âI can ask you the same.â Winnie grasped Xavierâs chin and stroked it gently. âAre you pursuing me?âXavier swallowed the knot in his throat and grabbed her other hand. âI thought we were already a married couple.ââItâs just temporary. Besidesâ¦â Winnie smiled. âYouâve already announced our divorce in front of your father and my parents.âXavierâs gaze darkened, and remorse flashed across his eyes when he met Winnieâs uncompromising gaze. âIt doesnât count since Iâve only said it verbally.
Moreoverâ¦âWith an arm circling Winnieâs waist, he lifted her to sit on his lap. âYou addressed me as your husband in public earlier, didnât you?ââSo what? Itâs just a nickname for show.â Winnie pushed Xavier with a chuckle. âYou better release me now, or your other leg will suffer the same fate.âIgnoring her warning, Xavier tightened his grip. âWhat do you mean? Do you want to break my leg? I donât think youâll be that cruel.âWinnie arched a brow. âFine then. Let me ask you something else. What happened to this leg of yours? I heard you broke it when you were drunk. Is that true?ââYeah. At that time, I searched for you everywhere for so long and used every method, but I still couldnât find you anywhere.
When your granny went to pack up your things at the mansion that day, I drank so much that I didnât remember what happened. When I woke up the next day, all I saw was the bookshelf on top of my leg.âWinnie nodded. Seems like he was drunk that day, seeing as he didnât know I was the one who broke his leg with a kick. If I told him the truth, he might understand how cruel I could be if I wanted to.âWinnie, can you tell me where you were during the time you went missing? What happened? Why did you return to my side as Paulina? Why did you create a new identity? Is there something you canât tell me directly?ââThese are my problems. You donât need to know, so I donât have to tell you.â Winnie had a clear line drawn between him and her. âHowever, thereâs something related to you that I figured you should know about.âXavier was not pleased with Winnieâs words. âWinnie, weâre a married couple.
Your problems are my problems as well. Itâs not something you can avoid telling me just by saying I donât need to know.ââMr. Fairchild,â she called, amusement lacing her tone. âSo weâre a married couple just because you say so? I have to reciprocate your feelings just because you like me? I have to do everything you ask? In that case, I donât think you know me very well. Iâm not some woman you can control.ââOh, is that so? Then why are you flirting with me?â Xavier leaned closer to the despicable woman in front of him. âDonât tell me you donât know anything before. You obviously faked your condition. I didnât see you drawing the line so clearly when you were clinging to me, asking for kisses and hugs!ââWhat choice do I have when youâre born with such good looks?â Winnie pressed her forefinger against Xavierâs lips.âItâs human nature to like beautiful things. You have a delectable face and body. You slept next to me every night. Iâm not a nun. Do you think I donât have desires? Besides, do you seriously take the words spoken on bed seriously?â she spoke in a low voice. âWinnie Garland!â
Xavier clenched his teeth in anger. Before knowing her true character, I was oblivious that she had such an evil side.His rage was burning fervently. âDonât joke with me about this kind of thing. Iâm being serious here. I already told you I liked you. Iâm waiting for your response. Since youâre not a retard anymore, you have to give me a straight answer.âHonestly, I could feel Xavierâs desire for me these two days after returning to his side, even when I had acted like a fool. He wasnât lusting for my body, but a strong sense of validation radiated from within him. I could feel them from the minor details of his actions. For example, sometimes his gaze would chase after me, or he wouldnât let me stray more than five steps from him. Howeverâ¦Winnieâs brows furrowed. âYou want the truth?ââOf course.â Xavier locked his gaze with Winnieâs as though he wanted to see into her soul.âAll right, then.â Winnie laughed. âI donât feel as strongly for you as you do for me. As of this moment, I only think youâre not that bad of a guy,â she said honestly.Xavier frowned, feeling his heart sink at her answer.So this is how it feels like to be rejected.Despite his disappointment, he refused to give up. âThen do you like me?âAfter a brief hesitation, Winnie asked, âIf I say Iâve fallen for your handsome looks, does that count?ââHave you fallen for anyone elseâs looks?â Xavierâs gaze darkened. If she says yes, I donât know what Iâll do.Winnie contemplated for a while before replying, âI donât think so.ââPerfect!â The knot in Xavierâs chest loosened as he stared fixated on Winnie. âFrom now on, Iâll be the only one in your eyes.ââHow confident!â Winnie giggled as she circled her arms over Xavierâs neck. âThatâll depend on your performance. If you make me mad or youâre not attracted to me anymore, then naturally, Iâll look at someone elseâs.ââYou wonât have that chance,â Xavier declared in a firm tone. Tightening his arm around her waist, he rolled his wheelchair with his other hand to his room, shutting the door.Winnie shot a glance at Xavier. âWhat are you doing? All I said is thatâll depend on your performance, and youâre already taking me to bed?ââWhat are you thinking?â Xavierâs breathing began to break its steady rhythm. âEven if I can, my leg wonât let me. I just want to kiss you to death. Because of you, I thought I was crazy. And then you went missing, making me worry so much that I forgot to take care of myself.
You have to compensate me for this!âXavier kissed her neck every time he listed his feelings.Their make-out session ended with another hit to Xavierâs wound, which wrapped up this round of âcompensationâ for this time.âYou shouldnât start what you canât finish,â she mocked, with her gaze fixed on Xavierâs leg in a cast.Xavier felt a stab in his pride. âDidnât you see the little monster on me when you were Dumbo?âWinnie rolled her eyes at him. âLetâs talk business. Have you seen a badge in your car? Itâs black with a rose on one side and a scepter on the other.âXavierâs brows creased. Iâve seen it before, but wasnât that Yulissaâs? Iâve already given it back to her.âWhatâs with your expression? The crease between your brow can form a trench. Have you seen it or not?â