Silly Bride novel (Winnie and Xavier)
Chapter 242

Besides, Winnie even learned from Christopher that Harold detested women with heavy makeup.

Instead, he preferred natural beauties without any makeup.

For that reason, she didn't apply any makeup after selecting her outfit. She merely gathered her hair up and pinned it to the back of her head with a hairpin. Although her hairstyle was simple, that hairpin was anything but.

Like the necklace around her neck, it was customized and could be turned into a sharp, deadly weapon when one was in danger.

After doing all that, she promptly opened the door and strode out.

At that moment, the woman outside was smoking. When she saw Winnie stepping out of the room, she swiftly tossed the cigarette butt away.

She initially wanted to snub it out, but she could no longer take her eyes off Winnie once her gaze alighted on the latter.

She stared at Winnie blankly for a long while before she remembered that she hadn't snubbed the cigarette out and hastily stomped on it a few times.

Grinning from ear to ear, she said to Winnie, "I knew you were a stunning beauty the second I saw you, but you always wore long dresses, so it was too conservative. It was a waste of your stellar figure. Look at you now! You're breathtaking with just a change of clothes. No wonder Chris stayed away from women in the past. It turned out that he disdained the likes of us. You're truly too beautiful!”

"Really? So I'll undoubtedly be able to snatch Chris back?" Winnie pretended to be a bimbo.

The woman giggled. "I'm afraid that all the men present tonight will be bewitched by you, not just Chris!"

Winnie deliberately frowned. "Who wants to bewitch those men? I only want Chris. He's my boyfriend, and I won't share him with any other woman. Likewise, I won't betray him!"

"Boyfriend?" The woman guffawed, seemingly both in mockery and jealousy. "I really envy you for having such confidence when you're in such a place. Let's go. He might go off with someone else if you're late."

Shortly after, Winnie arrived at the pool with the woman.

It wasn't her first time visiting that place.

Previously, she came over to look for Jacinta, only to happen across the Horton family having internal strife. When she came over with Christopher the next day, she saw a few people removing the dead bodies in the pool.

At that time, the dead bodies floated on the water motionlessly. Even the water in the pool had been stained red by their blood.

Tonight, however, it was vibrant and lively. The pool was full of men and women cheering excitedly as they enjoyed themselves without restraint.

Winnie's gaze swept over the crowd at lightning speed before it finally fell on the host there, Harold.

He was the youngest among the major players in Jipsdale, only in his early thirties that year.

Over here, everyone addressed him as "Mr. Horton." On the surface, he indeed appeared handsome, suave, and elegant.

But beneath his gentle persona, he was the most ruthless of the three local major drug lords, often committing the most brutal acts with his smile intact.

Not only was he vicious, but he was also perceptive. As such, Winnie's gaze didn't stay on him for long. In the next heartbeat, she shifted her gaze to Christopher, who sat across from Harold. At the same time she sauntered toward them.

Sure enough, the woman earlier was right in that Winnie bewitched all the men present as soon as she made an appearance.

Even the women around the men couldn't help staring at her.

Many who had never seen her started whispering among themselves.

The subject revolved around where exactly such a stunning beauty came from, whose woman she was, whether they could bed her, and the like.

Unsurprisingly, as she took everyone's breath away, she quickly attracted Harold's attention.

At the sight of Winnie in a white one-piece swimsuit, looking radiant even without makeup, Harold dropped his hand from around the woman he was hugging.

Whoa! It's really been a long time since I've last seen such a natural beauty. She's simply an angel among this crowd of heavily made-up women. How absolutely stunning!

Wesley was also sitting across from Harold then.

When he noticed the latter eyeing Winnie, he instantly declared, "Mr. Horton, that's Vivian, whom I escorted back yesterday. She's Chris' woman."

"Oh, I see." Harold immediately retracted his gaze from Winnie. Smiling, he turned to Christopher. "You've got good taste. I heard she had been here previously, and you only chose her among many. Why didn't you leave such an incredible beauty for me?"

At that, Christopher chuckled. Well, well, well... He even knows such a tiny detail. It looks like Wesley has told him quite a bit.

"She wasn't a virgin, so they didn't send her to you in the first place."

Harold remained smiling. "You always declined when I presented you with women in the past. For a time, I thought your sexual orientation was different from ours. Later, I heard from Wesley that you're particular when it comes to women. Why did your obsession with cleanliness disappear when it came to her? Was it love at first sight?"

"Not really." Christopher took a sip of wine before continuing, "She resembles my last woman closely, especially in terms of personality."

"Oh? What kind of personality do you like in a woman?" Harold queried with a smile.

Christopher rubbed the tip of his nose. "Well, I'm a normal man, so I naturally like women who are sensible, docile, biddable, gentle, and delicate."

"Really?" Harold smirkingly cast a glance at Winnie, who was about to reach them. "Is she really as good as you claim?"

"She's pretty good, very much like my last woman." Christopher wore a smile on his face while he spoke. It was as though he was completely immersed in his emotions.

Soon, however, the smile on his face gradually faded.

Frowning, he stated firmly, "Don't tell me you took a fancy to her, Hal? I can do anything for you, but I can't give her to you!"

"I didn't say I want her." Chortling, Harold reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't be so scared. You've finally found a woman you like, so I'm genuinely happy for you. I won't possibly fight you for her."

"Thank you, Hal!" While saying that, Christopher got to his feet. "I'll bring her over to meet you and get acquainted."

Harold bobbed his head in agreement.

The instant Wesley saw that Christopher had left, he sprang to his feet and hurried over to Harold.

In a voice brimming with loathing, he hissed. "Do you really believe the nonsense he spouted about the woman resembling his dead woman by sheer coincidence, Mr. Horton? That woman is more than likely suspicious, and they're both in cahoots for sure! Chris is definitely plotting against you!"

At once, Harold pinned a sharp gaze on the man.

"Are you using me? I hate seeing my subordinates fight among themselves. You don't like him and wish to get rid of him, so you accuse him blindly without any proof. If everyone under my command acts in a similar fashion, will there be any more order henceforth? If you're really that capable, show me proof. At that time, I'll definitely torture him to the point that he wishes for death, even without you having to play any tricks. But if you keep playing games with me, you know the consequences-I'll make you regret ever being born."

His threat was no joke, for he could undoubtedly make someone regret ever being born.

Terrified, Wesley trembled uncontrollably. "I got it, Mr. Horton. I'll be sure to look for proof."

Harold threw him a look.

As though the unpleasant situation earlier had never happened, he drawled with a faint smile, "Why are you still standing here? Go back and sit down. Act naturally without giving away your suspicions, lest he becomes disillusioned. If you were to kill Chris, you would have to take over his work. You might not want to admit it, but he's indeed better than you in some aspects."

Wesley gritted his teeth, resentment blazing hotly within him. "Okay, I got it."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Christopher walked over with Winnie.

Seeing that, he hurriedly stood up ingratiatingly. "You're back, Chris, Vivian. Quick, have a seat. I'll go elsewhere to have a drink."

Of course, that was all an act. But then, Christopher was no greenhorn either. He instantly wrapped an arm around the man's shoulder.

"Where are you going? There's plenty of space here. Here, I'll toast you. Thank you for picking her up that day when I couldn't make it since I had something to do." As he spoke, he hugged Winnie tightly around the waist.

Playing along, Winnie gently leaned against the man's shoulder.

Tilting her head, she regarded Wesley while smiling gently. "Yeah, I'm really grateful to you for having taken such good care of me throughout the drive that day." Despite the smile on her face, the look in her eyes as she stared at him was dark and cold.

Christopher couldn't quite see her gaze from her current position, but Wesley could perceive it clearly. The same went for Harold, who was sitting right across from them. Wesley shuddered at the look in her eyes while Harold imperceptibly narrowed his eyes.

Studying Winnie, Harold urged smilingly, "We're all family, so there's no need for thanks. Have a seat, everyone."

"Yeah, do have a seat." Pressing down on Wesley's shoulder, Christopher had him sit. Then, he introduced Winnie to Harold while holding her hand.

"Hal, this is Vivian, whom I mentioned to you before. She's my woman. Vivian, this is Mr. Horton, whom I told you about. Quick, greet him.”

Harold smiled, his voice as gentle as ever. "There's no need to address me as 'Mr. Horton.' Just call me Hal like Chris."

As he spoke, he lifted his hand. Immediately, someone respectfully handed him a monetary gift from behind.

He held the monetary gift out to Winnie, his dark eyes dancing with merriment. "Consider this a meeting gift from me since we're meeting for the first time." Winnie didn't take it but instinctively looked at Christopher for permission.

Chuckling, Christopher spoke as he stroked her head.

"Take it since Mr. Horton is giving it to you. But you can't be disrespectful simply because he's good-natured, so do greet him. Come on, be good." Murmuring in acquiescence, Winnie slowly reached out and took the monetary gift from Harold.

Pinning her gaze on the man, she flashed him a seductive smile. "Thank you, Hal."

I told her to address him as "Mr. Horton," yet she called him Hal!

Christopher promptly stopped stroking her head. Exerting force, he held the back of her head with his hand hard.

"Did you not hear what I said just now?"

Winnie tilted her head back and looked at him. She remained smiling without any change in expression. "I heard you, Chris. Is something the matter?" Christopher's brows knitted deeply. "What's the meaning of this? Are you challenging me? Why is it that you seem to have become someone else entirely?"

"Not at all. Such has always been my personality." Winnie languidly smoothed her hair that had gone messy from his actions. Without showing him any respect, she sat down right before him. Christopher shot daggers at her, livid to the point that his chest heaved violently. "You played me for a fool?"

Casually taking a piece of fruit, Winnie tossed it into her mouth.

She didn't even bother sparing him a look as she snickered and retorted, "Don't make it sound so serious. We merely had fun for a few nights. Why, were you planning to marry me or something, Chris?" Wesley didn't expect her to reveal her true colors so quickly. At the sight of Christopher utterly anguished as she picked on him, he couldn't help feeling gratified. "Wow, it turns out that you're a romance scammer, Ms. Vivian! You even duped our innocent Chris and had us greeting you so politely! How wicked of you!" "Shut the f*ck up!" Christopher bellowed, flying off his handle when he heard the man chiming in at the side.

When he whirled around again, the gun in his hand was already pointed right at Winnie's temple.

The moment the muzzle of the gun pressed against her temple, Winnie arched a brow.

But in no time, she regained her composure. "What are you doing, Chris? Don't you think you're going overboard to treat a woman in such a manner?"

Christopher gritted his teeth. "Why did you lie to me? Did I do anything wrong by you?"

Winnie sat on the chair calmly without moving a muscle. In fact, she flashed Harold, who sat across from her, a smile. "Not at all, Chris. Not only are you big, but you've also got great stamina. As such, you naturally didn't do anything wrong. Regretfully, you're not my cup of tea."

Christopher's eyes went red-rimmed, and disappointment was written all over his face. "Who's your cup of tea, then?"

Turning, Winnie grinned at him. "You're asking the obvious, no? Are you just unwilling to acknowledge the truth, or are you jealous? Don't tell me you want to shoot your boss dead?"

Christopher lifted his thumb and flicked off the safety of his gun. "You're simply courting death! A fickle woman like you deserves to die!"

"Hah!" Winnie snorted coldly. She didn't bother entertaining the man further. Instead, she shifted her gaze to Harold. "What are you going to do, Mr. Horton? Your subordinate wants to kill me."

Harold gave a soft snigger, his eyes blanketed with a layer of frost. "It isn't appropriate for me to interfere when it's a domestic matter."

"Even so, are you not planning to ask why I want to approach you at the risk of my life, Mr. Horton?"

Alas, the smile on Harold's face merely grew even wider. "Are you worth it? You're nothing but a b*tch."

In response, Winnie quirked an eyebrow. "It seems you're not really interested in the new formulation after all, Mr. Horton. What a pity that I expended so much effort and braved such danger to seek you out."

At the mention of the "new formulation," Harold's expression instantly changed. "What are you talking about? What new formulation?"

Winnie languidly reclined against the chair. "What other new formulation do you think there is, Mr. Horton?"

Impatience seized Harold. "Speak in more specific terms, please."

Still, Winnie remained calm and unruffled. "Sure, but have everyone leave first, Mr. Horton."

Unwilling to waste a second more, Harold suggested, "Let's go someplace else."

"No," Winnie declined without even thinking about it. She drawled, "I like open spaces. Don't tell me you don't even have that much sincerity?"

Inhaling deeply, Harold chuckled. "Okay, whatever pleases you, then."

Shortly after, he had his subordinates convey his orders. In less than three minutes, everyone present had dispersed except the few people around him.

That included his two bodyguards as well as Christopher and Wesley.

Glancing at the few people, Winnie placidly murmured, "This matter is highly confidential. I believe you don't want so many people knowing about it either, do you, Mr. Horton?" "Okay, but I need two people to be present." Perhaps Harold understood her meaning, for he waved his hand in dismissal of Wesley and Christopher.

"Sure. Chris may stay, but the other has to scram."

Wesley, who had been told to scram, shot a glare at Winnie before scurrying away.

Even then, Christopher's gun was still pressed against Winnie's temple.

Eyeing him, Winnie ordered, "Give the gun to me."

Christopher frowned deeply. Not only did he disregard her command, but he gripped the gun even tighter.

Winnie remained unfazed, turning her gaze to Harold.

Harold's brows furrowed slightly. "What do you want to do?"

"He wanted to kill me! Can't I even teach him a lesson?" Winnie asked in surprise.

At that, Harold chuckled lightly. Subsequently, he instructed, "Give the gun to her, Chris."

Christopher glanced at him without saying anything. He then went silent for a few seconds before handing Winnie the gun.

In turn, Winnie took the gun. Before anyone had time to react, she clobbered him on the head with the weapon.

At once, blood gushed out of Christopher's head. He touched it, his eyes seemingly spitting fire as he glowered at her.

Conversely, Winnie smilingly stuck the gun into his pants pocket. "Well? Do you still think that I deserve to die now? Don't look at me like that, for I won't feel guilty."

Glaring at her, Christopher spun on his heel and stalked off without a single word.

Winnie swept her gaze over him. Then, she sat back down again.

Tugging on the tablecloth, she used it to wipe the blood on her hand. Only when she had done that did she say to Harold with a grin, "Okay, I'm satisfied. We can talk about the formulation now."

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