Leland Burns had sent her the address via text, and though Winifred Dawson had already memorized it, she still double-checked it on her phone when she reached the entrance. Standing at the doorway, hesitant, she drew the attention of the receptionist, who approached her with a polite inquiry.
“Miss, are you here to book a room?”
Winifred, startled, looked up quickly before stepping back slightly. “No, I’m here to… find someone.”
“Find someone?”
“Yes.” Winifred handed over her phone to show the address. “I’m looking for room 808. Someone named Mr. Burns.”
Before she finished her sentence, the receptionist seemed to understand. “You must be Miss Dawson.”
It was clear Leland Burns had already informed the staff.
Winifred nodded.
“Mr. Burns hasn’t arrived yet. He called ahead and said you should wait for him in the room. He’ll be here in about thirty minutes.”
“He’s not here?” Winifred frowned. Hadn’t he said he’d be waiting for her?
She didn’t dwell on it and nodded again.
“Miss Dawson, please follow me upstairs. This way.”
She followed the receptionist into the elevator. Room 808 was a VIP presidential suite. Leland Burns never compromised on his accommodations; he always chose the best.
When they reached the eighth floor, the difference in environment was palpable. Winifred had never been to a place like this before, but she didn’t feel the slightest discomfort. Instead, she adapted quickly, as though a distant memory told her she had been in such places before.
Suppressing her thoughts, she followed the receptionist into the room. The receptionist used a key card to unlock the door. “Miss Dawson, please come in.” She then stepped aside.
“Thank you,” Winifred said as she entered, scanning the room. The decor was tailored to the client’s preferences, with black, brown, and gray tones dominating. The room was larger than she had imagined.
After escorting her in, the receptionist asked if she needed anything-food or drinks, perhaps.
“No, thank you.”
Winifred hadn’t eaten breakfast. Garrison Reeves had urged her to order takeout, but she hadn’t. She wasn’t in the mood to eat.
The room was spacious, yet she couldn’t find a place to sit. Standing by the entryway, she planned to wait right there, so Leland Burns would see her as soon as he entered.
She fiddled with her phone but didn’t consider calling or texting him to ask when he’d arrive.
Instead, a bitter thought crossed her mind: What if Leland Burns had an accident and couldn’t come? Or, better yet, what if he lost his memory, just like me, and forgot me forever?
Her hand instinctively moved to her pocket, gripping the handle of the small knife hidden inside. The longer she waited, the more nervous she became. Thoughts of running away flitted through her mind, but then she remembered Garrison Reeves-drunk last night, tirelessly working on his projects, meeting collaborators.
She couldn’t retreat.
The soundproofing of the hotel room was excellent. Even standing by the door, she couldn’t hear anything from the hallway. It wasn’t until the door suddenly opened that she realized Leland Burns had arrived.
Winifred immediately tensed, every nerve on edge.
When Leland walked in and saw her by the door, he wasn’t surprised. The receptionist must have informed him she was waiting.
His first words were, “I thought you might chicken out during the wait.”
Despite knowing him for only a short time, Winifred had to admit, Leland Burns seemed to understand her too well. He could read her thoughts just by looking at her face and even predict her fleeting desires to flee.
“I did think about it,” she admitted. “But if I left or didn’t come, would you let me go? Would you stop targeting Garrison Reeves?”
“You came today mainly because of Garrison Reeves?”
“Yes!” Winifred answered without hesitation. She was here for Garrison Reeves-nothing more. She hadn’t come because of the photos or messages sent by Leland Burns. She hadn’t doubted Garrison Reeves or let those seeds of suspicion distance her from him. If she had, it would have meant falling into Leland’s trap.
“What’s so good about him?” Leland asked, his tone mocking. He couldn’t understand why both the pre-amnesia and post-amnesia versions of Winifred Dawson were so devoted to Garrison Reeves.
Winifred had loved Garrison for years. For him, she had gone so far as to find someone to act as a stand-in. For him, she had left her home and eloped.
What made Garrison Reeves so special?
Even after nine years apart, she still couldn’t forget him.
Leland, a man naturally indifferent and calculating, found himself deeply jealous of the loyalty she held for someone else. Despite his wealth, power, and stature-far surpassing Garrison Reeves in every way-the one thing he wanted most was her undivided affection.
Winifred, unfazed by his disdain, replied calmly, “Everything about him is good.”
Leland sneered. “Even if he cheats on you and betrays your trust, you still think he’s good?”
“He wouldn’t do that,” she said firmly. “I trust him. I wouldn’t doubt him over a few photos or your words. If I didn’t believe in him, I wouldn’t have come here today. Our relationship has always been clean. I’m the only one who’s tainted.”
“You think being touched by me makes you ‘tainted’?” Leland’s tone grew cold.
Meeting his icy glare, Winifred didn’t flinch. “Yes.”
“Well, if you’re so pure and noble, you shouldn’t be here begging me. The door’s open-feel free to leave.”
“Leland Burns, stop pretending you don’t know why I’m here. If you weren’t targeting Garrison Reeves, do you think I’d come?”
“You need to understand something,” he said, his voice dropping. “You came here to beg me. And when you beg, you need the right attitude. Drop the temper, show some humility. My patience has limits.”
He stepped past her and settled onto the sofa, his posture relaxed, one leg crossed over the other. His sharp eyes glinted as he rested an arm on the sofa, radiating an air of control and arrogance.
Seeing her still standing by the door like a statue, he waved a hand. “Come here. Why are you standing so far away? Afraid I’ll eat you?”
Winifred hesitated, about to take a step, when he added mockingly, “You came here of your own accord. Even if I did eat you, what would it matter? What do you think Garrison Reeves would say if he knew you came here to beg me?”
His mocking tone echoed in the empty room, cutting through her composure. Her face turned pale, her fists clenched, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
“I agree to your terms from three days ago,” she said finally. “I’ll take care of the kids. In return, you’ll keep what happened that night a secret from Garrison and stop targeting him. Let him work in peace.”
“Three days ago?” Leland shook his head. “No, it’s been four days. I gave you three days to decide, but you didn’t respond. Last night, I thought about texting you, but your phone was off. Your time’s up. The offer no longer stands.”
He smiled, a cruel, playful expression that didn’t reach his eyes. “If you want to make a deal now, you’ll have to beg properly.”