Sarah escaped to her bedroom, catching her flushed reflection in the mirror. Steven's words kept repeating in her mind. Zachary, interested in her? No way.She knew he cared, but Steven made it sound like Zachary had been secretly in love with her for ages. That was just... Heading back to the dining room, she found Mia half-asleep at the table, while Steven and Scarlett were sprawled out, wine-drunk. But where was Zachary?The whir of a blender drew her attention to the kitchen. She found him mixing something at the counter. As she got closer, she recognized the distinctive smell - he was making more of that immune-boosting smoothie her doctor had recommended.Right on cue, he turned around with a glass. "Still feeling rough? Drink this. I noticed your vitamin supplements are untouched. You need the boost."She eyed the greenish liquid, wanting to cry even as she took tiny sips. Her stuffy nose made the healthy concoction taste even worse.When she finally finished, Zachary ave
"She may have disobeyed, but you can't just abandon her! Lucy was standing up for you against that woman who cheated during your marriage and took all that money. Your sister was defending you - how can you not help her?" Mrs. Chancer jabbed her finger at James.Charlotte also tried persuading him. "James, she's your sister. This affects the Chancer’s reputation. People already mocked our family last time, and now..."She wasn't worried about Lucy - she was concerned about their reputation.Mrs. Chancer looked at her gratefully. "Charlotte, you're so thoughtful and proper."James frowned. Of course he understood all this.If it was just Sarah, the situation would be simple. But Zachary kept targeting the Chancer family."Really, the nature of this case depends on what the witness says," Charlotte mused casually.Mrs. Chancer's eyes locked onto her. "Charlotte, what do you mean?"James looked at her puzzled. "The nature?""Ultimately, it's Sarah's word against Lucy's. What if L
Opening Sarah's bedroom door, his heart nearly stopped at the sight of her.When he touched her, she was burning hot.Without wasting time, he rushed her to the hospital.From 2 AM until after 5, her fever finally broke. He hadn't dared sleep, anxiously watching the IV drip while constantly monitoring her condition."You're not leaving the hospital again." Zachary's tone left no room for argument.Sarah could tell from his expression that he was furious."Thanks for the trouble," she said with an awkward laugh.This made Zachary even angrier. 'Thanks for the trouble' - why was she always so distant?"Trouble? Don't ever say that again." Zachary suddenly leaned closer to Sarah.Startled, she shrank back. "Don't get too close. You'll catch my cold."She covered her mouth, coughing several times.But Zachary didn't move away. Instead, he studied her intently. Her beautiful eyes avoided his gaze, making her look adorable.Suddenly, he felt an urge - a strange feeling. Looking a
She looked nervously at Zachary. Had she mistaken?"Yes, you can go now."After the nurse left, Sarah glared at Zachary. "You... you just...""What did I do? You heard what she said?" Zachary gave her a knowing look.He even licked his lips, making Sarah turn away in embarrassment, pulling the hospital blanket over as she rolled to face the window.How mortifying - being caught like that, and now the nurse thought they were a couple.Her face felt hotter than her fever.Worse still, Zachary moved to her other side, still smiling.Knowing she could barely move, she swung weakly at his shoulder, the slap echoing surprisingly loud in the quiet room."Why didn't you dodge!""Didn't hurt at all,” Zachary smiled softly, then stepped away to answer his phone.His expression darkened after hanging up.Sarah noticed the change. "What's wrong?""They've taken Grace Harrison’s daughter." Zachary's face was grim.Sarah froze. Lucy had just been arrested, and now Grace's daughter was
Charlotte watched James's reaction with barely concealed anger."You're the shameless one! We came here to make peace. Isn't money what you want? Weren't the millions and the villa enough? Name your price to let Lucy go!" Mrs. Chancer glared at Sarah."That settlement was what James owed me. And no, I won't make a deal.""You think your refusal matters?" Mrs. Chancer stepped forward, sneering. "Don't think the Reynolds will protect you forever. Someone like Zachary could never love you. He's just playing around - don't flatter yourself. He hasn't even gone public about you.""What exactly are you saying to my girlfriend?" A cold voice cut through the room.Zachary walked in with breakfast, set it down, and moved to Sarah's side. He looked at Mrs. Chancer with contempt. "The Chancers seem overconfident lately. How's that Vista International deal going?"James flinched. Vista was a Fortune 500 company expanding into their market. They'd initially partnered with Reynolds Enterprises
James caught Zachary's expression and fell silent, Charlotte’s words bringing him back to reality.In his anger, he'd almost forgotten who he was dealing with."Sarah, I can make Lucy apologize and compensate you. Name your price - I'll try to meet it."Sarah looked at James coldly, her voice icy. "No need. Please leave."James's face fell. Charlotte and Mrs. Chancer paled - they hadn't expected such firm resistance."Fine, have it your way. Don't come crying to us later." Mrs. Chancer shot Sarah a venomous look.Outside the hospital, James brooded over his humiliation. "We knew she wouldn't agree to a deal. Why did we even come?"The visit had been his mother's idea. She glared at him. "Are you blaming me? I'm just trying to help! I thought since she used to love you so much, a few kind words might work. Who knew she'd land such a powerful man? She already looked down on us - now we're nothing to her."Mrs. Chancer kept muttering as they walked. "What luck, snagging the Reynol
James finally looked at Charlotte. She’s right, what was wrong with him?Why was he so obsessed? He loved Charlotte - the woman he'd always wanted was right beside him. What else could he want?He pulled Charlotte into his arms, breathing in her light jasmine perfume.Suddenly, a memory flashed: Sarah walking into their room, quietly bringing him tea, her hair still damp from the shower, water droplets on her nightgown making her look irresistible.He saw himself coldly taking the tea, ignoring her.Sarah playfully leaning her head on his shoulder, deliberately letting him smell her hair. "Do you like my new shampoo?" she'd asked excitedly.He'd pushed her away emotionlessly. "Don't bother me. Learn your place," before heading to his study."I'm sorry," James blurted out.Charlotte startled, thinking he was apologizing to her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tearful. "James, I don't blame you. I love you so much. Please don't let me down."James snapped back to reality
She was just a university counselor who'd moved on after her divorce.Suddenly, she laughed at herself. When had she become so insecure? She used to be confident and vibrant like Mia, but now...Zachary sat down, putting the apple back in her hand, looking directly into her eyes. "This isn't a game. I'm serious. I thought you could feel that."His gaze burned with intensity. "Sarah, tell me, what kind of person do you think you are?"Sarah stumbled over her words. "I...""What kind of person?" Zachary kept staring, as if trying to burn through her defenses."Like James's mother said - a divorced woman with a bad reputation." Sarah laughed bitterly.Zachary shook his head, his eyes turning cold. "Do you believe that?"Believe it?Why should she?James was the one with the bad reputation.Society was always harder on women. Divorced women faced more prejudice than men. When Mrs. Chancer said those things, she'd wanted to ask if she wasn't a woman herself."Of course not," Sar
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
Charlie's voice cut off abruptly as he stared in horror behind Zachary, his body beginning to tremble. Before he could speak, the casino manager had already set up a blockade on the road and rushed over with his men, ambushing them from both sides."Charlie, you think you're pretty clever, conniving with outsiders to cheat me out of my money?" the casino manager sneered, twirling an iron rod menacingly.Charlie's legs gave out, and he fell to his knees, stuttering, "Bro, what are you talking about? How could I dare cheat you? I don't have the guts.""Stop lying to me," the manager bellowed, pointing the iron rod toward a visibly unmoved Zachary. "This pretty boy, you've been colluding with him to cheat on my turf. Sick of living, are you?""No, it's all a misunderstanding! We were gambling fair and square, no cheating!" Charlie was terrified, fearing a brutal beating was imminent.The manager scoffed, "You think I'm blind?"Sweat poured down Charlie's forehead as he desperately l
”Come on… Come on…” Charlie leaned over the long table, his eyes crazed as he watched the dealer's movements. The dealer placed his hand over the dice cup, his voice stirring the gamblers, "Any more bets? The odds are thirty to one now." As soon as he finished speaking, a burly man with a scruffy beard shoved most of his chips forward. "Damn it, I'm all in. Worst comes to worst, I'll con some more out of my old lady's funeral fund." Others, eyes reddened, quickly followed suit.Charlie clenched his yellowed teeth, tempted to go all in too. He glanced at Zachary, who had remained calm throughout, and rubbed his hands together with a sycophantic smile. "Bro, should we make a big play too?"Zachary gave him a brief glance. "What's the rush." Charlie had no choice but to curb his eagerness."Here it goes!" The dealer shouted, and the outcome was revealed, triggering moans of despair around them."Did we win? Did we actually win?" Charlie rubbed his eyes in disbelief, his smile wideni
Charlie pulled her close. "When have I not thought about you? Anyway, I've got things to do tomorrow. I'll come see you again later." He got dressed as the woman watched him reluctantly. Just as he opened the door to leave, another woman suddenly appeared in front of him."Molly, I've come—Oh? What are you doing here? Isn't this Mr. Wesley? What are you doing at Molly's house in the middle of the night instead of sleeping at home?"She saw Charlie adjusting his clothes and knew exactly what had been going on."Cut the crap, I'm leaving now. If anyone finds out about today, you're done for," Charlie snapped.The woman wasn't intimidated. She dramatically fell to her knees, crying out loud, "Oh dear! Everyone come and see how this man is threatening me, saying he'll kill me! He's not sleeping at his home in the middle of the night but is here at Molly's—who knows what they were up to? Now that I've caught him, he's not retreating but threatening me instead! Everyone come over and jud
Back at the Wesley place, Charlie shut the front door with a meaningful smirk as his parents had already gone to bed. He cleared the dining table and retreated to his room. Alone, his thoughts turned to what he imagined would happen between Zachary and Sarah, and he couldn't help but snicker to himself. This time, he felt he had finally done Zachary a favor by orchestrating the situation. After this, he was sure Zachary would owe him one, especially in his gambling endeavors.Once something happened between Sarah and Zachary, Charlie thought he would have significant leverage over Sarah—she wouldn't dare cross him, not even in front of the factory manager. Yet, the thought of their imminent encounter left him feeling an unexplained emptiness, especially since the woman he usually pushed around had defiantly returned to her mother's house after yesterday's beating. How dare she act differently when every other woman in the town bore their circumstances silently?Why was it acceptable