Chapter 557

Rock's elated voice made Winnie's heart quiver slightly.

She clenched her eyes shut, her voice hiding an apology. "Rock, you asked me before if I'd be with you?

"Now, my answer is yes, I can.

"I'm not lying to you. If you don't mind, we can date and even marry."

She repeated the words without much emotional fluctuation, her lips devoid of the usual signs of happiness.

"Winnie, you have no idea. It's like I've hit the jackpot.

"Of course, I don't mind. I'd love to!

"Fool, I've waited for these words for over four years.

"I might wait forever, maybe never hearing them.

"But you've just accepted me and brought up marriage. I'm overjoyed! I can hardly contain my excitement!"

"I'm eager to rush to you, to ascertain if your expression mirrors the same joy as mine."

He sounded like a man struck by unforeseen joy, his warm voice betraying his elation.

Yet, with every sentence, Winnie felt a deeper sense of discomfort.

"Rock, the truth is..." Winnie almost disclosed the real reason behind her sudden willingness to date him.

"Yes?" Rock chuckled, cutting her off swiftly, "Winnie, don't tell me it's April Fools' Day, and you're just pulling my leg.

"Or is this like the time you asked me to pretend to be your husband in front of your grandparents?

"Lord, Winnie, that would shatter me.

"This is a different deal, right? This time, you're actually saying yes to me.

"I hope you've realized that you truly want to move on from Lawrence

"And not because of him, not to ask me to team up with you again.

"I have a heart too. I care about you more than he does. That's why I've agreed every time, willingly playing the part of a tool.

"But this time, I don't want to ignore what my heart wants any longer.

"If marriage is just an empty charade, I'm sorry, I might not be able to go through with it."

Rock's voice grew softer, and a choked laugh tinged with bitterness made it clear he was struggling.

In an instant, all that Winnie wanted to say was blocked.

Guilt and embarrassment engulfed her; she had not thought beyond a sham marriage with him.

Ishara's despicable demand had taken her by surprise, and without love for Rock, she couldn't entertain the idea of dating or marrying him.

However, Rock's lonely confession had put her in an unjust position.

Indeed, each time, she had used him and also eroded his sincere affections, causing him intangible harm.

He hoped that this time, the relationship and marriage would be real. Otherwise, he would refuse.

Surely, it was a fair requirement from him. Winnie's cheeks burned with shame, and she gripped her phone tightly, teeth clenched in agonizing laughter, "It's not fake.

"I've been considering getting married soon.

"And you, Rock, you're wonderful.

"Since I've brought it up, I will treat you seriously, gradually trying to rely on you.

"I apologize for using you in the past."

"Fool, I was more than happy. Why apologize? Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the chance to be close to you at all.

"I really, really like you, Winnie, and because of my love for you, I can't keep living in a fantasy.

"I don't know why you suddenly proposed marriage to me; maybe Ishara being pregnant got to you?

"But I'm all in.

"You say it's for real, not just pretend.

"Then I will treat you as a lover, a future wife, and I do have feelings and desires for you.

"Winnie, can you accept that?"

His melodic voice turned deeper, and his breath caught in his throat.

Winnie's face paled slightly; she was resistant within.

But he was probing her boundaries, and she understood that she couldn't expect a purely platonic relationship from Rock if she suggested a genuine marriage.

She decided to take one step at a time.

She deserved a fresh start, free from Lawrence's control.

Her heart sank into icy depths, already frozen solid.

With a change in tone, she hummed a casual and composed acknowledgment, "I get what you're saying, Rock.

"It's not too much, but I'll make the effort."

"Winnie," Rock whispered into his phone, his laughter barely more than a breath. "That's great, Winnie. Here's to my hopes coming true, my wishes fulfilled."

Winnie reminded of her original, reluctant intent, far from genuine, couldn't manage a smile.

She hid the truth from Rock, fearing the consequences for Oscar.

Winnie swallowed her bitterness and said, "Okay. Rock, I called you just to say that. Are you busy?"

"Yeah, there's a construction project I'm overseeing. I'm working on the plans. The Harrington Group's building can be manageable. It'll be another landmark in Trento City, but forget that. I can't wait to see you!"

Rock's voice was ripe with a teasing smile. "Can I come to see you?"

Winnie quickly cast her eyes downward, off-kilter from the rush.

Looking out the window, she suggested, "How about tomorrow? I've still got some work to wrap up."

"I'll come to your place tomorrow. I doubt I'll be able to sleep a wink tonight, Winnie."

"Well, goodbye then, I'm going to have dinner."

"Enjoy your meal!"

Winnie hung up, exhaling in relief.

Her gaze was lost; confusion clouded her as she stared at the darkened screen.

The corners of her mouth twisted in a wry smile, her mind a blank slate, thoughts unsortable.

But to save her Oscar, she had no choice.

Alone and with nowhere to turn, she was without options.

At ten in the evening, Winnie returned to her suburban villa from the office.

She didn't make her usual visit to Melissa at the family's hospital.

At home with Sidney, Olivia brought Winnie some late-night snacks, her touch on Winnie's forehead infused with concern as she remarked, "You're still running a fever!"

"I suspected you wouldn't have much of an appetite and probably didn't drink enough water, did you?

"Have some of this soup. It's important to eat and maintain your strength-you know I always emphasize that.

"The sky isn't falling, Winnie."

Rising from the couch, Winnie wrapped her arms around Sidney in a sudden embrace, her laughter tinged with a hoarse quality. "You're right, the sky isn't falling. And even if it did, I'd hold it up for my little ones."

Sidney pouted, his eyes suddenly brimming with redness as tears threatened to fall from his dark pupils. He flung himself into Winnie's embrace, wrapping his arms tightly around her legs. "Mommy, when I came back this afternoon, I heard something on the news while I was in Olivia's car."

"Listen to me, I'm sure that child in Ishara's belly can't be Daddy's."

"He's not that foolish, he can't be.

"Please don't be mad at him, okay?"

"Damn, why hasn't the jerk of a dad come to explain himself to you yet? It's driving me crazy."

The quiver in the child's cry scorched Winnie's heart, and amidst the sorrow, there was a deafening silence.