Although Winifred had anticipated this outcome, she wasn’t fully prepared for the harsh reality that unfolded before her eyes.
Incredulous and burdened with complex emotions, Winifred felt a heavy stone hanging over her heart, threatening to drag her into the abyss.
The appraisal report in her hand twisted as she clenched it tightly, her body trembling violently. Despite the summer heat, she felt a chilling coldness, as if surrounded by snow.
Feeling unsteady, her usually composed and confident demeanor cracked, and Winifred stumbled backward.
A strong grip on her arm made Winifred look up, only to find Leland holding her hand, his face filled with concern.
“Miss, what’s wrong? Is the test result…?”
Winifred’s lips pressed together like thin paper, closing her eyes to recall Aubrey’s words at the hospital, the disdain and suppressed desire a father harbored for his daughter, the urge to possess and destroy…
Her stomach churned, but she fought back the nausea.
Since there was no blood relation, most of what Aubrey said must be true.
From initially believing twenty percent, Winifred had now reached sixty or seventy percent certainty.
While Leland showed worry on his face, his true emotions were entirely different. Like a greedy demon rising from hell, he watched Winifred’s intense reaction, not satisfied yet, far from it.
He wanted to drag this high and mighty princess into hell, tarnishing her pristine dress with filthy mud. She was so noble and clean, but he wanted her to be as dirty as him.
Struggling to suppress his lustful thoughts, desire wrapped around his heart like vines, he resisted the strong urge and watched Winifred calmly, awaiting her next move.
What should he do?
Would Winifred drug Gregory, would she rely on him at this moment?
The thought of Winifred only being able to turn to him made Leland’s heart race even faster, a budding desire taking root.
Please come to me, only I can help you. I can be your support, I have been by your side all these years, I understand you the best, I am most qualified to be with you, I know what you want.
Lost in her struggle, Winifred didn’t notice Leland’s change. Her hands were clammy with cold sweat, gripping Leland’s arm tightly, leaning against him. After some time, her panting slowly calmed down, she pushed away from Leland, her legs no longer shaking, standing steady once again, reverting to her proud and audacious demeanor.
Winifred put away the appraisal results. “Where are the pills I left with you?”
It seemed it was time to use them.
Leland retrieved the pills. “Here, take one daily, it will achieve the result you desire.”
This was for self-preservation.
Winifred took the pills, her pale face turning cold. “Don’t speak of today’s events to anyone.”
“Miss, I would never betray you. Anyone in this world may leave you, but I won’t.”
Leland had beautiful eyes, with pupils as rare as obsidian, clear and earnest like a loyal dog. As he spoke, his gaze was pleasing, trying to make Winifred believe in him and rely on him.
Winifred glanced briefly, then looked away, and Leland moved his lips.
“Miss, what do you plan to do next? Are you going to drug him?”
Winifred remained silent.
Tentatively, Leland continued, “Or should I take care of it for you?”
Winifred squeezed the bottle of pills. “No need, I’ll handle it myself.”
If Gregory wasn’t her biological father, her situation would be problematic. Regardless of any other intentions he had towards her, if she allowed Gregory to seek other women outside, he would eventually have his own biological child, which would complicate matters for her.
“You should go back, it’s late, and you still have school tomorrow.” Winifred watched Leland retreat, closing the door firmly behind him.
Early the next morning, Winifred descended the stairs with red eyes, her pale face indicating a lack of rest.
She had torn up the appraisal results, now stowed away in her bag to be discarded later, while the pills were safely tucked into the medicine cabinet, out of sight.
She had spent the whole night pondering her future strategy, contemplating her actions, thinking about her deceased mother… Unfortunately, it had been too long ago for her limited investigative abilities to yield results.
Winifred listlessly picked at her breakfast, hardly eating before setting it aside, with Leland discreetly observing her.
After a moment, Winifred took her phone and dialed Gregory’s number.
He seemed to have been sleeping, his voice hoarse from being roused by her early call. “Winifred… Why are you calling so early?”
Before Winifred could respond, a woman’s voice interrupted from the other end.
“Who’s calling at this ungodly hour, annoying…”
Winifred involuntarily tightened her grip on the phone, her breath catching. She had held onto a faint glimmer of trust in Gregory, but that phone call shattered it completely.
Gregory was truly despicable.
Causing her mother’s death, proclaiming love for her mother while chanting the mantra of loneliness to pursue other women outside, as if he couldn’t live without being intimate with someone.
When Winifred made the call, she had entertained the idea of giving Gregory another chance, but not anymore.
Her frozen expression quickly returned to normal, one hand gripping the phone, the other firmly grasping the silverware on the table, the fork gleaming in her hand.
The phone continued to murmur faintly, as Gregory had possibly left it beyond reach, making it difficult for Winifred to hear the conversation.
After about ten seconds of silence, Gregory’s voice broke through. “Winifred, are you still there?”
“I’m here, Dad. Did I wake you up from your sleep?”
“Yes, why are you calling so early? Is there something wrong?”
“Dad, can you come home in the next few days? My eighteenth birthday is approaching, and with my exams nearing, I’m feeling nervous. I want you to come home and spend time with me, maybe tonight…”
Gregory hesitated, the line suddenly falling silent.
Winifred, crestfallen, continued with a choked voice. “Is it not possible?” she sighed, continuing with a trembling voice, “I’m sorry, Dad. I know you’re busy every day, asking you to come home for me is unreasonable. Please forget I said anything today, I won’t do this again in the future…”
“What are you talking about? Just asking me to come home every night, right? Dad will definitely come home.”
“Starting from today, will you come back every night?”
“Okay, I’ll be home today.”
With an answer that satisfied her, Winifred’s face lit up with a smile, excitement overflowing in her voice. “That’s wonderful, Dad! I’ll have the chef prepare your favorite dishes tonight. You must come home!”
Winifred ended the call, forcefully staking the fork into the sandwich in front of her, her expression turning cold.