Ruby didn't want her to learn how to preserve her pride, but she learned it well—better than Ruby.

If Van didn't like her pride, then he would never like her, not ever.

"What you give to Wyatt and other men, how could I like it?" Van curled his lips, indifferent. "Stop crying."

"I... in front of them..." Winnie couldn't control herself, sobbing with a little sneeze from her nose. A sniffle and a small shiver of her body, like a little dog shaking its head.

"I... in ...