Chapter 505

"Our company is holding an open bid and guests should not receive this treatment, should they?" Rock's smile was frosty.

Winnie looked troubled. "He's with me."

"Ms. Winnie," the guard said, "if you're after the property, head on in as Mr. Rodriguez's chief secretary instructed. However for this gentleman, he's not welcome inside Rodriguez Enterprises simply because he's accompanying you. Please leave."

The guard commanded sternly, pointing to Rock's car, urging him away.

Annoyance flickered across Winnie's face as she recognized the likely source of these words to be Lawrence himself.

She glanced at Rock. Rock forced a smile, dark circles betraying his fatigue. "It's okay, go ahead. The property is what's important." With clenched jaws, he returned to the car.

Mars observed the scene below from a window on one of the upper floors of the Rodriguez Enterprises Building. A smirk played on his lips as he caught sight of Rock.

Winnie was led by the receptionist toward the elevator. "Mr. Rodriguez's office is on the top floor..." The secretary began. But her speech was cut off as the elevator dinged open on the 45th floor, and Winnie looked up and Mar's devilishly charming face came into view.

Dressed in a sleek suit, standing confidently with one hand casually tucked into his pocket, his intense gaze locked onto Winnie. "Ms. Winnie, it's been a while. Come out, I'll give you a tour of the Rodriguez Enterprises."

"Sorry, I'm tied up with something important," Winnie replied, her mind filled with secrets about Hellen and Mars. She was well aware that Mars was Lawrence's rival, and his sudden appearance could only spell trouble.

The man emitted a cynical laugh, seizing her arm and guiding her along. "What's the rush? What I'm about to show you, I guarantee will pique your interest."

"Let go-" Before she could resist further, Mars whisked her up to the Rodriguez Enterprises' public relations hub on the 45th floor. The room was dominated by large screens broadcasting the latest news from the corporation. They were fine-tuning a press release, the screen flickering with the edits.

Abruptly, an image of Ishara and Lawrence appeared on the screen. Surrounded by a plethora of pink, Winnie's eyes locked onto the image, her pupils involuntarily contracting.

"Today, the CEO of Rodriguez Corporation, Lawrence, and Ishara, announce their engagement!"

"The prestigious Rodriguez dynasty and their official social media channels have confirmed the news, adding another moment of celebration to the high society of Trento City."

"Bob Rodriguez himself has expressed his approval, proud of his son's ideal match, declaring them a perfect couple made in heaven!"

Boom.

The words and the cheerful image of Lawrence with Ishara twisted together, plunging into Winnie's heart like a thorn. She went pale, staggered back, her balance seemingly lost.

It was more than a surprise.

Her breath turned icy. Lawrence and Ishara had gotten engaged today. Winnie found the news to be utterly absurd.

For the sake of Oscar, Jeremy had sworn that Lawrence would never make amends with Ishara. He was aware of Ishara's actual character. By now, even Alan had implied that he ought to figure out who the real villain was.

She had clung to so much hope, returned to Lymington, fervently trying to diagnose Melissa's illness and understand his situation. She had naively believed that in saving Oscar, they were aligned in their purpose.

The outcome was clear. He showed indifference to Ishara's kidnapping of Oscar and was now even engaged to her.

Rage echoed in her mind, the pain sharp and explosive.

Mars observed her pale complexion and grinned with a cold edge. "How does it feel? Breaking news - in two minutes, Lawrence's engagement will be all over the Trento City headlines. Judging by your reaction, he didn't inform you. Don't be too distressed, though. After all, Ishara is your sister. Keeping it in the family, right?" His voice dripped with mockery.

"Mr. Rodriguez, I'm sorry. I had the secretary take Ms. Winnie straight to the penthouse but I don't know how she ended up here?" Bryan's voice was a shaky torrent spilling out of the elevator.

At the sight of Mars's devious face, Bryan instantly grasped the situation.

Lawrence emerged from the elevator, locking eyes with Winnie. She appeared fragile, standing before the enormous screen broadcasting his official engagement announcement with Ishara. The harsh glare illuminated her pallid face, her pupils reflecting icy edges.

He gasped, his handsome visage losing color.

The realization struck him. Today marked the day to publicly declare his engagement to Ishara, a stipulation of their agreement.

His throat felt raw as he observed her precarious stance, resigning himself to the unfolding scenario. The news was about to reverberate throughout Trento City. She would undoubtedly come face to face with the 'shameful fact of his engagement.'

Lawrence walked over, Mars's challenging gaze met his, frost in his eyes. Without a word, Lawrence landed a punch on Mars.

"Look at that." Mars sneered, wiping the blood from his lip. "Lawrence gets engaged and loses his mind when his ex finds out?" He continued, "With the Rodriguez family conglomerate's funding drying up, and so many projects getting axed, you've got free time on your hands?"

Mars's face twisted with venomous hate. Casting a meaningful glance at Winnie, he said, "Enjoy your career high while you can, because your love life's hitting rock bottom. Let's see how long you can keep that smug attitude. Some moves come at a great cost, Lawrence. Just you wait!"

The atmosphere was as tight as a pulled rubber band with tension so high it felt like it could choke the entire floor. Employees appeared motionless. Undeterred, Lawrence reached out and seized Winnie's arm.

Winnie recoiled as if touching something repugnant, her breath quickened, her silence resonated loudly, yet her eyes bore into Lawrence.

His voice raspy and cool, he said, "Not interested in the golf course land deal anymore?"

"I refuse!" Winnie declared vehemently, her words ringing with finality as she swiftly pivoted on her heel and stormed away.

Capturing the intensity in Lawrence's gaze as he closely trailed Winnie, Bryan hastened to catch up with her. "Ms. Winnie, please keep a clear head. Business and personal matters are separate. Mr. Rodriguez was genuinely pushed to a corner."

"Don't you talk to me about him. It has nothing to do with me. Just like how Oscar's disappearance has nothing to do with him. Let him enjoy his blissful newlywed life." Winnie was furious.

Bryan was certain Lawrence caught every word. Avoiding a glance at Lawrence's expression, Bryan swiftly clarified, "Mars intentionally brought you to this floor because Mr. Rodriguez had a confrontation with Hellen and Mars over your car accident. The project led by Mr. Rodriguez and Mars is creating turmoil in the company. He's been preoccupied, and the engagement, Mr. Rodriguez hasn't been fully concentrating on that."

Bang-

The fire escape door slammed shut.

As Bryan darted off in pursuit, his phone rang. He swiftly answered and then hurried back to the solemn man who remained motionless. "Mr. Rodriguez, the shareholders are all waiting for you in the meeting room. You can't leave now."

On the monitor, Lawrence observed Winnie wiping away tears as she hastily grabbed her phone. He wondered who could be calling her.

Flicking away the cigarette ash, his gaze tinged with loneliness, Lawrence sighed. "Let's go to the meeting room."

In the midst of the fire escape, Winnie's phone had been ringing persistently before she numbly grasped its urgency. Glancing at the caller ID, she noted it was the landline of the Blanchet Mansion.

Anticipating her dad as the caller on the other end, she answered with a forced smile. "Dad?"

"Ms. Anderson, Mr. Carlos Blanchet's been shot! He's been taken to the hospital! Your grandpa Mr. Paul Blanchet called the mansion and he wants the Blanchet descendants at the hospital."

The rest of the words became inaudible to Winnie.

Her head buzzed with a sudden noise, her complexion turned deathly pale, and in a hoarse voice, she demanded, "What are you saying? How could this be possible?"