She took a step closer to him. “Why wouldn’t I? Everyone here knows I’m crazy about you. Since I have such strong feelings for you, it goes without saying that I’ve made every effort to get to know you. Your past, your present, and everything about you!”
While speaking, she raised an arm and slowly circled it around his neck. “Don’t forget our agreement. Win—”
“Have some self-respect!” Christopher interrupted as he pulled away the arm she had slung around his neck, cutting her off just as she was about to say Winnie’s name.
Gripping her wrist tightly, he continued, “Let me tell you this. What you want is—”
Christopher intended to calm Yulissa down. However, she did not give him any chance to continue speaking.
“I don’t want to hear it,” she snarled before shaking off his hand. Then, she turned on her heel and walked up to Winnie.
Yulissa looked Winnie up and down, her lips curling into a taunting smirk. “As soon as I got back, I heard that some remarkable person had come to the Horton family with a formulation. To top it off, the person is a woman. Don’t tell me that person is you.”
Winnie was silent. While gazing at Yulissa impassively, she touched the custom-made necklace around her neck. If she tries to expose Christopher and me, I’ll have to do something.
Of course, that plan was only a last resort. Unless there was no other alternative, she had no wish to do that in front of Harold.
Winnie narrowed her eyes slightly as she studied Yulissa.
“You’re quite well-informed. In that case, you should already know that Chris belongs to me. Hence, how you behaved earlier was a pretty b*tchy move, don’t you think?”
Yulissa let out a bark of laughter. “Me, a b*tch? Are you still going to put on an act at a time like this? Open your eyes and take a good look around you. You’re on the Horton family’s territory. You could end up getting beaten to a pulp at any minute!”
“Beaten to a pulp, you say?” Winnie sneered. She hooked a hand around Yulissa’s neck and jerked her forward. Then, she whispered threateningly in the latter’s ear, “If you have me beaten to a pulp, there won’t be anyone who knows your grandfather’s whereabouts left. Don’t tell me you still believe Harold will release your grandfather someday, do you? I don’t think you’re that foolish, though. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have collaborated with Christopher. I know that my life is in your hands tonight. With just one sentence from you, Harold might kill me, then have me dragged out and fed to the dogs. But if that happens, what’ll happen to your poor grandfather? I’ve already come up with a plan to rescue him. If I die, you and your grandfather will rot here for the rest of your lives.”
Yulissa’s expression shifted instantly when she heard those words. Glaring at Winnie, she muttered through clenched teeth, “Why should I believe you?”
“Don’t you know I’ve been to the laboratory already?” Winnie responded with a mocking laugh.
“Then why should I trust that you’d be so kind as to save my grandfather? Don’t try and lie to me!” Yulissa growled, grabbing Winnie by her collar in agitation.
Winnie rolled her eyes. “Hah! Why else do you think I’m here? Because I’m short on money? Do you think it’s because of that? Have you forgotten how you injected Xavier with venom back then? Don’t think I’m unaware that your grandfather developed that venom. I’m here now because I’m looking for the antidote. If you had handed over the antidote, I wouldn’t have to risk my life coming to this godforsaken place. We only came here because we were tracking you. I’m asking you now, do you have the antidote?”
The wheels in Yulissa’s mind whirred. She knew she had to make full use of the opportunity to use Winnie, so she was very determined. “Of course not! I don’t have the antidote. However, my grandfather knows how to make it, and he’s the only person in the whole wide world capable of doing so. As long as you rescue him, there’s hope for Xavier. Otherwise, Xavier will eventually turn into a disabled person from the effects of the venom. His current condition is due to the fact that he tried to save you back then, so you’re not going to give up just because of a little danger, are you? If you do so, everything he did for you will have been for naught.”
After hearing Yulissa’s response, Winnie could clearly read the situation. She’s anxious. That’s why she’s attempting to goad me. She’s worried I’ll chuck my plan of rescuing Professor White.
Winnie chuckled. “Okay. I’ll rescue your grandfather if you don’t say anything foolish to Harold. You’ve stayed here many years, yet you don’t even know the laboratory’s exact location. As for me, I managed to earn Harold’s trust in just a few days. Based on that alone, you need to trust my capabilities.”
“That’s right. You’re really f*cking awesome. For my grandfather’s sake, I can’t expose you and have to think of a way to keep you safe. What an artful person you are,” Yulissa hissed as she twisted Winnie’s shirt in her hands.
Smirking, Winnie shot Yulissa a glance and answered, “Thank you, then.”
Yulissa gnashed her teeth. “Very well. If we’re going to put on an act, then we might as well go all the way.”
With that, she shoved Winnie backward and yelled, “How dare you call me a b*tch and accuse me of stealing your man? Get your facts straight, will you? I’m the one who got to know Chris first. Who are you to come and poach from me?”
Although it was only an act, Yulissa pushed Winnie quite hard, nearly causing the latter to fall over.
However, Winnie showed no intention of retaliating despite almost losing her balance. Instead, she cast a glance toward Christopher.
“She’s an old flame of yours, is she? It’s too bad, but you’re mine now. Seeing that she dared to lay her hands on me, I don’t have to teach you what to do next, right?”
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