Chapter 446

After the site visit, Bentley whipped out his phone and grinned at Winnie. "Paul gave me your number. We should stay in touch."

His words sent a pang of headache through Winnie as she watched Bentley leave with a smile.

Rock witnessed their exchange and could taste the truth - Bentley was another suitor of Winnie since her return home.

Anxiety flickered through Rock's eyes.

Just then, Winnie's phone rang; it was Carlos.

She stepped aside to answer. "Dad?"

"Winnie, where are you? You should come home for dinner tonight. Should I send the driver?"

She had nearly forgotten about that and promptly replied, "I'm just looking at a property in the suburbs, but I ran into Mr. Bentley. He mentioned you gave him my number, Dad..."

Carlos chuckled nervously on the other end, playing it coy. "Mr. Bentley is a promising young man with good character. I just want to help you get out there... Besides, having someone in your life could keep pests like Sean away, right?"

Winnie was speechless, unsure of what to say.

After hanging up in a daze, she glanced at her watch - it was getting late. Lifting her head, she found Rock quietly watching her with a smile.

"Was that your dad on the phone?" he asked. "Paul seems like he's playing matchmaker for you?" His tone was tinged with dejection, and Winnie found herself at a loss for the right words.

"Ignore the meddling of elders; that was not my intention." She decided to skirt around the subject, scratching at a strand of hair by her ear. "I'm sorry, Rock. I need to head home for a bit. I won't be able to join you for dinner; you get some rest. I'll come find you tomorrow..."

Rock felt a slight surprise that she didn't invite him to the Blanchet place to meet her father. A shadow passed over Rock's eyes, but he managed to muster a smile. "That's fine, I'm pretty beat anyway."

"You can use my car. My dad has sent a driver to pick me up, and he's already here."

Winnie received a text message as she prepared to leave with Rock.

He watched her climb into the car. Rock stayed put, his gaze deep in thought. Her return to the Blanchet home had transformed her into the unattainable heiress, whose suitors began with families like the Jenkins-real movers and shakers.

Squinting slightly, Rock lit a cigarette. The Blanchet family of Trento City...

He glanced at his reflection in the car mirror, ambition and determination gleaming in his eyes. He needed to meet Paul, and make an appearance-whether it be to win her over or to network in Trento City.

As he popped the trunk, Rock spotted a row of gifts Winnie had prepared-she must have forgotten them.

His eyes narrowed as he watched the Blanchet vehicle disappear into the distance...

At the base of Camellia Mount stood the grand courtyard home of Trento City's old-money family, the Xie family.

The moment Winnie stepped out of the car and headed for the trunk, it hit her-she'd left all the gifts for Grandpa Xie in Rock's car...

Annoyed, she massaged her temples and was about to call Rock. But then, that familiar BMW appeared, making its way up the winding mountain road.

Rock's tall figure stepped out of the car, conspicuous in front of the Blanchet family's compound. "Winnie, you left your things in the car"

Approaching him, she caught sight of Angela and others peering curiously from the doorway.

Her heart tightened slightly as she frowned. "Rock, thanks for bringing these. But why did you follow me here?"

Rock glanced over at the group gathered at the Blanchet family's front door, his face etched with apology. "I thought you might need me urgently. I tried calling but kept getting a busy signal. Sorry. Is my being here inconvenient? Is this the Blanchet residence?"

"Yeah, this is the old house. It's where my granddad and the whole family live," Winnie said in a hushed, uncomfortable tone.

It seemed to everyone as if she had brought a man home, and with Angela always sticking her nose into everyone's business, the last thing Winnie wanted was trouble.

She gave Rock a meaningful look. "I'll grab my things, and then... you should probably head out, Rock."

But Rock's eyes narrowed slightly. The Blanchet family's old house was filled with relatives. This could be an excellent opportunity to make an impression.

"I'll help you unload first," he said, hiding his calculations behind a casual demeanor, and walked around to the trunk.

Meanwhile, Angela was eagerly gossiping with Ishara from one of the manor's windows. "Can you believe Winne brought that guy home? What's their deal anyway?"

Ishara narrowed her eyes and suddenly grinned. "Angela, look at the gifts they've prepared. Who knows, Winnie might just be bringing her fiancé home to meet her dad and granddad."

"Really? He is her fiancé?"

"It's just a guess. But a guest is a guest. Let's invite him in," Ishara replied gently.

Upon hearing this, Angela glanced over with fresh interest, eager for the opportunity to witness Winnie embarrass herself today, especially with this unsophisticated man from Lymington by her side-whether he was her fiancé or not. If Angela had her say, Winnie wouldn't dare to show her face in front of their grandfather-and that would certainly be quite a sight to behold.

Bursting out the door, Angela called loudly, "Cousin Winnie, is this your fiancé?"

Ishara, clutching her handkerchief, didn't move but smirked coolly. She figured Lawrence would also be arriving soon.

Angela's commotion drew the attention of many Blanchet house staff, leaving Winnie speechless with frustration.

The disdain in her eyes was palpable.

Yet Rock was taking his sweet time with the luggage, and Angela had already zeroed in on him, eyeing him up. Tall and not bad-looking.

With feigned warmth and concealed disdain, she remarked, "Mr. Rock, I presume you're my cousin's fiancé. There's no need for formality with all these gifts. Please, make yourself comfortable and come inside."

By then, it was clear that it was too late for subtlety. Winnie watched coldly as Angela played her charades.

Rock looked genuinely distressed, his gentle eyes seeking Winnie's guidance. "Winnie, this..."

The situation had escalated to a point where if Winnie rushed Rock out now, it wouldn't just be hard to explain, it would also be a slap in the face to Rock, her close friend.

But if he entered, Angela would no doubt label him as her fiancé.

'Whatever, fiancé it is then,' Winnie thought. Since Carlos was eager to introduce her to Bentley, and she wasn't in the mood for that at the moment, perhaps she could utilize Rock to deflect her father's enthusiasm. By playing the fiancé card, she wouldn't have to concern herself with any more bothersome suitors from Trento City.

After a moment's thought, Winnie turned to Rock with a helpless expression. "Rock, why don't you come in and sit for a bit?"

Rock's heart surged with joy, and the corners of his mouth deepened into a smile as he leaned in and whispered, "How about I act as your fiancé to fend off some of your admirers?"

Winnie flashed an awkward smile. "That was actually my plan. Want to team up?"

"No problem, I've got your back." In the eyes of the Blanchet family, he was already seen as her fiancé, Rock thought cunningly to himself.

The two entered the building together.

In the grand hall, Paul sat imposingly above, his health seemed poor as he appeared sickly, yet his gaze was sharp and lively.

Patricia glanced over as Winnie walked in with an unfamiliar, refined man, her brow furrowing. "Winnie, it's your first time entering the ancestral home. Who is this you're bringing? Do you have no respect for our traditions?"

"Grandmother, this is not just anybody. This is my cousin's fiancé from Lymington!" Angela said mockingly and loudly.

"A fiancé?" Patricia's frown deepened as she turned to Carlos. "Your precious daughter has a fiancé now? Typical low-class secrecy."

Carlos's gaze grew stern too. "Winnie, you didn't mention this on the phone earlier"