A beam of light shone from the corner of the wall. Leland stood there, half of his body in the shadows.
He had been standing there for an unknown amount of time, listening to who knows how much. He saw Garrison gripping Winifred’s wrist, his expression darkening noticeably.
After Garrison released Winifred’s hand, Leland walked towards them. He didn’t care that Garrison was still there; he boldly wrapped his arm around Winifred’s slender waist, his fingers brushing against her most sensitive spot. Winifred couldn’t help but shiver and lean towards Leland.
“Why are you here?”
“It’s been five minutes. Can’t I come?”
Winifred glanced at his watch; it had just reached the time.
Leland held Winifred close, whispering in her ear while nibbling on her earlobe, turning it red. He looked at Garrison over her shoulder, half mocking and half challenging.
Garrison felt a surge of anger in his chest. He clenched his fists tightly.
Winifred knew Leland was doing this on purpose to provoke Garrison. He had always resented being used as a stand-in for Garrison. Now that the substitute had surpassed the original, he couldn’t help but show off, and she was just a trophy in his hands.
Once in the car, Winifred noticed the rare look of joy on Leland’s face.
“I didn’t know you thought so highly of me.”
As soon as she spoke, Winifred realized Leland had overheard her conversation with Garrison earlier.
She had only said those things to dissuade Garrison from opposing Leland.
Winifred lowered her head. Did Leland really think he was that impressive? He only knew how to bully women.
Leland liked seeing Winifred so obedient. Whether her words were true or not, they made him happy. He couldn’t resist leaning over to pinch her soft flesh and was about to kiss her when Winifred pushed him away.
“Is that all you ever think about?”
Leland grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear while biting it, “It’s not all I think about; it’s all I think about with you…” Only when he was close to Winifred did he feel she truly belonged to him.
Leland didn’t stay long in Midlands after meeting Winifred. He gave her time to pack her things.
Winifred didn’t have much luggage. She hadn’t brought much when she came here a year ago. Most of her money had gone into buying furniture, which couldn’t be taken with them. Given Leland’s wealth, he wouldn’t care about these things anyway.
The house was bought by Winifred. As she prepared to leave, she felt a pang of reluctance. Thinking back on the past year, there weren’t many happy moments here.
In the end, fear outweighed reluctance. Leaving here meant entering a completely different life. Winifred knew exactly where she stood.
How much of Leland’s affection was genuine? How much was possessiveness? How much was revenge?
She couldn’t leave Leland for now; it was better to be obedient and suffer less.
Too bad about the house; if she had more time, she might have been able to sell it.
Oh well… what if she ended up coming back here? At least she’d have a place to stay.
The people helping Winifred pack were all arranged by Leland. They expected a lot of luggage but found only a simple suitcase containing a few clothes and her daily medications.
After being taken back to the hotel, Winifred saw a document on Leland’s desk-it was his cooperation project with the Reeves family. He had invested five hundred million dollars, which had saved the Reeves family from their crisis and led them to sell her out.
“I didn’t know I was worth so much.”
“When you come back with me, you’ll see you’re worth far more.”
Winifred didn’t understand his words at first. Her freedom wasn’t hers to control. Leland took her back without resistance.
Back in Peachshire Town, instead of taking her to the Dawson family home where they used to live, he drove to an unfamiliar place.
She opened her phone and checked the map; this area was called “Autumn Joy Estate.”
Was it always called that or did Leland name it?
When Leland first met Winifred, he thought she resembled a delicate princess living in an ivory tower.
But Winifred wasn’t a princess; she had no ivory tower.
As he grew older, Leland developed special feelings for Winifred. He wanted to build an ivory tower for her-not to please her but to lock her away from prying eyes.
Autumn Joy Estate had dozens of flower species planted around it. In the center stood a French castle facing southward-luxurious and solemn. The driveway leading in was wide and long; entering through the main gate took considerable time.
Leland rolled down the car window for Winifred to see outside, but she kept playing with her phone, uninterested in the view.
Suddenly, Leland spoke: “Do you want to see your father?”
Winifred reacted with a slight tremor of her eyelashes: “Isn’t he already dead?”
“His grave is not far from here. If you want to visit him after we settle in and have lunch, I’ll take you.” Leland’s tone was surprisingly gentle.
“No need.”
“Alright then.”
Leland crossed his right leg over his left knee and placed his hand on it, tapping rhythmically with his thoughts.
Winifred still didn’t know how her father died. If she found out he died because of her and that the DNA test results were fake-that they were indeed related by blood-what would she do?
Would she suffer as he did? Would she hate him?
Leland glanced at Winifred’s profile subconsciously.
Sensing his gaze, Winifred looked up: “What are you staring at?”
Leland reached out and smoothed down Winifred’s wind-tousled hair: “Can you be good?” If you’re obedient, I’ll let that secret remain forever hidden so you can live peacefully without the guilt of having caused your father’s death.
When he touched Winifred now, it was with gentleness and affection-unlike before when she’d pat his head like a dog without any respect.
But even so, Winifred still disliked being touched by him. She turned away: “Ridiculous.”
At the parking area, the driver got out and opened the door for them. Winifred stepped out first, followed by Leland.
In September’s bloom season, flowers were still abundant-a sea of blossoms stretched out before them with both camellias (which Winifred hated) and roses (which she loved).
After Winifred left Midlands last time around , Mr. Hamilton told Leland that it wasn’t that she disliked receiving roses-it was because she was allergic to their pollen.