Chapter 19

Lawrence's Adam's apple rolled and his breath grew heavier as she willingly approached him.

His eyes narrowed.

Winnie blushed, feeling even more embarrassed by his silence. Benjamin noticed the situation. Lawrence had already softened. He felt slightly frustrated that Winnie was being difficult.

"Any way of playing is fine? Ms. Anderson frequents bars, so she must be a good dancer. Let her dance for Mr. Rodriguez to relieve some stress."

Winnie's face turned pale. She coldly glanced at Benjamin, not bothering to explain herself.

Her fingers delicately circled the man's tie as she pulled him close, lowering her head in humiliation.

"I will dance for you at home, Mr. Rodriguez. Is that enough?"

Her fragrance wafted into his nostrils. Her submissive and yet resistant appearance stirred his heart. Her voice sounded weak. Lawrence assessed her and realized that she had almost been surrounded and beaten tonight. Perhaps she was injured?

Taking care of the child was important. Giving her a lesson should be enough. Lawrence coldly gripped her chin and raised his deep gaze. "Are you still going to hold me back?"

Winnie realized what was happening too late and retreated her slender body. He stood up, glaring at her coldly, and when he walked away, he held her small hand again. Everyone in the private room stared blankly.

Benjamin said, "Mr. Rodriguez, are you just going to let her go? She almost harmed you."

"Make her dance for you?" Lawrence's face turned cold, feeling unhappy. "Get lost!"

Benjamin and Jeremy looked at each other.

They watched as Winnie tempted Lawrence and successfully coaxed him away.

Benjamin clicked his tongue. "Such a seductive woman, Winnie is not simple at all. Just a few days after marrying Mr. Rodriguez, she has already stirred up his desires. If that person by Mr. Rodriguez's side finds out, they would be so furious..."

Jeremy's face changed suddenly. "Stop saying nonsense, don't let Winnie hear."

Benjamin realized what he said and immediately shut his mouth, but he couldn't help but comment, "Winnie was originally a contractual wife, the agreement is for a year. After exchanging a child, Mr. Rodriguez will still have to deal with that person..."

However, Jeremy narrowed his eyes. Based on tonight's situation, no one could understand Lawrence's thoughts.

Back at the villa, Winnie got out of the car first, enduring the intense pain in her back, and secretly asked Taylor for an ointment.

Lawrence looked at her getting upstairs and his handsome face sank. Did he bring her back home just for his temper to change?

He frowned coldly and questioned Taylor, "What did she tell you?"

"Mrs. Rodriguez got injured. She needs an ointment for her wound. Mr. Rodriguez, please bring it to her quickly. She's in so much pain that her face turned pale!"

Taylor sensitively perceived that the couple seemed to have quarreled.

Lawrence was stunned, his beautiful eyebrows furrowed.

Upstairs, in the bedroom.

Winnie lay on the bed, in so much pain that she could barely get up. Hearing footsteps, she thought it was Taylor who came and slightly trembled as she lifted her shirt.

"Taylor, I can't dress the wound myself. I need your help..."

As she lifted her clothes, a fair patch of her waist was exposed in front of Lawrence's eyes. His gaze deepened. Suddenly, he noticed the bruises and wounds on her waist.

"Aren't you the one who said they didn't kick you?" Lawrence's voice turned cold.

Winnie was startled and turned around to see him. Her face blushed, quickly covered her body with her clothes.

But he had already sat on the edge of the bed, forcefully stopping her, and said angrily, "You're so severely injured, why didn't you say anything?"

Winnie bit her lip and her eyes turned slightly red as she questioned him, "Did you give me a chance to speak? When you found out I was fine, you turned and left. I wanted to explain, but you didn't listen at all."

He was speechless.

His pressed lips, still upset. "What do you want to explain? I told you not to go out, but you ignored my words and went to the bar alone. Have you thought about the consequences?"

He was angry about this, but he didn't know the whole story!

"I didn't disobey, Mr. Rodriguez. I didn't go to the bar to have fun. I just... got deceived by Matthew. The bartender said he collapsed due to high blood pressure and no one was there to help him. I couldn't bear it and foolishly went there. I was ambushed by him and my stepmother. Those people..." she continued as she composed herself.

"The henchmen wanted to kick this child to vent their anger for Ava, making me afraid of them. Yes, I deeply regret it and am reaping what I have sown. But it's not what your friend saw."

She struggled to say, her eyes already bloodshot, tears streaming down. She was sad yet stubborn, turning her head to wipe them away. She didn't want him to see her pitiful side.

Little did she know, this fragile and soft appearance could tug at a man's heartstrings.

With pitch-black eyes that flickered with astonishment, cold as frost, Lawrence licked his lips and hoarsely said, "Why didn't you tell me if you were being bullied? I thought you..."

"You never gave me a chance," she interrupted with a cold tone, feeling even more wronged. Her lips pouted as she complained, "Tonight, it's not just Matthew who bullied me. You made it difficult for me without distinguishing right from wrong."

Faced with the accusation from the young woman, Lawrence's face tightened. "Does it hurt?" he asked trying to move the conversation in a different direction.

"What do you think?"

"Lie down, I'll apply medicine for you."

"Don't..."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

He was unusually domineering, mature, and stern, and did not tolerate any refusal. He lifted her clothes, held her slender waist, and fixed her in place.

When Lawrence's large hand touched her skin, Winnie instinctively trembled. They were not familiar with one another, yet this level of intimacy caused her face to blush. "Mr. Rodriguez, be gentle..."

His fingers were long and powerful.

This statement caused him to pause, his eyes burning as he saw her delicate skin blush when he touched it.

Unable to resist the knot in his throat, he hoarsely reprimanded her, "Some things should not be said carelessly."

"Which things?" Winnie didn't understand.

"Things that are inappropriate and easily misconstrued," his voice was deep and sexy.

Her ears turned red as if she understood, feeling embarrassed.

"I mean it literally, be gentle, I'm in pain," she hurriedly explained with a soft voice.

"You're getting excited, aren't you?" his voice became husky.

Winnie also felt that things were becoming more inappropriate, so she hid her embarrassed head under the covers.

As soon as she moved, his fingers applying the medicine changed direction, accidentally gripping her waist.

He leaned over her, from this angle, her waist seemed soft like a ribbon, as if it could be folded at will.

His deep pupils darkened, he suddenly straightened up, suppressing the flames of desire in his eyes. "I'm done applying it."

"Thank you..." Winnie shrank her body. The part of her waist and back that his fingers had touched felt like it was about to ignite.

She felt that the air was unusually ambiguous, and his breathing had become heavier. She got up, her heartbeat accelerating, and put down her clothes. "Um, you can go to sleep!"

"I saved you and helped you apply for the medicine, and that's how you dismiss me?" Suddenly, Lawrence was displeased.

Wasn't this just to alleviate the awkwardness?

Winnie was speechless. "What do you want from me?"

In fact, he didn't want anything from her, he was just irritated that she didn't even thank him.

Looking at the innocent eyes of the young woman, Lawrence intentionally said, "You promised to dance for me when you got home, didn't you? Aren't you a person of your word?"

Winnie's face turned red all of a sudden. Did he actually take her compromise seriously?

Imagining the scene of dancing for him alone, Winnie gazed into his deep, captivating eyes and felt her heart tremble. She shook her head playfully, "How can I dance if I'm injured?"

"If you can't dance, then sing." Her voice was soft and her singing should be beautiful.

Lawrence walked over to the sofa and calmly sat down. It seemed that he wouldn't be satisfied until his request was fulfilled.

Winnie bit her lip, "Then close your eyes and I'll sing for you..."

Negotiating, his lips curved, and his deep gaze closed.

In the awkward silence, Winnie's delicate lips parted, and her ethereal voice, once heard, naturally quieted the room.

Lawrence's body suddenly froze after listening to a few lines. He abruptly grabbed her shoulders, the edges of his eyes turning red. "How do you know to sing this song?"