Robert hesitated at Winona’s words, reluctantly withdrawing his hand. "So what if he finds out? I'm his father. What's he going to do about it?" he muttered.

Winona, inwardly dismissive, met his gaze with an adoring expression. "I know you're not afraid, but you still have to think about me and the baby, don't you?"

Easily swayed by her gentle demeanor, Robert slid his hands beneath her clothes again. They kissed in the corner until Winona finally dismissed him.

The moment he was gone, her expression hardened. The Carter family was her last resort; being Robert's mistress was her only option. Everyone had driven her to this, but in her mind, it wasn't her fault—it was all Yvette's. If Yvette hadn't appeared, none of this would have happened.

Zachary must be dead by now, the thought brought a wicked smile to her face. With Zachary gone, Yvette would lose her strongest support. Then, Winona could use the Carters to crush Yvette and make her life miserable.

Hand on her belly, Winona slipped into an empty room. After checking her surroundings, she shut the door, pulled out a hidden phone, and called.

A gruff voice answered. Winona went straight to the point: "How did it go, Mr. Wilson? Is Zachary dead?"

Victor had been with her all day, so she didn't know what had transpired outside. However, she knew Jason's plan perfectly; without her urging, he never would have conceived such a thorough one. If all went smoothly, Zachary, the man she'd called "father" for over two decades, would be eliminated. She felt no remorse; she hated him for destroying her dreams and stripping her of her status and wealth.

After a silence, Jason's hoarse, angry voice filled the line: "Eric's been arrested and he ratted me out. The police issued a warrant this afternoon. I'm hiding, scared to come out. Can you get me some cash and give me your mother's address, Ms. Chambers? I plan to smuggle myself into Mysonna to find her. Don't worry, I won't involve you."

Winona gripped the phone, her knuckles white. She hadn't expected Jason's exposure so quickly. "How did this happen, Mr. Wilson? Didn't you say Eric was reliable? And now, hours later, the police are looking for you! Did you tell Eric I was involved?" she demanded.

"No, Ms. Chambers, I didn't tell him anything about you. I said it was the Smith family's revenge. He knows nothing else. Don't worry. I just need money to leave Clusia and find your mother," Jason reassured her.

Hearing she wasn't exposed, Winona's tone softened. "Mr. Wilson, I'm sorry, I was agitated. The baby's made me emotional. You know my mother fled to Mysonna because Zachary and Yvette destroyed the Smith family. They're the ones causing trouble. What's Zachary's situation? Is he alive?"

Jason, having witnessed the accident, knew Zachary's chances of survival were slim. "Don't worry, Ms. Chambers. He's not alive; I saw Eric's truck hit Zachary's car. The impact… there's no chance. You'll probably hear about his death tomorrow."

A flicker of joy crossed Winona's face, quickly suppressed. Her focus shifted to calming Jason. Regarding his request for money, she had other plans. "Where are you, Mr. Wilson? Send me your location, and I'll bring you the money tomorrow. Three million, three hundred thousand dollars should get you to Mysonna. Once you find my mother, you two can live together in peace. No one will bother you again," she coaxed.

Jason's heart soared. Is my lifelong wish finally coming true? he thought. I'll soon be with Nellic. He thanked Winona profusely, gave her the address, confirmed their meeting time, and hung up.

Staring at the disconnected call, a sneer played on Winona's lips. Such a fool, she thought. He really thinks my mother was forced to flee and that it's all revenge. Everything was fine until his simple brother confessed. I told him what to say, but he still got exposed. Now he expects 3.3 million dollars from me? That's not happening!

Winona had noted Jason's location. People who outlived their usefulness were discarded like trash.

Her pregnancy was difficult; her legs were swollen, and she couldn't stand long. Worried Victor might wake and find her gone, she retrieved her phone and carefully returned to the bedroom, gently settling back under the covers.

The doctor advised against sleeping flat, so she and Victor slept back-to-back. That's why she didn't see the hateful look in his eyes. She'd been preoccupied with Jason and hadn't slept well, resulting in a haggard appearance the next morning.

At breakfast, only Winona and Yulia were present. Yulia frowned at Winona's pale face. She disliked Winona but didn't want anything to happen to the baby. She'd endured much since the pregnancy, but kept her frustrations to herself. With a grim expression, she said, "What did you do yesterday, Winona? You look exhausted. I'll have the family doctor come over."

Winona placed a hand on her belly. "The baby was restless last night, so I didn't sleep much. It's fine, you don't need to call the doctor. I've been irritable lately and might have upset you. I'm sorry," she said nervously.

Yulia was skeptical, but Winona's earnest face persuaded her to attribute her behavior to pregnancy hormones. "It's fine. Just don't lose your temper at innocent people next time."

Winona nodded, stroking her belly.