Chapter 564
Charlotte reached out and gently took Winnie’s hand. “Have you had breakfast yet?”
Winnie hesitated, then shook her head instinctively.
“In that case, come have breakfast with me. I got here early too, and none of the others have arrived yet. Eating alone is kind of boring.
“1
Charlotte’s tone was warm and inviting, and she started leading Winnie away.
Winnie didn’t refuse. Her chest felt hollow, and being pulled along distracted her from the emptiness gnawing inside.
In the break room, Charlotte pulled some breakfast from the fridge and split it in half, handing one portion to Winnie.
It was the limited-edition cheesecake she had queued up for Christopher yesterday. Originally, she’d meant for him to bring the whole thing back to school, but Christopher insisted on cutting her a large slice to taste. Since she couldn’t finish it alone, Charlotte had saved half for Winnie.
“Eating something sweet can lift your mood. When you feel drained, just take a bite. Khloe told me that,” Charlotte said with a cheerful smile, offering Winnie a fork.
Winnie didn’t verbally refuse. Rarely so pliant, like a cat being stroked the right way, she didn’t take the fork. Instead, she wrapped the cake in its paper and bit off a generous chunk.
“Delicious.”
The rich, sweet flavor filled her mouth, and for a moment, it seemed to ease the loneliness pressing on her heart. But that fleeting comfort vanished after only two bites.
Seeing Winnie eat so heartily, Charlotte’s eyes sparkled. “Have a little more.”
Winnie didn’t hold back. Watching her eat so freely, Charlotte laughed in surprise. “I always thought someone like you-slim, elegant, disciplined-would only take a tiny bite of sweets.”
“You’re flattering me,” Winnie said with a cold edge, “but I’m neither disciplined nor elegant. My figure’s just because I can’t afford good food, so I stay hungry.”
Her words made Charlotte laugh out loud. She thought Winnie was joking. “You’re hilarious.”
Winnie knew Charlotte didn’t really understand her family. In Charlotte’s mind, even if she had been excluded by her family, she probably wouldn’t have lacked food or basic needs. But Winnie had grown up that way. From childhood, she had learned not to chase after tasty food.
If you don’t chase, you don’t go hungry. You never feel the pull of an empty craving…
“Winnie,” Charlotte said gently, noticing Winnie glance at her phone every so often, “is something going on this morning?”
Winnie nodded. “I have a meeting with someone to take care of something today.”
Charlotte froze. “Oh… then why aren’t you going yet? Is it not the time?”
“The time’s already passed.”
Winnie looked at her phone. It was already eight thirty. Even if she went now, it would be nine o’clock-well past the agreed time.
Michael had said: if she was late, it would count as a refusal. Even if he had arrived, he would likely already be
gone.
“So… you don’t want to go?” Charlotte pressed.
“It’s not that…” Winnie hesitated, swallowing, “I just… don’t know if I should go.”
Charlotte frowned. “If you want to go, don’t leave yourself with regrets.”
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