Seven

I bit my lip as I flipped through the pages of Cairen's diary, searching for answers about her promise of marriage to Zach. Despite my efforts, I found nothing. With a sigh of frustration, I stood up and walked over to the open window, seeking solace in the cool breeze. I longed to find the bargain they made, but I had no choice but to confront Zach directly.

The problem was, I had no way of reaching him. Our province was plagued with poor internet connectivity, making it impossible for me to message my friends or even call Mikaella. To make matters worse, my mother had informed me that she and Zach's family were no longer friends.

I was torn between my pride and my desire to know the truth. I yearned to ask Zach directly, but I was afraid of what he might say. The only option left was to seek answers from Cairen's diary, but all it revealed was her close friendship with Grace. I was left with more questions than answers, and I couldn't help but feel that there was still so much I didn't know about my twin.

I bit my lip as I stood at the blue gate of Zach's parents, clutching the cake I had bought on my way here after discovering their address on his sister's social media page. The house was modern and exuded wealth. I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

After a minute, the small gate door creaked open to reveal a middle-aged maid dressed in black. She looked at me with a questioning gaze, as if trying to place me.

"I'm here for Zach," I said. "Is he here?"

The maid hesitated; her brow furrowed as she glanced over her shoulder. "Miss, Sir Zach isn't living here anymore," she said with a hint of reluctance. "It's been two years since he was last here." She hesitated before asking, "Are you one of his girlfriends?"

The news that Zach had not lived here for two years took me by surprise, and I struggled to hide my shock as I smiled at the woman. "No," I said. "He owed me, but I forgot to ask where he was living now."

The maid glanced over her shoulder again, as if talking outside the gate was against the rules. She leaned in closer and whispered, "I heard from Miss Marilyn during an argument with her mother that Sir Zach is now living in the city, in the Dausher Apartment owned by their grandfather."

I held out the cake to the maid with a warm smile. "This is for you, as a thank you for your help in locating Zach. He owes me a great deal, and I need to speak with him."

The maid hesitantly took the cake box, and I pushed it into her hands before bidding her farewell and heading out on the sidewalk. Zach was now in the city, an hour's journey away, and the thought of traveling that far filled me with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

Without telling my parents, I boarded a bus to the city, and the trip was so peaceful that I dozed off until we reached the terminal. The chatter of passengers waking me from my slumber as they disembarked. The woman who had been sitting beside me with her child was gone. I quickly brushed my hair before leaving the bus and hailing a taxi.

"The Dasher Apartment building," I instructed the driver, not knowing if it was a well-known location. The driver simply nodded and pulled away from the busy area, driving me through the city. I gazed out the window, taking in the sights of the bustling city as we drove. Before I knew it, the car had stopped in front of the towering apartment building. With over ten floors and an expansive parking lot, it was impressive to say the least. I paid for the taxi ride with my card, feeling a wave of relief as the city warmth washed over me, soothing my air-conditioned skin.

As I stepped into the lobby of the building, the guard greeted me, and the woman at the desk offered me a toothy smile. "How may I assist you, Ma'am?" she asked.

"I was hoping to find Zach Archer Del Fiore's apartment number," I replied, feeling a quick glance from the woman at my appearance.

"Are you the one he is waiting for? Amber Dela Cruz?" The woman's question caught me off guard. Why was Zach waiting for this Amber person? I hesitated for a moment before putting on a fake smile and lying, "Yes, I am."

"In apartment 705," she said, giving me a suspicious look.

"Thank you," I said, trying to keep the fake smile on my face. But as I turned to leave, the woman's words stopped me in my tracks.

"Another woman, he's shagging again. I wonder what his father will say about this."

I felt a surge of anger rise within me, but I managed to keep my cool and simply walked away without responding to her assumptions. I knew if I said anything, it would only make things worse.

This building was owned by Zach's grandfather, Alexander Del Fiore, a well-respected man from what I had learned from my internet searches. The strictness of the building was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel uneasy.

As I stepped into the elevator and it made its way up to the seventh floor, I couldn't help but feel nervous. When the doors finally opened, I quickly found apartment 705 and rang the doorbell. No one answered. I rang it again, but still no response. Just as I was about to give up, the door suddenly swung open, and a stunning woman stood before me. Fresh out of the shower, she was wearing a fluffy bathrobe.

"Hey?" she said, her voice sweet as honey. She looked me up and down before meeting my eyes. Her perfectly plucked eyebrow arched in surprise. I felt underdressed and frumpy compared to her polished appearance, with not a hair out of place and expertly applied makeup.

As I approached the door, the woman inside gave me a scrutinizing gaze. Unfazed by her tall stature and petite, curvy body, I asked, "Hey, is Zach there?" A part of me wondered if she was Zach's girlfriend, and how she would react if she knew he was cheating on her.

"Who are you?" she retorted, folding her arms defensively. I hid a smirk and could sense the possessiveness in her tone as she mentioned Zach's name. I knew that feeling all too well, as the man I loved once broke my heart in the same way.

"I am his future wife," I replied with sarcasm, watching her eyes widen in shock.

"Excuse me?" she asked, disbelief evident in her voice.

"You heard me right," I said, my tone confident. "Don't be so sure he's a loyal man. I know what I'm talking about."

To my surprise, she began to laugh, a disbelieving chuckle. But before I could process her reaction, I heard heavy footsteps approaching.

"What took you so long?" a deep voice asked, the impatience palpable in its baritone. As Zach came into view, I couldn't help but admire the way his shirt clung to his muscular frame and the charming expression he wore with such ease.

But as soon as he saw me, his expression turned to one of disbelief. "Cairen?" he asked, his brows furrowed in confusion. "How come...why are you here?"

"She said she's your future wife, Zachy boy," the woman chimed in with a teasing smile.

Zach gave me a double-take before turning to Samantha. "Can you leave us, Sammantha?" he asked, his tone firm.

"Oh sure," Samantha says with confidence, her words irking me. Does she really think I would fight with her over Zach? She clearly knows nothing about me. I struggle to hold back my sarcastic laughter as I watch her leave.

As soon as she's gone, I march into Zach's apartment without waiting for an invitation. I take a seat on the plush couch and survey my surroundings. The walls are painted a creamy yellow and adorned with high-end furniture. A large television screen is mounted on the wall and a fashionable box rests beneath it. To my right are two doors, one leading to the kitchen and the other to the library, with stairs leading to the bedrooms. Behind me, a glass window wall provides a breathtaking view of the ocean.

"Is she your girlfriend?" I ask, not giving him a chance to answer.

"No," Zach denies, but I know he's lying.

"Don't lie to me, Zach. No one would believe you. Not even me," I say, meeting his gaze.

He grins and sets down his mug on the coffee table. "Good Lord, are you jealous?" he teases.

I roll my eyes and give him a sullen side-glance. "Iffin! I'm not joking. Why would I be jealous of you?"

"You're swearing again," he says, leaning back into the couch. "Can't you just trust me?" His eyebrows arch upward, his charming smile spreading across his face.

"If not, are you only sleeping with them?" I ask, my tone biting. "The woman in the lobby told me about Amber Dela Cruz."

Zach's laughter filled the room, and I scowled at him. I didn't find anything funny about this conversation. "You got me there, Cairen," he chuckled, wiping away the tears of laughter from his eyes.

"I don't sleep with anyone, Cairen," he said, still chuckling. "I'm not a womanizer, despite my love for partying, kissing, drinking, and gambling."

I wilted at his words, feeling small in his presence.

"Amber Dela Cruz is my manager in my modeling career, and the woman with me is my cousin, Samantha," he explained, regaining his composure. "She stayed here last night after a fight with her boyfriend, who also happens to be my best friend, Liam."

He shrugged, as if it was normal for people to monitor his every move. "Who knows why that woman said that? Maybe it was a misunderstanding."

He then turned to me with a bright smile. "So why are you here, Cairen? Did you miss me?"

I felt my face heat up and my heart race. I took a deep breath to compose myself. "I'm here about the bargain. I want to change it."