Chapter 559

"There's nothing to talk about." Winnie's voice was faint and composed.

"Are you angry?" Lawrence tightened his grip, unintentionally causing her pain.

His tone was cautious, his piercing gaze turbulent with concealed emotions, all focused on her.

But now, as she looked at him again, that strikingly handsome man, her eyes held only loathing.

Deceived, betrayed, time and again. Their relationship was irrevocably shattered.

"Rock, show our guest out."

With those words, Winnie turned and walked coolly towards the study.

Suddenly, her wrist was seized with force.

Lawrence's temples throbbed as he spoke with restrained anger, "Don't provoke me, Winnie. I won't ask why Rock was at your place early in the morning. He's not my concern right now. I need you to give me a moment to speak."

Winnie, pulled by his strength, turned slightly.

Yet her gaze was fixed beyond the window sill, sparing no glimmer of attention for him.

Lawrence felt a sting at her aloof and icy demeanor and the way she disregarded his presence entirely.

In one swift motion, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the open terrace, placing her down with care.

With a cold, decisive motion of his long fingers, he shut the French doors behind him.

Rock stood in the living room, his gaze darkening with determination. Without hesitation, he strode toward the terrace.

Bryan burst into the room, blocking his path with a smile. "Mr. Rock, give them a moment to talk. Surely, you're not that petty? Besides, this is Ms. Winnie's home. You should remember you're a guest here."

Rock glanced at Bryan, emitting a soft snort.

"What's so funny? Is this your house?" Bryan retorted, his voice cold.

Rock, silent, cast a meaningful glance at Lawrence's stern, perfect profile visible on the terrace. "No matter how long they talk, a broken mirror can never be mended."

Lawrence showing up at Winnie's door early this morning was a slap to Rock's face.

"Did he really think another round of threats and temptations would make Winnie give in? It's an outrage!" He let out a cold laugh.

Bryan's face tensed, worry etching his features as he looked out to the patio.

Outside on the patio, the dampness clung to the air with a chill that even the morning sun couldn't dispel, clinging to Winnie. As she stood there, Lawrence lowered his gaze, slipping off his suit jacket and draping it over the woman's shoulders, his own broad shadow enveloping her delicate frame.

Struggling like a startled animal, Winnie pushed him away, the jacket falling to the ground in a heap. Stepping into the sunlight, the cold sharpness in her dewy eyes dissolved, her face warming under the sun's touch.

"I didn't want you to catch a chill," he said, his frown softening into a concerned rasp, "Winnie, don't do this.

"Ishara's pregnancy, it's all part of her scheme. I won't accept that child as mine. I wanted to explain things to you yesterday, but you hid from me. I waited outside this villa for a long time, knowing you'd be angry and disappointed.

"There's so much I want to tell you. Yesterday, the Rodriguez family's business demanded my attention. I only managed to free myself this morning. Did I come too late?

"Winnie, no matter how late I am, my feelings haven't changed. You've always been the one. You're my only one.

"In three months, when we get a paternity test for Ishara's baby, everything will be clear. Her child will not survive my actions. I won't indulge her, but right now, my father is involved, and we need to wait."

Yet the woman before him remained untouched by his pleas. Her eyes dropped, appearing fragile, her face pale as paper.

Lawrence's heart raced with urgency, a sense of helplessness spreading within him as though his fists were pounding against cotton. She had become this unresisting mass, no longer standing up to him with the fiery exchanges they used to have, speaking her mind openly.

He couldn't fathom what she was thinking.

Her indifferent coldness bore into him, causing him distress and a collapse from within, leaving him clueless about how to thaw her wounded, frozen heart.

"Winnie..." he poured out his thoughts, his voice laden with desperation, "Will you marry me? Together, we'll find solace and security."

"You'll trust that I'm always on your side. I've never harbored any feelings for Ishara. She won't have a chance with the Rodriguez family, no matter how much my father might favor her.

"Yesterday, I coerced my father into leveraging his influence with the Rodriguez enterprise for the sake of an opportunity.

"You've seen the news. I'm caught in a scandal, and I've made a statement to the press. All of this can go away if you marry me. Our wedding will eventually silence the media frenzy. I can protect you and our sons, nobly and rightfully.

"I know what I'm asking of you is unreasonable and unfair. You don't have to actually marry me, but we can pretend. As long as your name is on my family registry, leave the rest to me. I will give you a satisfactory answer. Ishara's death was only delayed by a few months, I promise."

His lips were dry as he spoke, but he couldn't draw a single response from her.

After a long silence, she blankly stared at him and then cast a cold, dismissive glance his way.

Winnie's lips curled into a mocking sneer that rang loud and clear. Lawrence's eyes darkened as he grasped her hand, holding her wrist. "Speak. You can say anything."

"I'm astounded by your audacity," Winnie spat out, her deep sorrow erupting into unbridled rage. "You dare speak of protecting me and our sons nobly? Lawrence, your shame knows no bounds. You have no authority to make such claims. Do you comprehend that it's your continual indulgence of Ishara that led to Oscar undergoing surgery because of her? How can I not hold you responsible for this?"

Marrying him was impossible at this point.

She scoffed coldly, her eyes red with fury, "Marry you? Bind me to you to endure your endless flip-flopping with Ishara, to watch her get pregnant, to let her go, never to save my son? The way you handle things is so predictably domineering, authoritarian, and coercive.

"Do you believe that by cornering yourself, I'll be inclined to take pity on you, hesitant to witness your fall from grace within the Rodriguez family? Your approach to dealing with me has always been characterized by ruthless control. Am I merely a pawn in your game?

"You and Ishara are a perfect match, so, stay with her. Whether the child in her womb is yours or not, regardless of your shameless denial, it doesn't bother me anymore. I have my own life now. Oscar's safety is no longer in your hands."