Winifred Dawson felt uncomfortable under Liam Burkhart’s leering gaze. She didn’t want to sit next to him, so she went to the front passenger seat and tried to open the door, but it was locked.
As if anticipating her move, Liam Burkhart opened the back door for her. “Miss Dawson, please have a seat back here.”
Winifred took a deep breath, trying to suppress her irritation, feeling a slight pain in her lower abdomen. Reluctantly, she got into the back seat, pressing herself against the door. The car was filled with a faint fragrance.
She tried to stay as far from Liam as possible, but in the confined space of the car, there wasn’t much room. Liam shifted closer to her.
Winifred felt like a lamb in a tiger’s den, struggling in vain to escape.
“Why are you sitting so far away, Miss Dawson? Are you that afraid of me?”
“I’m not afraid; I just purely dislike you.”
She expected Liam to get angry at her words, but he laughed instead. “It’s fine. As long as I don’t dislike you, you can hate me all you want. I’ve liked you since the first time I saw you. You’ve rejected me many times, but I still can’t forget you.”
With each sentence, Liam moved closer.
“Leland Burns is gone now. You’re a single woman, and such a beautiful one at that. It’s dangerous out there for you. If you were with me, I could protect you and make sure no one else bullies you.”
“No one else bullies me? Just you?”
Liam wasn’t bad-looking, but his words were so greasy that they made her impression of him plummet.
“I wouldn’t bully you either. Do you think I’m like Leland Burns? I’m very gentle with women.”
Winifred’s disgust was evident on her face as she looked at Liam like he was a pile of dog excrement.
“No need. My answer is the same as before: stay away from me.”
Liam ignored her disgusted expression. He thought Winifred was exactly his type-so beautiful and delicate from head to toe, even when angry.
“I don’t want to be this close either, but you smell so good.”
Winifred was speechless. She couldn’t believe how shameless Liam was being, sticking to her like glue. She clenched her fists tightly over her abdomen.
Liam handed her a bottle of water. “Do you want some water?”
She glanced at it and said, “No.”
“What? Afraid I put something in it?” Liam laughed. “I wouldn’t use such crude methods. If I wanted to drug you, you’d never know it happened.”
Winifred frowned and was about to say something when she suddenly felt dizzy and weak. This sensation reminded her of when Leland Burns had drugged her on her eighteenth birthday.
She realized too late that she had been drugged again. The fragrance she smelled when she first got into the car must have been laced with something. Distracted by Liam’s talking, she hadn’t noticed until it was too late.
Even if she had noticed earlier, there was no way to escape-she couldn’t stop breathing, and with so many people around Liam, could she avoid being overpowered?
Sunlight streamed into the car, leaving Winifred nowhere to hide. Her face turned pale as she felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness and fear.
Liam saw the change in her expression and knew the drug was taking effect.
He reached out and touched her soft cheek, confirming its tenderness.
Liam pulled her into his arms. Winifred tried to fight back, but her weak efforts were more like gentle scratches than anything threatening.
It was like playing with a newborn kitten.
“Let go of me!”
Liam grabbed her wrist and sneered. “Winifred Dawson, don’t be ungrateful. You acted all pure with Leland Burns but still ended up being his plaything. What’s wrong with switching partners? I’ll give you money and power if you’re with me; you’ll have everything you want.”
He stared at her soft lips. From the moment he first saw Winifred at the club, he had been captivated by her beauty.
Initially thinking she was just another one of Leland’s toys that could be easily swapped out, he hadn’t realized Leland cherished her deeply.
In hindsight, it made sense-Leland had only ever kept this one woman by his side for so long.
Unfortunately for Leland, he couldn’t see Winifred’s hatred and ultimately brought about his own demise.
Liam leaned in closer in the car; his lips almost touched hers when Winifred turned away.
Without denying Liam’s accusations about Leland Burns, Winifred said weakly, “Yes, I was played by Leland Burns before he died. Mr. Whitlock wants to try too?”
Her words made Liam pause. Despite being weakened by the drug, Winifred’s eyes held an eerie intensity that startled him momentarily.
Realizing she wasn’t just any clinging vine but a deadly one capable of strangling life unnoticed, he quickly composed himself and smiled coldly.
“Leland Burns deserved to die because he trusted you too much; he loved you too much. But I won’t make that mistake-I like you as a toy only,” he said with a sinister grin. “If you’re smart and obedient, I’ll tire of you soon enough and let you go. But if not… well, I don’t mind sending you down to join him.”
Winifred’s mind was foggy but not stupid; she understood his threat immediately.
“You killed Leland Burns?”
Liam laughed triumphantly. “Yes! Surprised? He was a threat to me; finishing him off completely ensures no loose ends.”