Beatrix was no longer as calm. Her breathing grew ragged. “I heard he''s secretly hiding a girlfriend. Is it you?"


    Winona neither confirmed nor denied it, a sharp edge to her smile. "Sorry, but you don''t have the clearance to know that."


    With that, Winona pushed her sunsses up, her beautiful eyes narrowing as she stared directly at Beatrix. A few secondster, a mocking smirk touched her lips, a look of pure disdain.


    Without another word, Winona lowered her sunsses, linked her arm with Elysia''s, and walked toward the clinic. She moved with the haughty grace of a ck swan, elegant and untouchable.


    Beatrix''s hands clenched into fists, her chest heaving with rage as she stared at Winona''s back, wishing she could tear her to shreds.


    Elysia, sensing Beatrix''s animosity, asked Winona, "I get that you wanted to hit her where it hurts, but why didn''t you deny it? Now she''ll think you''re Keaton''s hidden girlfriend and she''ll definitelye after you."


    Winona let out a long breath. “Keaton has helped me out a lot with the Zane Livingston situation. I''ve kept a tally of all the favors."


    "If I have a chance to help him, I''m going to take it."


    "I don''t know if he actually has a girlfriend hidden away, but what if he does?"


    "By not denying it, I make Beatrix focus on me. She won''t go digging for Keaton''s real girlfriend."


    "By taking the heat for his girlfriend, I''m repaying Keaton for his help."


    “Besides, Beatrix is the reason I have stitches in my head. We''re already enemies, so a little more bad blood won''t make a difference."


    Seeing Elysia''s worried expression, Winona smiled. "Don''t worry. I''ve been in the entertainment industry for years. I''ve seen every type of woman there is. Someone like Beatrix? I''m not concerned at all!"


    "She can throw whatever she has at me. I can take it! I''m not afraid of her!"


    "Enough about her. After I get my dressing changed, let''s go shopping. Tarquin''s birthday is tomorrow. Are you ready?" Winona finished with a wink.


    Elysia knew exactly what she meant, and her cheeks turned red, her attention sessfully diverted.


    "Let''s go, time to change your dressing."


    Winonaughed out loud, teasing her with a raised eyebrow. "Why are you blushing? It''s just me. Come on, tell me everything.”


    "You''re so annoying! Let''s go!"


    As the two friends joked and walked toward the clinic, they were


    of


    then had already fallen into Zane''s hands.


    Zane stared at the picture of them together, his emotions swinging between fiery rage and intense passion.


    Seeing Winona ignited his rage. Seeing Elysia ignited his passion.


    Hiding out in a filthy, rundown neighborhood, he sent a reply to Beatrix.


    [Once the funds are in ce, you won''t have to lift a finger. I have a way to kill her!


    But you are not to touch Elysia!]


    Beatrix replied, [What way?]


    Zane: [You don''t need to know.]


    Beatrix: [She must die!]


    Zane: [Don''t worry. I hate her more than you do.]


    Beatrix: [Once I have the money, I''ll transfer it to the ount you specified.]


    Zane''s eyes narrowed. He didn''t reply.


    He opened the photo again, his gaze fixed on Elysia, gently tracing her face on the screen, his eyes full of love But the moment he thought of arquin Bradford that love instantly turned to a deep, all-consuming hatred.


    A voice called out from a distance. "Hey, you, the new guy from Zhinora! The boss wants you to clean the toilets. You in?"


    Zane quickly put his phone away, a calcting glint in his eye. "Yeah, I''m in."


    ***


    By evening, when Elysia got home,


    the children were already waiting for her yton Hawkins and Pamel


    PateDhad picked them up from preschool.


    Seeing her, the little ones all ran toward her. “Mommy!"


    Elysia smiled warmly, hugging one and patting the other.