Love Rents A Room
Chapter 185: Her Proposal

Chapter 185: Her Proposal

"Yes," Joanne answered without hesitation. "The buck stops with him. So yes. He’s made some terrible decisions that will soon cause the downfall of Winchester Logistics, the very company you built with your sweat and tears."

Her voice didn’t waver, even though her heart thudded painfully. Heather might be pulling the strings, but nothing would pass without Jeffrey’s signature. He was at fault too.

Philip held her gaze for a long moment, then flicked his eyes toward his wife, something silent passing between them, before returning to Joanne. "You’re here to confront Jeffrey, then?" he asked.

"I’m here to inform you," Joanne said quietly. "I don’t know what happens after that. It’s unlikely you’re unaware, but just in case... anyone can see what’s wrong with the recent bad acquisition, the sudden cost cuts, the labor disputes sprouting everywhere."

"Hmm," Philip hummed, fingers tapping idly against the heavy armrest of his chair. "So, you’re keeping an eye on Winchester Logistics?" He arched a brow. "Why, if I may ask? For Jeffrey?"

Joanne stiffened, her throat tightening.

"Jeffrey’s got nothing to do with it," she said quickly — maybe too quickly. "He asked me to stay out of his life and stopped returning my calls. We are over. There is nothing between us."

Still, the words hung there, hollow and strange.

No hostility came from Philip or Chrissy — but it didn’t stop the tight suffocation she felt being there.

"He’s not in your life anymore?" Philip asked, voice mild, as if he already knew the answer.

"I..." Joanne looked away, down at the intricate patterns in the carpet. "I cannot watch someone’s blood and sweat go to ruin right in front of them. Heather cannot destroy something you built, Philip. You’re a good man. You don’t deserve that."

Her hands tightened around the fabric of her skirt, knuckles whitening. She hated Heather to her bones for what she was doing to the Winchester family. And...

"Jeffrey cannot become the man who lost his grandfather’s legacy, for a woman who doesn’t give a damn about him or his family!"

The moment the words rushed out, Joanne gasped.

Silence filled the vast room.

She looked up, first at Christina, then at Philip, her eyes wide, almost horrified at her own betrayal of her heart.

Because it was true.

She was still doing it for Jeffrey.

Her silly, foolish heart, the same heart that had not stopped beating for him, even after everything, was still dragging her back, pushing her to do the unthinkable.

Ignoring her own company, her animals, her pride.

All for him.

Philip let out a long, almost weary sigh, shaking his head, a fond exasperation threading through his voice. "You pitiful, pitiful Poppet," he murmured. "You had a chance..." he muttered under his breath.

Joanne flinched, unsure if he was scolding her or pitying her. Maybe both. Her chest felt heavy. But she swallowed her emotions down, lifted her chin, and steadied herself.

"I have a proposal," she said.

Both Philip and Chrissy leaned in slightly, the air around them sharpening with interest.

"I’ll offer a merger. A temporary one," Joanne continued, her voice calm, measured.

"Shamrock Logistics has the profit margin and the best name in the country. It can counteract Winchester Logistics’ bleeding reputation and stabilize your standing here — at least domestically."

She drew in a slow, steadying breath.

"I have a plan," she said. "If you permit, I’ll need temporary executive authority to pull Winchester Logistics back on track. From there, Winchester can rebuild. Grow again."

Philip said nothing.

His gaze pinned her in place — sharp, unyielding, weighing every inch of her soul.

Joanne forced herself not to flinch, not to look away.

"I can be the crutch," she pressed on, her voice unwavering. "A walking cane, until Winchester Logistics can stand on its own two feet again. After that... I’ll return to Rockchapel, to live my life."

No dreams of grandeur, no strings attached, and no illusions of becoming the granddaughter-in-law of Philip Winchester.

She wasn’t here for love. She wasn’t here for glory.

She was here because Philip saved her once. And now it was her turn to save them.

Even if that meant standing against the man she loved most. Even if it meant becoming his enemy, to save him from himself.

"Sebastian!" Philip called.

Joanne sat up straighter, waiting, her heart hammering. Was he going to reject her proposal? Was he going to accept it?

Philip’s face remained unreadable. "See to it that the young lady gets the best room for her stay," he said instead, his voice firm.

Joanne blinked.

She opened her mouth to say she’d already checked into a hotel, but something about the weight of the moment, the finality in Philip’s voice, made the words die in her throat.

Sebastian, however, didn’t hesitate. "Ms. Smith has already checked in at a hotel, Sir," he said, bowing lightly.

Joanne bowed her head too, guilty. She didn’t dare meet Philip’s eyes. Out of the corner of her gaze, she saw Christina, surprised, shifting as if she might object, but Philip gave her a quiet look, and she fell silent.

Philip’s voice, when it came again, was sharper. "Then show her out."

Joanne felt a dull ache settle in her chest. Had he rejected her? Had he even listened?

But she said nothing.

She just rose quietly, gave Christina a small, respectful smile, one the older woman returned, tight-lipped but not unkind, and followed Sebastian out.

They walked through a different hallway this time.

The architecture here was different — a quieter, more modern wing of the sprawling estate. It felt like she had stepped into another world entirely, as if she had left Philip and Christina’s house and entered... someone else’s.

As they walked, Sebastian’s phone rang. He answered briefly, murmuring something, then turned to her. "I’ll be back in a moment," he said.

Before Joanne could ask where he was going, he disappeared back the way they had come, leaving her standing alone.

She looked around, feeling oddly displaced. The house sprawled endlessly, and she had no idea which way led to the exit. As she stood uncertainly, she noticed one door slightly ajar ahead of her. A sliver of soft afternoon light spilled out into the hallway.

Something pulled her toward it.

Cautiously, she moved closer.

She glanced around. No one was in sight. Heart pounding, she pushed the door open wider and stepped inside.

The first thing she saw... A camera.

The camera.

His camera-- The one she had returned.

Joanne’s breath caught in her throat.

This was Jeffrey’s room.

Her chest tightened painfully.

She had stumbled into the heart of everything she had been trying so hard to walk away from.