Chapter 20
Winona and Eliza were rescued in no time. Someone was helping Winona stand, while Eliza was stretched out on the ground, not moving after throwing up some water. People circled around, looking worried.
“Eliza, are you okay? Wake up! Don’t scare me, Eliza!” But no matter how hard Christine cried, Eliza made no response at all, which made the Patterson family frown and get worried.
Xavier knelt on one knee beside Eliza, bent down to listen to her faint breath, and began to do the CPR with a serious expression. While doing that, he said to others, “Call an ambulance.” After saying that, he glanced over at Winona. She was soaked, water dripping everywhere, her look totally wrecked.
They stared at each other. It was freezing, early winter cold, but Winona stood strong, shaking but with a calm, cool look in her eyes.
Diane wrinkled her brow, concerned. She asked Winona, “Winona, are you alright?”
Winona just nodded, eyes fixed on Eliza, thinking,
can’t swim. Why’d she drag me down? Lucky for me, she let go, or I’d been drowned too.‘
Mall By questioned Winona with red eyes, “Did you push Eliza into the water? How can you be so
Suddenly, Christine stood up and rushed over. She
vicious?”
But before Winona could explain, Sandra shouted, “Christine, what the hell are you talking about? They didn’t have any grudges against each other. Why would Winona push Eliza into the water?”
Christine was anxious. Other people didn’t know about it, but she knew that Winona had already known the relationship between Xavier and Eliza. So she felt that Winona pushed Eliza into the water out of jealousy. “It’s true! Everyone has seen Winona getting out of the pool alone. She did it, definitely. Winona, you did it but dare not to admit it?”
Winona looked at Christine and got angry. She was dragged into the water for no reason, and now she was even accused of trying to kill Eliza. Looking at Eliza’s pale face, Winona saw her eyelashes flinch. She was ticked off but managed to say, “It was an accident, okay? I tried to help her but nearly got pulled under myself.”
Christine’s eyes widened after she heard that. Obviously, she didn’t want to believe what Winona said. “You’re lying!” she claimed.
But other people were nodding along to Winona’s story. They knew there was no bad blood between them.
Diane shouted, “Christine!”
Christine bit her lips and shut up. She felt as if Winona had bewitched her family. She could only stamp her feet with anger.
Eliza caught bits of their chat, lying there awake, fists tight. But she kept her cool. She couldn’t mess up her plans now. Lucky for her, the servants acted fast, or she’d be dead already.
The ambulance arrived soon. After a quick check, the doctor turned to them. “We need someone from the family to come along. Who’s coming?”
Christine was about to say something, but she suddenly changed her mind. “Xavier, you should go. I can’t handle this. If something happens, I won’t know what to do.”
Everyone looked at Xavier. He was on his feet but not moving. They then looked at the silent Winona.
If it was in the past, Diane would have asked Xavier to stay. But the two of them would get divorced in a few days. So everyone kept silent.
Winona looked down at her feet, as if it was none of her business. Her shoes were still in the pool.
Seeing this, the doctor frowned and urged, “Hurry up. We don’t have much time.”
Christine stamped her feet anxiously. “Xavier, Eliza has no other friends except us in Curtia!”
Xavier walked up to the waiter and said, “Coat.”
The waiter froze for a second. Then he quickly took off his coat. Everyone was watching Xavier toss it over Winona’s shoulders.
Winona wanted to refuse, but then she heard Xavier say, “Don’t leave before I come back.”
“Why?” Winona looked up at Xavier with anger in her eyes. Meanwhile, she thought of what Eliza had said before she dragged her into the water.
Xavier’s face darkened. He kind of knew Winona’s temperament now. When she was in a good mood, she was like a docile little lamb, but if not, she was like a hedgehog that would hurt people. “You are involved in it. You can’t leave before everything is clear,” he explained.
Winona clenched her fists and watched coldly as Xavier got into the ambulance.
1/2
1:10 PM
Chapter 20
With the ambulance gone, Christine threw a smug look at Winona, but Winona didn’t even look at her.
“Grandpa Gary, Grandma Diane, I’ll be heading back,” Winona said. Of course, Diane wouldn’t let Winona go home like this. “Take a warm shower and get changed first,” Diane said,
Winona didn’t refuse. After all, it was not appropriate for her to go home like this. She nodded and left under the curious gazes of others.
Most of the guests had left, but some people who were about to leave were attracted by the cry for help. James glanced around and said, “It was an accident. It’s fine. Don’t worry. Let me walk you out.”
The people present understood what he implied–This matter was over and should not be spread out.
In the bathroom, Winona stood under the shower head with her eyes closed. Her body was frozen, but her heart was even colder.
After changing into clean clothes, Winona walked out and then saw Christine. She was sitting on the sofa, looking at Winona provocatively. “My grandparents and parents have been fooled by you, but I’m not. You did it because you were jealous of Eliza, didn’t you?”
Winona wasn’t up for a fight with Christine. She shrugged into her coat, grabbed her purse, and headed to the door.
But Christine couldn’t stand being brushed off by Winona again and again. She walked up to stop Winona and said proudly, “You both fell into the water, but Xavier left with Eliza. He doesn’t care about you at all. He won’t love you, you…
Winona suddenly interrupted her in a cold voice, “I’ve already signed the divorce papers. It’s not my problem anymore. What more do you want?”
Christine didn’t know what to say, because what Winona said was right. In the end, she just glared at Winona fiercely and then left.
Winona sneezed, felt her forehead, and walked out. Diane was on her way up with the servants, “It’s too late, Just stay here tonight and go home tomorrow morning. Come and drink this warm soup,” Diane said.
“Grandma Diane, I’m fine,” Winona declined her.
Diane frowned and blurted out, “I know you don’t want to see that bastard. He will definitely stay with Eliza tonight. Just rest assured and stay here?
“Ahem. Diane,” Gary coughed to remind her. Diane realized she’d had a slip of the tongue, a little embarrassed.
Looking at their embarrassed expressions, Winona smiled and nodded, “Okay, I’ll stay here tonight”
