Richard spoke with the gravity of a patriarch. “The wine in that cer has been collected by generations of the Huber family. The key is only passed down when one is ready to settle down and manage the family estate."


    "I''m giving you the key early to help you woo Winona. You need to work hard and not waste my efforts!"


    Keaton felt a pang of guilt. The old man was pulling out all the stops to help him win Winona over.


    The guilt was small, though, and quickly overshadowed by his excitement.


    He''d just told one little lie and managed to score the key to the secret wine cer!


    Not yet realizing what this lie might cost him, Keaton nodded eagerly. "Don''t worry. With you and Mom supporting me like this, I''ll do whatever it takes to win her over and make her a part of the Huber family!"


    Richard pped his thigh, looking happier than if he''d just closed a multi-billion- dor deal. “That''s the spirit! I have faith in you, son!"


    Keaton just smiled.


    His parents,pletely convinced, left with Richard walking a little taller. His son had finally dropped that whole ''never getting married'' nonsense. He could see the light again!


    The Huber family didn''t need money; they needed more people!


    Everyone has their ambitions, and Richard''s current ambition was for his son to step up, get a wife, and give the Huber family a kid or two! One would be great, but more would be even better!


    After his parents left, Keaton pulled out his phone to call his stylist but was stopped by a picture from Winona.


    It was a goofy-looking alpaca with big, dumb eyes and a side-parted hairdo.


    [Look, don''t you two have the exact same hairstyle?]


    Keaton rolled his eyes, sent back a bloody knife emoji, and headed to the shower.


    He had no idea that the truth will always out, and that his lie was bound to be exposed...


    ***


    The next day, Elysia and Blossom Blythe came to visit Winona.


    Winona was curled up at home in her loungewear, sorting through scripts.


    Blossom nced at the pile and was stunned. "Winona, are you going to be in ''Chronicles of Aethelgard"?"


    "I''m thinking about it, but I haven''t decided yet. I''m not sure which one to pick."


    The sheer number of scripts was overwhelming. She couldn''t take them all, she wouldn''t have the time, and it would hold up their


    productions. She nned an


    choosing two.


    Blossom, a big fan of TV shows, was in the know and chattered excitedly, "Winona, you''re amazing! These hyped. They re


    scripts are all hugely fore filming


    already treading, ever


    has started. Whichever one you do is guaranteed to be a hit!"


    "Other people have to fight for these roles, and you get to pick and choose. You''re


    on another level. Your connections are insane!"


    Winona said, “I don''t have that kind of pull. These were an apology gift from Keaton."


    Blossom froze. "Mr. Huber gave them to you?"


    "Yep. His ex-girlfriend injured me, and he said he''d take responsibility, so I graciously epted."


    Blossom nodded seriously. "I have to say, Mr. Huber knows how to give a gift. This is way better for you than some jewelry!"


    Winona praised him sarcastically, "No wonder he''s such a yer, and beautiful girls still flock to him. The man is a master at charming women."


    Elysia asked curiously, "Is Keaton secretly dating someone?"


    Winona shot back, "Who?"


    Elysia shook her head. "I don''t know. I heard it from Jess."


    "Because of my mother-inw''s ashes, I''ve gotten to know a few respected priests recently. This morning. Jess called and asked me to ask one of them if their


    congregation had any good singles groups."


    "She said Janelle is going to church to pray that Keaton''s new rtionship willst forever and they''ll never break up."


    Winona was intrigued. “Jess said that?"


    Elysia nodded. "Yeah, but she doesn''t know who Keaton''s girlfriend is either. Janelle


    and Mr. Huber know, but they''re being super secretive about it."


    "They even told Jess not to ask Keaton and just to pretend she doesn''t know anything."


    "Also, apparently the few girls Keaton has been seen with recently are just a cover for his real girlfriend."


    Winona was puzzled. "Keaton''s always been open about his rtionships. He''s never been the type to hide things."