On My 18th, I Escaped To Yu’s Group

Chapter 2

Panic seized Winona. Her fingers tightened around the silk scarf in her hands as she nervously twisted the fabric.

Without thinking, she answered in her mind, "I don't dare..."

Winona had never been the kind of person to quietly endure mistreatment. But she knew better than anyone that even the smallest act of defiance would only bring a harsher punishment.

Whenever Rosie shed a single tear, David would lock Winona away in the old house without bothering to ask what had happened. He would turn a blind eye to everything, caring nothing about whether she lived or died.

If Rosie casually claimed that Winona had wronged her, Nathan could destroy her reputation overnight, leaving her shunned wherever she went.

If Rosie let out nothing more than a soft sigh, Marcus could shove Winona into a pond in front of everyone and turn her humiliation into a public spectacle.

Winona was genuinely afraid.

She was afraid of being dragged back into that endless nightmare of cruelty and suppression.

Yet the male voice in her mind remained calm and certain.

'I will protect you. You have nothing to fear. Just do as I say.'

Winona bit her lip hard, using the sharp sting of pain to steady herself.

She took a deep breath, slowly lifted her head, and forced her trembling back to straighten.

Tears still clouded her eyes.

Without sparing Nathan or Rosie a glance, she kept her eyes forward and walked straight past them.

"Winona, stop!"

Nathan's voice came from behind her.

Her entire body froze instinctively.

But the voice in her mind immediately warned her, 'Don't stop. Don't look back.'

Winona clenched her hands, steadied her breathing, and continued forward.

Finally, she walked out through the estate gates.

Following the winding covered walkway, she entered the flower-filled back garden with a server leading the way.

The young heirs and heiresses attending the reception had already gathered in small groups.

Some were playing pitch-pot, while others chatted and laughed among themselves. The entire garden was filled with a lively atmosphere.

Winona found an empty seat and sat down quietly.

The moment she settled in, the wealthy young women nearby looked at her with undisguised amusement, while the young men watched her with curiosity.

Winona lowered her gaze, pretending she couldn't feel their eyes on her.

A server carrying a wine bottle approached to refill the guests' glasses.

When she reached Winona, she deliberately tilted her wrist, sending an entire glass of red wine cascading onto the skirt of Winona's pale gown.

Winona couldn't help but let out a quiet gasp.

The people around her, who had clearly been waiting for her to make a fool of herself, immediately burst into laughter.

The server hurriedly put on a frightened expression and bent down.

"I'm terribly sorry, Miss Eastwood. My hand slipped. Please don't take offense."

Her apology sounded sincere, but the amusement hidden in her voice was impossible to miss.

Winona understood immediately.

Freya Dempsey had arranged this.

As Rosie's closest friend, Freya had never liked Winona. She had always found opportunities to embarrass her in front of others.

Just then, Nathan entered the garden with Rosie.

Seeing the scene before him, he only gave a mocking laugh, as though he were watching an entertaining performance.

Nearby, Winona heard several young women whispering.

"It was just a small accident, yet she's already this flustered. She doesn't have even a trace of the elegance expected from a young lady of a prestigious family."

The color drained from Winona's face.

She forced herself to smile at the server.

"It's fine. You may leave."

Rosie spoke softly from the side, "Winona's dress is ruined. Hurry and find somewhere for her to change."

One of the young women beside Rosie immediately sneered.

"Rosie, you're too kind. Winona used to make things difficult for you all the time, and you're still worried about her?"

Nathan glanced at Winona without the slightest concern.

"Leave her alone. Rosie, let's sit over there."

Rosie put on a helpless expression before following Nathan to another table.

Everything happening around her made Winona feel like the air itself had grown thinner.

At that moment, the butler's voice rang out from the entrance.

"Miss Dempsey has arrived."

Freya was the youngest sister of the man who held control over Dempsey Group and the most cherished daughter of the family.

The moment Freya came of age, her family gifted her an entire private estate and placed several businesses under her personal management.

The instant the butler finished speaking, the entire garden fell silent.

Everyone rose to greet Freya.

With an air of authority, Freya walked toward the seat of honor and took her place.

Then she lifted a hand toward Rosie.

"Rosie, come sit beside me."

Freya and Rosie exchanged quiet words for a while.

Then Freya's gaze shifted toward Winona.

The moment she noticed the wine stains covering the hem of Winona's dress, her expression turned cold.

She raised her voice so everyone around could hear.

"Miss Eastwood, did you deliberately wear such a stained dress to this reception just to attract attention? Unfortunately, you're not exactly memorable enough for anyone here to spare you a second glance."

The moment those words left her mouth, laughter erupted throughout the garden.

The cruel laughter burned against Winona's ears.

She lowered her head, gripping the stained fabric of her skirt tightly beneath the table.

Nathan's indifferent gaze and the faint scoff that followed made her chest tighten even further.

At that moment, the male voice in her mind spoke again.

'Winona, say something. Fight back.'