Chapter 686

"Winnie!"

Seeing her intent on intervening, Melanie shouted, "Don't go over there! We've called the police. It looks like someone has a knife."

"Call the police right now and get Lysander to send over some bodyguards!" Winnie said firmly, but without hesitation, she ran toward the alley.

When she reached the muddy puddle, she was stunned to find Lawrence lying there.

She stood there, eyes wide, as she took in the sight of Lawrence on the ground, his shirt and pants caked in mud, his once handsome features marred by bruises. The darkness around him made his broken state look even more pitiful.

She couldn't believe it-Lawrence, who was so skilled and strong, was reduced to this. He used to handle such situations effortlessly. Now, with his eyes closed and his face hidden under his disheveled hair, he seemed like a shadow in the abyss, devoid of light.

This was a side of him she'd never seen before. It was as if he had lost all will to fight back against life.

"Wake up," Winnie said, her brow furrowed. Before she could say more, a man with a bottle lunged at Lawrence's legs. Winnie quickly kicked him away. "Stop it! I've already called the police!"

"Who the hell do you think you are, you bitch?" The man yelled as he staggered back.

Behind her, Jesse came running, cursing under his breath. He reached for Winnie's hair but froze when he saw her face. Recognition flickered in his eyes, followed by a wicked grin. "Well, if it isn't the new junior director of the Blanchet family. I didn't expect to see you here. Heard you're married now, Ms. Anderson. Still got a soft spot for Lawrence, huh?"

"Who are you?" Winnie asked, squinting at Jesse, trying to place him.

"I'm Jesse, chairman of the Scott family," he announced arrogantly. Though the Blanchet family was influential, Winnie was just a junior director. With Carlos reportedly still unconscious, the future was uncertain. Jesse, confident in his status, sneered at her. "I suggest you mind your own business. You wouldn't want to embarrass your current husband, Rock, would you? If you know what's good for you, just walk away. I'll pretend I didn't see you."

Winnie remembered him now-he was the guy who had caused a scene at Lawrence's company, claiming he wanted to take over the Rodriguez Group.

Looking at the contract in Jesse's hand and then at Lawrence, who was barely conscious, she pieced it all together. Jesse hadn't just struck once; he was trying to take advantage again.

Winnie smiled, her anger barely contained. "Jesse, you're quite the character. I run into you and find you beating Lawrence to a pulp. Maybe you should be the one to leave quietly, and I might consider pretending I didn't see you."

"Seems like you're set on protecting Lawrence," Jesse growled, his teeth clenched.

"It's not about protecting him. It's about stopping a crime. A good citizen steps in."

"Stay out of this, or..."

Jesse's shout was cut short as several bodyguards rushed in from the street. Winnie, now feeling less anxious with help arriving, pointed decisively. "They're fighting. Stop them."

Eight burly bodyguards surged forward. Jesse, taken by surprise, found his group of thugs, already exhausted from beating Lawrence, quickly overwhelmed. The scuffle turned against them, and Jesse, with his portly frame, was no match.

Winnie glanced at him coldly. "Take Jesse into custody."

"Yes, Ms. Anderson." The bodyguards bent Jesse's knee, forcing him down to the ground. The situation shifted dramatically.

Winnie eyed Jesse intently, her hand tightening around the knife pressed to his throat. "Why did you attack Lawrence? You brought all these people-were you planning to ambush him?"

Jesse remained silent.

Winnie pressed the knife in, breaking the skin.

"You crazy woman, don't move it!" Jesse's eyes widened as he felt the warm trickle of blood. Fear gripped him; he was terrified of having his throat slit.

Winnie's aggression completely threw him off. Desperation took over, and he shouted, "Okay, I admit I was short-sighted and out of line. Winnie, let's pretend this never happened. I'll leave right now, alright?"

"Answer my question!" Winnie's grip didn't loosen.

Jesse, now frantic, stammered, "You saw it all, didn't you? I just wanted to take over the Rodriguez Group!"

"So you brought your men here to trap him? He's drunk?" Winnie's gaze flicked to Lawrence, who was unconscious.

"Of course he's drunk. Otherwise, I wouldn't have dared come here after I got the news. With Lawrence's skills, I'd be terrified to confront him head-on."

Winnie narrowed her eyes. "Got the new?"

Jesse's mind raced. He hadn't meant to let it slip. Winnie was too sharp for her own good. He thought, 'Why is she so concerned about Lawrence?'

Then he thought of Rock, musing, 'If Rock hadn't tipped me off about how to provoke Lawrence, Lawrence might have fought back fiercely.'

He glanced at Lawrence, who was in no shape to defend himself.

Jesse tried to cover up. "A young heir from the Peterson family saw Lawrence at a bar and told me. We're on good terms, so he passed the info along. Now I get it-the Petersons were trying to use me. Ms. Anderson, I've confessed everything. Lawrence wasn't killed, so can I go now?"

Winnie frowned, clearly skeptical of Jesse's story.

Realizing that further questioning might yield no more answers, she coldly tossed him aside. "If you had killed him, you'd be spending the rest of your life behind bars. I'm warning you-if you see him again, steer clear. And don't even think about going after the Rodriguez Group. I saw you holding a knife just now!"

Jesse shivered, feeling the weight of Winnie's warning. Crossing her could be disastrous.

He managed a wry smile. "Ms. Anderson, it seems you still have some sympathy for Lawrence. Fine, I'll let him go tonight and have no further dealings with him. Can I leave now?"

Winnie raised an eyebrow. "Which Peterson family heir gave you this tip?"

Jesse hesitated, feeling the pressure. "Ronald."

"Get out."

Jesse wasted no time. He and his men quickly left, their plans thwarted and their mission incomplete, now under Winnie's warning.

Once they were gone, Winnie dismissed her bodyguards. She walked back to Lawrence with a thoughtful expression, her mind still processing the evening's events.