LOGINSkyla’s face went suddenly pale under the glare of the floodlights.Her black bucket hat fell to the ground. The cold wind lifted her long, straight hair, sending it whipping around her face like dark claws.Panic flashed through her deep amber eyes. She reached for the mask on the ground, but Gavin stepped on it with his black hiking boot. He looked down at her as she knelt there in the dirt, battered and exposed.He didn’t say a word.But the message was clear.There was no point hiding anymore.“How did you know?” Skyla’s teeth chattered. If Gavin knew, that meant Chris knew too.“Chris, he…”Gavin’s face remained expressionless. “Mr. Xander was the one who told me to wait for you here. What do you think?”Skyla braced both hands against the ground. Her pale fingers dug into the soil. It had rained in Liono City earlier that day, and the ground out here in the suburbs was soaked. Mud smeared beneath her neatly trimmed nails.She stared blankly as Gavin’s words sank in. Her
What he had never expected was that after he lost his sight, someone would take an aerial photo of the crescent-shaped lake and publish it in a magazine.And she, having forgotten everything, was drawn to that lake all over again.The empty space in his arms shattered the dream like a mirror breaking apart.Chris opened his eyes sharply and immediately saw Winter leaning near the cabin door.Her hand was too close to it.So close that an image flashed through his mind. A year ago, she had pulled open the terrace door and tried to jump from the upper floor.His breathing tightened. He yanked her back into his arms and stared into her alcohol-flushed eyes. His voice came out hoarse and strained.“What are you trying to do?”Winter was startled by the force of his emotion, raw and uncontrolled. Then she noticed the tense, faintly trembling fingers gripping her arm, and she realized where she had been sitting.Only then did she understand.He had thought she was going to open the
The sound of running water came from the bathroom.At the sink, blood mixed with the water and disappeared down the drain.A phone began ringing in the bedroom.The woman in the mirror moved her neck, then turned toward the sound. A few spots of blood still marked her face.The ringing continued for a long while.Then the water stopped.The room fell silent.After a moment, a wet hand picked up the phone from the floor and answered.The person on the other end said in a low voice, “I found something about the person you asked me to look into. A couple of days ago, Chris’s bodyguards escorted someone in and out of the hospital. I think that’s the person you’re looking for.”“Who is it?” Skyla asked lightly.“A stage actress.”A flash of murderous intent crossed Skyla’s eyes.A woman.After Chris had brought her back to the country, he hadn’t spoken much to her. Apart from his relatively mild tone, his attitude toward her had always been distant.But he had still agreed to
Winter was far too drunk to stand. Chris lifted her into his arms, and her head fell softly against his chest.He carried her off the terrace and down the steps.The staff were already waiting downstairs.They had heard the helicopter and knew Chris was taking Winter away again. Once he and Winter left, they would leave too. They would only return from time to time to clean the house, maintain the grounds, care for the flowers and the lake Winter loved most.It had been this way for years.“Mr. Xander,” the staff said in unison.Chris walked steadily with Winter in his arms. She didn’t feel even the slightest jolt. It was as smooth as if she were sleeping in a bed.When he stepped out of the villa, moonlight fell over them. The sea breeze carried waves of floral scent through the air.The island was planted with rare, expensive flowers. If Winter had paid closer attention, she would have recognized the same notes from the perfume she had used earlier that afternoon.Chris carr
Winter watched as Chris took the bottle that should have been hers.Her expression stiffened for a moment, but she gave up the thought of snatching it back.She stayed seated across from him, quietly watching as he finished the entire bottle and set it down.“Don’t regret it.” Chris’s hoarse voice sounded forceful, but beneath it was something she couldn’t quite name.A plea.Yes. Winter heard a trace of pleading in it.And it had come from Chris Xander, of all people. From a man who had always stood so far above everyone else, cool, noble, and untouchable.She had only had two glasses. How was she already drunk enough to start hallucinating?Her fingers paused slightly.But when she looked at him again, his eyes were clear and calm, as if nothing had happened.Winter picked up a new bottle. She lowered her head and stared at the bubbles in her glass for a long time before finally asking, “Have you ever missed that child?”If the baby had survived, he would be one year and o
“Since I agreed to play, let’s add one more rule.”Winter looked at Chris, who had spent years in business. “What rule?”“After someone answers, if the other person is satisfied with the answer, they drink. If they’re not satisfied, they don’t.” His tone was calm. “And since those three chances to drink are so precious, each drink should be one full bottle.”As he spoke, he opened another bottle and filled both of their glasses nearly to the brim.“Fine,” Winter answered readily.She could handle three bottles.“You go first.” Winter glanced at Chris. Without thinking, she picked up two peanuts and put them in her mouth.To be fair, they were really good.Chris leaned back in his wicker chair and asked in an even tone, “If William and I fell into the water at the same time, who would you save?”Winter stopped chewing.She stared at him in disbelief, her brows drawing together.What was wrong with him?But after that brief pause, she answered without hesitation. “I’d save Wi







