Winifred followed Garrison to the backyard. She had noticed his reddened eyes earlier in the house, and now outside, whether due to the sunlight or not, his eyes looked alarmingly red.
He hadn’t slept all night; stubble had grown on his chin, and his hair was a mess.
“I searched for you all night.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to hear your apologies,” Garrison’s voice was hoarse. “What happened between you and Leland… did he force you…”
“Why are you asking when you already know?” The marks on her body, spending the entire night with Leland in a hotel room-what else could have happened? And earlier in his house’s bathroom, it was so obvious. She didn’t believe Garrison couldn’t guess.
Moreover, it was his mother who had tricked her into meeting Leland at the hotel. Could he not figure that out, or did he guess but refuse to believe it?
Winifred had liked Garrison since she was very young. No one in the Dawson family treated her sincerely well; Gregory was always away with other women.
At home, neither Mr. Hamilton nor the servants showed genuine care; they just did their jobs. Since Winifred could remember, she had been like a robot, constantly studying.
Being a wealthy young lady wasn’t easy. From morning till night, she had strict study schedules-learning instruments and dancing in the morning, practicing calligraphy and painting in the afternoon. Her days were packed with no room to breathe.
Garrison was the first person who treated her well. The Dawson family and the Reeves family lived close by and often interacted. Winifred and Garrison were of similar age and had known each other since kindergarten.
When Winifred was bullied by older kids in kindergarten, it was Garrison who stood up for her and even encouraged her to fight back.
To avoid being bullied, you must be above them; it’s better to bully than to be bullied.
This was a lesson she learned early on.
Before Winifred even understood what “love” was, she secretly liked Garrison. Back then, she always thought that when she grew up, she would marry Garrison and become his wife.
In kindergarten, while other kids played house together, Garrison never participated in such games. If Garrison didn’t go, Winifred wouldn’t either. She would stay by his side and say in her childish voice,
“Garrison, after school, come play at my house. We can play house together-you be the dad, I’ll be the mom…”
“Okay.”
Those childhood dreams now seemed like unattainable luxuries.
Winifred held resentment towards Mrs. Reeves but never directed it at Garrison. Yet looking at him now, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of unwillingness.
She understood that people only throw stones at those who have already fallen into a well.
Five minutes would pass quickly. Winifred took a deep breath; her gaze firm as if she had made up her mind about something.
“Garrison, a year ago today on that boat, I experienced this with Leland. His marks are still on my body.” She gently pulled down her collar to reveal a bite mark below her collarbone.
She saw Garrison’s pupils contract sharply. She didn’t blame him but saying she didn’t mind would be a lie; human emotions aren’t entirely under rational control.
After saying this, Winifred felt a sense of relief as if a heavy stone had finally dropped from her heart. She no longer needed to maintain that fragile facade or fear exposing her disgraceful self-it really wasn’t that big of a deal…
“So I stayed in the hospital and got sick. I didn’t dare wear dresses or even expose my neck because I feared you’d see how disgraceful I was. I lived cautiously but still fantasized about being with you-about your family accepting me and us being happy forever…” fulfilling my childhood wish.
Winifred paused as if recalling the past; her expression turned pained and sorrowful.
“But yesterday, your mother tricked me into meeting Leland at the hotel. Do you know what I felt then? I fantasized about the birthday celebration you might have prepared-the reserved room, whether there’d be a cake with 19 candles, what dishes were prepared-but all I saw inside was Leland.”
As Winifred spoke of these things, her face remained calm. Her gaze towards Garrison stayed gentle; those beautiful watery eyes looking steadily at someone could easily evoke feelings without hatred or complaint or rage.
Winifred continued calmly and softly: “Do you know how I spent last night? He pinned me down on the bed and tore my clothes apart while I prayed over and over for you to save me-but it was useless… All night long-in different positions, different places-the mixed smells…”
Garrison couldn’t take it anymore; he wanted to cover Winifred’s mouth to stop her from speaking or cover his ears to block out her voice.
Seeing tears well up in Garrison’s bloodshot eyes, Winifred slowly retracted her smile and turned cold: “You can’t even bear to listen to this-yet this is what I went through last night-not just last night but also today in your house’s bathroom.”
Winifred wore a watch but didn’t check it; instead, she took out her phone-it had been over three minutes already. She didn’t want to talk more with Garrison; she knew what would happen if they exceeded five minutes-even though Leland hadn’t explicitly said so-she knew it in her heart. Ultimately she’d suffer more; she didn’t want to fight an impossible battle.
She had clarified everything with Garrison-she could have done so more tactfully but saw no need.
“I need to go back.” She turned to leave when Garrison grabbed her hand tightly.
“Winifred, let me take you away,” he said with a choked voice.
For the first time, Garrison held onto her hand so tightly as if clinging to a lifeline on the edge of a cliff.
“Let go!” Winifred struggled but couldn’t break free; she mocked him: “Do you have what it takes? Can you match Leland? Your family is barely holding on-you need me for funding to keep your company afloat. If you take me away-will your parents agree?”
Garrison’s face turned pale as Winifred’s words pinned him in place-it was the first time she’d bluntly told him how useless he was-that despite liking him he couldn’t protect her-in front of Leland he was weak like an ant-powerless-how could he possibly take Winifred away?
Garrison’s hand trembled as he let go of hers; Winifred’s heart quivered slightly-she bit her lip-turned around-and suddenly saw Leland standing not far away-the bushes partially obscuring him-half in light half in shadow.