Chapter 290
290 Dalton’s Lies
Dalton paused, his hand lingering on the scarf he had wrapped
around Wynter’s neck.
Wynter leaned forward and assessed him with her dark gaze. When
she spoke, her voice was clear and steady. “It’s been a while since we
met, and all the time I was in the hospital, I believed your last name
was Quinnell.
“In hindsight, there were several things amiss, like Ryan’s obvious
respect for you and Mr. Lopez Senior personally escorting you to the
hospital.
“They wouldn’t go to such lengths for the Quinnells, but they would
for the Yarwoods.”
She looked at the red beaded bracelet on Dalton’s wrist. “You wear
that bracelet so often, I should have guessed who you were right from
the start.”
Dalton gently held Wynter by her arms. A light couch escaped his pale l*ps. “Sorry, I didn’t think you’d
find out.”
He had such fine features. He looked innocent without his glasses, though he was still charming. As
the breeze stirred his hair, Wynter couldn’t help drinking in all his beauty and aloofness.
“But I guess some things can’t stay secret forever,” he added ruefully. Smiling, he introduced himself
formally, “I’m Dalton Yarwood. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my darling betrothed.”
Wynter remained level-headed as she stared at Dalton. After a long
Clopić: 290 Dalton’s Lies
pause, she said, “Don’t try to charm your way out of this. Not only did you fail to clarify my
misunderstanding at the first instance, but you also deliberately lied about who you were.”
He could hear the uncompromising edge in her voice, and he knew he
had no escape. Dalton’s chest tightened. He knew this day would
come eventually.
At first, he hadn’t felt the need to explain himself. She was a doctor,
and he was her patient. Their relationship had grown from that into
what it was now.
He coughed again, and another time as he straightened the scarf
around her neck. He said hoarsely, “Yes, I did lie about my identity, but
only because I thought you might distance yourself from me if you
learned who I was.”
Puzzled, Wynter frowned. “Why would I distance myself from you?”
“Did you forget about your aversion toward the Yarwoods?” Dalton
gazed down at her. There was a hint of sadness in his lowered voice.” Especially toward me?”
Wynter was suddenly reminded of what she had told him before.
He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Besides, I know of
my reputation.” At this, Wynter raised a brow. She never said anything about his reputation.
A humorless smile curled on Dalton’s l*ps as he elaborated, “I didn’t have many friends growing up due
to my illness, so I never learned how to open up to others.
“Besides, everyone who knows about my poor health tends to avoid
Chipjé 290 Daytona Lies
me like the plague, as if whatever I have is contagious.”
3.4
The bodyguard next to Dalton had to work to school his features into neutrality. While most of what
Dalton said was true, the bodyguard
remembered it was Dalton who refused to make friends.
On most days. Dalton opted to keep his study, where he read and
wrote extensively. No one could get him to leave the house.
The other young ladies and gentlemen of Kingbourne’s high society had wanted to approach Dalton,
but Dalton had been aloof since he
was a child.
As if sensing the bodyguard’s gaze, Dalton turned and gave him a
warning look. The bodyguard broke into a cold sweat and quickly lowered his gaze.
Dalton adjusted Wynter’s purple sugilite pendant so that it rested
properly under the scarf. “You’re my first friend.” That much was tru
true.
Wynter considered the favors he had done for her and decided to let
this matter go. More importantly, she would not stoop so low as to pick on a sick person. Everyone had
secrets, herself included.
She wondered why Atwater had set Dalton up to be her betrothed.
Perhaps Atwater had sensed that Dalton had poor luck and would
need Wynter to restore his good fortune.
Wynter assessed Dalton but did not sense anything. Could it be that
she had yet to regain her full memories?
Dalton had no idea what she was staring at him for. He appeared calm and poised on the outside, but
his heart was racing within as
she scanned him. Was she still angry with him, or had she forgiven.
Chapp 290 Daltons Lies
him?
“What else did the old man-uh, Atwater Munoz-tell you?” Wynter finally asked, raising a brow in
amusement.
AM
Surely there was no harm in baiting an answer out of Dalton after he
had lied about his identity for so long.
Dalton’s dark gaze met hers as he answered, “As I’ve told you before,
he said I must marry you if I want to live past 30.”