Mrs. Chancer pointed a trembling finger at Sarah, her face livid with rage. "You! How dare you do such a thing! At the Reynolds event!!”She turned to Zachary, her voice filled with righteous indignation. "Mr. Reynolds, Sarah set someone up to hurt my daughter! You have to see the truth!"Sarah let out a derisive laugh. "Oh, how convenient to play the victim.""I'm telling the truth!" Lucy shrieked, her voice sharp enough to cut through the tension.James stepped forward, his tone steady but forceful. "Why don't we let Mr. Reynolds’ grandfather decide? He’ll judge fairly."Zachary didn’t object and immediately instructed someone to invite his grandfather, along with a few other influential guests.The gala hadn’t even officially begun, yet it was already rife with conflict. When Mr. Reynolds arrived, his face bore a trace of displeasure. From his perspective, this seemed like Chancer family drama involving James's ex-wife, now unnecessarily involving the Reynolds.He listened a
Sarah maintained an air of calm confidence, as if none of what had just happened involved her. William couldn’t help but give her a second glance. In contrast, he cast a look of disdain at Lucy, whose schemes seemed too much for someone so young. The Chancer family was truly in shambles, he thought.“This won’t do! We can’t involve the authorities! Lucy’s future will be ruined!” Mrs. Chancer’s face flushed with panic. Desperate, she turned to Sarah. “Sarah, you can’t do this to Lucy! After all, you were once her sister-in-law. Don’t be so heartless! Besides, you weren’t really hurt, were you?”Sarah’s gaze hardened as she stared at Mrs. Chancer. Her tone was sharp. “Did Lucy think about how well I treated her when she decided to do this? She made her choices, and I’ve already given her chances to stop.”Sarah’s unwavering determination sent a wave of panic through Lucy. She hadn’t expected her actions to be exposed so quickly or that Sarah would have recorded evidence. Tears streame
"Who's uncomfortable? I've never thought of her as...""Lucy, I understand you're upset and saying things you don't mean, but since Miss Sanders is ready to call the police, it's better for you to admit your mistake now." Charlotte quickly interrupted Lucy, cutting off her words.Lucy shot her a venomous glare but understood that Charlotte was giving her an out. Reluctantly, she looked at Sarah, her expression defiant even as she muttered, "Fine. It was my fault."Sarah could see through her act; Lucy's apology was anything but sincere. But given this was Zachary's event and she was here as his guest, Sarah didn’t want to blow things further out of proportion—especially since it was clear Old Mr. Reynolds was already displeased with the commotion."Since Miss Chancer has admitted her wrongdoing, I won’t pursue this for now. But let me make one thing clear: stay out of my way. If you provoke me again, this video will be handed over to the police," Sarah declared firmly.Zachary’s s
Everyone knew that the Reynolds family hosted this grand party - they were naturally the center of attention.Near the floor-to-ceiling windows on the west side of the hall, golden candlesticks cast a gentle glow. Sarah stood there with a champagne glass, Zachary beside her.He took a glass from a passing server and offered it to Sarah. "Try this instead - I think you'll like it."Sarah set her glass aside and accepted his offer. A faint scent of violets wafted up. "Is this Nebbiolo wine?""Good guess. Can you tell which region it's from?"Sarah took a sip, tasting rich violet and subtle cherry notes. "Is it from the Barbaresco vineyard?"Zachary nodded. Nebbiolo was only produced in two regions - Barbaresco and Barolo. They were easy to distinguish: Barolo was known for its powerful, full-bodied taste, while Barbaresco was more like an elegant seductress.Sarah took another sip. She wasn't a wine expert; she just remembered tastes, though she couldn't recall where she'd had thi
At the apartment building, Mia quickly shooed Steven out of the car.Sarah chuckled softly and got out too.Mia was seizing every opportunity to play matchmaker between Sarah and Zachary, pulling Steven aside."Mia, let's head up. Mr. Reynolds has been drinking and needs to rest," Sarah walked over to Mia and took her hand."But Zac…” Mia widened her eyes, giving Zachary meaningful looks.Zachary spoke gently, "Mia, Miss Sanders is tired. You should go rest too.""Oh, alright." Mia let Sarah lead her into the building.Zachary and Steven leaned against the car side by side, watching them go in."Want one?" Steven offered him a cigarette.Zachary took it but just held it between his fingers, not smoking."What about the Chancer family?""They need to be taught a lesson."As night deepened, they got in the car.After the party incident was settled, Sarah could focus entirely on the psychology knowledge competition.Just as she submitted the proposal, Mia brought over a stac
While Sarah was analyzing the student's situation, the counseling room door burst open."Sarah! Why did you do this?" Lucy stormed in, her face flushed with anger as she thrust her phone screen in Sarah's face.Sarah gave her a cold glance. "I'm working!"The student in session jumped up, startled. "Professor Shu, I'll come back another time."Once they were alone, Lucy spoke through gritted teeth: "I already apologized at the party yesterday. Why did you post this on the forum? You're so petty, Sarah!""I don't know what you're talking about," Sarah dismissed her, turning back to her work.Lucy's face reddened further, her voice growing agitated. "Don't play dumb. No one else knew about what happened at the party. Who else could have posted this on the forum except you?"Sarah glanced at the phone screen, finally understanding. "I had nothing to do with this. Before barging in here shouting accusations, find some proof that I did it. Now, get out! This is a counseling office
"Yes, all thanks to your help.""Then I want Sarah to have dinner with me tonight." Mia hugged her arm and swayed it playfully.Sarah thought for a moment - since the proposal was approved, she could spare the time. "Alright, my treat.""Yay!"After leaving the counseling office, Mia immediately made a call. "Bro, pick me up after school. I want you to join me for dinner.""What? A meeting? No way! Bro, you must come get me, or you'll regret it, remember?"Hearing his reluctant agreement over the phone, Mia smiled triumphantly.At Adams University's gate, a black Porsche Cayenne drew curious glances from students leaving school.Mia pulled Sarah along, searching around. "There!" she exclaimed, running over excitedly.Sarah's heart skipped when she saw the car - Mia had invited Zachary too.Zachary had already spotted Sarah, but before he could greet her, his sister bounded over and whispered in his ear: “Zac, I got her to come - now do your best!"She turned to Sarah with a
He turned to Steven: "Why don't you bring out all your recommendations?"Finally satisfied, Steven took the menu and first served the Australian blue prawns he'd mentioned. Mia's eyes lit up at the sight.At the Chancer house.Lucy came home in a terrible mood. "Mom! It's so humiliating! The school forum is full of posts about what I did at the party yesterday. Everyone at school was looking at me strangely!"Mrs. Chancer stood up immediately, her brows furrowed. "It must be that whore Sarah! She just won't let our family be!""It was her! I confronted her about it, but she denied everything. Then Mia actually claimed she did it herself. Sarah must have convinced Mia to target me - she just can't stand seeing me happy! What should I do? I don't want to go to school anymore!" Lucy began to cry.Mrs. Chancer, heartbroken for her daughter, immediately contacted school officials to remove the forum posts. But they soon discovered that as soon as one post was deleted, another would qu
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