On My 18th, I Escaped To Yu’s Group

Chapter 7

David froze when he saw Winona's tear-streaked face.

He instinctively reached out, wanting to wipe away her tears.

But the moment he saw the pain and disappointment in her eyes, a hollow ache suddenly filled his chest.

At that moment, Rosie, who was lying on the bed, let out a weak murmur as if she were caught in a nightmare.

"No..."

David immediately turned around and rushed to the bedside with Nathan.

They made it clear that Rosie was the only person who mattered to them.

"Rosie, how are you feeling?"

David and Nathan did not even spare Winona another glance.

Winona pressed her lips together tightly and silently watched the scene before her.

In the end, she lowered her head, turned around, and walked out of the villa.

The moment Winona stepped beyond the gates, she saw Marcus hurrying toward her.

When their eyes met, the worry on his face instantly turned into disgust.

"Winona, what you did has gone beyond what I can tolerate."

Winona's eyes were still red, but her voice remained calm.

"I didn't do anything."

Marcus stared at her for a moment before letting out a mocking laugh.

"Do you really think I would believe you?"

His laughter made her heart ache.

But this time, Winona quickly composed herself.

Marcus had always chosen to believe Rosie.

There was no reason to expect anything different now.

Winona looked away and continued walking.

"Believe whatever you want."

Her cold indifference made Marcus's brows furrow.

*****

After the incident, people gathered outside Winona's apartment every day.

They whispered about her, insulted her, and spread rumors about her.

"She's so cruel. I doubt anyone would ever want to marry her."

"You should be wise and call off your engagement with Nathan yourself!"

Winona ignored all the cruel remarks, but she agreed with the last one.

So she went to Everhaven Villa herself to end her engagement with Nathan.

However, she waited outside the villa for an entire afternoon.

In the end, the servants only told her that Nathan refused to see her.

With no other choice, Winona returned home.

But an accident happened on the way.

Several unlicensed vehicles suddenly pulled in front of her car, blocking the road.

A group of large men rushed out, dragged the driver away, and tied him up.

Winona hid alone inside the car, trembling with fear.

"Are you Winona, Mr. Eastwood's sister?"

The men surrounded her and forced her into a corner of a nearby alley.

Greed and malice filled their eyes.

Winona's face turned pale.

"You have the wrong person," she said in a trembling voice.

The man leading them burst into laughter. He reached out and casually patted her cheek.

"Stop pretending. You're exactly the person we're looking for. Someone paid us to ruin that pretty face of yours. Before that, we can have a little fun. Mr. Callahan only told us to keep you alive."

Mr. Callahan?

Marcus?

Winona could hardly believe it.

She knew Marcus only appeared gentle on the surface.

Deep down, he was far more ruthless than anyone realized.

But she had never imagined he would hurt her in such a cruel way.

Winona clenched her fists tightly.

"Don't touch me!"

For the first time, God's voice was filled with unmistakable fury.

'My people will be here immediately...'

Before God could finish speaking, an angry voice suddenly came from the entrance of the alley.

"How dare you harass a woman?"

The villains turned around at the same time.

Through the gaps between them, Winona saw Nathan standing at the entrance of the alley.

With the sunlight behind him, he walked toward her step by step.

Winona's heart began racing.

By the time she recovered from her shock, Nathan had already taken down all those men with ease.

Nathan looked at her pale face and gave a faint scoff.

"You always manage to get yourself into trouble."

Winona forced herself to stay calm.

"Thank you."

Nathan smiled coldly. "Do you think I would have saved you if it weren't for the Eastwood family?"

Winona pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Nathan had already walked ahead when he suddenly stopped and looked back.

"Tomorrow is my birthday. My parents have returned, and you will attend.

"Watch yourself. Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're engaged to me. Rosie is the only person I've ever loved."

With that, Nathan turned and left.

*****

Winona was still shaken when she returned to her apartment.

Not long after, Nathan sent someone over with an invitation to his birthday dinner.

The next day was also the day before Winona was scheduled to report to the group's headquarters.

She changed into a long dress embroidered with butterflies and arrived at Everhaven Villa on time.

Even without Nathan's invitation, she would have come.

She had already decided to use this dinner as an opportunity to say goodbye to Nathan properly and wish him a happy birthday.

For Nathan, Winona willingly ending their engagement would probably be the birthday gift he wanted most.

Not long after entering the banquet hall, Winona encountered Nathan and Marcus.

When Marcus saw her, his expression remained filled with disgust and coldness.

Nathan looked her over and frowned.

"Where is your scented sachet?"

After saying that, Nathan removed the sachet he was carrying and handed it to her.

Winona froze for a moment before instinctively taking it.

Seeing that she accepted it, Nathan nodded in satisfaction before turning away with Marcus.

The dinner officially began soon afterward.

Many guests approached Nathan to offer him drinks.

Eventually, he walked toward Winona with a wineglass in hand.

Just as Winona reached out to take it, Nathan deliberately tilted his wrist.

The entire glass of wine spilled onto the sachet at her waist.

A sharp, unpleasant smell immediately filled the air.

Nathan covered his nose and mouth, raising his voice so everyone could hear.

"Winona, what is that smell coming from you? Did you soil yourself?"

Winona's mind went completely blank.

She understood immediately.

Nathan had done this on purpose.

He wanted to humiliate her in front of everyone.

The guests froze.

After several shocked exclamations, everyone turned toward Winona and began whispering.

"The smell is unbearable. Did she have diarrhea or something?"

"I can't stand it anymore. I need some fresh air."

One by one, the guests left the banquet hall.

In the end, only Nathan, Winona, and Marcus remained.

Winona slowly raised her head, humiliation burning through her.

Nathan looked at her arrogantly, no longer bothering to hide the cruelty behind his fake kindness.

"Winona, look at yourself. You're disgusting."

Marcus walked over and smiled faintly at Nathan.

"What do you think of my plan? After tonight, her reputation will be completely ruined."

The villains Winona encountered on her way home had all been part of their plan.

The scented sachet, too.

The wine, the humiliation, the public disgrace.

Everything had been arranged by Nathan and Marcus.

They had calculated every step, pushing Winona into one desperate situation after another.

At that moment, Winona felt as though she had fallen into an endless winter.

Her body trembled uncontrollably.

Nathan stepped closer with a mocking smile.

"Why aren't you saying anything? This is a gift we prepared especially for you."

He looked at her arrogantly, as if she were someone completely powerless to fight back.

But Winona did not break down in tears as he had expected.

She did not run away in humiliation either.

Instead, she tossed the sachet onto the floor and slowly straightened her back.

She looked at Marcus's cold expression first, then toward Nathan's malicious face.

After a brief moment of blankness, a faint smile of relief appeared on her lips.

Winona parted her pale lips and spoke clearly, "Nathan, I've decided to end our engagement."