Chapter 0512

“No more for me,” Winter said as she set down her wine glass and stood up. Drinking too much could lead to trouble, especially with a man in the house. She knew her limits.

Zach paused mid-drink. “Why are you leaving already? We haven’t even finished the bottle.”

“What, you think my place is some kind of bar? You want to drink until the sun comes up?” Winter shot back.

“It’s already open, and it’s perfectly aged. Seems like a waste not to finish it.”

“It won’t be a waste. I’ll save it and drink it tomorrow by myself.”

Zach speechlessly stared at her.

Winter pointed at the clock on the wall. “It’s late. Time for you to go.”

He grumbled, “Why are you like this?”

Winter raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“You call me when you need me, but the moment you’re done, you kick me out. Do people really act like that?”

“What do you expect? Am I supposed to ask you to stay the night?”

“Well, yeah! It’s normal for a boyfriend to stay at his girlfriend’s place, right? Even if we’re faking it, shouldn’t we at least pretend properly?”

“Nonsense! Who cares if we’re staying together or not?” Winter snapped.

Just then, Zach’s phone buzzed with a video call notification. He glanced at the screen, and a smirk tugged at his lips. “Speak of the devil.”

Before Winter could react, Zach answered the call. “Hey, Mom, why are you calling so late? What’s up?”

“Where are you?” Phoebe asked, her face appearing on the screen. “This doesn’t look like your place.”

Zach chuckled. “I’m at Winter’s.”

“Really?” Phoebe sounded surprised. “Don’t try to trick me…”

“I wouldn’t dream of lying to you! Here, let me get her to say hi. Winter, my mom’s on….”

Winter quickly put on a bright smile and sat beside him. “Good evening, Mrs. Graham.”

“Oh, hello! So you’re really together! Are you getting ready for bed?”

“Mhm,” Winter replied sweetly.

“Make sure to dry your hair properly. Keeping it wrapped too long isn’t good.”

“Will do, Mrs. Graham. I’ll dry it soon.”

“Let Zach help you with that.”

“Okay…”

Phoebe’s eyes lit up. “That bracelet looks beautiful on you. I knew I picked the right one!”

Winter glanced at her wrist, where the royal emerald bracelet Phoebe had gifted her shimmered under the light.

“Well, Mrs. Graham, you’ve got great taste.”

Her compliment made Phoebe beam with joy. “I’ve got plenty more like that. You can wear whatever you like. Eventually, all these will be yours!”

Zach was Phoebe’s only son. In the future, all of her jewelry and family heirlooms would naturally go to her daughter-in-law, wouldn’t they?

Winter silently thought, “Not if I can help it…” Even so, she kept smiling and responded politely, “Thank you.”

Phoebe chuckled. “Alright, I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. Goodnight!”

“Goodnight, Mrs. Graham,” Winter said.

Zach put his phone away with a satisfied grin. “See? My mom’s always keeping an eye on us.”

Winter rolled her eyes. “Well, I just helped you fool her, so you’re good now. Get going. I’m going to bed.”

“Wait,” Zach said, ignoring her. “Where’s your hairdryer?”

“What for?”

“You didn’t hear my mom’s orders? I need to dry your hair.”

“I can do it myself.”

“Nope, I need to take a picture to send to her, or she’ll be on my case again tomorrow,” Zach insisted.

“Fine, just get it over with.”

Zach grabbed the blow dryer and started drying her hair with surprising skill.

Winter raised an eyebrow. “You’ve done this before, haven’t you?”

“I’m a man of many talents.”

“Yeah, I bet you’ve practiced on plenty of other girls to get this good,” she teased.

Zach’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Jealous, are we?”

“Of what? You’re not my man. I don’t care whose hair you’ve dried. I was just thinking…” Winter rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “With skills like this, if you ever go bankrupt, you could always work at a salon as an assistant and make a living."