Chapter 4

Winter hung up after hearing Liam's accusations. She looked at Regina, who was sprawled across the oversized bed. She was lounging under the air-conditioning and eating ice cream.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll take a picture of you like this and send it to Liam?" Winter asked.

Regina didn't even blink. "What's he going to do? Get mad? He'll probably say I'm cute and that I know how to enjoy life. I'm not like you. You always look miserable. He got sick of that a long time ago."

"This is the first time I've seen such a shameless mistress. Didn't you swear you'd rather die than be the other woman back then?"

Regina's face flushed. Humiliation turned to anger. She stepped toward Winter, then stopped three feet away from her.

A second later, she yanked the breathing mask off the bedside machine and shoved it into Winter's hands.

"The one unloved is the real mistress," Regina spat. "Let's see who he believes—you or me."

She dropped to her knees with a loud thud and slammed her head on the floor. "Winnie, please! Give it back! I can't breathe!"

Winter was still trying to process what was happening when a violent kick broke open the door.

Liam rushed in and scooped Regina into his arms. He snatched the mask from Winter before fitting it back over Regina's face.

"Regina, are you okay?"

Regina sagged against him. Her breathing was shallow. "It isn't Winnie's fault. She just lost control because I took her father's heart. She didn't mean it…"

Liam's gaze darkened. "You're just too kind. That's why people step all over you."

He turned to Winter. The warmth from his eyes was gone.

"I was the one who decided to give Regina the heart. If you're angry, take it out on me. Do you have any idea that you could've killed her?"

Winter remained calm. She pointed toward the camera in the corner of the room.

"It wasn't me. Check the cameras if you don't believe me. Besides—"

She paused. "It was just a breathing mask. She wasn't in danger. Have you forgotten that you shut off my dad's life support for ten full minutes?"

A flash of violence crossed Liam's eyes. "We’ll see how long you can keep being stubborn."

He started to get up, but Regina clutched his sleeve and shook her head weakly.

"Don't check. I don't want you to see me like this. I don't want you to hurt over this," she said, coughing. "I believe Winnie didn't mean to do it. Please give her another chance."

Her coughing fit left Liam visibly shaken.

"Alright, sure. We won't check the cameras, but I can't just let her humiliate you like this."

His voice hardened as he turned back to Winter. "She knelt and begged you. You'll kneel and apologize the same way."

Winter stared at him in disbelief.

"I'm not going to admit to something I didn't do, Liam. I'm not kneeling to her. You wouldn't sink so low as to threaten my dad again, would you?"

Liam stepped closer, and his tall frame cast a shadow over her. "There's no need to complicate things, is there?"

He gestured toward the door. Several large bodyguards rushed into the room.

His eyes met hers casually. "Make her kneel and apologize. Keep going until I say stop. Leave the door open. Make sure everyone knows what happens when someone hurts Regina."

The guards didn't hesitate. Two of them pinned Winter's arms while another grabbed her from behind.

She struggled violently at first. Her hair fell loose as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You'll regret this, Liam!"

Liam looked down at her from above. His expensive wool coat was still perfectly pressed. "The only thing I'd regret is not teaching you a lesson for Regina today."

The last of Winter's resistance drained away when she met his ice-cold gaze.

She went limp, letting the guards grip her hair and slam her head against the freezing marble floor.

Each impact exploded inside her skull. Pain tore through her forehead. It was as if her skull were about to shatter.

The noise drew people passing through the hallway to look inside the room.