Half an hour earlier, Sarah had tried to get up and make herself some noodles in the kitchen, but the pain in her leg was unbearable. That’s when she called Scarlett for help.Now, sitting comfortably on the couch, Sarah recounted everything to Scarlett—how Lucy had thrown the boiling water at her during the competition, and how James later barged into the infirmary to question her.Scarlett was fuming. “Those people are unbelievable! I’ve never liked that Lucy! Even when you were married to James, she treated you like her personal maid. Now that you’re divorced from that loser, she still won’t leave you alone. She’s rotten to the core!”“She probably wanted to use this competition to prove she’s better than me,” Sarah replied calmly. “But stealing the test papers? That’s crossing the line. It’s illegal.”Scarlett scoffed angrily. “Her brain must be missing a few screws! She spends all her time scheming instead of doing anything worthwhile. Honestly, her mother and that jerk James
“It’s not up to me,” Sarah said, her mouth still full of food. “Even if you came to me, it wouldn’t help. The dean already spoke to the Reynolds family, and they won’t let this go.”“I’m just worried…” Scarlett started to ramble, clearly lost in thought, when a knock at the door interrupted them. She looked at Sarah with confusion, only to see the same puzzled expression on her face.Scarlett opened the door cautiously. The moment she saw who it was, she slammed it shut again.“Who was it?” Sarah asked, still chewing.“That jerk!” Scarlett snapped irritably.“What does he want?” Sarah’s patience wore thin immediately.The knocking resumed, louder this time. Scarlett yanked the door open again, glaring at the man standing there. “What are you doing here? You’re not welcome! Leave!”“I need to talk to Sarah,” James said urgently, pushing the door open with force.“You’re out of your mind, James!” Scarlett shouted angrily, stumbling back from the shove.“James, this is my house!”
“Zachary Reynolds?” James narrowed his eyes. Why was he here, at Sarah’s apartment, at this hour? “I came to see Sarah for something important. This has nothing to do with you, Mr. Reynolds,” James said stiffly. Zachary’s gaze turned ice cold. “Scarlett and Sasa already told you you’re not welcome here. If you’ve got time to waste standing around, why don’t you focus on getting your sister out of jail? The school reported her, and the decision was unanimously approved by the board. This has nothing to do with Sarah.” Hearing Zachary refer to her as “Sasa” with such familiarity only made James’s expression darken further. “Mr. Reynolds, the Chancers is also part of the school board. I don’t recall any formal board meeting being held,” James said with a hard edge. Did Zachary think the board belonged to him alone? Zachary looked indifferent, his tone casual yet cutting. “Ah, I forgot. You “are” on the board. But isn’t it true that the Reynolds family holds the largest s
“Mia is at the hospital, asleep for now. I was worried you hadn’t eaten, so I had Steven pick up some food for you,” Zachary explained. He hadn’t expected Scarlett to be here, let alone run into James just now. Sarah’s face still carried a hint of discomfort from the awkward encounter. “Sorry you had to see that.” It seemed like every time she had a run-in with the Chancers, Zachary was there to witness it. “I used to think the Chancers had some dignity, but clearly, I was wrong,” Zachary said calmly. He rarely paid attention to gossip like this. When it came to stories about wealthy families, he had seen plenty of scandals over the years—he just never expected to be part of one himself. Scarlett, gnawing on a drumstick, chimed in sarcastically. “Oh, you haven’t seen the half of it. It’s like watching the most ridiculous soap opera come to life!” “Eat your chicken,” Sarah quickly interrupted, trying to shut her up before she said something worse. Zachary chuckled b
"Mom!" James snapped, his tone sharp with irritation. "Stop saying that. This isn't Sarah's fault. When I went to her place, Zachary Reynolds was there. The Reynolds family is clearly involved now."Zachary Reynolds at Sarah's apartment? Charlotte felt her heart sink. Were they together now? They were getting far too close for comfort.Mrs. Chancer's voice rose sharply, bitter and angry. "Of course, now the Reynolds family is helping that little witch deal with Lucy. My poor Lucy—how could this happen to her!""Sarah won't even talk to me anymore," James admitted helplessly.Charlotte seized her chance. "Well, of course not. The Reynolds are one of the most powerful families in the city. Sarah probably doesn't think she needs to be polite to us anymore—not with Zachary Reynolds in her corner."Her implication was clear, and James caught on immediately.Mrs. Chancer jumped in, her voice dripping with venom. "Charlotte's right. That woman only cares about power and status. She to
"What's wrong? Is it Mia?""Yes, Mia's awake and she won't stop crying.""You should go to her then. Here, take this food - she hasn't eaten yet," Sarah quickly handed him a thermos container.Zachary didn't refuse, taking the container with him.Before leaving, he glanced back several times, concerned. "Call me if anything happens." Though he knew she wouldn't."Okay, and let me know when you get to the hospital. I want to know how she's doing."Zachary arrived at the hospital quickly. Before he even entered the room, he could hear the girl's hoarse crying.The nurse explained anxiously, "Mr. Reynolds, I don't know what happened. After you left, Miss Reynolds was sleeping, but when she woke up, she just started crying and hasn't stopped. Her voice is hoarse now, and she won't respond to anyone - she just keeps saying she's scared.""I'll see her."When Zachary entered the room worriedly, Mia didn't have a strong reaction to him. Instead, she looked at him pitifully. “Zach, is
But Mia wasn't responding, just clinging to Sarah's shirt without letting go, no matter what Sarah asked.Zachary looked at Sarah apologetically. "She seems very attached to you."Though it was strange, Sarah let Mia hold onto her."It's okay. She probably needs to feel secure right now and wants someone with her."It was getting late, and Sarah was worried about Mia's condition. “Can Mia stay here tonight?"Zachary had been considering this in the car, but he was concerned about Sarah's injury."You're hurt - how can you take care of her? I should take her home," Zachary said, glancing at Sarah's swollen leg.Besides, Mia's episode today had been hard to control even with him there. It would be even harder for Sarah alone if he left.But nobody expected Mia to start crying again when Zachary tried to take her away.It wasn't loud sobbing this time, but pitiful whimpering as she curled up in the corner hugging her knees - a sight that would break anyone's heart.She kept mumb
"So you're feeling more confident now?"Sarah nodded, "The biggest obstacle between therapists and patients isn't usually the trigger or form of their episodes - it's trust. If a patient can trust their doctor completely and unconditionally, progress happens much faster. And I can see it now - she trusts me, depends on me even.""She can be childlike sometimes, but she's very sensitive to people's energy. She can feel that you're good to her.""No, it's more than that," Sarah's expression turned serious. "I can tell that our brief time together isn't enough to build this level of trust. There must be another reason - I just don't know what it is yet."Zachary’s hand trembled slightly, though his face remained neutral. "I trust you, Sasa.""By the way, what are you going to do about Lucy?""I've handed everything to the police - all the witness statements, physical evidence, and video footage. The school will handle the rest. James has been trying to pull strings, but no one dares
Fresh from the gambling den, Charlie was ecstatic, clutching a bundle of cash and laughing wildly. "Zach, we won thirty thousand! Can you believe they just let us walk out?"He found it unbelievable, but Zach seemed unfazed. They hadn't just taken the house; they'd also won a considerable amount from other gamblers, and even helped the house make a profit. It was no wonder they weren't stopped.Holding the money, Charlie mused, "Zach, you wouldn’t believe it. The rich just keep getting richer. Today, our factory received a shipment of equipment, and I heard just one machine costs millions. Compared to them, this thirty thousand really isn't much."Zach casually mentioned, "It seems like the Sanders factory is the only big one left around here."Charlie quickly retorted with a smirk, "Actually, in West Ridge, Sanders isn’t the biggest."Zach raised an eyebrow, "Really? I thought I knew West Ridge pretty well. Apart from Sanders, I haven’t seen any factory bigger than theirs."Char
Charlie finally got it—Manager Sullivan was forcing him to take on this task. He gritted his teeth and determinedly agreed, "Manager, I'll do it."Manager Sullivan smiled approvingly, "That's the spirit! Good employees like you are what this factory needs. Don't worry, the higher-ups won't let your efforts go unrewarded. If you pull this off, you could be looking at a bonus of several thousand."Charlie nodded, "Tonight, then?"Manager Sullivan's expression grew serious as he nodded back, "Yes, tonight."That afternoon, Charlie clocked out and went straight to find Zachary. He couldn’t go back to the old gambling den—they had made a mess last time and were probably blacklisted. As for the money he owed, Charlie didn’t care anymore. After all, they had won a lot last time only to have it stolen, which he figured squared things. Still, that didn't stop him from wanting to gamble again.Just a few days later, he found Zachary and even brought what he considered a fine cigar.As for
Outside the Sanders factory, several trucks were parked at the entrance. Sarah followed Manager Sullivan and Mr. Lambert, watching the unloading process. "Manager Sullivan, all this new equipment has arrived today, right from the headquarters' stock, and it's too late to ship from Germany now," Sarah observed, her voice serious.Mr. Lambert smiled, "I didn't expect you to handle this so quickly, Miss Sanders. It's only been a few days since you went to headquarters to file a complaint, and you've already got the equipment here.""It's all for the good of the factory," Sarah replied, her face still stern. "So, Manager Sullivan, the factory can operate normally now, right? Getting the production line back up is inevitable."Manager Sullivan's expression wasn't much happier; he hadn't expected Sarah to pull this off so quickly. He forced a smile, "Of course."As the equipment was moved into the factory, Manager Sullivan returned to his office, wiping sweat from his brow with his handk
Sarah was puzzled. "An explosion at such a critical moment would make anyone suspicious, wouldn't it? It looks like someone's trying to cover something up."Zachary nodded, his face showing disdain. "You're not the only one who thought so. But Old Mr. Wilson presented the last batch of drugs from their factory, which were supposed to be delivered to hospitals. The tests came back clean, and they claimed the explosion was due to a mishandling of ingredients."Sarah raised an eyebrow. "And everyone just bought that?""Yes, everyone did.""So, you want to prove the explosion wasn't an accident and use that to bring down the Wilson family?" Sarah asked softly.Zachary's face paled; he shook his head slightly. "It's not just that. I want to do more, but..."Sarah shrugged, as if she was used to this kind of talk. "Let me guess, the timing isn't right yet?"Zachary looked at her sincerely. "Sarah, I'm really glad you came to help me with my wounds. When the time is right, I'll come to
Sarah didn't respond to Zachary's earlier words—she simply moved with even more care as she cleaned and bandaged his wound. Her eyes stayed fixed on the task at hand, but her expression was unreadable.Zachary, watching her in silence, gave a soft laugh. "You do care about me, Sasa. No matter what you say, you're not as heartless as you pretend to be."Sarah shook her head, her voice calm but cool. "You're overthinking it. We're both from East Coast—I just don't want to see you die. Besides, you're getting engaged to Miss Wilson in just over half a month. I’m clear of our positions. So please, don't say things like that again."Zachary's face changed instantly. He knew she was right—his engagement to Vivian was a chasm between them, one that he couldn't just leap across. Not while the truth remained buried.That engagement wasn't just a label. It was a shield. A smokescreen. A compromise he'd made to protect Sarah. But knowing she believed it, that it stood between them, only deepe
Charlie felt a chill run down his spine from that single glance. Considering her status, he dared not push any further. "That's all I have to say. The rest is up to you to figure out."He fled the scene, leaving Sarah alone in the room.After washing up, she lay on the bed and checked her emails. Her cousin had sent her updates on the construction progress at Pine Mist Island.Once she finished handling her affairs, Sarah tucked herself under the covers and closed her eyes, trying to sleep, but rest eluded her.Her mind was filled with what Charlie had said about Zachary being injured. He was hurt, and she had no idea how serious the wound was.If it was severe, he would need hospital treatment, which would certainly leave a record and expose his location.If he didn't want his whereabouts known, he would have to treat the injury himself at home.But that wound...Sarah couldn't calm her thoughts. She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.Under the bright moonlight, a figu
After the doctor left, Charlie yanked out his IV and clambered off the bed, urging Zachary, "Let's get out of here. This place just drains you dry."Zachary, indifferent since his injuries were feigned, asked, "Your injuries alright?"Charlie, ever so casual about his resilience, boasted, "Ah, I've been roughed up worse before. Just give me a couple of days to rest at home, and I'll be as good as new."With unresolved matters and a longing to see Sarah, Zachary reluctantly set aside his desires. "Then you head back. Call me if you need anything."Charlie, sensing something off, gently tugged at Zachary's suit and noticed his white shirt stained with fresh blood. "Zach, you're hurt!"Zachary's lips were pale, his voice dry. "Yeah.""I'll get the doctor to bandage you up," Charlie said, moving to leave."No need," Zachary stopped him quickly, not wanting to expose his whereabouts by registering at the hospital."What about your wound?""I have a first aid kit at home. It's just
Zachary dragged the unconscious Charlie to the clinic, exacerbating Charlie's injuries as his back scraped against the small stones on the road.When Charlie woke up in the clinic, his howls filled the room. "It's killing me! Where's the doctor? Give me some anesthesia. I'd rather be out cold!"The nurse, irritated by his constant demands, was about to lose her patience when Zachary entered the room. Seeing him, Charlie momentarily forgot his pain and burst into tears. "Bro, did you save me? From now on, you're like a brother to me."Zachary responded indifferently, "Just focus on healing."As the nurse changed Charlie's bandages, she couldn't help but blush at Zachary's rugged, yet undeniably handsome appearance, even slightly disheveled from the fight."Damn it, get out! Are you doing this on purpose, you wretch? Trying to kill me?" Charlie slapped her, swelling her face, as he misunderstood her distracted clumsiness for malice.Zachary frowned, saying nothing. Although he disl
With an agile flip through the air, Zachary caught sight of Charlie sneaking a peek from behind a haystack, his sleazy demeanor perfectly deserving of a beating. The thought of what this scoundrel had done to Sarah intensified Zachary's fury, already heightened by the fierce combat.On the other side, the casino manager watched in rage as his men were effortlessly knocked down by Zachary. Cursing loudly, he shouted, "Damn it, what's the story with this kid?"Seeing some of his underlings still looking for an opportunity to strike, his anger boiled over. "Are you all brainless? Attack him all at once; I refuse to believe he can fight off everyone!"Those still standing and those who had managed to get back up exchanged glances and charged at Zachary with renewed ferocity.Zachary's sharp eyes flashed with disdain. Without moving, his fist met an attacker's face at an extraordinarily tricky angle.The attacker's pained expression froze mid-air, and when he hit the ground, dust flew