Anastasia stiffened, her long hair falling forward to veil her cheeks, leaving only the pale line of her jaw. He holds grudges. That was the first thought that flashed across her mind. When he had saved her from the kidnappers that night, she couldn't process what she was seeing, and in a daze, she had blurted, "Who are you?" That single careless question had offended him. He hadn't said a word after that, just shoved her into his SUV, drove her back to the city in silence, and dumped her at her front door. The way he had left-without even a backward glance-had carried such force that even now, when Anastasia thought back on it, her chest tightened in unease. It wasn't until two days later that she finally put together who he was. Winston and Sebastian had always been enemies. Both men stood at the top of Brisden's elite, yet they were worlds apart. Sebastian was refined and courteous, easy to get along with, and friendly with everyone. Winston, on the other hand, kept to himself; his circle of friends never exceeded one or two. He was untamed to his bones, distant and unapproachable, cold to anyone who came near. Anastasia's only impression of Winston was that he was a lunatic. That was what Sebastian had told her. The three of them had been classmates since middle school. Sebastian had always excelled, ranking first in every exam. Winston, on the other hand, consistently turned in blank papers, bottom of the class every time. Two men with no reason to cross paths had somehow collided at a motorcycle race. Afterward, Sebastian -who had always been mild and composed-had stormed home, raging that Winston was a "lunatic." Anastasia never knew what exactly had happened on the track that day, but Sebastian had warned her more than once: she had to stay away from Winston. That year, Anastasia had just turned 16. Her father and brother were still alive, her mother hadn't abandoned her yet, and as childhood sweethearts growing up side by side, she naturally listened to whatever Sebastian said. Later, Winston entered the military and gradually faded from everyone's sight, until Anastasia all but forgot his existence. She never imagined that one day she would be sitting across from Winston in a private room discussing business. Yet, before the negotiation even began, it already felt as though she had offended him. Her fingers tightened slightly. Lifting her gaze, her naturally soft voice wrapped around the words like honey. "Winston." His back went rigid, and he turned, eyes locked unblinking on her. "Skycrest Corporation has always had strong momentum. My father poured his life into the company, and in recent years, the growth has remained steady." A stray strand of hair clung to her lips. When Anastasia tucked it back behind her ear, the faint tug at her 2/4 soft red lips caught his eye. Winston's gaze grew darker, and under the light, the tiny mole at the corner of his eye gleamed with a strange, dangerous allure. "If you don't believe me, you can read the documents yourself." Anastasia handed the file across. As Winston flipped through the pages, she quietly let out a breath. But she didn't dare relax-she had no idea what this man was thinking. Her understanding of him was shallow at best, his way of doing things utterly unpredictable. Still, there was one thing she knew for certain: Winston was the ideal buyer for Skycrest Corporation. In Brisden, there were few people bold enough to challenge the Kairos family. If she missed this chance, there was no telling how long it would take to find another suitable buyer. She pressed her case. "All these years, Skycrest has focused on research and development, and that aligns perfectly with Concord Capital's philosophy. Acquiring Skycrest would only bring you benefits, Mr. Renard." Finally, Winston lifted his eyes, his gaze sharp. "Back to Mr. Renard again?" Anastasia faltered. Calling him Winston had only felt natural because he was the same age as Sebastian. When she was younger, she had always trailed after Sebastian, calling his name sweetly. The thought made her remember something. "I heard you and Sebastian never got along. If you bought Skycrest and forced him to step down as CEO, wouldn't that interest you at all?" More than just that. After graduation, Sebastian joined Skycrest Corporation and worked his way up, earning the CEO's seat through steady effort. He had devoted more of himself to Skycrest Corporation than even to his own family's business. But if Skycrest Corporation were sold to his worst enemy just when he was finally enjoying success, Sebastian would have no choice but to watch his years of effort fall into another man's hands. That would be enough to crush him. If he stayed, he was nothing but an employee who could be replaced at any time. If he left, then all those years of work would be nothing but wasted effort. Anastasia thought this would spark Winston's interest. But instead, his expression hardened, the faint trace of a smile vanishing, his eyes turning cold. "You want to use me to get back at Sebastian?" Anastasia froze, quickly shaking her head. "That's not what I meant-" "Your little schemes are written all over your face, princess. What am I, another piece in your game with him, hmm?" Winston drawled, his thumb catching her chin, brushing across her lips in a slow, intimate stroke. "Or maybe I should join in. What do you think?" His low voice carried a dangerous excitement, the mole at his eye turning more sinister by the second. Anastasia thought he was joking-until he wasn't. Suddenly, Winston's hand shot out, seizing her slender wrist. With a sharp movement, he pinned her soft body against the wall. 3/4 2:00 pm D The dimly lit room fell into silence. For a moment, Anastasia's heart seemed to stop. Then Winston leaned in, his long fingers pressing the back of her head, pulling her toward him. He bent down and crushed his mouth against hers in a rough, savage kiss. 。 1 4/4 2:00 pm DDDD. The Rose Who Chose His Rival Over Him +8 Pearls