Jessamine frowned, letting out a dramatic sigh.

"Honestly, Winona, you''ve really been through the wringer. It''s just not fair to you." She leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

"Next time Beatrixes looking for trouble, just ignore her. Or better yet, tell me. You''re a public figure, so you can''t cause a scene-but I''m happy to take care of her for you!"

Winona just smiled, not saying much.

Jessamine checked her watch. "Gotta run-lunch with Corbin Denton. Wish me luck!" And with a quick wave, she was out the door.

Elysia hesitated a moment, then turned to Winona.

"Hey, there''s something I should probably tell you. Jess said Mr. Huber and Janelle are trying to set you up-with Keaton."

Winona''s eyes shot wide open, totally caught off guard. "Are you serious?"

"I''m pretty sure. Jess isn''t really the type to joke about this stuff."

Winona just shrugged, rolling her eyes.

"Well, they''re going to be disappointed. Keaton and I? Not happening. We''re both sworn singles. Marriage is definitely not in our ns."

Elysia just nodded. What could she say?

Winona had just had her heart broken; she wasn''t likely to fall for anyone again anytime soon.

And Keaton? The guy had dated half the city, but it was always just for fun-never anything real.

Trying to get those two to fall in love and settle down? Yeah, good luck with that.

Winona seemed totally unfazed, which reassured Elysia. She hung out for a little while longer, then headed home.

Elysia had barely left when Winona got a text from Janelle: lunch was waiting downstairs.

For the past week, Janelle had been sending lunch over every single day.

Her excuse?

"Richard won''t let me fuss over Keaton, but I still worry about my son. Can you be a dear and pass this along?"

So Janelle would drop off a big lunch at Winona''s ce, and Winona would bring it to Keaton.

Of course, Janelle always packed enough for two-"You need to eat too, honey. You''re doing me a favor."

Winona hadn''t thought much of it before. But after Elysia''s little revtion, those lunch boxes suddenly felt a lot heavier.

Just as she was stewing over it, her phone pinged a message from an unknown number:

*You have half a day to think it over

If you don''t leave Keaton, the

inter be calling you a

homewrecker by mongole

belongs to s

Contem

Winona pursed her lips. She didn''t need to guess-this had Beatrix written all

over it.

So Beatrix thought she was an easy target? Please.

If Beatrix actually managed to end up with Keaton, Winona would eat her own shoe.

Not on her watch.

She didn''t bother replying. Instead, she grabbed the lunch and headed next door.

Keaton was on the phone with Tarquin when she arrived.

"Zane''s definitely going to try something with Winona. Keep an eye out."

Keaton smirked, his eyes glinting.

"Gotta hang it to Zane-the guy''se a long way from nothing. I he''d done things right, he could''ve been a real yer. But since he''s gone off the rails, well, he''s not my problem."  s

The doorbell rang. Keaton nced at the clock. Lunchtime. He knew who it was.

"Don''t worry about Winona, Tarquin. She''s under my protection. If Zane tries anything, he''ll regret it."

He hung up and shuffled over to the door. His leg was still a bit stiff, but

thanks to Elysia Sdee??

M''s

remedies, he was recovering fast.  s

He opened the door, totally unsurprised to see Winona with the lunch bag.

"Come on in."

Winona moved straight to the kitchen, unpacking the lunch onto the table.

"You hungry yet?"

Keaton eyed her, suspicious.

"You look like you''ve got something to say."

"I do. But it can wait. You want to eat first, or talk first?"

Keaton grinned, curious.

"Is it about you, or about me?"

Winona looked him straight in the eye.

"It''s about us."

Keaton''s eyebrow shot up.

"Us? What''s going on with us?"

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continue reading tomorrow, everyone!