Winona shot him a cold re. Keaton just gave her a charming smile.


    "I was just trying to cheer you up. When I hugged you, I swear I had no other intentions. I genuinely see you as a good friend! If I''m lying, may I never find a girlfriend for the rest of my life!"


    Winona didn''t want to admit that the hug was what bothered her; it would make it seem like she actually had a guilty conscience.


    She frowned and lied, "I am a bit annoyed, but that''s not the reason."


    Keaton asked, "Then what is it?"


    Winona retorted, "Do I need a reason to be annoyed?"


    Keaton put on a cating smile. "Of course not. It''s just that, seeing you upset, I wanted to show some concern. How about I tell you some of my most embarrassing stories to cheer you up?"


    Winona was speechless. "Get lost!"


    As he drove, Keaton began to recount his hall of shame.


    From the time he went swimming at the beach as a kid and a wave knocked his swim trunks right off, forcing him to run ashore, butt-naked. He was crying as he ran, yelling that a sea monster had stolen his trunks.


    To his time in kindergarten, when to show off how fast he was, he went around telling everyone he could beat the rabbit from the fable. He became theughingstock of the entire school! Janelle was on pins and needles for ages because of it, seriously wondering if he was a little slow.


    Later, in elementary school, fed up with being constantly bossed around by his older sister, he decided to fight back and show her who was boss! With a grand gesture, he ripped up her homework. The result was several hard ps from his sister that left his jaw feeling crooked for days.


    "I''m telling you, the only reason I started working out and hitting the gym was because of my sister. I had to get stronger, just to keep her from killing me!"


    "Pfft-"


    Winona couldn''t help it; she burst outughing.


    She''d thought he started building his strength to finally beat his sister, but it turned out to be purely for self-preservation.


    Keaton kept the storiesing until Winona was doubled over, her sides aching from aughter so deep it left her breathless in a moment of Impulsive warmth she broke off a strawberry from her skewer and held it to his lips.


    By the time they reached their destination, Winona''s mood hadpletely lifted.


    But as she stared at the oceanfront vi before them, she froze. "This is your house?"


    "Yeah, I bought it years ago, but only finished decoratingst year. What''s wrong?"


    Winona: "..." Talk about a twist of fate!


    This vi had the best view in the


    entire area. Back then, she had loved it and desperately wanted to buy it


    But she was away filming and


    couldn''t sign the contract in person After finalizing the details with the sales agent over the phone, she asked Zane to go sign forher.


    But when Zane arrived at the sales office, he was told the house had already been sold!


    She had loved it so much and was so unwilling to let it go that she tried to offer a higher price, but she failed.


    She had regretted it for a long time.


    Zane had been furious about it too. He had called her, ranting, "That guy has absolutely no ss. Not only would he not show his face to


    negotiate, but he was incredibal


    rude. When I offered to pay more, he told me to get lost! I said Lcould add ten million, and he told me to take a good long look in the mirror and asked if I thought someone like me was worthy of such a fine house? For a house over a hundred million, he could pay in full, which means he''s rich. But the way he talks, he has no ss at all. He must be some uncultured, nouveau riche slob!"


    At the time, Winona had also imagined some pot-bellied, greasy slob dripping in gold chains. She had even secretly cursed him: ''I hope that pig goes bankrupt soon!''


    She never would have imagined that the ''pig'' who had snatched the house from under her was Keaton.