Christopher stared at Yulissa intently, his gaze cold. There was a warning tone in his voice as he said, âIs that so? Do you really know what I want to hear and what I donât?â She took a step closer to him.
âWhy wouldnât I? Everyone here knows Iâm crazy about you. Since I have such strong feelings for you, it goes without saying that Iâve made every effort to get to know you. Your past, your present, and everything about you!âWhile speaking, she raised an arm and slowly circled it around his neck. âDonât forget our agreement. WinâââHave some self-respect!â Christopher interrupted as he pulled away the arm she had slung around his neck, cutting her off just as she was about to say Winnieâs name.Gripping her wrist tightly, he continued, âLet me tell you this. What you want isââChristopher intended to calm Yulissa down. However, she did not give him any chance to continue speaking.âI donât want to hear it,â she snarled before shaking off his hand. Then, she turned on her heel and walked up to Winnie.Yulissa looked Winnie up and down, her lips curling into a taunting smirk. âAs soon as I got back, I heard that some remarkable person had come to the Horton family with a formulation. To top it off, the person is a woman. Donât tell me that person is you.âWinnie was silent. While gazing at Yulissa impassively, she touched the custom-made necklace around her neck. If she tries to expose Christopher and me, Iâll have to do something.Of course, that plan was only a last resort. Unless there was no other alternative, she had no wish to do that in front of Harold.Winnie narrowed her eyes slightly as she studied Yulissa.âYouâre quite well-informed. In that case, you should already know that Chris belongs to me. Hence, how you behaved earlier was a pretty b*tchy move, donât you think?âYulissa let out a bark of laughter. âMe, a b*tch? Are you still going to put on an act at a time like this? Open your eyes and take a good look around you. Youâre on the Horton familyâs territory. You could end up getting beaten to a pulp at any minute!ââBeaten to a pulp, you say?â Winnie sneered. She hooked a hand around Yulissaâs neck and jerked her forward. Then, she whispered threateningly in the latterâs ear, âIf you have me beaten to a pulp, there wonât be anyone who knows your grandfatherâs whereabouts left. Donât tell me you still believe Harold will release your grandfather someday, do you? I donât think youâre that foolish, though. Otherwise, you wouldnât have collaborated with Christopher. I know that my life is in your hands tonight. With just one sentence from you, Harold might kill me, then have me dragged out and fed to the dogs. But if that happens, whatâll happen to your poor grandfather?
Iâve already come up with a plan to rescue him. If I die, you and your grandfather will rot here for the rest of your lives.âYulissaâs expression shifted instantly when she heard those words. Glaring at Winnie, she muttered through clenched teeth, âWhy should I believe you?ââDonât you know Iâve been to the laboratory already?â Winnie responded with a mocking laugh.âThen why should I trust that youâd be so kind as to save my grandfather? Donât try and lie to me!â Yulissa growled, grabbing Winnie by her collar in agitation.Winnie rolled her eyes. âHah! Why else do you think Iâm here? Because Iâm short on money? Do you think itâs because of that? Have you forgotten how you injected Xavier with venom back then? Donât think Iâm unaware that your grandfather developed that venom. Iâm here now because Iâm looking for the antidote. If you had handed over the antidote, I wouldnât have to risk my life coming to this godforsaken place. We only came here because we were tracking you. Iâm asking you now, do you have the antidote?âThe wheels in Yulissaâs mind whirred. She knew she had to make full use of the opportunity to use Winnie, so she was very determined. âOf course not! I donât have the antidote.
However, my grandfather knows how to make it, and heâs the only person in the whole wide world capable of doing so. As long as you rescue him, thereâs hope for Xavier. Otherwise, Xavier will eventually turn into a disabled person from the effects of the venom. His current condition is due to the fact that he tried to save you back then, so youâre not going to give up just because of a little danger, are you? If you do so, everything he did for you will have been for naught.â After hearing Yulissaâs response, Winnie could clearly read the situation. Sheâs anxious. Thatâs why sheâs attempting to goad me. Sheâs worried Iâll chuck my plan of rescuing Professor White.Winnie chuckled. âOkay. Iâll rescue your grandfather if you donât say anything foolish to Harold. Youâve stayed here many years, yet you donât even know the laboratoryâs exact location. As for me, I managed to earn Haroldâs trust in just a few days. Based on that alone, you need to trust my capabilities.ââThatâs right. Youâre really f*cking awesome. For my grandfatherâs sake, I canât expose you and have to think of a way to keep you safe.
What an artful person you are,â Yulissa hissed as she twisted Winnieâs shirt in her hands.Smirking, Winnie shot Yulissa a glance and answered, âThank you, then.âYulissa gnashed her teeth. âVery well. If weâre going to put on an act, then we might as well go all the way.âWith that, she shoved Winnie backward and yelled, âHow dare you call me a b*tch and accuse me of stealing your man? Get your facts straight, will you? Iâm the one who got to know Chris first. Who are you to come and poach from me?âAlthough it was only an act, Yulissa pushed Winnie quite hard, nearly causing the latter to fall over.However, Winnie showed no intention of retaliating despite almost losing her balance. Instead, she cast a glance toward Christopher.âSheâs an old flame of yours, is she? Itâs too bad, but youâre mine now. Seeing that she dared to lay her hands on me, I donât have to teach you what to do next, right?âChristopher clenched his jaw. âAre the two of you done with all this nonsense yet? Stop embarrassing Mr. Horton, will you?ââIs there something wrong with your eyes? Canât you tell who started this?â Winnie demanded with a cold snort.Yulissa also raised her voice and retorted, âYou b*tch!
What gives you the right to order Chris around? Who do you think you are?ââThatâs enough!â Harold, who had quietly watched the scene unfold, finally stood up and approached them. He shot Yulissa an icy stare and said, âDonât you have any manners? Canât you see that I have a guest? Since Chris doesnât have feelings for you, just find yourself another guy. Why must you cling on so stubbornly? Ms.
Vivian is now an important part of the family, so make sure you treat her with courtesy in the future. I donât want to witness such petty jealousy anymore. Got it?âYulissa was afraid of Harold. She had been assertive and full of aggression while confronting Winnie, but when Harold spoke to her, she hardly dared to meet his eyes.âGot it, Mr. Horton. I was too agitated earlier and failed to control my temper. I promise you wonât see it happen again.âA smile slowly appeared on Haroldâs lips. âThatâs more like it.
By the way, didnât you have something important to report to me? What is it?ââThatâ¦â Yulissaâs voice trailed off as she flicked her gaze toward Winnie. âShould I say it with others here?âHarold turned to look at Winnie with a smile. âGo ahead. Ms. Vivian is one of us. Thereâs nothing that should be kept a secret from her.âYulissa nodded, then said softly, âGeneral Kane was the one who took our goods previously. One of his subordinates confessed to it, and Iâve brought that person back with me.ââI knew it,â Harold muttered with a frown. âKeep a close eye on that person for now. Iâll meet with him after seeing off my guest. Youâve done pretty well this time. What do you want as a reward? Just go ahead and tell me. Iâll grant you anything you ask for.âYulissa mustered her courage and replied, âI donât want any reward. All I ask is to see my grandfather once. Could you please let me see him?âAlthough Harold verbally promised to grant her anything she asked for, he avoided giving her a direct answer as soon as she stated her request.âThereâs no rush for that. Now is the time that we need him, so his emotional state is of utmost importance. Iâm worried that meeting you suddenly will affect his emotions.
Nonetheless, you donât have to worry. Your grandfather is doing fine, and when the time is right, Iâll arrange for the both of you to meet.âLast time, I promised Professor White to let both of them meet.
However, I never expected the old geezer to try and poison Yulissa during their reunion and take his own life. Iâm not going to let history repeat itself, so thereâs no way Iâll allow them to meet.âBut it has been a long time since we last saw each other. Even if itâs just a phone call, Iâm okay with that,â Yulissa pleaded.Harold gazed at her and let out a long sigh. âIâm not being unsympathetic, but with the current state of affairs, itâs not convenient for the two of you to meet. Just wait a little longer, okay?âImmediately after saying that, he turned and walked off without giving Yulissa any chance to speak.She balled her fists as she lowered her head, quietly forcing herself to suppress the resentment bubbling inside her.When she looked up, she fixed her gaze directly on Winnie.Yulissa had no idea what Winnie had done to make Harold trust her so much. In any case, all she wished for at that moment was for Winnie to rescue her grandfather as soon as possible.However, Harold had only taken a few steps before suddenly turning around. He smiled as he asked Yulissa, âOh, right. You said you have two things to report to me. Whatâs the other one?âImmediately after he asked that question, Winnie and Christopher held their breaths, then turned to look at Yulissa at the same time.Yulissa paused briefly before answering, âOh, itâs nothing. Itâs just that I heard that Chris, whoâs usually uninterested in women, had found himself a girlfriend. I thought of asking you to drive that woman away. However, now that I know Ms. Vivian is one of us and an important figure, the only person whoâd end up getting driven out would be me. Thatâs why Iâve given up on that idea.âHarold chuckled. âItâs good that you can think that way.
You should go to church later and pray for a husband. Youâll meet a good man.âGlancing at Christopher mournfully, she replied, âYouâre right. He and I are not meant for each other. Iâll take my leave now, Mr.
Horton.âHarold murmured an acknowledgement, âGo on, then.âAfter that, he turned to Christopher and said, âSend Ms. Vivian back. Talk out any misunderstandings, and donât make her upset.
Understood?âChristopher nodded. Following close behind Winnie, they left the courtyard one after another.