A Vow of Deception, A Vow of Revenge novel Chapter 94

Winona gave a gentle nod. "Mm, I've already talked to Veronica."

Jonah slid the strawberry tiramisu across the table toward her, then let out a soft laugh. "Miss Thorne, this might sound a bit silly, but honestly, the reason I gave Miss Bellamy those two tickets was because I knew she was your friend. I was hoping, just a little, that she'd take you with her."

"You could've just asked me directly," Winona replied with a helpless smile. "I would have said yes."

"At the time, I didn't have the nerve," Jonah admitted, his fingers trembling slightly as he forced a joking tone. "Just promise me you won't tell Miss Bellamy about this, or I'll really be in her bad books."

Winona couldn't help thinking that Veronica had probably figured it out already.

Veronica had always had a knack for picking up on these things.

"Miss Thorne, the painting I gave you—do you still like it?" Jonah asked.

"I love it," Winona replied, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. When she looked up, her gaze collided with Jonah's, his eyes alight with joy.

She suddenly felt at a loss for words and could only joke, "If Mr. Rogers' fans ever find out, I'll probably become the envy of them all."

Jonah chuckled, his slender fingers drumming absentmindedly on the table as if sketching invisible patterns. "They shouldn't envy you—they should envy me."

His gaze was warm and steady, locking with hers. "Being able to give my painting to someone who truly appreciates it means more to me than hosting ten exhibitions."

"Mr. Rogers, you flatter me," Winona replied honestly. "I really do like the painting, but to say I understand art... well, that might be giving me too much credit."

"That's alright," Jonah said softly. "As long as you like it, that's enough for me."

After they finished their meal, Jonah offered to drive Winona home.

He'd actually considered suggesting they go somewhere else afterward, maybe prolong the evening. But he told himself not to rush things.

Besides, just having dinner with Winona already made him extremely happy.

"Elvis, of course! I just spoke to his mother, Fiona, on the phone today. She said he had to leave the country on urgent business. Hardly anyone knows yet—it's all supposed to be hush-hush. From the way Fiona sounded, it's not a trivial matter."

Winona remembered how Elvis had rushed off after a phone call last night.

So, something serious really had come up.

Her fingers curled into her palms, a wave of anxiety washing over her.

Elvis would be okay, wouldn't he?

She owed him so many favors. He couldn't possibly get into trouble now.

"Grandma, do you know which country he went to?" Winona asked quietly.