CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 5: RED WINE SPILLED ALL OVER HIM

The fabric rustled, and Annelise Winter’s skirt quivered slightly.

Her fingers reflexively clenched the garment in front of her.

The next second, she wrapped around the other’s waist, her entire soft body uncontrollably pressing against it.

Her forehead hit a back as hard as a brick wall, and the powerful cedar scent rushed into her nose in a domineering, frigid way.

"I’m sorry... I..."

Just as she uttered her apology, Annelise was stunned for a moment, her blood running backwards as if frozen.

"My God! Young Master Warner, your clothes!"

"Sis! What are you doing! Do you always pounce on people like this? Can you have some self-respect! Do you think you can just touch Elias whenever you please?"

Before she had time to react, her wrist was yanked harshly, pulling Annelise down completely.

The trace of cedar in the air was impossible to grasp.

Annelise lifted her head, meeting the man’s ice-cold, piercing black eyes.

It was the first time since their reunion that Elias Warner’s gaze had fallen upon her.

Strange, mocking, cold, and full of disdain.

He frowned with indifference because the collision had spilled the waiter’s tray.

Red wine had splashed over him, sticky and soaking into his clean silk shirt, clinging to his firm body.

Even faintly outlining his tense abdominal muscles!

If it were in the past, she would have been all over him like a lecher, eagerly helping him with his clothes.

Then taking advantage for a few extra touches.

Now, Annelise’s feet were firmly planted.

She knew how much Elias despised her; touching him or holding him was out of the question, perhaps even looking at her was annoying to him.

Vincent Winter’s face turned pale with fright, angrily admonishing Annelise, "What are you doing! Haven’t you ruined the Winter Family enough over the years! Are you trying to kill me!"

Fearing something serious might happen, Vincent Winter nodded and bowed toward Elias, dragging Annelise in front of him, "Elias, we’re truly sorry! Aren’t you going to apologize to Elias?"

June Winter couldn’t stand it any longer and said disdainfully and impatiently, "Dad, what does this have to do with our family! It’s her who shamelessly made mistakes! She should bear all the responsibility. Have you forgotten what she did to Elias in the past?"

The mention of the past by June Winter caused the atmosphere at the scene to plummet!

"Shut up! Say one more word!" June Winter was pulled behind Chase Perry, who warned her harshly.

Feeling wronged by being yelled at, June Winter bit her lip and trembled, looking up at Chase Perry beside her.

Only to find that his eyes were full of blame and displeasure, his entire heart seemingly on Annelise, as if he was going to rush up and protect her at any moment.

Jealousy immediately overwhelmed June Winter, so she bit down hard on Chase Perry’s solid arm.

"Don’t go! Don’t look at that seductress!"

Annelise remained standing there from start to finish, enduring everyone’s disdainful looks.

She couldn’t be bothered with June Winter’s antics.

Because she was here today just to get the Peace Lock.

The timing was tight, no time to deal with June Winter’s jealousy.

With her spine straight, Annelise bit her lip and apologized to Elias, "I’m sorry Young Master Warner, it was my fault for bumping into you. How can I make it up to you?"

But she didn’t expect Elias to frown in displeasure, his gaze cold and indifferent, "Who are you?"

The look was as if he was seeing a stranger.

Annelise’s heart ached, words stuck in her throat.

Vincent Winter wanted to explain on her behalf, "Elias..."

"How can anyone be invited here?" Elias’s gaze only lingered on Annelise’s face for a second before he said, "Uncle Winter, don’t let such unsavory people soil my place!"

This century-old vineyard belonged to the Warner Family, merely lent temporarily to the Perry and Winter Families for the wedding.

Vincent Winter feared offending the Warner Family the most, as offending them meant offending the entire elite circle of Kybourne.

After all, the Winter Family almost perished because of what happened back then.

If he hadn’t decisively cut ties with Annelise, distancing himself grandly, and reconnected with the Perry Family, how could they possibly deserve to stand on Warner property?

The old butler respectfully said, "Young Master, better go change your clothes and return!"

Elias had severe mysophobia, and it was impossible for him to leave with the scent of alcohol all over him.

He nodded sullenly, then coldly turned around and went upstairs.

Not until his tall, sturdy figure disappeared around the second-floor corner.

Did Vincent Winter’s expression completely fall apart?

"Come here!"

He looked darkly at Annelise, dragging her into the stairway corridor where no one could see.

Grinding his teeth in a low curse!

"You wretched thing! I knew being involved with you would bring no good! I warn you, get out now, as far as possible! Don’t let Young Master Warner see you again!"

"Let me be clear, the Winter Family has nothing to do with you anymore! You came uninvited and offended him. Don’t drag the Winter Family into this! If the Winter Family suffers because of you again, I’ll make you regret ever coming into this world!"

With that, he turned and left, the stairway’s security door slamming shut with a loud bang.

Everything went black before her eyes.

Yet Annelise did not leave.

Without securing the Peace Lock, she couldn’t leave.

In her mind, scenes of Elias’s recent icy, unfamiliar gaze flashed by.

He must have seen her arguing with June Winter for the Peace Lock.

He knew she was there for the Peace Lock, yet he crushed her hopes in front of everyone.

She knew it wouldn’t be easy to get the Peace Lock back from Elias.

But for her daughter’s sake, she still had to find him.

Annelise went up to the second floor, searching room by room.

At the end of the corridor, in one of the rooms.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the darkness reflected the man’s distinct, tall, and upright figure.

His suit jacket was casually draped over the back of the sofa, with a smudge of lipstick on the back left from when she bumped into him, ambiguous and suggestive.

He, however, was enveloped in a cold atmosphere, as if pushing people away from a thousand miles away. His slender fingers coldly unbuttoned his white silk shirt.

The phone was in a connected state.

A noisy voice came from the other end of the call, "Elias? Everyone’s waiting for you. What time will you be here?"

Listening, Elias casually tugged the shirt’s hem out of his trousers, revealing his firm waist, broad straight shoulders, with deep creases vanishing into the waistband of his pants.

He heard the soft sound of high heels approaching from the doorway.

Elijah Warner’s sharp cheekbone twitched uncomfortably.

He responded distantly to the person on the phone, "Half an hour."

Annelise, searching the entire way, didn’t know which room Elias was in.

But she stopped at the door at the end of the corridor.

The door was ajar, with a harsh light spilling out from inside.

From the crack, she could see a perfectly ironed trouser leg, spotless black patent leather shoes, and his deep, indifferent voice on the phone.

Who else could it be?