**Chapter 14**
In a calculated move, Thomas had ensured that Winthrop remained blissfully unaware of Yvonne’s whereabouts. The secrecy left Winthrop with no alternative but to make his way to the Baldwin Group, a place he never thought he would visit under such circumstances.
Clad in an impeccably tailored suit, he found himself standing in the sweltering heat, a large bouquet of vibrant roses cradled in his hands. The sun beat down mercilessly, yet he remained rooted to the spot, his resolve unwavering as the minutes turned into hours—three hours, to be precise.
His striking presence did not go unnoticed; curious employees began to gather, peering through the glass windows, their whispers swirling like the heat waves rising off the pavement.
“Isn’t that Winthrop, the heir of the Mendoza Group? What on earth is he doing here?” one employee mused, a mix of intrigue and skepticism in their voice.
“Surely he’s not here to win back his wife, right? That would be absurd!” another chimed in, shaking their head in disbelief.
“Nonsense! Everyone knows his fiancée is Ms. Norman. This must be business-related,” a third offered, attempting to rationalize the scene.
“Who stands outside with a massive bouquet of flowers to discuss business? He must have lost it!” someone else scoffed.
Amidst this chatter, Yvonne, her arms loaded with a stack of documents, caught sight of Winthrop standing resolutely under the sun. A wave of emotions washed over her as she watched him, her heart racing.
Not long ago, she had taken a leap of faith, joining Thomas’s company to expand her horizons and escape the confines of her previous life. Yet, the shadow of Winthrop loomed large, and she had quickly become the target of malicious gossip and ostracism from her colleagues.
To shield herself from the prying eyes and judgment, she had taken to wearing heavy makeup and a mask, a disguise that allowed her to blend into the background unnoticed. Little did she know that after just one brief encounter, Winthrop would be driven to find her here, in a place she thought she could hide.
As she contemplated making a discreet exit through the back door, a sudden commotion erupted near the window.
“What is Mr. Mendoza saying? Whose name is he calling? It sounds like, Shen… Shen something?”
Yvonne’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening in disbelief. Without thinking, she dashed down the stairs, urgency propelling her forward.
“Yvonne, I was wrong, I’m sorry! Can you forgive me?” Winthrop’s voice rang out, desperate and raw.
“Yvonne, I was wrong, I’m sorry…” he repeated, his tone pleading.
“Winthrop, have you lost your mind?” she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of anger and disbelief.
As she reached the bottom of the staircase, she could hear Winthrop calling her name with an intensity that sent chills down her spine. The moment she appeared before him, a flicker of joy ignited in his eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by the urgency of the moment.
“Yvie, please, just listen to me,” he implored, but before he could elaborate, he was abruptly pulled away, dragged toward the back entrance of the building by an unseen force.
Yvonne, still masked and seething with anger, confronted him. “Winthrop, are you out of your mind?!”
“Honey, I was wrong!” he insisted, his voice trembling with emotion.
In a swift motion, Winthrop enveloped her in his arms, holding her tightly as if she might vanish at any moment. The familiarity of the term “honey” struck her like a bolt of lightning, a reminder of the affection they once shared.
It had been far too long since he had used that endearing name, and it stirred a mix of longing and resentment within her. For the sake of the Mendoza family’s power, he had forced himself to suppress his feelings, wearing a mask of indifference that had cost them both dearly.
Yvonne had endured so much pain and heartache because of him, and the weight of her suffering settled heavily on her chest.
“Yvie, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you were taken to the police station. Those damned bodyguards didn’t recognize you and thought you were a thief. I was caught up in work, and I didn’t have a chance to look into it,” he explained, his voice laced with regret.
“And about the bullying you faced in the detention center—it was indeed the Mendoza family who ordered it, but I had no knowledge of it. I promise you, I’ve dealt with those bastards who hurt you. You will get justice,” he added earnestly, sincerity shining through his eyes.
Yvonne felt a tightening in her chest at his words, a flicker of hope battling against the shadows of her memories. Yet, as she looked into his eyes, the haunting echoes of her past flooded back, reminding her of the nightmare she had endured.
How could she even begin to forgive him with just a few hollow words? Taking a deep breath, she wrenched herself from his embrace, her demeanor icy and unyielding.
“Winthrop, what’s the point of saying all this? I’ve suffered for you for years, and I’ve had enough,” she declared, her voice steady yet filled with pain.
“I once believed that as long as you loved me and treated me well, I could endure anything for you. I was willing to bear any hardship, to overlook any insult.”
Her voice trembled as she continued, “I dreamed of a love that would last a lifetime, one that would never see us apart. But in the end, it was all your scheming. You only ever wanted to use me as a pawn in your game!”
Winthrop shook his head, desperation etched on his face. “Yvie, I never saw you as a tool. All these years, I had my reasons for the way things unfolded. Yes, you were wronged, and that was my fault, but I never intended to use you.”
“If you could just wait a little longer, we…” he began, but Yvonne cut him off with a bitter laugh, her voice rising in intensity.
“Enough!” she shouted, her frustration boiling over. “Wait a little longer, wait a little longer—I’ve heard that for five long years! But in the end, you’re still going to marry Chloe, aren’t you? You tossed me aside like I was nothing!”
“Winthrop, I won’t wait for you any longer. From this moment on, we’ll only be enemies,” she declared resolutely, turning on her heel without a moment’s hesitation.
As her words hung in the air, Winthrop felt a chill run down his spine. The mention of Chloe struck him like a dagger, a realization dawning that Yvonne had completely misunderstood his intentions.
Desperate to reach her, he rushed forward, but just then, the screech of brakes shattered the tension as a sleek Bentley came to a halt, blocking the space between him and Yvonne in a defiant display.
The window rolled down, revealing Thomas’s striking features, his gaze cold and unwavering as he regarded Winthrop with disdain.
Without a word, Thomas took Yvonne’s hand, and together they left, the exhaust from the car billowing out and enveloping Winthrop in a cloud of dust and dirt.
Fury coursed through him as he glared at the retreating vehicle, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “Well, Thomas, we’ll see about that,” he muttered under his breath, a storm brewing within him.
Returning to the villa, Winthrop stormed into the bedroom, his emotions boiling over as he yanked open the bedsheet, revealing a hidden drawer beneath.
With trembling hands, he retrieved the red marriage certificate, the symbol of a bond he had entered into under duress.
Then, with a fierce determination, he ordered someone to bring forth the fraudulent marriage certificate he had with Chloe.
“Mr. Mendoza, what are you planning to do?” came the hesitant inquiry from his assistant.
Winthrop tightened his grip on the fake certificate, his voice a low growl as he spat out each word through clenched teeth. “Those old bastards have pushed me too far; I’m done waiting. I’m going to silence them for good.”
“Jake, arrange a press conference for me. Tell them I have an important announcement to make. And make sure to invite Chloe,” he commanded, his resolve unshakeable.
***
A few days later, the city of San Francisco buzzed with electrifying news, the air thick with anticipation.
Magazines, newspapers, and headlines were ablaze with speculation, each outlet vying to uncover the truth behind the unfolding drama.
“Winthrop, President of the Mendoza Group, invites the Financial Times for an exclusive interview, announcing that Ms. Norman from the Norman family will join him,” the headlines screamed.
“Suspected romance revealed, wedding date imminent,” they proclaimed, setting the stage for a confrontation that would change everything.
