Pearl was surprised to find Winona waiting for her at the office the next day. Winona looked thinner, her features sharper than Pearl
remembered.
"Hi, Miss Winona. It's been a while," Pearl greeted, ready to deal with her if needed, to prevent any potential problems.
"I need to ask you something," Winona said, her usual fierceness replaced with a more subdued tone.
"Sure, but make it quick. I've got work to do," Pearl replied, not really wanting to engage in a long conversation.
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"Are you the woman Richard married?" Winona asked, clearly struggling with the news of Richard's marriage, which she discovered
after being cut off from the world for a few days.
This was a lethal blow to her. Without seeing it for herself, she couldn't fathom Richard, who had still shown her affection, ending
their relationship to marry someone else!
"Does it matter if | am? It's not like you have a chance with him now, do you?" Pearl chuckled and tapped her heart. "Maybe you
should ask yourself if Richard ever truly loved you."
Did Richard really love her? That question hit Winona hard. She had avoided considering Richard's feelings, fearing the answer
might confirm her worst fears.
"It didn't matter if he loved me. | just want to know if you're his wife," Winona persisted, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Since it wasn't announced publicly, it seems he wanted to keep it private. Why not ask him directly?" Pearl smiled. She knew
Richard had blocked her and asked that intentionally.
If it were someone else, she would have felt sorry for them. But this was Winona, and she deserved everything that happened to
her.
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"He's blocked me. He refuses to see me. What have you said to him? Why is he avoiding me?" Winona was desperate, realizing
Pearl must be the one Richard had chosen.
Pearl hadn't even made an effort, yet she effortlessly captured Richard's heart. Meanwhile, despite all her attempts, she couldn't
even earn a bit of pity?
Pearl couldn't help but remind Winona of her past actions. "Have you forgotten what you've done?"
Winona's mind flashed back to the humiliating incident where she woke up with another man on what was supposed to be her
wedding day. Though the man hadn't gone too far, the implication was enough for Richard to reject her.
"lI was set up. | didn't know anything about it! I'm sure Richard would understand if | explained," Winona said, holding onto a sliver
of hope that there was still a chance for her to clear her name.