Together Apart: Her White Moonlight Has Returned Too-Chapter 196: No Taste for Self-Torment

Vera Yves’ collarbone still ached from the bite mark, she couldn’t help but tease him, "Winston Valentine, is this what you meant by taking a hundred steps towards me?"

Winston Valentine looked somewhat awkward, "Who told you to annoy me with another man?"

"That night I was in a bad mood, drank a lot, and don’t even remember meeting him." Vera’s voice carried a hint of helplessness, "I wasn’t drinking because of him either."

"Then what was it for?"

Vera stayed silent for a moment. Even though she knew she might not be a daughter of The Yves Family, she still hadn’t decided whether to confirm it.

"I’m supposed to shoot a documentary, perhaps the pressure is getting to me."

"Then why did you vomit when I kissed you?"

Vera gave him a look as if he were an idiot, "I had too much to drink as it was, vomiting is pretty normal, isn’t it?"

"Not because you’re disgusted by me?"

Vera stiffened her small face, "I wouldn’t sleep with a man who disgusts me, I don’t have a self-sabotaging hobby."

Winston remembered the agonizing eight days he spent, clearly furious inside, but after one glance at her at the party, he foolishly ran to her to make peace, feeling a mix of complex emotions.

He couldn’t help but touch her lips, lowered his head wanting to kiss her, but Vera avoided it, "Haven’t you disgusted me enough yet?"

Seeing all the cigarette butts scattered on the ground, Winston felt a bit sheepish, "I’ll go brush my teeth."

Winston went to the bathroom, took a sniff of his clothes, reeked of smoke, so he simply removed all of them and took a shower.

Vera cleaned up the floor, then lay sideways on the bed with her clothes on.

Someone came up to her, hugged her from behind, Vera pushed him away, sat up, "We’ve addressed my issues, now let’s discuss yours..."

Noticing he was only in his underwear, Vera’s cheeks flushed red, "Go put on some clothes."

"Didn’t you say it smelled?"

Vera glared at him irritably, "Who said you could lie on my bed?"

Winston pulled a corner of the blanket over his abs, "I’m cold."

"If you’re cold, go find your dance partner, she might be more than happy to keep you warm."

"Jealous?"

"Not my style, just brought back some unpleasant images." Vera chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Winston Valentine, you sure know how to remind me of how nasty you used to be."

Winston was silent for a while, "Back then, it was love I didn’t recognize, and I was provoked."

"You used to suspect I had feelings for him, so you tortured me at will." Vera looked at him coolly, "And now? Can you truly not mind?"

Winston pulled her over, pinning her down beneath him, "Even if I mind, what can I do? You know too well, I can’t bear to move even a finger against you, now all I can do is torture myself."

Vera stroked his face, and as he came in for a kiss, she calmly said, "My period’s here, you can leave now."

Winston, infuriated, gave her a quick peck, one was not enough, so he kissed her several more times until both were out of breath, then he pulled her into his arms.

He placed a hand gently on her flat stomach, "Does it hurt?"

"I’ve managed it, it doesn’t really hurt."

"Why were you at the party today?"

"Your mom sought me out." Vera said steadily, "Wanted me to see how perfect you and another woman look together, hoping I’d back off."

"It’s just a regular social meeting with that woman." Winston indignantly whispered in her ear, "You can’t blame me for your refusal to define our relationship."

Vera sneered, "You seemed quite happy dancing with her."

Winston kissed her ear, "That was just a facade, Vera Yves, you’re adorable when you’re jealous."

Vera closed her eyes, "You’re really boring."

The next morning, Winston left Vera’s room only to run into Hannah Hayes, a trace of awkwardness lingered in the air.

Both headed to the adjacent lounge on the first floor.

"President Valentine, are you treating our home like a hotel?"

Winston remained sincere, "Wherever Vera is, that is my home."

Hannah Hayes brushed off the goosebumps on her arms, "Mark’s run away from home over that ex-girlfriend for days now, if you want to be his brother-in-law, help find him."

"Don’t worry, I’ll bring him back to you as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Hannah felt half relieved, "Next time you want to see Vera, use the front door, don’t keep sneaking around at night like a thief, I thought our house got broken into."

Winston showed a hint of embarrassment.

"Breakfast should be ready soon, why don’t you eat before you go?"

They couldn’t let him help for nothing.

Winston nodded, thinking of Vera’s unusual behavior, he casually mentioned, "Mrs. Yves, a few days ago Vera suddenly showed me a family picture and asked me who she resembled more."

A flicker of unease crossed Hannah’s face, "She resembles her grandmother."

As they walked out of the lounge, Hannah recalled Vera’s recent queries and remembered how Mark seemed to have mentioned his blood type in front of the ER.

The more Hannah thought about it, the more alarmed she became, did Vera notice something? If only she’d altered hers to type B back then.

After getting up, Vera went to the Hillside Villa.

Tristan Valentine wasn’t there, a maid took Vera upstairs, Cleo Sutton was sitting on the terrace on the second floor, wrapped in a blanket, gazing into the distance, looking so fragile as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

She seemed to have gotten even thinner.

Vera approached Cleo Sutton, following her gaze, and saw an enormous tree outside; new buds sprouting on its bare branches.

A few birds perched on the branches.

"Are you watching the tree or the birds?"

Upon hearing Vera’s voice, Cleo Sutton came back to her senses, she smiled, "I’m suddenly a bit envious of these birds, able to fly wherever they want, it’s so free."

Vera also smiled, "I thought you were looking at the tree, as long as the roots are there, even if the leaves wither, they can grow again, life is so miraculous, sometimes if we believe, miracles happen."

Cleo Sutton looked at her warmly, "Dr. Yves, you’re here ten minutes earlier than usual today, is it to comfort me?"

"I was just curious whether you’re taking your medicine on time? Why have you lost so much weight suddenly?" Vera looked grave, "This way people might start questioning my medical skills."

"Sorry..." Cleo Sutton apologized remorsefully, "I’ve been in a bad mood lately."

Vera pushed her back to the room, "Lose any more weight and you won’t look good in a wedding dress."

"I’ve been pondering a lot these days." Cleo Sutton smiled wryly, "It was too easy for Rhea to accept me as her mother back then, I didn’t even doubt it."

"Dr. Yves, if it were you, would you be willing to acknowledge me as your biological mother?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Who would want to be the daughter of a mistress?

Unable to be by her side growing up, and now given an unsavory identity.

Vera was taken aback, if it were before, she wouldn’t have much of an emotional reaction, but now... she could empathize.

Looking at Cleo Sutton’s withered and thin form from illness, Vera suddenly asked, "Why are you seeking her out?"