League 13
League 13
As soon as Winston arrived at his office in Greer Tower, Eli came in and said, “Ms. Lowell isn’t feeling well, Mr. Greer. She has been
brought to the hospital. Also, the security footage you asked for has been sent to your email.”
Winston hummed in acknowledgment. He sat down at his desk and swiftly opened up his inbox.
But for some reason, when he saw the video file, he paused.
Millie’s trembling voice seemed to ring in his ears. He could still hear what she said earlier.
“This has happened far too many times now. You always pin all the blame on me without even bothering to check the security footage first. Are you afraid that the love of your life isn’t as kind as she pretends to be, or are you afraid to realize that you’ve misjudged me?
Winston clutched his mouse tightly, feeling a sense of guilt as he stared at the video file.
Had he been wrong about Millie?
He couldn’t be. She was a vicious woman who was capable of all kinds of atrocities. She was just trying to put on a show to gain his pity!
With that thought in mind, Winston clicked on the video file. He chose to have full faith in Joanna.
Alas, once he saw the video, his expression turned cold.
At the hospital, Winston stopped outside the door to room 033 and heard Joanna saying, “What should I do, Mom? I didn’t know
there’d be security cameras in the house!”
“Why are you panicking? No matter what happens, just insist it was that bitch Millie who pushed you!”
Winston’s expression turned colder
He opened the door and walked into the hospital room.
Upon seeing him, Joanna swiftly swallowed the words she was about to say. “Win…”
Acting like he hadn’t heard anything, Winston nodded in greeting to Harriet Steele, Joanna’s mother. Then, as usual, he stroked Joanna’s head gently and asked, “What’s the matter? Why are you crying?”
Joanna’s tears continued to fall, and Harriet said on her behalf, “It’s all because of that wife of yours! She and Jo both fell down the stairs at the same time, but you didn’t save her. Jo’s so kind–hearted that she feels bad about it.”
“You’re right. Jo’s too kind,” Winston said as he rubbed his thumb across Joanna’s cheek, his gaze filled with mixed emotions.
When Joanna saw his reaction, she suddenly felt apprehensive. Something felt off about him, though she couldn’t say what.
“Winston, because of you, our Jo has suffered so much throughout these years. When are you going to marry her?” Harriet asked sharply.
Winston looked over at Harriet. She was the head of the Lowell family and was well–known for having a bad temper. If she didn’t like someone, she would confront them without showing any
courtesy.
Back then, when the Greers refused to let Winston marry Joanna, she had charged over to the family to demand an explanation.
Ever since then, the relationship between the Greers and the Lowells
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had become strained.
Joanna was upset to find that Winston wasn’t answering Harriet’s question. She had never gotten a concrete answer about when she could finally become his wife.
“Mom, stop urging Win about it. He’s already under a lot of pressure, “Joanna sniffled and said in an attempt to help Winston.
“Oh, you! You’re always thinking on behalf of others, but someone doesn’t seem to be doing the same for you!” Harriet grumbled as she tapped Joanna on the forehead.
Winston knew what Harriet was insinuating, of course. “Mrs. Lowell, I have something to discuss with Jo. Could you leave us, please?”
Joanna grew anxious.
Why did Winston come to the hospital all of a sudden? Had he seen, the security footage?
Harriet glared at Winston and scoffed, saying, “You sure know how to put on airs.”
Winston frowned. He had been putting up with Harriet’s behavior all this while.
Once Harriet left, Winston pulled a chair over and sat down beside the hospital bed.
Joanna, who was lying on the bed, clasped her hands together
nervously as she asked, “W–What do you want to talk about, Win?”
Winston reached out and touched her cheek, which was still a little
red.
“Does it still hurt?” he asked tenderly.
Joanna shook her head. In the past, she thoroughly reveled in the
gentleness that Winston showered on her, but at this moment, it felt like an invisible weapon instead. It made her feel anxious.
Smiling, Winston asked, “Why did you hit yourself so hard?”
“What did you say?” Joanna exclaimed, her heart clenching. Her panic was written all over her face.
Frowning, Winston got straight to the point. “Joanna, I already said I’ll marry you, so why did you do such a thing?”
Joanna’s breath hitched.
“Win, I… don’t know what you’re talking about,” Janna said as she lowered her head.
After a brief silence, Winston took his phone out and played a video. It clearly showed how Joanna grabbed Millie’s arm and slapped herself in the face before purposefully choosing to tumble down the stairs, even shoving Millie to make her fall as well!
Before Joanna could rewatch the video, Winston pocketed his phone.
Their eyes met, and his gaze flickered with anger, but his voice remained calm. “You faked everything.”
Throat all clammed up, Joanna lowered her gaze and gripped the blanket tightly. “I…”
There was irrefutable evidence. The video made it clear that Millie didn’t push her. She couldn’t argue her way out of this!
“Joanna, do you realize what you’re doing?” Winston asked as he lifted her face to make her look him in the eye.
He was sorely disappointed in her. He had trusted her so much, so why did she start resorting to such tricks too?
Biting her lip, Joanna was displeased at the fact that Winston was questioning her.
“In that case, do you know what you’re doing?” she retorted.
Winston’s brows creased slightly.
Feeling aggrieved, her eyes reddened from being upset. She fired back at Winston, “Are you questioning me because of Millie?”
Winston’s eyes darkened as he said grimly, “That’s not the issue right now, Joanna. You know very well that I hate it when women play tricks in front of me!”
He had wholeheartedly believed her and defended her without hesitation, but she betrayed his trust, making him act like a complete fool in front of Millie!
“I just wanted to know if you’d choose me over her. What’s so wrong about that?” Joanna said, feeling hurt.
Gritting his teeth, Winston asked darkly, “Are you trying to test my feelings for you?”
“You’re the one who hasn’t given me a sense of security about our relationship!” Joanna glared at him as tears trickled out of her eyes.
Winston felt his heart tremble as he looked at Joanna. For some reason, even though he was looking at her, he saw Millie’s calm yet self–deprecating expression instead.
“If only I were Joanna…”
“Why would I try to kick up a fuss? Who do I expect to care about how I feel?”
“You’re the heartless one, Winston.”
Winston lowered his head. He couldn’t help but chuckle.
If it had been Millie who said she felt insecure about their
relationship, he wouldn’t be able to refute her because she was right. He had never done anything for Millie that gave her a sense of
security about their marriage.
Yet, these words were coming out of Joanna’s mouth instead!
Joanna wiped her tears away and said, “Win, a person can’t love two people at the same time. If you’re in love with Mills, I’m willing to step aside…”
Tears pooled in her eyes once more.
Winston hated it when she said such things. She knew full well he didn’t love Millie!
Eyes still red with sorrow, Joanna choked back her sobs and said, You don’t need to feel like you have to marry me just because I saved you. When I saved you back then, I never even considered getting anything in return.” Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
Winston’s expression stiffened.
She was always reminding him of the fact that she had saved him,” and he owed her his life.
Lowering his gaze, Winston sighed. Once he regained hist composure, he called out, “Jo…”
Joanna counted on this to happen. As long as she brought up how she had saved him all those years ago, he would always give in to her.
Since Winston had given in, Joanna used the opportunity to smooth things over for herself. “I know I made a mistake, Win. It was just a brief lapse of judgment. Please forgive me. I won’t do it again.”
“Okay,” Winston responded evenly. He didn’t want to say anything. else.
Still, even as he looked at Joanna, his heart was a mess. All he could. think about was Millie.
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