Chapter 14
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Joseph shot a glare at Gregory’s stone–cold face. With nothing left to throw at Gregory, Joseph squeezed his eyes shut, his voice icy. “Get out. I don’t
want to see you”
Gregory could see Joseph was boiling mad–no point arguing now. “Get some rest, Grandpa. I’ll come by tomorrow,” he said, then turned and left the hospital room.
Joseph’s eyes flew open at the sound of the retreating footsteps. “Listen up!” he snapped. “Don’t even think about coming back without Winifred.”
Gregory stopped in his tracks. The silence stretched for a beat before he looked back. “Just rest,” he replied, not confirming whether he’d find Winifred or not.
Joseph’s glare burned into Gregory’s back. Finally, he exploded. “Bring her back or you’re no grandson of mine!”
Gregory didn’t argue. He just quickened his pace out of the room.
Certain Joseph would be awake by now, Winifred went straight to the hospital from the airport. She reached the ward just as Gregory was stepping
out.
They locked eyes in the doorway–a tense, silent moment where Gregory’s gaze turned arctic.
Winifred looked away first, shouldering past him without so much as a hello.
Gregory’s face darkened. His arm snapped up, barring her way. “Not so fast.”
Winifred stopped short, turning to face him. “Joseph’s awake, isn’t he? I’m going in.”
Gregory let out a harsh laugh, his eyes locking onto Truman standing behind her. ‘She ran off with this guy for two days, and now has the balls to bring him here?‘
“You really think you still belong here?” he sneered.
Winifred met his stare. “Even if we divorce, that won’t stop me from visiting Joseph.”
Gregory’s lips twisted in a mocking smirk. “You think you can just waltz back into our lives after the divorce?”
Winifred didn’t flinch. “You’re imagining things.”
“Like I’d let some discarded wife keep hanging around.” Gregory’s words cut like knives.
Winifred frowned. But before she could respond, Truman burst out, “Wake up, Gregory. She left you. You’re the one who got dumped.”
Gregory’s icy glare snapped to Truman. “That desperate to be a rebound and pick up my used goods?”
“Gregory!” Winifred’s voice turned frigid. “Three years married to a ghost. I walked out the same person I walked in as. Take your ‘used goods‘ crap
and shove it.”
Gregory stared her down, then let out a harsh laugh. “So you’re running off with him? Did you spread your legs for him already?”
Smack! Winifred’s slap whipped his face sideways before the last syllable finished echoing. Gregory slowly turned back, lips pressed into a bloodless
line.
The entire hallway went tomb–silent, like the air itself was holding its breath.
Jasper, Gregory’s assistant, gaped- -no one ever laid a hand on Gregory.
Winifred flexed her stinging fingers, her voice dripping with venom. “Gregory, I’m glad our marriage was just in name only these past three years. Thank God I never gave myself to a jerk like you.”
She then turned toward the ward, done with this conversation. Gregory’s hand clamped around her wrist like a steel trap. A sharp yank sent her stumbling, her ankle twisting as she lost balance.
“Hands off!” Truman lunged forward and pulled Winifred free.
Gregory moved faster–fisting Truman’s collar and driving a punch straight into his nose.
“Ouch!” Truman staggered back, blood trickling from his nose.
“Truman!” Winifred’s gasp was raw panic.
That single word lit Gregory up like a fuse. His pupils dilated, jaw locking–pure fury.
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8:10 PM J
Chapter 14
“You son of a bitch!” Truman threw his coat to the floor and rolled up his sleeves. “Wanna fight? Bring it!”
Before Winifred could intervene, the two men started brawling. Ignoring her throbbing ankle, she tried to pull them apart. “Stop it, both of you!”
Gregory, hell–bent on pummeling Truman, shoved her away without looking. “Get the hell out of here!”
Winifred screamed and fell backward. A figure quickly approached from behind and caught her before she hit the ground.
