Silly Bride

Chapter 259

my right arm injured is quite an inconvenience indeed. If the recovery doesn’t go well, it’ll only cause more problems in the future.”“I agree. Nonetheless, you’re still young and can recover quickly, unlike an oldie like me. It’d take me at least a year and a half to recover if I accidentally got hurt. Anyway, here’s the thing…”Leandro suddenly changed the subject, saying, “I know you need to rest for your arm to heal, and I’ll do my best to give you the best care. However, you have to make some samples as soon as possible. Otherwise, I won’t have any leverage when I go out to negotiate a business deal. Am I right?”His entire demeanor shifted as soon as he mentioned the samples.He was like a kind boss earlier, offering words of comfort to injured staff. But now, he has transformed into a completely different person. I can see from the impatient look in his eyes how eager he is for this batch of samples and the benefits they’ll bring him in the future.However, the more anxious he was, the bolder she became.She glanced at Leandro and said nonchalantly, “I’d like to show you what I’m capable of as soon as possible too, but my current condition doesn’t allow it. I only have the use of my left arm, which renders me partially physically challenged. Even things like eating and using the bathroom are difficult, let alone going into the laboratory and measuring accurate ratios. That’s a delicate task with no margin for error.”“I understand your concerns,” he replied, flicking his gaze toward her arm. “That’s why I said I need only a few samples and didn’t ask you to produce a large batch. If it’s really not possible, I can get you a few assistants.”Winnie laughed. “Are you pulling my leg? I’ve always done it all on my own, even when I was at Harold’s. Why would you get me a few assistants? Once they master the process, wouldn’t that mean I can disappear from this world already?”“Ms. Vivian, how could you say that? Just go and ask around. Everyone knows I value talent. Even if there were many others like you, I’d want all of you. I wouldn’t be able to abandon any one of you, so why would I allow you to disappear from this world?”“Really?” Winnie nodded and continued, “Hearing you say that is a huge relief. Nonetheless, I don’t want any assistants.”“Very well. Forget that I even mentioned it. However, you have to help me out.”“Boss, it’s really not that I don’t want to, but you know the condition of my arm.”“I know, but don’t you still have your left arm? It doesn’t matter if it’s slow. I can wait. However…”Here, Leandro paused, and his smile gradually faded. “I could wait for you if you continue insisting on being unhelpful, but your Chris lying in the hospital can’t wait all that long. You know he’s only hanging on because he’s hooked up to oxygen. If someone were to cut off his oxygen supply, he’d die.”The implication behind his words was as clear as day. The corners of Winnie’s lips lifted into a smile as she asked, “Are you threatening me?”He sighed. “How is this considered a threat? I’m merely highlighting the possible issue we may face. Besides, it’s not like there isn’t a solution.”“Oh?” Winnie responded, smiling. “So, the solution to the problem is for me to agree to produce the samples. Correct?”“You could put it that way.”She furrowed her brows. “All right. I have only myself to blame for having such strong feelings for Chris. For now, I can’t bear for him to die. Even so, you have to give me a few days. You were there when the doctor listed the things I need to be cautious about, and you know how important these few days are in terms of recovery. It’s a crucial period for the healing of the bones. If something happens during these few days, this arm will forever be crippled.”Seeing that Winnie agreed to his request, Leandro answered readily, “Sure. I’ll give you five days, then. It’ll also give me time to have some people go about the preparations in the laboratory. If there’s anything you need, you can just let them know. I’ve also helped you bring the doctor over. He’ll take care of you here during this period of time.”She faked a smile. “Is that so? How thoughtful of you. Now, I won’t even need to go to the hospital. However…”Gazing at Leandro, she continued, “I have another request that I hope you can agree to.”He nodded. “I’m all ears. Let me see if it’s something within my capabilities.”Winnie beamed at him as she responded, “It’s a piece of cake for you. All you have to do is say the word. Although you’ve brought the doctor here for me, I’d still like to go to the hospital to see Chris.” “Oh, I see…” Leandro murmured, rubbing his nose thoughtfully. “Why go through so much trouble, though? It’s inconvenient for you to move around now, and traveling back and forth will be very tiring. I’ve already sent someone to keep watch at the hospital. If you want to see Chris, you can do so through video call. That’ll be so much easier.”Winnie fell silent for a while. It looks like he’s determined not to let me leave this place.Smiling, she replied, “In that case, could I trouble you to prepare a phone for me?”“A phone? Didn’t I return your phone to you earlier today? Is it broken?” he enquired curiously.“Yeah, it is. I didn’t check it properly during the day and only realized it was broken when I tried to use it just now. It won’t even turn on.”“Oh, dear. That’s a pity.” Leandro still did not fully trust everything Winnie said. I did suspect the phone wasn’t hers. Anyway, I’ve no intention of letting her have any contact with the outside world for now.“I’ll bring you a new phone when I return as there are no spare phones in the house. If you need to speak to me while I’m away for the next couple of days, you can get anyone here to call me. Seeing that your hand is injured, it’s probably inconvenient for you to use a phone anyway.”“Sure,” Winnie replied. I want a phone that won’t get monitored, but from the look of things, it’s clear he’s not going to give me one. Even if I did have one, he’d probably come up with an excuse to take it away from me. He probably wants to keep me locked up here.After pondering for a moment, she remarked, “In that case, I won’t have anything to keep me entertained for the next few days. At least I had Chris to accompany me when I was at Harold’s house. Now that even Chris isn’t here, doesn’t that mean I’ll be bored out of my mind?”“That…” Leandro was momentarily dumbfounded. “Do you want me to find a few young men who resemble Chris for you?”Winnie burst out laughing upon hearing that. “Boss, what kind of woman do you take me for? Do I look like a floozy? If he’s easily replaceable, would I agree to make those samples for you even when I’m injured?”He also started chuckling. “That was a bad joke on my part. Please forgive me. What other interests and hobbies do you have? Tell me, and I’ll have someone make the necessary arrangements.”“Hmm…” She pretended to think for a while before answering, “I used to like skiing, but with the weather here, I don’t think there’s anywhere to ski. There’s not much else, except for maybe getting a dog.”Leandro’s eyes lit up. “A dog, eh? There may be no snow here, but there are plenty of dogs. I have many of them, from large breeds to small breeds. I’ve got this. I promise that as soon as you wake up tomorrow morning, all those dogs will be sitting in a line in front of you.”“That’s great!” Winnie responded, grinning.I still have no clue how long I’ll be staying here. Under normal circumstances, it’d only arouse suspicion if I were to wander around on my own. However, if I use the excuse that I have to walk my dog, that’d be a different story.When Winnie awoke the following day, she heard the sound of dogs barking outside her door.She deliberately chose a rather wild-looking sheepdog and quickly took it for a walk.There were certain places where she had not been allowed to go. However, after following the somewhat uncontrollable dog over the past three days and wandering around different areas, she gained a pretty good grasp of the layout and locations of several exits.Alas, there were guards at every entry and exit point around this place, thus making it virtually impossible for her to escape on her own.Nonetheless, where there’s a will, there’s a way. After feeding the dog well every day, she finally succeeded in discovering a hole in a secluded and hidden spot. No one really knew about it, and there were no guards watching over it.Someone tall and burly wouldn’t be able to fit in there, but I can just squeeze through.Not wanting to arouse any suspicion, Winnie quickly left after discovering it.As was her routine, she asked someone to video call the person at the hospital after returning from walking the dog.Christopher had been unconscious when she called the past two days, lying on the bed without moving.However, when she called