Chapter 69: That's what I thought*

For the next five days. Alec kept himself occupied with work and visiting the factory, everything was going well as far as he could tell, the workers are hard working and dedicated to their job. For that matter he felt the need to just work from home and made the study his bird cage for work alone.

Everyday for an hour, he would go to spend time with his horse and ride along the ranch, she was still as healthy and energetic as always.

Whenever he was in the study he would see that strange girl heading towards the woods and return at dawn every single day, this made Alec wonder what she's always doing behind those thick trees, he found her to be very weird indeed.

The next day, at sunset... Alec was leaving the house when he saw her again, returning from the woods. They locked eyes for a split second as he entered his car.

" I'll be back, Jeffrey."

" Of course, Master."

Jeffrey gave a slight bow as Alec drove away. Winter watched him strode off at high speed.

" Winter dear, mind joining me for a cup of coffee?." Jeffrey asked her.

" Uh...thank you Jeffrey, but I have to rush back home before mary starts looking for me."

She politely declined with a gratitude smile. She returned to the house were as usual everyone was lazing around waiting for her to come and prepare dinner.

" Oh...the jungle girl is back from the woods."

Her elder sister teased with a smug, Winter ignored her proceeding towards the kitchen.

" Hey! Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you," She stood from the couch approaching her. " You think I haven't catched on to what you're doing... trying to seduce Mr Qinn."

" I haven't done such a thing." Winter spoke up.

" Ohoo... you're speaking up," she grabbed Winter's cheeks aggressively. Winter groaned painfully staring into her eyes. " You don't talk back to me little girl, I want you far away from Mr Qinn... you hear me."

" You're married merbal, and clearly he's not into you or anyone else."

" Still talking back," Merbal pushed Winter to the floor hard.

" Ahh."

She fell hitting her arm. " You've grown some balls little sister, and you think he'll be into a girl like you? A poor weak orphan girl... Have you ever seen his late wife before, clearly not... She was beautiful beyond measure... smart and wealthy as f*ck. Do you think he'll go from all that to such a worthless girl?."

She smirked mockingly at Winter. " But," Winter began. " What difference is there between you and I?."

" What did you say?." Merbal raised an annoying brow.

" You heard me, what difference is there between you and I? We're both working as servants... eating the same food and all, the only difference is that yes... I'm an orphan, but at least I was brought up with morals and dignity."

" Winter!."

A loud slap echoed inside the living room that made everyone come out of their rooms and inspect the situation. Winter touched her right cheek as her brown hair covered her face, tears rolled down from her eyes as she cried in silence.

" What's going on here?." Mary intervened.

" It's her mother, she was disrespecting me." Merbal blamed Winter for everything as always.

" Is this true girl?." Mary turned to Winter who was still sitting on the floor. " I asked you a question, Winter."

" Even if I say it wasn't my fault, would you believe me and take my side for once?."

Winter's voice cracked as she heard no response, a dry painful chuckle escaped her dry harsh throat. " That's what I thought." She stood proceeding to the kitchen.

After serving dinner. Winter went to her room to sob her eyes out. As though the sky could feel her pain the thunder roared, a storming rain came pouring down with all it's strength and might, it was as though it didn't want her so called family hear her cry in agony. Seeking this opportunity. Winter finally let her voice out that she's been holding in for so long after her mother's death, she cried along with the raging storm outside as though seeking for redemption and comfort in it. Her cry finally stopped...so did the raging thunder and storm, only thing left was the heavy rains.

A knock echoed inside her room, she didn't dare move a muscle.

" I'm coming in." A voice spoke behind the door, she knew that voice...why is Merbal's husband here?

A slightly tall man entered her room standing just a few inches from her bed.

" Are you okay?." He asked.

" What are you doing here?." Winter glared at him, she didn't like him a single bit, she didn't like how he looked at her every chance he got... she could always tell he got lustful thoughts of her and stripped her naked with his eyes.

" I came to see how you're doing."

" I'm fine... now please leave or else -

" Or else what?" He took a step closer. " I have been patient with you for long enough, I can't hold it down any longer." He reached for his zipper.

" W-what do you think you're doing?."

" Oh don't act dumb Winter, you know exactly what I'm about to do."

" Don't come closer, I swear to you I'll scream."

" And then what? Do you think they'll take your side or your word for it... your word has never meant anything to them it won't be the difference tonight either, so be an obedient girl and come here."

He grabbed Winter by the legs dragging her to him.

" No! Let go of me....help! Someone please help me."!

Winter cried out, he covered her mouth and tore her white night gown by the arm through resistance, he kissed her neck and tore another part of her gown on the breast area. Winter continued crying and resisting but couldn't escape his grasp, he was simply too strong and she was too weak under him.

Whilst resisting, her hand touched something on her bedside table, it was a light lamp...she grabbed it and smashed it on his head.

Merbal's husband fell over with a groan holding his head. Winter took this opportunity to run out of the room and out of the house, asking for help to the other house members wouldn't do her any good, those people could easily throw her to wolves to die...they would even enjoy her getting raped in front of them, they simply don't give a f*ck.

Winter ran out in the heavy rains barefoot.

" Come back here Winter, there's nowhere to run. If I get my hands on you I will f*ck you right here in the rain... wouldn't you like that baby?!

Winter heard him screaming from a distance, no matter how weak her legs were...she couldn't stop running and get away from that maniac.

' please... somebody... help me, anyone... please '

Winter could only pray to the heavens to send a guardian angel. She was far from the ranch and stumbled on the road tracks, she's been running that she didn't even realize how far she's got... she's lost track.

' where am I even going? What's the point of running when I'm in the middle of nowhere now, what's the point of continuing living a life that brings me nothing but pain and sorrow? I'm tired...I can't...I simply can't.'

All these thoughts pinned Winter down hard, she couldn't bare it anymore. She stumbled down as she was running and fell down hard on her knees. She cried painfully staring at her bleeding knees, looking back anxiously... she saw no trace of him following her anymore, she must have lost him when she entered the trees. Winter looked at the dark sky pouring with heavy rains, a bitter smile curled up on her lips and whispered.

' this spot right here wouldn't be such a bad spot to die on, we can finally be together mother, I was getting sick of this life anyway.'

Winter's eyes squirt when a bright light flashed at her, she couldn't see what it was cause of the brightness, but she could tell it was a car for it's sound and engine at high speed. ' being hit by a car wouldn't be such a bad idea '

She stood barely steady on her two feet. The car hit the breaks creating a scrutinizing sound in the air... leaving a tiny space between the car and Winter before it could have hit her.... The tinted windows made it difficult for her to see the person inside.

The car door opened and a tall figure stepped out of the black Bentley, she still couldn't see his face cause of the headlights. All she felt was his aura was a bit off, the air around her suddenly felt intimidating and aware of her surroundings. Not knowing whether this person was the devil...or an angel in disguise. ' what to do?' Winter thought. Her lips parted slightly, whispering.

" H-help me."

She managed to say before passing out. Alec took a step forward holding her before she could touch the ground, her night gown was transparent from the it being drenched by the rain... and she had nothing inside but panties.

He took off his jacket and covered her with it, gathering her in his arms...he laid her at the backseat of his car. Sat behind the wheel and drove off.