"How could Grandpa do this to me? How can he fix my marriage?!" Winter was furious that Bryson made the decision of marrying her off without her permission.
How could he decide for her, especially since she had already stated that she had no intention of marrying?
Winter admitted that she was saddened when Eric chose Agnes over her. His betrayal reminded her that no man in this world was loyal, which led her to decide never to marry or even date anyone. And later, when she had Seren, she dedicated her life to caring for her child.
Marriage was never an option for her.
Hayes ducked his head in response to Winter's unrelenting stare.
"That's the only way for us to find the person behind the attacks."
Winter wrinkled. "Attacks? Has Grandpa been attacked before?" she inquired, intrigued by his remark.
She had kept in touch with Bryson even after she had moved to another country. Even Bryson visited them frequently since he enjoyed spending time with his great-granddaughter, but the old man never revealed the risks that surrounded him.
Hayes on the other hand hesitated. He wasn't supposed to speak on behalf of Bryson because he preferred to do it himself. But now that his boss had been fatally attacked, he couldn't hide anything longer.
"I'll tell you everything," he responded, putting aside all his concerns.
....
"That's impossible; there must be another way to find those people who are trying to harm Grandpa, and why the hell is he even targeted? Who the hell he had wronged?"
Winter couldn't think Bryson's adversaries would wind up threatening his life. But after hearing how the accidents were more dangerous than the current one, they doubted it was someone mysterious who was secretly carrying all this tasks.
"And what's with this agreement in exchange for assistance? Bullshit! Did Grandpa tell them that I already have a child? If that's the case, they should have rejected me anyway," she proceeded to complain.
There was no way she would marry a stranger. Not when her daughter's life was in consideration. She would never desire a man who would reject her daughter.
"Tell them I will not marry anyone. And look for someone as powerful as them."
Winter had no idea who was more powerful or prominent than them, but she believed there were people who would be willing to aid them.
Hayes gazed helplessly at Winter, but before he could respond, his phone rang for the third time.
Despite Hayes' persistent phone calls, Winter continued to deny knowing anything. However, despite his repeated requests, the individual on the phone does not appear to agree with him.
Hayes looked to Winter for assistance. Even if she tried to ignore, she couldn't force herself to act chilly when everything was related to her grandfather.
In the end, she agreed to meet the man her grandfather had chosen for her, with the intention of declining him.
Winter was convinced she would find someone better than this one to assist her, and she would be able to protect her grandfather from the continual threats. But little did she know that the guy Bryson chose for her would never accept no in return.
****
"I'm glad Grandpa's okay, and don't worry, I've already contacted Seren's school about her absence. You can stay there until Grandpa recovers. I will join you two soon," Gina stated on the phone.
Winter was grateful to have a friend like her who always supported her, even when she disappointed her.
"I cannot thank you enough, Gina. Without you, I couldn't have handled anything." Winter proceeded to convey her appreciation.
"Here you go again. Aren't you bored of saying the same thing over and over? I could hear you like a broken record."
Winter pouted but quickly smiled at her lighthearted joke.
"I have already notified my supervisor about the leave and when you will return. I wish you were here with me," Winter asked.
Winter may have been born and brought up here, but she lacked a family. The only one she had was in the hospital, and the others didn't matter to her.
She knew by now that they must have heard about her arrival. However, she could care less if they ever contact her.
Winter's eyes darted to the clock, and she jumped.
"Gina, I'll chat to you later. I need to go somewhere." Winter said goodbye and hung up the phone.
She then walked into Seren's room. The girl had just awoken, and as soon as she spotted her mother, she stretched her arms.
Winter held the girl in her arms and pecked her on the head.
"Star, Mommy will be out for a while. Will you be okay being alone here?"
Seren frowned. "Will you come as soon as possible?" she inquired.
"Yes, just half an hour would be okay, but until then, promise mommy that you won't go out from here."
Seren considered for a few seconds before nodding. She hugged her mother. "I won't, but don't keep your star waiting for too long," she whispered as Winter cuddled her.
Later, Winter prepared to leave the hotel, but Hayes informed her that his men were guarding the room.
Winter thanked him and got into the car, heading to the designated place where she was meant to meet Mr. Andreas.
****
Inside the opulent restaurant, the waiter approached Winter for the third time, asking if she wanted to place an order, but she did not decline as she had done the previous two times. Instead, she ordered wine for herself.
It had been an hour since she arrived at Platinum Restaurant, and there was no trace of Mr. Andreas anywhere.
Winter gathered some information about the guy while waiting, but to her dismay, there was no specific data about the man other than the fact that his family was steeped in the underworld.
That was another reason why Winter decided to decline the offer. She would never wish to get involved with any mafia bosses, let alone lead a tranquil life.
The investigation into who carried out the attack was still ongoing, and she questioned how an underworld boss could work faster than the detectives. But little did she know that the underworld had more resources than anyone when it came to discovering anyone on the planet.
Winter set aside her phone and took a sip from the wine glass. It had been a long time since she had tasted such good wine. The impulse to take another sip surged, but a voice stopped her.
"Miss Winter"
Winter paused for a moment as she remembered hearing this voice, but as soon as she turned to face the man, those green eyes struck her and her eyes widened in surprise.
"YOU!"
Once again, the memories of that passionate night flooded her thoughts, almost immobilizing her in her chair.
'How could it be?' she asked, trying to make sense of it all.
Winter couldn't remember her daughter's father's face, but she could now remember everything with just a glance at him.
She would undoubtedly have no idea who this man is.
"She slept with an underworld don."
Winter felt as if fate had slapped her directly in the face, making her regret all of her decisions. She remembered how she was the one who jumped on him, imploring him to adore her. And now, as the man stood before her, she felt her entire world sliding away.
"Mr. Andreas," she eventually whispered, her voice almost choked as the breath impacted her throat.
Kalix smirked and strolled around the table before taking a seat across from Winter.
"Long time no see, Angel."
When he called her that name, it broke the final thread of disbelief. He kept calling her the same name throughout the night, loving her with care until it got imprinted in her mind.