Losing to My Substitute (Katerina and Joshu)
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Chapter 10

Various doubts surrounded her as he called his assistant: "Find Jean Collins' whereabouts in Y City as soon as possible, or you won't need to come back."

At the art exhibition, only Winni lingered in front of painting after painting, discussing her insights,

while Berton frowned, preoccupied with his own thoughts.

Noticing Berton's mood, Winni asked with concern, "Berton, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just busy with work."

He hadn't realized when he started being less than honest with Winni.

Winni didn't expose his excuse.

Though she felt displeased, she knew from Joy that her biggest obstacle had left. Now, all that remained was to win over Berton, which would be a piece of cake for her. "Let's head back then."

At Winni's home, she invited Berton in for tea, her intentions clear.

As Winni wrapped her arms around Berton from behind, pressing herself against his broad back, she thought her tenderness would be irresistible,

especially considering he was the lover she had nearly lost her life over after leaving.

But Berton's reaction was unexpected.

What awaited her was not warmth but a direct, merciless rejection that disregarded her dignity.

"Winni, you've had too much to drink."

He pushed her away, unable to muster any interest in her voluptuous figure or her enticing

invitation.

Berton didn't understand why, but being close to the person he had longed for made him feel somewhat repulsed, his body instinctively rejecting the contact.

This action displeased Winni, and she lost her composure: "Berton, don't go too far! Just because that deaf girl is gone, do you really have to treat me like this?" Losing to My Substitute

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Chapter 10

Hearing Winni refer to Jean as a "deaf girl" shocked and angered Berton. The memory of his gentle, understanding "white moonlight" made her insults even more intolerable. Had Winni always looked down on Jean in her heart, leading her to insult her so casually?

Jean had lost her hearing to save his life, a life that had almost cost him everything due to Winni's

departure.

Berton stood up, angrily rebuking, "Winni, how could you become like this? You've truly disappointed me!"

He stormed out, slamming the door behind him, startling Winni.

Confused, Winni couldn't understand why Berton would treat her this way because of that deaf girl, especially when he had always been so compliant with her! Frustrated, Berton headed straight to a bar, downing bottle after bottle.

Old friends greeted him with congratulations:

"I heard from Joy that you've dissolved your engagement with that deaf girl. Congratulations! Grandpa must be confused; how could that deaf girl ever be worthy of you?" Hearing his friends refer to Jean as a "deaf girl" finally struck a nerve, and the term grated on him. He suddenly realized-had Jean felt this way during her recovery?

It turned out everyone around him treated Jean like this, and he had never stopped it.

Congratulations? What was there to celebrate?

Even with Winni back in the country, he hadn't entertained that thought.

Unable to control his fists, he swung at one of his friends: "Don't you dare call her that!"

The person he hit was bewildered, blood trickling from his mouth. How had he managed to provoke Berton, who had always been so gentle?

"Have you lost your mind?"

Ultimately, though, his friend had to swallow his pride, knowing Berton's power and status.

Days passed, and Jean remained unreachable. Berton mobilized his connections, turning Y City upside down.

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Chapter 10

Even expanding the search nationwide yielded no results; it was as if she had vanished from the earth.

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