Chapter 98

"Leave!" The man cast a hostile glance at the seductive women, and they promptly exited.

Benjamin trembled slightly. These women were brought in by him to enhance the atmosphere.

He turned around, locked eyes with Jeremy and had no choice but to look at Darcy again. "What happened to Mr. Rodriguez?"

Darcy sighed and said, "Mr. Rodriguez seems to have misunderstood Ms. Winnie because of some things."

"Another misunderstanding?" Benjamin's eyes darted around and inexplicably lingered on Darcy for a moment.

He wasn't sure what had happened but he stole a glance at the man who seemed capable of crushing a hundred flies with a frown. Unable to hold back, he said, "Mr. Rodriguez, if Winnie always makes you angry, then why not just leave her?"

The man's gaze turned frightening as he looked over. "What did you say?"

Benjamin shrank back while Darcy, looking at the man's ominous gaze, clenched her fingers nervously, appearing worried for Winnie.

Jeremy then echoed Benjamin's worry, stating, "Have you realized? Since you and Ms. Winnie started dating, you've become more volatile. You seem easily swayed by this woman. Is she genuinely appealing to you?" Jeremy leaned in towards Mr. Rodriguez, posing the question in a hushed tone.

Mr. Rodriguez sneered, his inscrutable pitch-black eyes offering no response.

Jeremy sighed and walked over to Benjamin, lowering his voice. "Although both you and I prefer Winnie, I'm not sure if it's a good thing for her to have this kind of impact on Mr. Rodriguez."

Benjamin replied, "Yeah, Winnie has no idea about how poorly Mr. Rodriguez grew up. That's why he has these hidden symptoms of irritability and aggression. Why does this woman keep provoking him?

"Ever since Mr. Rodriguez departed with Madam Rodriguez from the Rodriguez family, he has been engrossed in work, growing distant and disinterested. His focus is solely on the memory of the little girl who rescued him all those years ago. His emotional turmoil has remained dormant for a significant period. Could his night terrors be a manifestation of the childhood torment he endured? Why doesn't Winnie comprehend and sympathize with Mr. Rodriguez?"

"She doesn't know. Their relationship isn't that deep yet, and Mr. Rodriguez would never tell her." Jeremy fell silent.

No man would willingly disclose such a terrifying illness to the woman he cares about but communication issues persist between these two individuals. Jeremy is concerned that if this continues, Winnie might inadvertently trigger Mr. Rodriguez's illness.

They spoke cautiously to avoid Darcy but it didn't stop her from overhearing half of their conversation and she actually already knew about Mr. Rodriguez's illness too. His suspicions, sensitivities, and irritability were exactly what she intended to exploit. Winnie would soon be walking into her own demise.

Inside the villa, Winnie woke up in the middle of the night, feeling cold and looked to the other side of the bed. She was still alone.

That man hadn't come home yet. There was a heavy feeling in her chest and she felt cold all over. At that moment, her phone suddenly rang.

Olivia messaged her on Facebook. "Winnie, have you seen Darcy's social media? How can Mr. Rodriguez be partying with her at a bar and not be home with his pregnant wife? Aren't you two in a sweet and loving relationship?"

Winnie immediately opened Facebook and went to check Darcy's Facebook profile. Last time, Darcy sent pictures of baby clothes and added Winnie and Olivia as common friends.

As Winnie scrolled through Darcy's posted photos, she came across one taken in a luxurious private room. Darcy was the focal point of a selfie, her face prominently displayed, with a man's arm resting beside her. The man sported an elegant shirt, its sleeves rolled up to reveal a wristwatch and a glimpse of his captivating chest. He leaned casually against the sofa, appeared somewhat intoxicated.

Winnie immediately recognized him as Mr. Rodriguez, despite his face not being entirely visible. That mature silhouette of his was unmistakable to her.

In the background, Jeremy and Benjamin also appeared in the photo. Darcy's caption read, "Busy with work but having a fun time drinking."

The caption seemed normal without any ambiguity. Even in the photo, all three men appeared. But only Winnie could discern the joy in Darcy's eyes as she leaned against Mr. Rodriguez.

Darcy was cautious, ensuring she didn't sit too close to Mr. Rodriguez and even crafted her caption thoughtfully. Despite the flawless presentation, her eyes, twinkling with a hint of a smile, seemed directed specifically for Winnie's gaze.

After being scolded by Mr. Rodriguez, her husband didn't come home and instead got drunk late at night with the female vice president.

The flaunting, the demonstration, the subtle animosity, Winnie could sense it all. In her heart, it felt like being stabbed by thousands of needles. It was all very painful for her to experience.

Worried, Olivia asked, "Did you have another argument with Mr. Rodriguez? Can't you see that this woman is trying to take advantage of the situation?"

"I didn't argue with him and he suddenly cursed me for no reason today." Winnie thought about how harshly he cursed her and her heart trembled.

"Mr. Rodriguez isn't irrational." Olivia dismissed the idea. She added, "Did you do something to upset him again? He's not the type to openly express his feelings. Perhaps he's waiting for you to understand and apologize. Is there a misunderstanding with Daniel again?"

She never saw Daniel at the company. Winnie suddenly paused, thinking about the phone call at noon. He abruptly hung up and when she called back at night, he seemed to be scolding her and said that she was full of lies.

She felt a sudden pang. Mr. Rodriguez's words likely stemmed from disbelief when she mentioned that her business partner was a woman. Winnie began to speculate if Mr. Rodriguez was present that afternoon and witnessed her interaction with Rock.

"Winnie, you're adept at dismantling issues, but love is a different playing field, and you lack the experience. Dealing with someone like Darcy, who maintains composure, is no walk in the park. You can't just engage in a battle and then settle into a cold war. Look, she's reaping the benefits from it, isn't she? If you have any conflicts, discuss them with Mr. Rodriguez and don't keep it bottled up. Who knows what schemes Darcy might be plotting behind your back. This woman is quietly challenging you. I don't think it's as simple as it seems."

Certainly, it wasn't straightforward. There might be a conspiracy involving the supplier. Winnie smirked. Darcy's actions hinted at her aspirations for Mr. Rodriguez, yet it wasn't overt. Men might not grasp the subtleties of it.

It was possible they were together in the private room right at the moment. Winnie glanced at the time, it was already 4 o'clock. They were still drinking and having fun in the private room while she was left at home, carrying his child.

For a moment, Winnie couldn't stand this anymore. She felt a burning hatred and stubbornly lay back in bed, deciding not to care about him. The next day, she went to work as usual. The third day, the man still didn't come home.

On the fourth day, Winnie couldn't bear it any longer. If she continued to let him go like this, she would just be pushing him toward Darcy, just like Olivia has said. They were already inseparable at work.

Winnie realized she couldn't continue like this. With Mr. Rodriguez being so unpredictable, going back and forth, she needed to find him and get clear answers.

She found out that Kingdom Estates was having a promotional event at Dazzling Manor, a banquet where big-time businessmen would gather. He was the owner of Kingdom Estates and should be there.

Winnie wanted to sneak in but her business card wasn't qualified enough. She could only dress in formal attire and attend under the name of Triton Jewelry.

Later in the evening, Winnie entered the Dazzling Party Hall. Under the grand golden entrance, many of the business world elites arrived one after another. Standing in a corner, Winnie raised her gaze just as a commotion occurred at the door.

Mr. Rodriguez had made his entrance. Clad in a black suit with a silver mask, he immediately stood out as the most captivating presence in the crowd. His proportions defied description, and his partially concealed profile resembled a sculpted masterpiece, emanating an irresistible air of superiority.

Winnie's heart quivered slightly. Just as she was about to approach, she suddenly noticed a woman's hand on his arm.

Darcy, adorned in a lake blue evening gown, accompanied him, and the two stood together, a perfect blend of elegance and beauty.

Someone next to them praised, "I never expected the always single CEO, Mr. Rodriguez, to bring such a beautiful companion today. Are they lovers? They match so well!"

Winnie froze.