The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 266

After dinner, Chris did exactly what he had promised and gave her Mrs. Xander Sr.’s photo album.

Late that night, Winter curled up in one corner of the sofa with the album Mrs. Xander Sr. used to look through all the time before she died, turning the pages one by one.

It felt as if time had gone backward. She could almost see herself tucked into her arms, looking through the album with her.

Mrs. Xander Sr. had told her stories about her younger days, about how she and Mr. Xander Sr. had met, and how she had pushed that stubborn man, who loved her more than he ever admitted, into marrying her. She had told her stories about Chris’s parents too.

When she was alive, she often said Winter reminded her of herself when she was young. Maybe that was why she had always loved her a little more fiercely.

Winter missed her so much.

Suddenly, the album was pulled from her hands, and Chris’s cool, low voice followed.

“It’s late. Look at it tomorrow.”

Her hands fell empty, but she didn’t try to grab it back.

She quietly looked away, lowered the legs she had drawn up on the couch, got up, and walked to the bed. She reached over, turned off the light, pulled back the covers, and lay down in the middle of the bed.

At last, she spoke her first words since dinner.

“Get out.”

The bedroom door made the faintest sound as it shut. Winter closed her eyes. Then suddenly, the mattress shifted behind her. The blanket was lifted, and in the next second, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her

back.

Her back pressed against a warm, broad chest.

In the dark, Winter didn’t struggle. She slowly opened her eyes.

“That morning at the market, when William took a knife for me, you called, and I didn’t answer. You already knew then that Skyla was the one who had hired someone to kill me, didn’t you?”

The arm around her waist stiffened slightly, then slowly tightened.

That was answer enough.

Winter let out a soft laugh. In the dark, no one could see the tears sliding from the corners of her eyes.

“Back then, out at sea, you shouldn’t have saved me. It would’ve been better if I’d died then.” She said it lightly, but her voice was empty.

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