Chapter 178 A Broken Alliance
Chapter 178 A Broken Alliance
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The warmth and gentlemanly charm from earlier had vanished. What reced it was a cold, arrogant look that most people found repulsive.
Winona didn’t seem surprised. Her expression darkened, and she said, “I need you to take care of someone for me. With your skills, making her disappear without anyone knowing shouldn’t be too hard, right?”
After all, wasn’t that how he had handled Patricia, her grandmother, and even David years ago?
Matthew’s eyes narrowed, a sh of ice cutting through his gaze. “I don’t like it when people use that tone
with me.”
Winona froze.
She had let her anger at Tracy cloud her judgment, nearly forgetting just how ruthless this seemingly polite man could be beneath the surface.
Forcing herself to stay calm, she softened her voice. “I wasn’t giving you an order. I was offering a partnership.”
Matthew smoothed his suit with deliberate slowness. “A partnership?”
The short, coldugh was sharp and mocking. “And who exactly do you want me to deal with?”
“Tracy. The Jackmans’ fake daughter.” Winona rushed to answer, afraid he might change his mind.
But something in her words struck the wrong chord. Matthew’s face darkened.
Everyone in high society had heard of the Jackmans’ scandal with the real and fake daughter. The family had gone so far as to host a press conference to strip Tracy of the name, and it had been the talk of the city. Of course, Matthew had heard about it.
But her ending-he didn’t like it. Not one bit.
He cast a cold nce at Winona. “I have no quarrel with her. Why should I lift a finger for you?”
Winona didn’t understand why he had suddenly changed his stance, but she knew there was no one else who could help.
After a moment’s thought, she lowered her voice and checked to make sure no one was around. “When Patricia jumped off the school roof years ago, Tracy just happened to be there.”
That made Matthew raise a brow in surprise. He hadn’t known that.
But beyond mild curiosity, he showed no interest. “That’s your problem. What does it have to do with me?”
“You…” Winona faltered, stunned.
Matthew smirked, the curve of his mouth sharp with ridicule. “All these years, how many favors and benefits have you squeezed out of me and my family using that incident as leverage? Do you even remember?”
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Chapter 178 A Broken Alliance
+20 Free Coins
He didn’t wait for her to answer. “Even if we call it cooperation, the advantages your family has taken far outweigh what you ever contributed. Yet you’re still greedy. Forcing me to hand over the right to host the conference was bad enough, but now you dream of bing my wife? Do you really think you’re worthy?”
The Renaults stood higher than even the Jackmans. And Matthew was their only heir. For Winona to set her sights on him was nothing short ofughable.
She was lusting after someone above her league.
Winona wasn’t stupid; she could hear the insult clearly,
But the worst part was that he wasn’t wrong.
Her family had once risen because of sheer luck, when her father’s cheap batch of stones revealed several rare gemstones. They’d enjoyed wealth for a few years.
But after that, the family had only declined. If Matthew hadn’t stepped in, the Millers would have been erased from Cloudville’s elite circle long ago.
She knew the truth, but it still stung. Winona rebuked, “I never cared about being your wife.” She muttered defensively, “That wasn’t my idea.”
It had been her father who kept pushing her to chase Matthew, insisting she y the part of the eager girl, saying things like it was easy for a woman to chase after a man.
The memory of those humiliating attempts-her forced smiles and constant efforts to please, only to receive nothing but scorn in return-made her chest burn with anger.
Matthew let out a short, coldugh at her reaction. “So you don’t care about being my wife … What, you’d rather be Norris’s wife?”
Winona stiffened, panic flickering across her face. “Too bad,” Matthew continued casually. “Norris never cared about you. If you hadn’t shamelessly tagged along behind Ms. Jackman, he probably wouldn’t have given you a second nce.”
Winona froze. Her eyes darted nervously around, terrified someone might overhear.
When she saw that no one was paying attention, she breathed again, though her face betrayed her
uneasiness.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She had hidden this secret well. It had been years, and Tracy never found out.
How had Matthew figured it out?
His mocking smile widened. “You don’t know? Do you want me to spell it out for you?
“You’re in love with Norris.”
“Shut up!” Winona blurted, her voice sharp, reaching to grab him in desperation.
But Matthew smoothly stepped aside, his expression dripping with contempt.
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Chapter 178 A Broken Alliance
+20 Free Coins
“Calm down. I couldn’t care less about your love life,” Matthew said with a crooked smile. “Just know your own ce. Whoever you want to deal with-that’s your business; don’t drag my family along with it.”
His point couldn’t have been clearer.
He wasn’t going to help Winona to deal with Tracy. If she wanted to make a move, that was on her-so long as it didn’t involve his family.
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