Chapter 36
“This is the family you came back for?” Zachasket
s act like they’re blind, ganging up on you instead of seeing the
He had heard every word they had said. “Your stepmother is clearly scheming, and those so–called relatives of yours a
- th. You shouldn’t stay here Come with me. I’ll take care of them for ye
Serena smacked his hand away without hesitation. “Don’t flatter yourself! I don’t need your help. I just need you to get lost and stop showing up in my life!”
Without looking back, she turned and walked away from the family chapel, heading straight down the mountain trail.
Clutching Amber’s memorid tightly, Serena made her way down the rugged mountain path, her steps uneven on the rough terrain.
When she finally emerged from the narrow trail onto a wide road, she pulled out her phone to hail a ride.
Acar hom blared.
She looked up to see Hugh’s Bentley parked steadily by the roadside. The driver, Gene Hampton, rolled down the window and waved at her. “Mr. Larson is still busy, but he specifically asked me to wait here for you.”
A lamp formed in Serena’s throat. Her legs were sore from the long walk, and her arms ached from holding the memorial so rightly
She had never expected someone to be waiting for her.
She nodded and walked toward the Bentley Just as she was about to get in, Zach came down the same mountain path behind her. His expression darkened at the sight.
“I’ll drive you home. Don’t just get into any car.” He stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
Serena’s patience snapped. She had been stopped by him far too many times today. Her gaze turned ice–cold
“Did you already forget the slap from earlier? Whomever’s car I get into is none of your business.”
“Rena, we’ve been together for 13 years. Does it mean nothing to you?”
Zach leaned in slightly, lowering himself to meet her gaze, his eyes filled with emotion.“Let me take you home. You don’t know whose ear this is or where they’re taking you. It’s the middle of nowhere-
“I don’t need you.” She brushed past him. Even so, he grabbed her wrist again.
“Zach, what exactly do you want?
“I just want to take you home myself. Let’s talk in private, behind closed doors. Your father and stepmother are still up there. When they come looking for trouble, how will you handle it alone?”
Zach held onto her gently yet firmly, his eyes still filled with unwavering emotion, refusing to let go
Serenascoffed “You should save that affection for Wendy Why are you still bothering me?
Her words hit Zach straight in the heart. The moment she saw him freeze, she took the chance to yank her hand tree.
She had barely taken two steps when a cab pulled up in front of her.
Wendy stepped out, looking weak and frail. Her eyes flickered with barely concealed jealousy when she saw Zach holding onto Serena’s wrist, but she quickly masked it. Leaning against the car door, she gasped for breath and said, “Serena, Zach was really worried about you. He even went all the way to your family’s chapel just to find you. “you don’t know how much he has suffered while you were gone. Every night, he couldn’t sleep, and I was the one who stayed up with him until morning.”
Wendy’s words were heartfelt, and Zach eagerly nodded along “Pena, even Wendy knows how devoted I am to you”
Serena’s expression darkened “Devoted? So devoted that you spent your sleepless nights with another woman? 1 surely can’t afford that kind of devotion.”
Frustrated but unwilling to waste her breath, she shoved Zach aside with her elbow, keeping a firm grip on Amber’s memorial as she strode forward.
But Wendy wasn’t done. “That Bentley. Did some man leave it here for you? Serena, being a mistress isn’t something to be proud of. Your family already barely tolerates you. If you keep this up, you might never find a place for yourself in Javerton Ory.”
Wendy seemed concerned, but every word was meant to tear Serena down Calling her a “mistress” was a deliberate move to widen the rift between Serena and Zach
Serena paused for a moment, then gazed at Wendy indifferently. “Well, thanks for your concern. But unlike some sugar babies who become useless the moment they’re out of thrin cage, I can take care of myself. Even without the Jansen family or Zach, I’ll be just fine.
“And if I did accept a car from someone else, so what? it you’re jealous, just ask Zach to get you one. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to keep you.”
