Chapter 478

Lawrence Rodriguez's icy demeanor was unsettling. He glanced at Ishara; He was off to Lymington that afternoon. He was growing impatient; deciding this last night had been a struggle. He cared about Winnie's feelings, yet he had no choice.

"You'll have to accept it whether you agree or not. The fact is, Ishara's proposal is superior, and she has won the contest. General Manager, announce the results to the company and the public!" Lawrence said every word clearly.

A mischievous glint gathered in Ishara's eyes-the 4% Blanchet family shares were now hers! With Lawrence's intervention, her father would have no ground to renege. She cast a vicious look at Winnie.

Winnie staggered backward, her gaze fixed on Lawrence's lips, but his words failed to register. Overwhelmed with disappointment, she spun around and bolted.

"Keep an eye on Ishara," Lawrence uttered hastily before striding out after Winnie.

As Winnie's figure stepped into the elevator, she was yanked out by Lawrence. The man grasped the woman's arm and dragged her straight into the adjacent empty office.

He remained silent, holding her in place to ensure her safety, preventing any trouble she might run into.

Winnie, gasping for breath, looked at him with increasing disgust and burst out uncontrollably, "What gives you the right to do this to me? How can you dictate the outcome and let fairness go to hell, just to make her happy? You made me lose on purpose! Do you even realize what I've lost, Lawrence?"

Tears scorched their way down her cheeks, burning Lawrence's conscience.

He wanted to wipe them away, but his hand clenched into a fist instead. "Is it just about the 4% of shares? Are you so afraid she'll steal the heir's spot from you? Eventually, the shares and the Blanchet family fortune will still be yours."

He'd only decided to disadvantage Winnie after hearing Ishara say the same things last night.

"Ishara's your own sister. Can't you just let her win this once? If it's about prestige, you already have so many accolades in the jewelry industry. She has none, and she's been seriously ill. Why do you have to compete so fiercely?"

Ha, what a laugh.

He painted her as a woman obsessed with fame and power, desperate to usurp control and shares.

The pain in Winnie's chest felt like a knife twisting inside, as if the sting of her loss paled in comparison to the reason he'd orchestrated it.

With scorn in her bloodshot eyes, Winnie sneered, "So her illness entitles her to the crown? What 'serious illness' does she have that justifies you treating me so terribly for her sake? What if she's faking it?"

Melanie had mentioned Ishara's love for playing the victim.

Winnie's emotions raged as she clenched her fists. "You think I care about those shares?

No, it's Ishara who wants to use you to get them!"

"The loss will turn the public and the Blanchet family against me. I'll be barred from the Blanchet headquarters, and my standing in the family will crumble. Isn't that what Ishara-and you-desire?"

"I hate you, Lawrence!"

"You have no idea why I need to secure my place in the Blanchet family!"

"For what? Tell me!" Lawrence demanded sharply.

With tears streaming down her face, Winnie was there to investigate her mother's death and solidify her position in the Blanchet family to take down Eleanor!

But he had fallen for Ishara, allying with her and her mother against her.

At that moment, her heart shattered completely.

Winnie's soul felt frayed as she laughed bitterly, "I'll never forget how today, just to please her, you threw me under the bus. Lawrence, from now on, we're enemies!"

Lawrence's heart squeezed painfully as he saw the loathing in her eyes. He had anticipated her hatred, expected the misunderstanding.

Yet, it still hurt.

With frosty sarcasm, he retorted, "What if I wasn't trying to make her happy? Fine, Winnie, misunderstand me all you want. But thinking we can't coexist? No way!"

His towering presence seemed to loom over her, as if saying she couldn't escape his shadow.

No escape!

Winnie shoved him away, and just as he reached for her, his phone rang. It was Dr. Moore from Lymington. Lawrence's expression shifted; he let go of Winnie abruptly to avoid her gaze as he ignored the call.

She let out a contemptuous laugh, convinced that the caller was Ishara, and stormed out.

Lawrence watched her go. He hadn't had the opportunity to tell her that he had searched Darcy's Lymington house for the embroidered dress only yesterday and found nothing.

Sighing inwardly, he answered the call, "Yes, I'll bring Ishara to the airport by four. Should reach Lymington by eight. How's my mother?"

Dr. Moore's response furrowed his brow.

"Melissa's condition is serious; she slipped into a coma due to severe anemia. Mr. Rodriguez, we must give her a blood transfusion immediately. You must bring Miss Blanchet on time."

"Alright."

After the call, Lawrence, with visible nerves, lit a cigarette.

Winnie cloistered herself in her office. News of her losing the competition was already circulating within ST Corporation.

Speculations brewed since, after all, Ishara's proposal had been mediocre. But who delves that deep? Results drive business, and Ishara's victory over Winnie, regardless of how she achieved it or who helped, spoke volumes.

Her prestige at the company soared in an instant, fueled by rumors of Lawrence's support, which quickly infiltrated the Blanchet family headquarters.

And Winnie, now the vanquished, faced an uncertain future. The road ahead looked grim.

At that moment, Carlos called her.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Winnie answered, "Dad..."

"I already found out," Carlos said, his tone tinged with a mix of anger and resignation. "I didn't expect Lawrence would so blatantly support Ishara. The Rodriguez family holds the majority of ST, and with him meddling in the game, those 4% shares... I have no choice but to play by the rules and give them to Ishara. Otherwise, Lawrence stirring up trouble would mean a feud between the Blanchet and Rodriguez families.

"It's not a fair competition, and dad knows it. He won't let you get fired from ST. The Blanchet family has its dissenters to you joining their ranks, so we'll just put that on hold for now.

Let's figure something out..."

Winnie's eyes were moist with unshed tears in the face of her father's consoling words.

Her carefully laid plans had been severed with one swift cut by Lawrence, and she despised him for it.

Sitting desolately until dusk, Winnie grabbed her bag and left the office.

Most of the colleagues had left for the day, but the few that remained cast peculiar glances and whispered among themselves as she passed by.

"Stop gossiping and head home!" Melanie shot them a chilling gaze.

She approached Winnie, sensing her distress even as she noticed the pallor on her face despite the lack of emotion displayed. "Hey, Winnie, let's go for a walk. Get some fresh air," Melanie offered gently.

Without a word, Winnie stepped into the elevator.

Melanie's sister, Jannie, arrived out of breath, exclaiming, "Why is Winnie so upset while Manager Nelson appears so smug? It's obvious she's Lawrence's favorite. He escorted her out of the office after three, and she was dressed up as if for a date with Mr. Rodriguez!"

"Jannie, shush!" Melanie shot her a look.