New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 491 Feel Suspicious? Winnie parked her car outside the psychiatric ward, the familiar building looming ahead. She gripped the steering wheel tightly for a moment, trying to steady her nerves. Her thoughts had been swirling ever since Claire Peterson hired her for this undercover role.

The money was significant, more than she had ever seen for such work, but the risk was equally daunting. Every time she walked through those doors, she reminded herself of Claire's promise to ensure her safety. But what if that promise couldn't be kept?

She sighed, grabbed her bag, and stepped out of the car. As she approached the entrance, her heels clicked against the pavement, the sound oddly magnified in the quiet parking lot. Her mind replayed the questions she still couldn't answer:

Who was Evelyn? What connection did she have to Lisa Thompson? And, most importantly, what was Lisa planning?

Winnie's resolve wavered briefly. She had already decided that if things got too dangerous, she would pull herself out, regardless of the consequences.

Inside the building, the guards greeted her with nods of recognition. Winnie flashed her fake ID badge, offering a polite smile. They had grown accustomed to seeing "Dr. Johnson" around the ward, making her infiltration easier. However, the act didn't lessen the weight of her nerves as she signed in at the visitor's log. Every time she wrote her name, a part of her wondered if she would be caught.

"Morning, Dr. Johnson," one of the guards said as she walked by.

"Morning," she replied, keeping her voice light but professional.

The hallways of the ward were stark and clinical, the muted colors and fluorescent lights doing little to ease her unease. Winnie's footsteps echoed as she made her way to the common area where Lisa Thompson spent most of her time. Sure enough, Lisa was sitting on the couch, watching a rerun of an old sitcom on the television. Her posture was relaxed, but there was something unsettling about the way she carried herself.

Taking a deep breath, Winnie plastered on her best therapist smile and approached. "Good morning, Lisa," she greeted warmly.

Lisa turned her head slowly, her gaze locking onto Winnie's with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. Then she smiled-bright, wide, and utterly unsettling. "Dr. Johnson," she said, her voice cheerful but somehow carrying an undercurrent of something darker. "I was wondering when you'd come back. I've missed our little chats."

every instinct screamed at her to turn and leave. "I'm here now," she replied, sitting down on the couch next to

back of the couch and tilting her head to study Winnie. "Oh, I've been... fine. Bored mostly. But I kept thinking about you. I wondered if you'd forgotten about me.' Winnie shook her head with a polite smile. "Of course not. I've just been dealing with some

"Personal matters, hmm? I

sure how to deflect the question without raising suspicion. "Nothing serious," she

leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "You know, I'm very good at reading people. It's a little talent of mine. And you, Dr. Johnson... you seem tense. Like you're

a beat, but she kept her expression neutral. "That's very insightful of you, Lisa," she said, deflecting the comment. "But we're here to

what if, just for once, we talked

steadying breath, determined to regain control of the conversation. "Why

calculating. "Ah, Evelyn. Such a fascinating person, isn't she? But why are you

raced. She needed to tread carefully. "I'm curious because she seems important to you,

me," she said slowly. "But I think you already know that. Or maybe... you're hoping

though it sounded hollow even to her ears. "I'm just trying to help, Lisa. That's all." Lisa leaned back, her expression turning thoughtful. "Evelyn is...

relative?" Winnie asked, trying to sound

didn't reach her eyes. "Why do you ask? Are you trying to figure out if she's someone you should

at all. I just want to understand the people who

isn't someone you need to worry about, Dr.

words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. Winnie felt a chill run down her spine, but she

talk about something else. Like how much fun we're going to have

playing a game, and Winnie wasn't sure if she

needed.