I''m single, and I love it!

And just like that, the news blew up all over social media.

Everyone online suddenly turned into Sherlock Holmes, tossing out theories left

and right:

"Remember when the Huber family kicked Mr. Huber out a while back? It''s gotta be because he dumped Beatrix and called off the engagement!"

"The Huber family got pissed, cut him off, and tried to force him into a marriage alliance!"

"Now that they realize they can''t push him around, they''re backing off, and the ck sheep of the family is suddenly the golden boy again!"

A bunch of women were as excited as if it were Christmas morning- congratting Keaton on regaining his single status, while at the same time, trash-talking Beatrix with every nastyment you could imagine.

Winona scrolled through the news, eyes wide in shock.

She never expected Keaton to go public about his rtionship with Beatrix. He had to know, the moment he did, the inte would tear Beatrix apart.

He''d even confessed to assault just to protect Beatrix''s reputation-there had to be something between them. So why didn''t he care now if people went after her?

He shielded her so fiercely, and yet, he was the one who threw her under the bus. What the hell was going on?

Winona couldn''t make sense of it. Watching Keaton through the ss window, she saw his back turned to her, standing on the balcony, smoking.

His cigarette was barely halfway done when his phone buzzed. He nced at the screen-Beatrix.

Keaton didn''t look surprised at all. He picked up, “Yeah?”

Beatrix''s voice was shaky, tense, like she was holding back tears. "You''ve fallen for Winona, haven''t you?!"fn5610 Chapters first released on F?nd-Novel/fn5610

Beatrix wasn''t stupid. Keaton''s public announcement was obviously meant to defend Winona, to keep people from calling her a homewrecker.

If a guy goes this far to protect a woman, what else could it be but love?

Keaton didn''t say a word, and Beatrix got even more upset.

"First of all, don''t forget what''s between us!"

"And second, don''t forget that Winona is the girl your best friend Callum Lenc likes! Bros before-well, you know! How could you do this to Callum?!"

Keaton frowned, a spark of annoyance in his eyes. He flicked his ash, his voice cool and detached.

"First of all, there''s nothing between us."

"I confessed to the assault to

Pour reputation to help you

get by with the Suttons, to look out for you."  s

"Why did I look out for you? Not for your sake. You''re smart, you know the real reason."

"And second, whether or not I like Winona has nothing to do with you or Callum." "Who I, Keaton, care about is my own business. No one else''s. Least of all yours." "Beatrix, you''re a woman, I don''t want to argue with you, but you need to know your ce."

"I know all your little secrets. Just

stick to being Sutton''s princess, stay out of my life and leave my friends alone."

s

"If you mess with Winona again, you''ll have more to cry about than you can imagine."

"If you think I''m just bluffing, go ahead-try me."

With that, Keaton hung up.

He tucked his phone away, took another drag, eyes fixed coolly on the city lights, his handsome face unreadable.

After a minute, he stubbed out his cigarette and headed back into the living room.

Facing Winona, he said with a cheeky grin, "Handled! Don''t worry, she won''t dare mess with you again."

Winona eyed him suspiciously. "You and Beatrix..."

Keaton cut her off right away,

"Boundaries, Winona. Personal lives are personal. Even best friends don''t get to pry."

Winona: "..."

Whether she yed hard or soft, Keaton wasn''t spilling a word.

Clearly, he was going to take

this

secret to the grave.  s

Still, all those tears weren''t for nothing-at least Keaton made it official! Now, when Beatrix goes out, she''s not even ''Keaton''s fiancée'' anymore.

If she ever tries to show off again, she''s got no one but herself to me!