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Chapter_158
Dennis’ eyes bulged in terror, drool dripping uncontrollably from his mouth as his frantic mind struggled to process the scene unfolding before him. His body trembled, and despite his paralyzed state, he tried to speak, to beg for mercy, but the words came out incoherent, his mind a swirl of panic.
Winona, standing at the side of the bed, watched him with a wild gleam in her eyes, her grip on the towel from the bedside tightening as she pressed it firmly against his mouth and nose. She hovered over him, her face twisted with madness, yet her voice remained eerily calm as she leaned closer, her breath hot against his ear.
“Grandpa,” she purred in her usual sweet voice, though there was nothing sweet about her words. “Why are you so worked up? Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? You thought sending me to be with the mistress would somehow benefit the Smith family, right? All those people who said you were always kind to me… well, only I know the truth. Your so-called love and care were all fake. All of it. You never cared about me, did you? You just wanted to use me for your own gain.”
Her words echoed in the cold room, each syllable striking Dennis like a slap to the face, but his body remained frozen, unable to fight back.
Winona straightened, her face splitting into a cruel smile. “But you should be proud of me now, Grandpa. I’m already pregnant with Robert’s child. He’s so obsessed with me, he can’t bear to leave my side. Even Victor, that fool, is under my control now. And Yulia… she thinks I’m carrying her grandchild, and she’ll do anything to please me. When I give birth to this child, he’ll be the Carter family’s darling, the sole heir to everything.”
Dennis lay there, barely conscious, clenching the sheets in his frail hands, his eyes locked on Winona with a look of loathing. His breath came in shallow gasps, his body fighting the inevitable collapse.
Winona took a few steps back, not even sparing him a glance as she grabbed a compact from her handbag. Sitting on the sofa, she began touching up her makeup with the same calm demeanor as if she were alone in her own home. The sound of Dennis’ labored breathing filled the room, a constant reminder of his helplessness.
After a few moments, Winona glanced at her watch, her lips curling into a satisfied grin as she finished her makeup. She was as immaculate as ever, her beauty undisturbed by the scene she had orchestrated. She looked down at Dennis one final time, her expression hardening as if she were dismissing an insignificant insect.
Lying there, Dennis had no strength left to do anything but glare at the woman who had caused him so much pain. His mind raced with regret and fury, but his body betrayed him. He couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. He was trapped in his own body, a prisoner of his past actions.
Winona stood and pinched her arm hard, causing her eyes to redden with fake tears. She approached Dennis again, her footsteps slow and deliberate. When she reached the bed, she took his hand in hers, her touch deceptively tender, the malice behind her smile hidden by her feigned vulnerability.
“Grandpa,” she whispered softly, her voice laced with venom, “I’m the one in the Smith family who resembles you the most. My heart is as cold as yours. Don’t worry about anything. Your departure will bring me true joy. And don’t fret—I’ll make sure to seize control of the Carter family. Everything you built… it’s all falling apart. I almost forgot to mention… my memory’s been slipping lately, but I remember this—Mom and my brother ran off with all the Smith family wealth and fled overseas. But don’t worry. I’ll hunt them down. I’ll make them pay in your name. They won’t know peace.”
Dennis, summoning all the strength he had left, swung his arm in a desperate attempt to push her away, but his feeble movement lacked power. Instead, he collapsed back into his bed, barely conscious, his breath shallow and ragged.
Just then, the door opened, and Robert and Victor walked in, catching sight of Winona on the floor. Both rushed over to her, panic flashing across their faces as they helped her up.
Winona, looking as though she were in excruciating pain, lowered her gaze. But the moment she made eye contact with Robert, her expression softened, and she gave him a subtle, almost flirtatious look. Robert’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly masked his reaction, maintaining a serious face. He could feel the electric charge between them, but this was no time for it.
Victor, on the other hand, was more concerned with the baby Winona was carrying than Winona herself. He looked at her anxiously, his face etched with worry. The baby, after all, was his bargaining chip in the family.
“Are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?” Victor asked, his voice strained with concern, but his gaze flickered nervously to Dennis, who was still lying motionless.
Winona wiped her eyes dramatically, her tears painting her as the victim in this twisted charade. “I don’t know what happened, Victor. Grandpa just went mad… He hit me, pinched me, and pushed me to the floor. I was just telling him I’m going to make him a great-grandfather. Why would he do this to me? Did I do something wrong?”
She let out a sob, her voice quivering as she looked at Victor with wide, pleading eyes. Victor, his chest swelling with a need to protect her, was immediately reassured by her act. He looked down at Dennis with fury, muttering curses under his breath.
Winona stood there silently, her head lowered, but the corners of her lips curled up into a sinister smile, one that no one but Dennis could truly understand.
Robert, watching the scene unfold, didn’t like how close Victor and Winona seemed to be. His gaze turned sharp as he addressed Victor. “That’s enough. He’s still Winona’s grandfather. Watch your mouth.”
Turning his attention back to Winona, Robert’s expression softened. His voice, now gentler, carried a note of concern. “Winona, if you’re feeling unwell, we’ll get a doctor for you. It’s important you take care of yourself. You’re carrying the Carter family heir after all.”
Winona nodded obediently, her voice sweet as honey. “I’m fine, Daddy. Don’t worry about me.”
The exchange between them was loaded with meaning, a secret shared only between the two. Winona lowered her head shyly, giving Robert an intimate glance, her eyes filled with something more than just affection. Robert, unable to resist, felt the pull of desire surge within him.
Victor, still unaware of the exchange between Winona and Robert, continued to curse Dennis under his breath. The tension between Robert and Winona was palpable, but Victor’s focus remained elsewhere, oblivious to the dangerous game being played right in front of him.
As Robert glanced at his watch, he saw that visiting hours were almost up. He had no intention of staying longer than necessary.
Winona looked down at Dennis one final time, her gaze filled with a mixture of pity and amusement, before she followed Robert out of the room, leaving Victor to simmer in his own thoughts.
In the Cafeteria at Apex Urban University
Bonnie, standing in line at the cafeteria, eyed a perfectly cooked rib with a mixture of longing and uncertainty. She picked it up, inspecting it as if it were some forbidden fruit, only to place it back on her tray moments later. The rib seemed to call to her, but she hesitated, unsure whether to give in.
Yvette, sitting across from her, watched the spectacle with a raised brow. “Did that rib annoy you?” she asked, her voice smooth, betraying none of the amusement she was clearly feeling.
Bonnie sighed deeply, her gaze locked on the rib. “Yve, don’t you see? It’s perfect. Look at it—round, plump, and golden brown. The smell alone is enough to drive me crazy. How can I resist it?” She placed it back on her tray, only to lift it again seconds later, indecisive.
Yvette leaned back in her seat, her posture relaxed as she observed Bonnie’s internal struggle. With a small smile, she said, “Then just eat it.”
Bonnie groaned, almost in pain. “I just can’t! It’s for my diet, Yve. I’ve gained six pounds recently, and now I have to lose it. No ribs for me until I shed ten pounds.”
Yvette sighed, rolling her eyes. Without a word, she grabbed the rib and placed it straight into Bonnie’s mouth, stopping her protest with a single action.
“Please eat,” Yvette said coolly. “I’ll give you a prescription later that’ll help you lose the weight without needing to diet. Trust me, you’ll be fine.”
Bonnie, momentarily stunned by the rib in her mouth, quickly forgot her diet and bit into it with gusto. “Yve, you should have told me earlier! Wait for me—I’m going back for more!”
As Bonnie rushed off to grab more, Yvette smiled gently, watching her friend’s retreating figure. Everyone around was stunned by the effortless beauty she exuded, completely unaware
