Chapter 568

"He dreamt of marrying me, but it's just his one-sided fantasy. Whatever was between us is not worth mentioning, and certainly, there will be no future. I wish him and his lady all the best. What's important is that I'm already committed to someone else. This man right beside me. He's not some boy-toy; he's my boyfriend, Rock, and as everyone can see, we're dating and soon to be married.

"Is a couple's interaction worthy of being snapped and made a scandal, with the intention of defaming me? Are you journalists really that bored? There's nothing between me and Lawrence; I'm not playing any games, and Triton Jewelry is entirely above board, so feel free to shop with confidence."

The reporters were at a loss for words, and Winnie even managed to promote her company on the mic.

One persistently defiant journalist stood out, chuckling, "Ms. Winnie has some nerve, probably the first to dismiss Lawrence as nothing much. Quite full of yourself to say that him wanting to marry you was all in his head. Aren't you afraid that Lawrence, scorned in his pursuit, might seek revenge on you and your boyfriend? Your boyfriend clearly doesn't match up to the dashing and affluent stature of Lawrence, the esteemed Lawrence"

The reporter's sneering remarks were meant to belittle her, suggesting she was overreaching, just putting on airs. But Winnie's fists were clenched, her mind pondering something else entirely.

She had seen firsthand the lengths Lawrence would go to when dealing with Rock. Going public with her relationship with Rock today was bound to infuriate him. The question was, 'what would Lawrence do to Rock in retaliation?'

Having severed ties with Lawrence, Winnie hoped he'd get the message, that any underhanded tricks he might play would be futile. She refused to be subdued by such tactics.

Lifting her gaze, she took the microphone from the reporter, her eyes flashing with a hint of chill as she said sarcastically, "Thank you for your concern. To be honest, I'm quite worried about my boyfriend too. Who wouldn't be afraid of offending the nation's top Lawrence? So, I ask the media for a favor. Keep watch. If anything unfortunate happens to my boyfriend, it's likely because Lawrence used his power to crush him. In that case, don't forget to call the police for me, and I do hope Lawrence will treat people more kindly and learn the virtue of leaving well enough alone."

Her taunts left the reporters speechless. This woman was openly challenging Lawrence on camera. She must be out of her mind.

Muted by her audacity, a few reporters were talking amongst themselves, "Winnie definitely has some history with Lawrence, didn't you hear her? 'Leaving well enough alone', that's loaded with meaning."

"But she already has a boyfriend, and she's made it clear how important he is to her. She's confirming their love affair."

"Anyway, it seems like Lawrence had wishful thinking, and the most pitiful person is Ishara. Winnie stepped into their relationship, and Ishara hasn't said a word from beginning to end."

Hearing their comments, a sarcastic smile flitted across Winnie's eyes. She would pay back Ishara for her gift. "Manager Nelson, pull up this afternoon's surveillance footage from the mall counters. I'm going to find out who's been taking pictures of me."

Meanwhile, in the CEO's office, Jeremy watched Winnie's statement to the press with shock coloring his face. The live interview footage showed Winnie holding an impromptu press conference at the mall, standing side by side with Rock, coyly hidden behind him.

But then, for Rock's sake, she stepped forward, facing the camera to mock Lawrence and even warned him.

"Mr. Rodriguez, stop watching!"

Jeremy looked up to see the man fixated on Winnie's declaration of love for the umpteenth minute. In the quiet of the room, her interview played on repeat.

"Lawrence wants to marry me, but that's just his unilateral fantasy. Whatever was between us in the past is inconsequential... I have a boyfriend now, and as everyone can see we're in a relationship, and we'll be married soon.

"If anything happens to my boyfriend, rest assured it's Lawrence exploiting his power to bring him down. Please, everyone, help me by calling the police."

Lawrence's striking face turned ashen.

His fingers, nearly crushing the phone screen in his grip.

Caught in a whirlwind romance with Rock to shield him, she had gone public with their love affair.

She dared to claim that her past with him, a past so entwined with love was inconsequential.

She had gone to great lengths for Rock, fearful that he might act. Boldly challenging Lawrence in front of the media, enlisting them for oversight and pressure.

There's a fine line between enmity and outright destruction.

Her defense of Rock, the public declaration of their intent to wed, her words, the clips, her expressions, they all struck deep in Lawrence's core.

Apparently, a woman's heart can shift more quickly than a man's.

She was ruthless enough to kill her own child.

Lawrence was knocked off his feet.

His zest for trampling Rock gone.

All his hatred, piling upon her.

"Mr. Rodriguez?" Jeremy had no clue what was on his mind, the shock was evident.

Winnie just told the press she's getting married.

Lawrence was not the groom.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy asked him. "Since Winnie has made up her mind and blocked all paths, you should let go and wish them well."

"Let's grab a drink." Lawrence dropped the files, stood up with his towering stature stiff as a statue, a chill emanating from his poised frame.

He neatly rolled up his sleeves and walked out with a seemingly calm gaze. "Let her go?

"No, I won't.

"No matter how high the kite soars, one day, I'll sever her wings.

"Even if she's nothing but a skeleton, it's I who shall lay her to rest."

Beneath Jeremy's glasses, his eyes flickered sharply, Lawrence was anything but calm.

His words sent a shiver down Jeremy's spine. Winnie was saying goodbye to the past, but Lawrence, stubbornly stuck in it, wouldn't rest.

He drank until ten.

Lawrence wasn't drunk, his mood steady. Jeremy drove him to Melissa's clinic.

His large hand draped over a suit coat, his strides long and assertive, his casual walk catching the nurses' eyes at the reception.

"I need today's medical records for my mother."

His long fingers tapped the desk with a cool insistence.

Clearly, Lawrence was in a bad mood.

The nurses dared not speak, silently handing over the medical records, their demeanor hesitant yet resigned.

Lawrence frowned, glanced briefly at the door to his mother's hospital room, and asked in a low, hoarse voice, "Is there an update?"

"Lawrence, there's a visitor in Melissa's room," the nurse informed him. "Her caretaker didn't invite us in, so we've been simply monitoring the situation."

"What visitor?" Lawrence straightened up, no longer leaning against the reception counter.

As employees of the Rodriguez family conglomerate, the nurses naturally provided the CEO's mother with exceptional care.

They were attentive to the visitors who came to see Melissa daily. "It's a new face, a middle-aged lady of apparent wealth and status!"

A chill crept over Lawrence as he scrunched up his eyebrows. Tossing aside the medical files, he strode toward the room, hand in pocket.