CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER 142: THE WINTERS CALLED

June Winter was speaking animatedly, with Annelise Winter standing right behind her.

Annelise had been thinking, having just returned to the company, about all the rumors swirling around.

Who was spreading them? It seemed she had found the culprit behind the gossip.

As she overheard June Winter dishing about her, gossiping energetically, others noticed Annelise approaching and quickly fell silent, burying their heads back into their work.

June Winter was so caught up in her tale, she hadn’t noticed someone was standing behind her.

Ivy Willows raised an eyebrow at June Winter.

When June turned, she found Annelise standing right behind her.

"June Winter, your skill in talking nonsense has certainly improved. I heard before you and Chase Perry got together, you visited nightclubs numerous times looking for male models in revenge for your philandering ex-boyfriend. If I recall correctly, one male model even showed up at your house, demanding you take responsibility!"

Annelise smiled, as if the gossip about June wasn’t worth mentioning at all.

Because June’s gossip was all verifiable.

The things June said about her, however, were all figments of her imagination.

Upon closer inspection, they simply didn’t hold water, so in comparison, June was more afraid of the gossip Annelise could spread about her.

June blushed, casting a glance at the colleagues who had just been eagerly listening to Annelise’s gossip, who were now all staring at Annelise, engrossed in hearing things about June herself.

"Annelise, you... you actually slander me in front of so many people?"

"Slander? Should I perhaps mention the male model’s name, Kyle Wright, from the Fashion Bar? He’s probably still there and you can go ask him yourself!"

"Shut up! Annelise, how dare you? You are tarnishing the Winter Family’s reputation. I’m going to tell Dad and have him deal with you!"

June stomped her foot and left.

Annelise watched June’s departing figure with a cold smile.

"Oh, and because of that philandering ex of yours, didn’t you run off overseas to hide from the scandal? Have you forgotten?"

She shouted deliberately at June’s retreating back.

June ran swiftly in her high heels, afraid that if she lingered, Annelise might expose all her secrets.

It turned out, Annelise had always dreaded mentioning Colin Winter, yet now even when she brought up their father, Annelise showed no fear.

This surprised June greatly.

To Annelise, it wasn’t that she feared Colin Winter before, but rather she valued their father-daughter relationship very much.

Though she wasn’t the real heiress of the Winter Family, she had lived so many years with them.

That’s why she was concerned that Colin Winter might get angry and disown her.

Now she only had Luna, with nothing else to lose, she hadn’t a care left.

Annelise cast a glare at those who had been gossiping just now before she returned to her office.

No sooner had she settled, Chloe Joyce came rushing over.

She was very concerned for Annelise: "Annelise, you shouldn’t be dancing at the bar anymore. It’s not that I think dancing at a bar is shameful, but I just feel so sorry for you, working at The Airline by day and dancing at a bar by night."

Just as Annelise was about to speak, her phone buzzed on the table.

She answered the call first.

It was Colin Winter calling.

Annelise sneered and pressed the answer button.

"Annelise, what on earth are you doing? Now you’re even gossiping about your sister at The Airline, do you have no regard for the Winter Family’s reputation?"

"Mr. Winter, you seem to forget, I have no ties to the Winter Family anymore. You should know better than me how I stand in your eyes, so there’s no need to put on a patriarchal act."

"Annelise, you... you ungrateful girl, I should never have adopted you in the first place, should have strangled you when I first saw you, after all we’ve done for you all these years, raising such an ingrate."

Colin Winter raged.

Annelise could almost picture Colin Winter, furious and fuming.

"If you have nothing else to say, I’m hanging up. You need to calm down!"

"Annelise, you just wait, do you really think..."

Before Colin could finish, Annelise directly hung up the phone.

Though it was the first time things had become so tense between her and Colin Winter, she felt a great sense of relief.

Chloe was stunned.

The usual Annelise didn’t seem like someone who would ever hang up on Colin Winter so decisively.

"Annelise, you’re amazing, that’s exactly how you should be! But now that you’ve offended the Winter Family’s powerful influence, what should you do? Will they really come after you?"

Chloe was very worried about Annelise.

After all, for people like them without power, if they get targeted by those with power, it’s hard to fight back.

"It’s nothing, don’t panic!"

Annelise thought to herself, after all, in one or two months she would be leaving, she really couldn’t care about these things at all.

Chloe was about to say something else when Annelise’s phone rang again.

Annelise frowned, expecting Colin Winter to keep going, but when she looked down, she found it was Renee Perry calling.

She took a deep breath.

She couldn’t ignore Renee’s call; she could offend the Winter Family, but as for Renee, even with the Lockwood Family backing her now, she couldn’t directly antagonize Renee.

She didn’t want to cause trouble for Mrs. Lockwood, she just wanted to quietly get through these next couple of months.

Once she got through this period, she’d have no further ties here.

"Hello, Ms. Perry, are you looking for me?"

"Come back to the estate now, I have something to ask you!"

"What is it, Ms. Perry? You can tell me now."

"I said come to the estate, so come to the estate. What? Now that Mrs. Lockwood is backing you, you’re showing off in front of me?"

"Ms. Perry, what do you mean by that? Of course, I wouldn’t dare show off in front of you. If you want me at the estate, I’ll head over now!"

Annelise tightly gripped her phone.

She wondered if Renee calling her had anything to do with June.

Since she couldn’t offend her for now, she figured she’d go and see what Renee wanted.

So, she called Mrs. Lockwood ahead of time.

"Grandma Lockwood, I might be back late this afternoon, Ms. Perry has something for me at the estate."

"Auntie? What kind of auntie is she? Don’t be afraid, if she dares do anything to you, call me directly!"

Mrs. Lockwood snorted coldly.

"Alright, if anything happens, please take care of Luna!"

"You’ll be fine. Just go, I’ll head to The Whitlock Estate shortly."

"Thank you, Grandma Lockwood!"

"No need to be so formal with me."

After a few pleasantries, Annelise headed to The Whitlock Estate.

The autumn estate wasn’t nearly as bleak as outside.

The plants inside were still lush and full.

Annelise took a taxi to get there.

Uncle Zane saw Annelise arrive, and his expression was rather indifferent.

"Miss Winter is here? Madam asked me to wait for you, follow me."

Annelise followed Uncle Zane to the room where Renee was waiting.

Uncle Zane glanced back at Annelise: "Madam is entertaining guests inside, you can wait here."

Annelise nodded.