've been implying things. What's bothering you so much? You even suggested that Iseekt out other women. Is that truly your belief?" He tightly grasped her chin, indicating that he was still upset about what transpired that day.

Winnie pursed her lips and wanted to nod in grievance but she didn't dare.

Confused, Winnie bit her lips tightly.

"Speak!" The man impatiently demanded.

He was too near, emanating an alluring fragrance and appearing exceptionally soft. Uncontrollable thoughts continued to invade his mind, causing discomfort.

When he heard his voice become hoarser, Winnie immediately moved further away.

Unexpectedly, he realized that he was being overbearing. He then picked her up and placed her in his arms as he reached out to get the mushroom soup. "Drink this first. Don't let it get cold."

Winnie furrowed her eyebrows. "It's too hot. I don't want to drink it."

A hint of a spoiled girl peeked through her demeanor.

The man's eyes deepened and threatened her, "If you don't drink it, I'll feed it to you."

"How are you going to feed me?"