Chapter 5

Winona's POV

I laughed. "Miss Clara, we're all adults. There's no need to play these games. If you want him, go fight for him. You don't need to come show off to me about how special you are to him."

Leaving Clara with an ugly expression, I walked away.

When I returned to the private room, River was looking for me. "Where did you go? You were gone so long."

"I ran into Miss Clara and we chatted for a bit."

I sat down and took a sip from my glass.

River frowned. "What did you talk about?"

"Nothing much." I smiled. "She just told me you have a hidden album on your phone, and the password is her birthday."

A flash of unease crossed River's eyes. "Winona, let me explain..."

"No need to explain." I interrupted him. "That's your privacy. I respect that."

River stared at me.

"Winona, something's really off with you." River grabbed his coat. "Come on, let's go home and have a proper talk!"

"But the birthday party isn't over yet..."

"Let's go!"

He pulled me up without allowing any argument, said goodbye to everyone, and left the private room.

As soon as we got in the car, someone knocked on the window.

River lowered the window. Clara stood outside, her long hair gently lifting in the night breeze.

She bit her lip. "Everyone's left. I can't get a ride. Could you give me a lift?"

Before River could speak, I'd already pushed open the car door. "Of course. Miss Clara, sit in the front. The view's better."

Clara froze, the words she'd prepared stuck in her throat.

She looked at me, confusion flashing in her eyes, but still got into the passenger seat.

The car drove through the night. Clara kept talking, reminiscing about college days, reminiscing about all the little moments with River.

River occasionally responded with a word or two, mostly staying silent.

She continued with melancholy, "Sometimes I really regret it. If only I hadn't gone abroad back then..."

"It's all in the past." River cut her off.

The car fell into brief silence.

Just then, a car suddenly shot out from a side road.

River jerked the steering wheel and slammed the brakes. The car spun out of control and crashed into the roadside barrier.

In the tremendous momentum, River instinctively reached out to shield Clara in the passenger seat.

In the back seat, I was violently thrown forward, my forehead slamming hard into the back of the front seat.

Intense pain struck, and warm liquid flowed down from my temple.

"Winona!" River turned to see my face covered in blood, his face instantly turning deathly pale. "Are you okay?"

I wiped the blood blurring my vision with the back of my hand. "I'm fine... Take Miss Clara first."

"You're like this and you still..."

"I'm really fine. I can take a taxi to the hospital myself. Miss Clara was frightened. You should take her home to rest quickly."

With that, I pushed open the car door, walked to the roadside, hailed a taxi, and left without looking back.

After I finished getting my wound treated and left, I returned home and leaned on the sofa.

River pushed through the door and rushed over, crouching in front of me. "Why did you leave alone? Do you know how worried I was?"

I opened my eyes. "Weren't you supposed to take care of Miss Clara? Her father just died, she's emotionally unstable-she needs you more."

"Winona!" River finally couldn't hold back. He grabbed my hand. "What's been going on with you lately? Is it because Clara came back and you're uncomfortable? I've told you, she and I..."

"I know." I pulled my hand back. "You're ancient history. You're taking care of her only because her father just died and she has no family in this city. I understand all of it."

"Then why are you..."

"River," I looked at him and suddenly smiled, "do you remember how I used to get upset when you spent time with Clara, and you'd always say I was too sensitive, too unreasonable?"

River froze.

"Now I'm reasonable, not sensitive, not upset." I shrugged. "Isn't this what you always wanted?"