Winter stared at the divorce agreement inside the drawer and felt as if she had been frozen in place.

Several thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant, and a chill crept up her spine.

Three years ago, she had only been able to marry Chris because Mrs. Xander Sr. had taken a liking to her. Winter had always known that Chris did not love her. He had agreed to the marriage only to secure his position within the Xander family. With Mrs. Xander Sr.’s support, it had been much easier for him to push forward his ambitions.

This marriage was something she had stolen.

She had willingly let herself fall deeper, hoping that one day Chris would come to love her.

She had overestimated herself. Even before the marriage, Chris had never been warm toward her. Afterward, they had lived like strangers under the same roof.

Divorce had always felt like a hidden time bomb in her marriage.

For three years, Chris had never mentioned it.

Now it had come without warning, catching her completely unprepared.

As for why it was happening now, she already knew the answer.

It was because Skyla had returned.

The bold words “Divorce Agreement” felt like nails driven straight into her heart. She could not bring herself to pick it up and read what was inside.

If she hadn't discovered it herself today, she wondered when Chris had planned on giving it to her.

She didn't know how long she stood there. She only snapped back to reality when the sound of a car engine drifted up from downstairs and she heard Mrs. Young respectfully greet Chris.

By the time she went downstairs, Chris had already entered the house.

Snow was falling outside. He casually handed his long black coat to his assistant. His custom-made black suit added an air of solemnity to his presence, making him look exceptionally tall and cold. As the powerful head of the Xander family, his aura was overwhelming.

He looked up at the sound of footsteps.

The rimless glasses sharpened his already composed appearance. Behind the lenses, his dark eyes were partially hidden, yet their quiet brilliance was impossible to miss. Beneath the calm exterior was a pull that was hard to resist.

Winter walked toward him without thinking.

They had not seen each other in thirteen days, and ever since she was forced to terminate the pregnancy after their child died in the womb a year ago, they had spoken less and less. The man standing before her now felt like a stranger.

Winter stopped in her tracks. The divorce agreement in the drawer flashed through her mind, and she opened her mouth, about to ask him about it.

His cool gaze swept over her face, and his brows drew together slightly.

“Grandma is sick. Come back to the family estate with me.”

His low voice carried a hint of chill.

After saying that, he turned and walked out.

The thought of Mrs. Xander Sr. being ill made Winter’s chest tighten. She no longer had the presence of mind to think about the divorce papers. She went back to her room, grabbed a coat and gloves, and carefully covered the injuries on the back of her hand.

When she hurried to the entrance, Chris was standing under the porch with his back to her.

He lowered his head to light a cigarette. Hearing her footsteps, he glanced to the side. The brief flare of the flame lit his eyes for a moment before they fell back into shadow.

He was Chris Xander, the most untouchable man in Liono City.

Even back in high school, people online had endlessly praised his looks and talent. The attention had caused a brief frenzy and even trended before the Xander family quietly shut it down.

Even during the two years when he had been blind, he had remained the object of countless women’s admiration.

A dull ache spread through Winter’s chest as she moved to get into the car.

As she passed him, her steps unconsciously quickened. Suddenly, he caught her by the arm.

Winter froze and looked up, meeting his gaze. It felt as if he could see straight through her.

His warm fingers lifted her chin.

She tried to turn away, but his grip tightened, as if he had already anticipated the movement. His thumb brushed slowly along the corner of her lips.

“How did you hurt your face?”

With nowhere to retreat, Winter could only lift her head slightly and meet his gaze.

She didn’t know what kind of ointment Mrs. Young had used, but when she woke up that morning, the bruising on her face had already faded significantly. After using a warm compress that evening, it was almost impossible to see. Even Mrs. Young had been surprised, saying she looked nothing like she had the night before.

The marks were barely there now.

So how had he noticed?

A dull ache spread through Winter’s chest.

“I tripped while I was working yesterday.”

There was no point in telling him about the assault now. She didn’t realize it, but her voice still carried a trace of bitterness.

Her tone clearly displeased Chris. He rubbed at the corner of her lip with a bit more pressure and gave a short, dry laugh.

“You're not a child anymore.”

The car door closed, and warm air from the heater wrapped around Winter, slowly driving away the chill that had settled deep into her bones.

The car pulled away from Blackwood Manor and headed toward the Xander estate.

The moment Chris got into the car, he began handling work on his laptop.

“Were you in the study just now?”

His clear, low voice sounded beside her.

Winter’s chest tightened. She looked at Chris, who had not once lifted his eyes from the screen. The question sounded casual, as if he had asked it without much thought.

He must have noticed the light on in the study when he got out of the car.

The study was usually handled by his assistant, and Mrs. Young was never allowed inside. At that hour, the only person who could have been there was her.

And after seeing the divorce agreement, she had completely forgotten why she had gone into the study in the first place.

“Yes. I went to look for a book but I couldn’t find anything I wanted to read.”

Her mind was preoccupied with Mrs. Xander Sr.’s health. She leaned against the car window, restless and distracted, as the car continued toward the Xander estate.

When Winter was seven years old, both her parents had died. Because of the long-standing ties between the Scott and Xander families, the kind-hearted Mrs. Xander Sr. had taken her in and raised her. In the Xander family, the person who loved her most was Mrs. Xander Sr.

The first snow in Liono City had come suddenly. Mrs. Xander Sr. had caught a chill and come down with a cold.

When Winter entered the room, members of the Xander family, along with doctors, the butler, and servants, were all crowded around, coaxing Mrs. Xander Sr. to take her medicine. Mrs. Xander Sr. clenched her teeth and stubbornly refused to open her mouth.

The moment she saw Winter, it was as if she had found a savior.

“Winter! They’re trying to hurt me!”

“Grandma.” Winter walked over quickly and took Mrs. Xander Sr.’s hand. She sat on the edge of the bed and said gently, “Who would dare hurt you while I'm here? I’d knock them all down. Now, be good and let’s take the medicine. I'll feed it to you, okay?”

Mrs. Xander Sr.’s eyes reddened with grievance, but she still listened and obediently took the medicine.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief.

As expected, Winter could coax her like this.

Chris stood off to the side, sweeping a deep, unreadable gaze over Winter’s smiling face.

“It’s so bitter!” Mrs. Xander Sr.’s face scrunched up in protest.

“The medicine may be bitter, but it will help you feel better,” Winter said, coaxing her gently before offering her some water.

Seeing the aggrieved look on Mrs. Xander Sr.’s face, Winter squeezed her hand and gave it a small shake.

“All right, all right. You said it was too bitter, didn’t you? Before I came upstairs, I asked them to make you some warm honey water, with just a little sweetness. I will go get it for you, okay?”

Mrs. Xander Sr. was comforted at once.

When Winter brought the prepared drink back upstairs and was just about to go in.

“Yesterday’s news certainly made waves,” Mrs. Xander Sr. said from inside the room. “As expected of you. You never do anything quietly.”

Winter stopped in her tracks.

Chris replied in an indifferent tone.

“Grandma, there’s no need for sarcasm. You should be careful not to upset yourself.”

“Winter is your wife,” Mrs. Xander Sr. snapped. “The Xanders may owe that girl from the Jasper family, but Winter doesn’t owe her anything. She doesn’t owe you either. If you dare mistreat Winter for her sake, I won’t let it go.”

Winter’s fingers tightened, the chill seeping straight into her bones.

The sound of servants coming upstairs broke her concentration. She didn’t hear what Chris said next.

She only heard Mrs. Xander Sr. say, “You and Winter need to have a child soon. Once you do, everything you want will be yours.”

A child.

A sharp, piercing pain instantly radiated through Winter’s body, spreading to every limb.

On a late spring night last year, a drunken Chris had stumbled into her room by mistake. She could never forget how, in the heat of the moment, he had pressed against her ear and whispered her name.

She became pregnant with his child that very night.

After that, their relationship underwent a subtle shift. Although he still rarely came home, he hired a nutritionist specifically to oversee her daily meals. She truly believed that was the beginning of her happily ever after.

But last winter, when she was already eight months along, the baby’s heartbeat suddenly stopped. The fetus died in her womb, and she was forced to undergo a termination.

Afraid she would be devastated, the medical staff would not let her see the baby even once.

She never got to say goodbye. She never got to touch his tiny hand.

During that time, no one dared to mention the word “child” in front of her. It became a forbidden place in her heart.

Now, hearing it again, she felt as though she had been plunged into ice.

Soft footsteps sounded on the stairs. A servant came up from downstairs.

“Mrs. Xander.”

Winter snapped back to herself. She wiped at her reddened eyes, steadied the tray in her hands, and stepped into the room.

The conversation inside stopped abruptly. The moment Mrs. Xander Sr. saw Winter, her brows knit with pain and regret.

If she had known Winter was upstairs, she never would have brought up the child.

She immediately turned to Chris, hoping he would go to her, but Chris stood there like a block of ice. He gave Winter a casual glance before turning to leave the room.

*

After Mrs. Xander Sr. had fallen asleep, Winter checked her temperature again and made sure the fever had gone down before leaving the room.

That night, Mrs. Xander Sr. insisted that Winter and Chris stay at the Xander estate. She even had the butler, Mr. White, personally escort Winter back to the guesthouse that had once been prepared as their marital home.

The house stood on its own within the Xander estate, a separate building meant for the couple alone.

Winter had no idea where Chris had gone. After leaving Mrs. Xander Sr.’s room earlier, he had disappeared completely.

He had never been one to follow orders. Now that he was firmly in control and no longer needed anyone’s approval, he certainly did not have to listen to the family. It was entirely possible that he had already left the estate.

When she reached the bedroom door, Winter glanced back at Mr. White, who was pulling his phone from his pocket. She let out a quiet sigh.

“Mr. White, you should go get some rest.”

“I can’t, Mrs. Xander,” he said apologetically. “Mrs. Xander Sr. asked me to take photos as proof.”

Mr. White used to address her as Ms. Scott. After she married Chris, even though Chris had never openly acknowledged her as his wife, Mrs. Xander Sr. had made it clear that everyone in the household was to address her properly as Mrs. Xander.

It was obvious that Mrs. Xander Sr. wasn’t reassured at all.

Winter did not know what else to say. She stood at the door, completely drained, and let Mr. White take a couple of photos.

Mr. White nodded with satisfaction at the pictures.

“That will do. I can report back now. Mrs. Xander, please get some rest.”

As he walked away, Winter breathed a sigh of relief. At least Chris wasn't there. She would have the room to herself.

As soon as she closed the door, Winter leaned against it and bent forward, clutching her right leg as pain made it tremble.

She had almost failed to hold it together.

Last night, the man had kicked her right leg hard. Three times. With that kind of force, two more kicks would have crippled her.

Once the police caught them, she would make sure he paid for it.

“Are you waiting for me to come over and carry you?”

A man’s cool voice suddenly broke the silence of the dim room.

Winter jumped in shock. She had not even had time to turn on the lights. She looked toward the sound, and a blurred figure gradually came into focus. A flash of light glinted off a pair of lenses.

Chris stood by the open window, leaning against the sill, a cigarette between his fingers.

Winter looked at him, emotions tangled and unreadable.

So he had not left after all.

He had come back to the room before she did.

It seemed they would be staying here together tonight.

If this had been the past, Winter would have felt flustered, her heart racing with shy anticipation.

But the image of the divorce agreement in the desk drawer flashed through her mind, along with Skyla’s return. Whatever expectations she once had vanished completely.

She did not bother turning on the light. Enduring the pain in her right leg, she walked toward the sofa.

Forget it. She would just make do on the sofa for the night. Once morning came, everything would be fine.

Before she could even reach it, a sudden force yanked her sideways. She lost her balance and fell straight into a broad, warm chest.

Before she could struggle free, the arm around her waist tightened abruptly.

Chris’s warm, damp breath brushed against her ear as he kissed her, sending an instinctive shiver through her body.

This was the first time Chris had touched her since last spring.

In a dizzy blur, she was pressed down onto the sofa. His body blocked out the light, his heat enclosing her completely.

The lingering, heated kisses left her with no strength to resist.

“Grandma said we should have a child.”

The words hit her like a bucket of cold water.

Winter thought of the divorce agreement in the study drawer, then of what Mrs. Xander Sr. had just said. She turned her face away from his lips and looked straight into his eyes, eyes that seemed made to ensnare people.

Her throat felt as though it were being pricked by countless needles.

“Do you actually want a child, or do you just want whatever Grandma promised you in return?”

Chris seized both her wrists and pinned them above her head. With one hand, he removed his glasses. Without the lenses to soften his gaze, his eyes turned cold and sharp, like those of a predator.

This was the real Chris Xander.

“What difference does it make?” he said calmly. “When you insisted on marrying me back then, you should have been prepared for this.”

Winter’s face drained of color.

“Don’t you agree?” he whispered. “Winter.”

The tenderness in his voice only made the pain sink deeper into her bones.

A name spoken without love, steeped in mockery, felt like slow torture to her.

Chris knew exactly where to strike to hurt her the most.

He gave a low, mocking laugh and leaned down, easily stripping her of the last of her strength.

As her clothes were pulled open, Winter’s body jerked violently.

Her mind instinctively replayed the scene from the night before, when she had been beaten. If not for a kind passerby, her clothes would have been torn apart then too.

In that moment, she could no longer tell whether the man in front of her was Chris, or the men who had attacked her.

“Don’t!”

Like a cornered animal, she bit down hard on his neck.

In the dim light, Chris hissed in pain.

“So you’ve grown bold enough to bite now?” Chris sneered. His large hand clamped onto her jaw as he yanked off his tie, moving to bind her struggling wrists.

Suddenly, a phone rang sharply in the room.

A cold blue glow lit up the darkness.

The phone on the coffee table vibrated, slowly shifting its position. The caller ID came clearly into Winter’s view.

Skyla.

It was Skyla Jasper.

Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, Winter scrambled out from under him. Trembling, she pulled her clothes together, covering the large, dark bruises left from the beating the night before.

Dragging her injured right leg, she curled up in the corner of the sofa.

At that moment, the lamp beside the sofa snapped on.

Chris stood there, his tie hanging loose around his collar, two buttons of his shirt torn open. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed.

The phone was still ringing.

Winter’s face was deathly pale, making her reddened eyes stand out even more. She looked at him with open mockery.

She said coldly, “Your precious sweetheart is calling. Aren’t you going to answer?”

Chris pushed himself up from the sofa. His expression was cold as he glanced at Winter curled up in the corner. He picked up his phone, swiped the screen, and answered the call.

“Focus on your recovery first. That’s the most important thing. As for anything else, have someone reach out to Gavin.”

Whatever the person on the other end said, his response was gentle and incredibly patient. Nothing like the man he had been with her.

After hanging up, Chris picked up the glasses he had tossed aside earlier. He did not look at Winter again. He stood, grabbed his suit jacket, and headed for the door.

“Are you going to see Skyla?” Winter asked, her eyes burning red.

Without turning back, he said, “That’s none of your business.”

Bracing her aching right leg, Winter struggled to her feet. She looked at the man standing there, immaculate and composed, a stark contrast to her own disheveled state. Her heart sank to the bottom of her chest.

“Chris Xander!”

She staggered forward and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

Afraid he would shake her off, she held on with all her strength. Every bone in her body screamed in pain.

The divorce papers in the drawer, Skyla’s return, and the fact that she could no longer hold on to Chris’s heart all crowded her mind.

It was time to put an end to everything.

Winter closed her eyes in pain, almost mocking herself for still hoping.

“When you married me back then, you didn’t have a choice,” she said quietly. “I just want to know the truth of how you really feel.”

Chris held his glasses between his long fingers. He looked down at her coldly.

“What game are you playing now?”

“Call it a game if you want.” Winter slowly loosened her grip.

She looked up at him. Her eyes were clear without a trace of confusion. She spoke each word carefully.

“If Grandma hadn’t used company shares as leverage, would you have agreed to marry me?”

Deep down, she knew there was no point in asking. But a part of her couldn't let it go. This was her last chance to speak up. No matter what he said tonight, she would never ask him again.

Chris narrowed his eyes as he studied her. Then he smiled, though the smile never reached his eyes.

“Does it matter?”

He let out a soft scoff. His dark eyes fixed on her as he stepped closer.

“You were the one who insisted on marrying me back then. You didn’t care about anything else. So why bring this up now? What are you trying to do?”

Without his glasses, the sharpness in his gaze was fully unleashed.

The crushing pressure and biting cold made Winter instinctively take a step back.

Chris grabbed her waist and looked down at her. His eyes slid lower, to her lips, still faintly swollen from his kiss. He leaned in, his warm breath brushing her ear.

“You want to know my real answer?” he murmured. “I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

The grip at her waist vanished abruptly.

Winter’s right leg gave out. She collapsed onto the floor.

She stared blankly in the direction he left, her body trembling uncontrollably.

A black sedan was parked outside the gates of the Xander estate.

Chris, radiating a cold intensity, got into the car. He yanked off his loosened tie and tossed it aside, stretching out his legs.

The heater was on, but the temperature inside the car seemed to drop the moment he sat down.

His assistant, Gavin Lincoln, glanced quickly at the rearview mirror, then looked away and started the car.

“Mr. Xander, Ms. Jasper called earlier. She said her younger brother got into some trouble. He incited an assault.”

“Who was the victim?” Chris asked.

“She said it was someone who meddled too much. The person isn’t seriously hurt and only has minor injuries. But the police have already traced it back to the Jasper family. Ms. Jasper is very worried.”

Chris lit a cigarette. The flare briefly outlined the sharp line of his brow.

“Go take care of it.”

*

Word of Chris leaving the estate the previous night reached Mrs. Xander Sr. early the next morning.

At the breakfast table, Mrs. Xander Sr. was about to say something to comfort Winter, but Winter smiled and placed a croissant onto her plate.

“Grandma, let’s just enjoy our breakfast. We shouldn't talk about things that ruin the appetite.”

After Chris had been summoned away by a phone call from Skyla, Winter did not sleep in their marital home. Instead, she returned to her old room, right next door to Chris’s.

In the past, she used to go looking for him whenever she had the chance. Even though Chris found her annoying, he had never changed rooms all those years.

After finishing breakfast with Mrs. Xander Sr., Winter prepared to leave. With her injured leg, she could not drive, so she asked Mr. White to arrange a car for her.

While waiting, she took a tube of anti-inflammatory ointment from her bag.

She had found it that morning on the table outside her bedroom. It was the same ointment Mrs. Young had used on her back at Blackwood Manor. She had no idea who had left it there.

She walked into the courtyard and stopped, lifting her gaze to the magnolia tree that stood two stories tall.

Magnolias in Liono City only bloomed in April. Now, in December, the branches were bare and lifeless.

She remembered when she first came to the Xander estate. It had been magnolia season.

She was seven. Chris was twelve.

That day, the sun had been bright. Chris had stood beneath the magnolia tree while the servants introduced her to him. He had glanced at her coolly and said only one thing: “Just don’t bother me.”

“What a relaxed mood you’re in,” a voice said coolly from behind her. “Everything’s falling apart in the house, and you still have the leisure to stand here staring at a boring tree.”

The mockery in his tone was unmistakable.

Winter did not need to turn around to know who it was. It was Steve Xander, Chris’s cousin.

Steve had never gotten along with Chris. Winter had no interest in engaging with him and stepped forward, ready to leave.

“Hey—” Steve stretched out his arm and blocked her path, smiling faintly.

“Don’t you want to know where Chris arranged for Skyla to stay?”

Winter stopped.

Seeing her pause, Steve grinned. He strolled over to stand in front of her, looking down with a raised eyebrow.

“You’ve been married to him for three years, and yet Chris is so heartless…”

Winter slipped her hands into her pockets and cut him off.

“How things are between Chris and me is our business as a married couple. It has nothing to do with you. If you have so much time to meddle, you should spend it figuring out how to secure your footing within the Xander Corporation.”

The words struck a nerve.

Steve’s expression darkened. He grabbed her arm and sneered, “You and Chris, a married couple? That’s just wishful thinking on your part. Has Chris ever treated you like his wife?”

It felt like a public slap in the face. Winter felt a sharp pang in her chest. Everyone in the Xander family knew that Chris had never truly acknowledged her.

“Whether he treats me as his wife or not, I’m still your sister-in-law,” Winter said coldly as she shook his hand off. “Touch me again and see what happens. I won’t hesitate to call for help.”

True enough, Steve did not dare push things further in the Xander estate.

He stood beneath the bare branches, staring at her darkly.

“I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you finally find out the truth.”

Winter ignored him.

After getting into the car, she reached down and rubbed her aching leg.

“Ma'am, are we going to the station?” the driver asked respectfully. It was a workday, and he didn't know she had been given time off.

“Yes,” she replied.

She still had an interview transcript that needed editing. Keeping herself busy would help distract her from her thoughts.

Winter was a senior reporter in the station’s news department. She specialized in investigative journalism, focusing on unethical corporations and illegal businesses. Through her work alone, she had already helped rescue many vulnerable youths from dangerous environments.

As soon as she arrived at the newsroom, Sam called her into his office.

He closed the door, motioned for her to sit, and hesitated, clearly struggling with what to say.

Meeting Winter’s calm, questioning gaze, he finally sighed.

“Winter, there’s something I need to tell you. The people who attacked you have been identified, but…”

“They have powerful backing?” Winter asked calmly. She was not surprised. Anyone who dared assault a reporter was either stupid or well protected.

Sam poured her a glass of water and placed it on the desk.

Then, his voice grew heavy. “I’ve asked around. The person who ordered the hit is the younger brother of Chris Xander’s ex-girlfriend. Chris is protecting him. He even got the three men who actually beat you released. The Xander family has people at the police station…”

Winter barely heard whatever he said after that.