From Leland Burns’s face, it was impossible to tell that he was worried about Winifred Dawson. His expression was calm, as if he were talking about an insignificant passerby. It was hard to imagine that just this morning, Leland Burns had been frantic upon hearing that Winifred Dawson had been taken away by Liam Burkhart.
Looking back now, Leland Burns’s earlier reactions seemed like a mere illusion.
Henry couldn’t regain his composure, so it was Wesley who answered Leland Burns’s question.
“No major issues, just that the child couldn’t be saved. The doctor said she needs more rest and could have another child in the future.”
“Okay.” Leland Burns nodded, showing no sadness over the unexpected loss of the child. It was an anticipated outcome; hearing it now didn’t even surprise him.
Was that all?
Henry moved his hand, unable to hold back his question to Leland Burns: “Boss, don’t you have anything else to ask? About… Winifred Dawson…” His indifference made Henry start to wonder if Leland Burns had completely forgotten and moved on from her.
Leland Burns frowned. “Anything else to ask?”
Henry scratched his head, trying to find the right words: “For example, how did Winifred Dawson feel when she woke up?”
“Why would her feelings matter to me? If you want to say something, say it. If not, forget it.”
Alright then, Henry decided to speak up: “Winifred Dawson was emotionally affected when she woke up because she lost the child.”
“She felt sad for that child?” Leland Burns found it amusing. “Didn’t she want to go to the hospital this morning to abort it?”
It seemed no one believed Winifred Dawson would be sad over the child.
Henry suddenly wanted to ask Leland Burns if he felt sad for the child who came and went so suddenly.
“Boss, when we left, Winifred Dawson cried. She said she started to like you a bit. I think she cared about losing that child.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Leland Burns’s face remained expressionless as if listening to Henry recount a boring gossip story, completely different from what Henry had imagined.
“Don’t you find it satisfying? When you left, Winifred Dawson suddenly liked you and felt quite miserable.”
“Winifred Dawson wouldn’t care about anyone but herself, let alone that child. It’s just one of her usual deceitful tricks. I fell for it once and learned my lesson; I won’t fall for it again.”
It’s like the story of “The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf.” The boy often lied about wolves coming, so when they actually did come, no one believed him anymore.
But this time, was there really a wolf?
“I don’t think she’s pretending,” Henry initially thought Winifred Dawson was acting too. But when he and Wesley stood outside the door eavesdropping, they heard her sobbing. They were gone; who was she crying for?
Whether Winifred Dawson was acting or not didn’t matter to Leland Burns anymore. He had saved her once already; besides, he’s now a “dead man” and wouldn’t risk going out again.
Leland Burns learned his lesson this time. He used to think that if he treated Winifred Dawson well enough-being gentle and patient-he would marry her and pamper her for life even if she turned into someone incapable of anything.
But reality proved otherwise; no matter what he did, there was no possibility between him and Winifred Dawson. From the moment he confirmed his love for her, he had already lost because she hated him deeply.
As a child, she disliked him; as they grew older, she loathed him; now she despised him.
He traded his entire fortune for this lesson-how could he not remember it?
Yet he still couldn’t let go of Winifred Dawson. Next time they met, she’d be a slave while he’d be the master. He wouldn’t show mercy again.
When Henry brought up Winifred Dawson, Leland Burns was still willing to talk about her. He stood up and held his mask in hand.
“Whether she’s pretending doesn’t matter to me. Even if it’s real, I won’t feel anything inside. What is Winifred Dawson worth? Do you think I’d be foolish enough to love her forever?”
“Boss, have you let go?”
“If I don’t let go now, there won’t be a next time. Keep an eye on the Burkhart family and resolve it quickly.” But treating Winifred Dawson as an unimportant person wasn’t possible either. After all these entanglements, how could he just let go?
Henry knew what he really wanted to ask: how should he deal with Winifred Dawson and how should he take revenge?
Revenge… Whatever Winifred Dawson did to him, he’d return in kind-but that wasn’t enough. He used to think she was delicate and afraid of pain; now he saw otherwise. She had broken both hands and ended up in the hospital covered in injuries-a normal person would barely endure such pain while she managed to act alongside him.
He had underestimated her too much by treating her as the same proud and delicate lady from before who valued dignity highly and wouldn’t easily compromise or humble herself to please him.
So when faced with a self-deprecatingly loving Winifred Dawson, he instinctively thought only someone truly foolish would act like that.
Winifred Dawson endured pain and sacrificed her dignity; her brief success made sense.
To gain something requires sacrifice; making your opponent suffer means being ruthless with yourself. But thinking she’d completely destroy him was wishful thinking.
He had said when leaving that he’d make Winifred Dawson regret everything she’d done.
He could’ve pampered her like a princess; now it seemed dirty mud suited her better.
For now, let Winifred Dawson enjoy some freedom briefly.
He could mend the broken kite string anytime-no matter how far she flew away-he’d pull her back effortlessly.
Henry felt happy and quickly agreed. He was glad Leland Burns seemed ready to move on because if he remained stuck on this tree forever unable to let go of such feelings-how could they rise again? With Leland Burns’s abilities-he shouldn’t be shackled by romantic entanglements.
Leland Burns had become cold-hearted but wasn’t always like this-it was due to Winifred Dawson’s actions repeatedly freezing his heart until it became increasingly indifferent.
Henry believed Leland Burns’s words but Wesley thought otherwise-Leland’s demeanor seemed deliberately unconcerned…
At the hospital-Winifred Dawson lay down after eating dumplings-the IV needle removed from her hand-she habitually slept on her side but couldn’t do so after surgery-occasionally turning over slightly worked though.
Her face turned sideways while Mrs. Protich sat quietly nearby unable to see Winifred’s face clearly.
She thought Winifred must’ve fallen asleep yet slept restlessly shivering occasionally then trembling finely afterward.
Like a wild cat living alone injured without comfort surviving fearfully outdoors hiding in dark caves licking its wounds during danger…
Winifred endured both physical pain along with emotional torment-in Mrs. Protich’s view-Winifred couldn’t let go of that unexpectedly lost child even crying while asleep now…
Mrs. Protich quietly approached holding tissue intending wiping tears away-but as soon as nearing-Winifred opened wide fearful eyes without tears only terror within them…
What scared her so much?
Mrs. Protich instinctively assumed fear stemmed from Liam Burkhart-not knowing exactly what happened after being taken away returning injured losing baby too…
Anyone experiencing such events would feel lingering fear afterward…
“Miss. Dawson are you alright?”
Winifred glanced quickly at Mrs. Protich seeing tissue clearly meant comforting-she forced herself up energetically saying “I’m fine just need some quiet time alone-you don’t have watch me every moment-I’ll get over this soon-I handle pressure well.” Using light tone reassuring Mrs. Protich smiling afterward…
Though beautiful-her pale face made smile unnatural appearing pitiful increasing Mrs. Protich’s heartache unsure how helping since only personal resolution could truly aid someone enduring such things…
But was she really afraid because of Liam Burkhart?