Dear Soldier, Put Your Gun Down

Winona gazed coldly at the woman at her feet and bent down to remove her face mask. Landing a resounding slap on the woman's face, she said with despise, "Sharon Winston, it seems like you have never really improved yourself. I actually fancy an enemy like you. I like how stupid and fake you are. More often than not, you can put yourself through hell without my doings!"

Sharon was in great pain but managed to hiss through gritted teeth, "What do you have in your pocket? He is only a general! Someone like him will be dragged down the position sooner or later because of his shitty attitude! By then, we'll see who's the last one standing!"

"Well, at least I am not disowned by my own family like you!"

Sharon, fuming with anger, roared, "All of this happened thanks to you! I am the one Benjamin Larson loves, and sooner or later, he will have me back by his side!"

"Oh really? It seems like you are not only stupid but a moron who thinks that everyone else is as foolish as you. Benjamin is a smart man-how could he not realize that the child in your womb isn't his?" "That is impossible! Otherwise, why would he choose me over you?"

Winona looked at her sympathetically and said, "It's merely because you're a daughter of the Winston. Even if it wasn't you, he'd willingly marry any other Winston lady."

These cruel truths were like daggers that tore Sharon's heart apart. All these years, she had secretly hidden her love for Benjamin deep in her heart. Seeing that he took her as his wife, she had thought that he had at least some feelings for her. But their marriage proved otherwise. He had always been indifferent towards her and didn't even care to take a second look at her. He didn't even speak up for her when her mother-in-law chased her out of the house.

She stared at Winona furiously, "It's because of you bitch! Had it not been for you, I would be with him now!"

Winona roughly grabbed her chin and asked, "Sharon, what do you know?"

"Haha...that you are no Winston-but some bastard!"

Slap!

Winona gave her a sharp slap and gripped her neck tightly.

"Did you have anything to do with my mother's death? You were at the scene as well. Did my mother really fall off the stairs herself? Or are the Winston's trying to hide something?"

A gloomy look flashed through Sharon's eyes but she quickly suppressed it and answered calmly, "It was nobody's fault that she wanted to retrieve the glass ball from the balcony for Aileen! It couldn't have been that someone forced her to die, right?"

The unsolved mystery of her mother's death had always been a thorn in her side. It was also then when Aileen had become insane, traumatized by the incident. Her gut feeling told her that things were not as simple as they seemed to be. But when that incident had happened, she was at school. By the time she got home, all the eyewitnesses had been sent away by Christopher.

She let go of Sharon and spat, "Get lost!"

Sharon hurriedly scrambled away from the scene. Turning her head, she watched Winona enter the villa and swore to herself that because of all the harm Winona had caused her, she would not let Winona off the hook so easily!

Before Winona had even entered the villa, she could hear Aileen throwing things.

Mrs. Sheila Watson, who normally took care of Aileen, began complaining to Winona as soon as she saw her, "Lady Winona, you are finally back! Lady Aileen has been refusing to eat these few days and has been throwing furious tantrums as well!"

"Pass me the food. I'll go take a look."

Mrs. Watson immediately handed her the tray of food. Winona had just reached Aileen's bedroom when a vase came flying towards her. Luckily, she managed to avoid it just in time to not be injured. "Why isn't Aileen behaving?"

When Aileen saw that it was her, she leaped up happily and ran towards her. However, she stopped halfway and started crying. "You were going to abandon Aileen! You are a bad person!" Ah, so she was upset for not being able to see her for quite some time.

Winona smiled as she placed the food tray on the table. She walked over and caressed her hair in an effort to comfort her, "Such nonsense! Aileen is so lovable-how could I bear the thought of abandoning you?"

"Then what took you so long to come to visit?" Aileen was still sobbing.

Winona pulled her into a hug as she apologized, “Aileen, I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I promise to bring you with me as soon as possible, alright?”

Aileen blinked her beautiful eyes which exuded innocence as she asked, "Really? You're not lying to me?"

"Since when have I ever lied to you? I think...I might have met a kind person this time. After observing him long enough, I will have you over to stay with us." Aileen was overjoyed to hear that, and she happily clapped her hands, "Okay! Okay! I want to stay with you so the bad witch won't be able to hurt me anymore!" "In the meantime, I need you to be good and take care of yourself. Eat well and listen to Mrs. Watson, okay?"

Aileen nodded profusely and said, "I promise you I'll be good."

Winona smiled in satisfaction, sat Aileen down on the stool, and started spoon-feeding her.

Aileen seemed to be starving and gobbled down the food without any hesitation. From time to time, she would smile at Winona as she continued munching away.

Winona didn't know what to feel when she saw her sister in that state. If it hadn't been for that incident, Aileen would be such an amazing girl.

At that moment, Mrs. Watson knocked on the door and said, "Miss Winona, the general is here. Mister is asking for your presence."

Aileen quickly held onto her sleeve and pitifully pleaded, "Don't leave me here alone."

Winona's heart ached when she saw the look in her eyes, but she had no choice but to painfully pry Aileen's hands away from her shirt. "Aileen, what did you promise me? You will be good, right?" Aileen retreated immediately and whispered, "I will be a good girl. Don't leave me."

Winona struggled to hold back her tears as she walked out of the villa, only to find Matt as she rounded the corner.

Bathed in the moonlight, he wore a white shirt that made him look taller; a pair of sleek pants that showed off his long legs, making him more attractive than ever. He was leaning against the wall and smoking while he was at it. No one could take their eyes off his good looks, and no matter what he did, he always had an indescribable aura that could fixate people's eyes.

Winona let out a dry cough and asked, "How long have you waited here for me?"

He threw the cigar to the ground at once and put it out nonchalantly while he spoke calmly, "I just arrived."

But the truth was that he had arrived for quite some time already. He had thought that he could see her first thing but heard from the servants that she had headed over to the villa, so he followed suit.

Winona was flustered. "I just wanted to visit a servant who took care of me for many years because it has been quite a while since I last saw her."

Just a servant? A hint of sadness darted through his eyes as he thought to himself: Winona Winston, how long do you still plan on hiding this from me?

He approached her slowly and she could smell the scent of cigars almost immediately. Her heart was beating superfast-but she was unsure of whether it was due to her nervousness or some other reason. "Did you miss me?"

"Aren't we like, together every single day?"

He lifted her chin and repeated stubbornly, "Answer my question."

"Hmm."

He smiled at her answer, "What is that supposed to mean? I think you need some form of reminder for you to answer me truthfully."

He held her cheeks and kissed her on the lips without further ado, not giving her time to react at all.

He did so until she weakly clung onto him, or perhaps because her emotions were brought up by the adrenaline. She answered with a light pant, "I've missed you."

He smiled and started caressing her body while asking seductively, "Where exactly? Is it this side? Or is it this part? Hmm... let me guess, is it here?"

"Matt! You are such a hooligan!"

With the moonlight, he could finally see the bloodstains on her face. He was instantly triggered and asked, "Who hurt you?"