The Substitute Bride: Idiot Or Not? novel Chapter 11

Dumbo is missing!

Xavier had searched the bedroom, study, and bathroom, yet he still couldn't find Winnie anywhere.

It's already so late. Where can she go?

Xavier even checked the windows, worried she would jump through one.

Luckily, none of the windows seemed to have been opened.

She's just a dumbo. Some weak-willed women might choose suicide after being violated, but she is different. I don't think her brain has that kind of complicated emotional feedback.

After he had thought it through, Xavier's feelings calmed slightly.

He planned to search for Winnie in her playroom downstairs.

However, right after he left his room and was about to come downstairs, he saw Josiah tugging Dumbo up the stairs.

Dumbo didn't seem willing from the expression on her face. She even pouted when she saw him.

Dumbo's obviously still angry. Despite that thought, Xavier let out a relieved sigh.

He asked Josiah, “What's the matter? Where did you find her?”

“She was with the housekeeper.” Josiah shrugged. “She said she was in pain, so she went looking for the housekeeper for some 'ointy.”‘

Xavier might think the baby talk was cute if it came out of Winnie's mouth, but all he felt was disgust and goosebumps skittering across his skin when it came from an adult man like Josiah.

With a darkened look, Xavier snapped, “Talk properly. What happened?”

“She has a laceration on her ear. Maybe she got it from the tussle earlier. Don't worry about it. It isn't anything serious. It should heal nicely after a couple of days. The housekeeper already applied some ointment for her.”

The moment Xavier heard about Winnie's injury, he immediately descended the steps to her side.

There was an urgency to his tone that he didn't even notice. “Let me look at it.”

“No! Meanie.” Winnie pouted as she hid behind Josiah. “Specky, protect me!”

Xavier frowned. Didn't she use to call him Bad Specky? Since when did she call him Specky?

Xavier didn't know why he was feeling that way. For some reason, he just felt uncomfortable about it.

The gaze he gave Josiah wasn't a friendly one. “It's late. You should go back and get some rest.”

Josiah pursed his lips at the request. “But I have something to tell you.”

“Go back to your room and sleep, Winnie. I'll apply ointment for you tomorrow. The injury on your ear will heal soon. I'll give you a super sweet candy if you be a good girl,” Josiah coaxed.

Winnie yawned. “All right. I'm going to bed. Don't forget about my candy, Specky.”

She stomped her foot at Xavier before climbing the stairs back to her room.

“What's wrong with you?” Josiah gave Xavier a strange look. “You seem to care for Dumbo a lot. The gaze you gave me earlier... it looked like you were jealous.”

“Jealous?” Xavier laughed. “Are you kidding me? I'm jealous of you over a dumb woman?”

“Fine.” Josiah shrugged. “I'll take it as you being possessive and overprotective of her. The minute I saw the surveillance cameras' footage, I wanted to beat Zyon to a pulp. I'm serious. I want to protect this poor girl too.”

“Enough. Don't bring that up again.” That would only remind me of how sh*tty I was when I pretended to be comatose. ”Let's talk business.”