Chapter 4
1049 Words
Winona stood there in silence, unable to utter a single word.
In that instant, countless memories from the past came rushing back.
She remembered the nights when she was sick as a child, when David had stayed by her side until dawn, refusing to leave her alone.
She remembered how, after their parents died unexpectedly, David's branch office had been located far outside the city. The daily commute had been exhausting, yet he still returned to the villa every night just to keep her company, unwilling to let her face the loneliness by herself.
But now...
The brother who once protected her stood by and watched others hurt her.
He had even become one of the people causing her pain.
A deep ache spread through Winona's chest, and her eyes slowly turned red.
The voice in her mind, the one she called God, spoke at this time, 'Didn't you already decide to cut these three people out of your life completely?'
Those words pulled Winona back from the depths of her grief.
She reminded herself that she had already made her choice.
She would leave this place and never have anything to do with them again.
Once she accepted that, Winona slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes were still red, but her gaze was calm and unwavering as she looked straight at David.
"I'll move out today."
David froze.
He had always believed Winona would react the same way she always had.
Whenever he showed his anger, she would eventually lower her head, apologize, and accept whatever arrangements he made.
But this time, she didn't.
A few seconds later, David regained his composure.
Winona's defiance did not make him question himself. It only fueled his anger.
He let out a cold laugh.
"Fine. So you think you can challenge me now? Once you walk out that door today, don't ever come back."
Winona said nothing.
She walked straight toward her room.
The assets her parents had left behind had long been taken by David and handed over to Rosie.
Over the past two years, she had not even bought herself a new piece of clothing.
In the end, she packed only the small amount of money she had secretly saved.
Carrying a small travel bag, Winona walked through the living room.
David remained seated on the sofa, his expression cold and indifferent, as though her leaving had nothing to do with him.
A sharp pain pierced her heart. But she did not stop.
She kept walking toward the door.
However, the moment she stepped outside, she ran into Rosie, who had just returned.
Rosie's eyes immediately fell on the bag in Winona's hand.
She deliberately put on a surprised expression.
"Winona, what happened? Why did you pack your things? Are you leaving?"
David's cold voice came from behind Winona.
"Rosie, leave her alone. Come inside first. It's too hot outside."
"David."
Rosie answered in a soft, affectionate tone before turning back to Winona.
"Winona, David has always treated you so well. All you have to do is apologize, and everything will be fine. Why do you always have to go against him and make everyone in the family unhappy?"
The way Rosie called David's name so intimately sent a sharp pang through Winona's heart.
Only then did she truly realize something.
In this enormous villa, she was the only person who no longer had a place.
David was now Rosie's brother. Not hers.
Winona looked at Rosie coldly.
"I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"
Her answer caught Rosie completely off guard.
For a moment, Rosie was speechless.
Winona took a deep breath.
"Rosie, from today onward, he is your brother alone."
With those words, Winona walked past Rosie and left the villa with her luggage.
The moment she stepped outside, she unexpectedly saw a familiar figure.
A man stood beside a black sedan.
Hearing the sound, he turned around.
He was tall and handsome, with slightly upturned eyes.
The warm glow of the setting sun softened his features, making him appear gentle and approachable.
It was her old friend Marcus.
Her eyes fell on the expensive executive car behind him, and she immediately understood.
Marcus had driven Rosie back from Freya's place.
Winona and Marcus had grown up together.
Once, they had been the people each other trusted most.
They shared everything and believed they could entrust their lives to one another.
Marcus always appeared gentle on the surface, but he was distant toward almost everyone.
Before Rosie appeared, Winona had been the only person he truly trusted.
But after Rosie entered their lives, Marcus's attention slowly shifted toward her.
And his attitude toward Winona became colder with each passing day.
When Marcus saw Winona, he showed no surprise.
His gaze fell on the bag in her hand.
"You're leaving the Eastwood family home?"
Winona nodded. "Yes."
Marcus nodded as well. His voice remained calm and detached.
"Maybe that's for the best."
Winona did not answer. She simply continued walking.
Then Marcus's cold voice came from behind her.
"Since the Eastwood family has already forced you to leave, you should know your place well. If I ever see you hurt Rosie again, I won't let you off."
Winona stopped.
Slowly, she turned around.
Marcus stood beneath the fading sunlight.
The face that had once felt warm and familiar now looked cold and distant.
His emotionless expression made him seem like a stranger.
This was not the first time Marcus had warned her because of Rosie.
In the past, Winona had only complained that she did not understand why she always had to give everything to Rosie.
Marcus had immediately pushed her into the freezing swimming pool in the middle of winter.
He would not have stopped if Rosie had not stepped forward and pretended to hold him back.
After Rosie appeared, the images of the three people who had once meant the most to Winona slowly changed.
Eventually, all that remained were strangers wearing their faces.
Strangers who left her with nothing but disappointment and resentment.
A storm of emotions surged inside Winona.
A faint, bitter smile appeared on her pale face.
God let out a displeased sound.
Before God could say anything, Winona shouted with certainty,
"Marcus, our friendship ends here. We are no longer friends."
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