Winifred Dawson knelt on the floor, her voice trembling. “Mr. Burns, it’s my fault. If you’re angry, take it out on me. I can’t kill you, but you can kill me. You could cut me into pieces if you want, but I beg you-don’t involve innocent people. This is between you and me. Don’t drag others into it.”
After speaking, she closed her eyes, like a death-row prisoner awaiting the final judgment.
Leland Burns stood there, his throat tightening as he looked at the woman before him. She was actually kneeling for him-no, for another man. The Winifred Dawson he once knew would never have done something so humiliating, something so beneath her dignity.
If he hadn’t investigated her thoroughly-confirmed her identity and DNA, proving she was the mother of his child-Leland Burns might have doubted this was the same Winifred Dawson he once knew, that proud and untouchable woman.
“Winifred Dawson, stand up!” Leland Burns growled, suppressing his anger. He would have preferred she came at him with a knife, intent on killing him, rather than kneeling before him for Garrison Reeves. At least the former would have resembled the woman she used to be.
“I’ve never wanted you dead,” he said coldly.
“But you want me to live a fate worse than death, don’t you?” she countered.
She had no idea what was coming, no idea how to face Leland Burns over the next hundred days, and even less idea how to face Garrison Reeves. The thought of deceiving Garrison tormented her like a bone-deep curse. All she wanted now was for him to be safe, to get what he deserved. She was willing to pay any price for that-her life included. After all, Garrison Reeves had saved her life once. Now, she could give it back to him.
If she had a choice, she’d rather die than betray the bond she shared with Garrison Reeves.
Coming to Leland Burns today, agreeing to his terms for the next hundred days, already felt like the ultimate betrayal.
Leland Burns looked down at her from above, his voice suddenly laced with mockery. “Winifred Dawson, did it hurt when you had plastic surgery?”
Her shoulders flinched involuntarily. Of course, it had hurt. Not just physically, but emotionally. Wrapped in bandages, unable to look at herself in the mirror, unable to touch her face, she had lived every day in a state of fear and uncertainty.
“Let me tell you something,” Leland said, his tone sharp. “Death hurts a thousand times more than surgery. So why not just live your life properly? I don’t want your life. As long as you listen to me, I won’t lay a hand on Garrison Reeves. Don’t misunderstand me-I’m not as evil as you think I am.”
His words dripped with sarcasm.
“I haven’t even done anything to you yet, and you already look like you’re at death’s door. If I really wanted to do something, do you think you’d have the power to stop me? Even if you wanted to die, I wouldn’t let you. And look at you now, kneeling in front of me-what do you think Garrison Reeves would say if he saw this? Do you think he’d be grateful? Or would he find it disgusting?”
Winifred Dawson felt as though she’d been struck by lightning. Her ears buzzed, her mind blank. Leland Burns saw things far more clearly than she did.
But regret was useless now. She had taken the first step, and there was no turning back.
Leland grabbed her chin, his tone casual but threatening. “Stand up. I’m not planning to do anything to you-yet. But we agreed on a hundred days. Not one day, one hour, or one minute less. If you break the deal, I’ll make sure you and Garrison Reeves fall into a pit you’ll never climb out of. Try me if you dare.”
She didn’t dare. Winifred shook her head, not even sparing a glance at the knife lying on the floor.
She couldn’t kill anyone, not even him. The knife she had brought was only for self-defense.
Reluctantly, Winifred stood, her movements timid and hesitant. The sight of her in such a submissive state reminded Leland of the times she used to feign ignorance to fool him years ago. He studied her closely. Ten years had passed, and he was no longer the naive man who could be easily deceived. He could see right through her act.
Under Leland’s sharp gaze, Winifred didn’t dare move. She had the unsettling feeling that he could see straight into her soul, read her every thought.
Leland crouched down, picked up the knife, and handed it back to her. “Take your little toy.”
Winifred took the knife, trembling, unable to speak.
Leland turned and sat on the sofa, gesturing for her to sit as well. “Sit down.”
She obeyed, perching on the very edge of the sofa like a puppet on strings, ready to bolt at any moment.
Her fear amused him. Before her amnesia, she had been afraid of him too, but not to this extent.
“The hundred-day deadline starts the moment you step into the Burns family estate,” Leland said. “I won’t tell Garrison Reeves, but you need to handle him yourself. Get him to let go of you voluntarily. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“He won’t know?” she asked cautiously.
“He won’t.”
“Are you sure you won’t target him again?”
“As long as you behave, I won’t.”
Winifred hesitated, her mind racing. She had no choice but to trust Leland Burns, to gamble everything for Garrison Reeves’ career.
“How will you arrange it?” she asked. She couldn’t fathom how Leland could hide her new job-taking care of his children-from Garrison Reeves. They lived together. How could he not notice?
“Leave that to me,” Leland said dismissively. “Just do as I say.”
Winifred nodded reluctantly, too afraid to press further.
The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable. Winifred’s posture was stiff, her legs and back aching before long. She wanted to leave but didn’t dare move.
Leland broke the silence. “Did you have breakfast?”
She realized he had asked the same question the last time they met. He seemed oddly concerned about whether she had eaten.
“Yes,” she lied, knowing full well that Leland would force her to eat if she said no.
But her body betrayed her. She fidgeted with her fingers, unable to meet his gaze. Leland saw through her instantly.
He ordered breakfast anyway. Within minutes, a server arrived with a cart laden with dim sum.
Leland pushed the cart toward her, handing her a basket of shrimp dumplings. “Eat.”
“I already ate,” she protested.
“Eat anyway. I’m telling you to,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.
Winifred reluctantly took the dumplings and began eating. She finished two and was about to reach for a third when Leland took the basket away, replacing it with a bowl of seafood congee.
The table in front of her was now set with an assortment of small dishes, each carefully chosen to suit her tastes.
Winifred felt no gratitude. Instead, she was filled with unease. When you hated someone, even their kindness felt like a trap.
She ate in silence, finishing most of the food. Her stomach was uncomfortably full, her cheeks flushed with color.
“Full?” Leland asked.
She nodded.
He smirked. “Didn’t you say you already ate? How did you manage to eat so much? Don’t lie to me again, Winifred. Not even about something this small.”