Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1218

"Winona, Tarquin says to put the pill bottle away and just stick to the plan. Don’t worry about Zane hurting you—the place is crawling with security."

Winona did as instructed, slipping the tiny bottle into her jeans pocket. Her expression turned icy.

"Negotiations are over. You can all leave now!"

Zane’s brows knitted together. “Excuse me, what did you just say?”

Winona shot him a look of pure disdain. “This is my house. After all this drama, you really think you get to stay here? Aren't you embarrassed? Because I sure am—by you.”

Priscilla nearly exploded, her voice shrill. “You’re telling us to leave? You should be the one leaving! This is my son’s house!”

Winona didn’t even look her way. She strode over to the front door, yanked it open, and leaned against the frame, arms crossed.

“So, are you walking out on your own, or should I call the cops to help you out?”

Zane’s jaw tightened, his face dark and stormy. He stomped over, about to yank Winona back inside for a “private chat”—but before he could touch her, a rock came whizzing out of nowhere and smacked his hand.

The stone was sharp. It sliced open his skin, and blood started dripping down his knuckles.

Zane hissed in pain, instantly on guard. “Who’s out there?!”

He glanced around the porch, but the quiet suburban street was empty. The tension in the air was thick as a London fog.

Turning back to Winona, Zane’s eyes narrowed in surprise. “You didn’t come back alone. You brought someone with you?”

Winona shot him a sideways glance, refusing to elaborate. She let him think whatever he wanted.

Zane’s breathing quickened. “You told Tarquin and Elysia everything? About us?”

Zane was livid. “Winona, what the hell are you doing?!”

She’d completely thrown him for a loop. Last night, when he realized Winona had been faking it, he’d immediately sent his guys to grab his illegitimate daughter and inject Ridley with the virus. He’d texted Winona right after, threatening: If you want Ridley to live, don’t tell anyone. Meet me alone.

He’d planned to get his hands on the Newsom family’s fortune—he’d been scheming for years, and he wasn’t about to walk away with nothing.

But Winona hadn’t played by his rules.

“So you really don’t care if your dad lives or dies?” Zane threatened, voice low and menacing.

Winona didn’t even blink. She just looked at him coolly. “Maybe you should worry about yourself for a change. Congratulations, Zane. You’re about to be famous.”

She waved her phone at him with a sly smile.