Chapter 20
Just as Winonak hand reached Matthew’s waist, he grabbed it, hing her advance.
What are you doing Winona complained, staring at her hand ught in Matthew’s grasp. “I haven’t even gotten to your long legs yet
Bold much Matthew retorted, his face darkening as his ears red red, clearly shocked by Winona’s nerve.
Winona caught sight of the stern expression on Matthew’s face, But his flushed ears betrayed what he was really feeling Seizing the moment, she laced her chubby fingers through his elegant, large ones.
With a genuine look on her face, she tilted her chin up to meet his gaze. “You’re my fiancé, right? So, it’s not weird for me to touch you, is it? What’s the big deal?”
Matthew’s gaze fixed on Winona’s bright, delicate features, feeling his own face flush. He quickly redirected his attention to her soft, plump hand, firmly clasped with his own.
Fighting the urge to pull Winona into an embrace, he instead coolly uncurled her fingers from his. “We’re not engaged yet. I’m not your fiance,” he stated.
Travis’s scandal is plastered all over the internet, and just a little while ago, she was telling Morgan that she cares deeply about Travis and trusts him completely.
So what’s with the flirting now? Is she trying to butter me up to help get Travis out of jail and clean up his name?
Does she actually believe I’ll keep being a doormat, letting her have her way? The second I blocked her number, I snapped out of it. I’m not going to let her walk all over me again,‘ he decided.
“Get out. You’re not welcome here,” he said firmly,
Winona suddenly leaped into Matthew’s arms, clinging to his trim waist. “Matt, I didn’t see you yesterday, and I missed you. tons,” she cooed, her voice dripping with sweetness. “I came here just to see you, so please don’t brush off what we have and send me away, alright?”
Matthew tensed up, looking down at the cuddly Winona pressed against him. His usually unflappable expression wavered. He cleared his throat, his tone frosty. “Could you let go of me first?”
“Not happening. I’m your fiancée,” Winona declared, tilting her head back to meet Matthew’s gaze with a look of wide–eyed innocence. “Matt, you’ve got my pendant, so you’re stuck with me. No take–backs.”
Matthew let out a dry laugh, thinking to himself, ‘She’s playing both sides, huh? Just now she was saying Travis was the love
of her life. Now it’s me.
He gently but firmly pushed Winona away, his expression distant. “Your heart’s with Travis; you should give him the pendant. I’ll return your pendant right now.”
With those words, Matthew reached for the pendant hanging around his neck, about to unfasten it and hand it back to Winona. But before he had the chance, Winona rose up on her tiptoes and gently pressed her lips to Matthew’s.
The unexpected chill of her kiss stole his breath. He stood there, rooted to the spot, his eyes wide with surprise at Winona’s audacity.
Winona, catching the look of disbelief in Matthew’s eyes, stepped back hastily, her face blooming with a blush. The kiss was as brief as a butterfly’s touch, yet it struck Matthew’s heart with the force of a thunderbolt, rippling through him with a surge of unexpected feelings.
Matthew’s resolve to push Winona away wavered the moment he heard her earnest plea. “Matt, Travis is history. It’s you I
1/3
|||
Chapter 20
0
want to love; it’s you I want to marry, and that’s why this pendant is meant for you, and only you.
In her past life, Matthew had avenged her and sacrificed his life for her, a gesture that had profoundly moved her. She was deteriuited to make it up to him in this life by dedicating herself to him.
Although she wasn’t completely sure if what she felt for Matthew was gratitude or genuine love, she was willing to let herself fall for him—to commit fully to a relationship and a future together.
As she spoke, the walls around Matthew’s heart came tumbling down. He found his voice rough with emotion. “Are you telling the truth?”
Winona was clutching Matthew’s hand, on the verge of affirming her words, when an interruption cut through the moment.
Obviously, she’s lying, Mr. Langford. You can’t let Winona fool you again,” Steven interjected, disregarding the sting of the whip marks on his back as he rushed to Matthew’s side. “She’s not who you believe her to be; don’t fall for her tricks again.”
Winona was left speechless. The memories of her past actions toward Matthew rendered her silent.
Matthew’s face hardened as he took in Steven’s words. He turned to Winona with a piercing gaze. “You’re here to play me again, aren’t you? You want me to hush up Travis’s scandal and get him out of jail, don’t you?”
As Winona opened her mouth to respond, Steven cut her off. “It’s got to be. Whenever Winona shows up, isn’t it always to mop up Travis’s messes?”
Winona and Matthew were both left without words.
Steven looked at Matthew’s icy face and tried to explain himself. “Mr. Langford, I get I was straight to the point, but I’m saying this for your own good. You don’t need to go out of your way for Winona.
There are tons of great–looking women out there. Why be a pushover for someone who’s not worth your time and clean up after her boyfriend?”
Winona finally lost it. She shoved Steven aside and dragged Matthew closer. “Matt was talking to me, not you. What’s your problem with butting in all the time? Are you maybe into Matt and trying to mess things up for us by badmouthing me?”
Unable to justify her past, she decided to throw Steven off with a new angle.
Matthew’s eyebrows furrowed as he gave Steven a sidelong glance, suspicion written all over his face.
Steven, catching the look, quickly tried to clarify. “Mr. Langford, I’m totally into women; I’ve got nothing but respect for you.”
Winona glared at Steven. “Cut the act, Steven. Matt is with me, so hands off. Don’t even think about trying to steal him away.”
Steven tried to make his case. “Mr. Langford, can I just explain? I mean…”
“Save it,” Matthew cut him off, his voice as cold as ice. “I don’t want to hear it. Just leave.”
“Fine,” Steven grumbled, dejection in his voice as he turned to go.
Matthew added, “And from now on, unless I say so, don’t you dare show your face around me.”
Steven was left without a word.
Once Steven left, Winona quickly pulled Matthew over to the couch. She looked him straight in the eye, her voice full of conviction. “Matt, I promise you, everything I just said is the truth. Cross my heart and hope to die. I wouldn’t-”
Before she could finish, her words were cut off by a demanding kiss. A cool scent filled her senses as his passionate kiss swept her off her feet, leaving her breathless.
2/3
|||
O
33
22-20 Wed, Dec 25
Chapter 20
When she came to her senses, she found her hand under Matthew’s crisp white shirt feeling the solid muscles of his ches Her cheeks flushed as she paused, torn between the urge to keep going and the thought of pulling away.
