Chapter 23 Who Would You Save If We Both Fell Into the River?
“You just don’t believe me now,” Aether said boldly, “But once I make II, you’ll be begging for taste.”
With everything prepped, she grabbed her tools and got to work at the little kitchen setup the had installed benelt.
Zachary watched her from his seat, Her round cheeks puffed slightly as she focused, and he inexplicably felt the sudden urge to poke them.
But hered
Instead of gaming like usual, he opened his laptop and pulled up the school’s security footage
Then, he witnessed Wesley and Aether in a heated argument just outside the demnitary 30 minutes earlier.
He also saw Wesley grab her by the neck and shove her adde.
“Was It Wesley?” Zachary asked.
Aether’s face paled as she frantically shook her head. “No!
“I hate betrayal,” Zachary said coolly. “But that doesn’t mean I tolerate lying either. Yes or no?
“It didn’t even hurt that much” Aether fumbled for an excuse. “It was just a misunderstanding. Nothing to worry about.”
“Aether” Zachary’s voler sharpened.” the footage. You’d better tell me the inılı”
Arther hesitated, then reluctantly spilled the whole story she quickly tried to smooth things over when she finished. “Honestly, I can understand why he did it.
“He likes Gloria, just like you do, and a little jealousy is normal
just be more careřil next time.”
Zachary scoffed. “So you can explain things properly. Why hide it from me in the first place?”
__“|__” Aether averted her eyes, her gaze wandering. “You two are close. I didn’t want to cause problems between you and your best filend.
“I didn’t want to put you in a tough spot, and I didn’t want to make you unhappy
[Zachary Conner’s Taverability +2, Current favorability:-74 |
“You’re giving yourself way too much credit,” Zachary said flatly, timing back tahes serem. “Wesley and I aren’t going to fall out over someone as krelevant as
You
“Especially when you’re from Class F. No one cares about low–ranked
“Yeah “Aether let out a bitter laugh. “I guess i was just overthinking
Time ticked by, and night eventually tell
At last, Arther tesished making the
She carefully placed a “birthday crown” on Zachary’s head, then began sticking candles into the cake, une by one, before lighting them.
Then, she tumed oft the room’s lights
“What exactly are you up to?” Zachary asked.
Aethereddedi
cake in hex hunds and started singing, “Happy birthday to you.”
She sang the same lyrics four times, each in a different tone. Then, she held the cake out to him. “Make a wish, Zachary
“What, you’ve ever celebrated your birthday before?
“Who hasn’t had a binhday?” Zachary went along with it “I don’t really have any wishes.
“How could you not?” Aether frowned. “Even something as simple as hoping for a safe and peaceful life counts.
set the cake down on the gaming desk, then clasped her hands together and held them to berchest.
“Do it like this Close your eyes and silently make your wish in your heart. As long as you’re sincere, your birthday wish will definitely come true!”
Zachary stated at Arther’s glowing face under the wann flicker of candlelight, and something in his chest stired.
He closed his eyes and did as she
He whispered in his heart, “1 wish Madam Conner could celebrate my birthday with me, too.”
When he opened yes, Aether was once again holding up the cake.
“Zadury, you can blow out the candles now.”
Zachary exhaled and extinguished the tiny flames.
Arther switched the lights back on and handed him a cake “The birthday boy gets to do the home.”
Zachary cutwo slices, one for himself and one for her
Arther took a small bite beboer getting up to make ! eme bintulay noodles.
his cake, be watched her move around the small kitchen, busying benell with the noodles.
cham 27 Who Would You We Bethel on the liver?
Forence, he didn’t have anything to my.
To be frank, she really wasn’t all that bad to him
When weiher brought the birthday noodles to his desk, Zachary noticed the wound on her knee had reoperied.
Tright and bloodtricked down her ler
Zachary took the noodles from her hands, his voice flat. “There’s a first aid kit imder the hrd. Take care of it.”
“Take care of what?
“What do you think? Zachary stirred his noodles, not even looking at her. “Dedo you want the entire do to reek of blood?”
Aether’s eyes widened when she finally noticed the blood dripping from her knee. She quickly scrambled under Zachury’s bed, pulled out the first aid kit, and began Trading to heelt
As she applied the medicine, she looked up and said sincerely, “Zachary, thanks for reminding me.”
“You’re thanking me for this?” Zachary scoffed, “only told you to use the medicine for my own sake
“Tran’s stand the smell of blood. It’s disgusting”
“But the medicine is still yours,” Aether beamed “1used your stuff, so naturally, I should thank you.
“Plus, your medicine works wonderd The wound heals up completely in just a few days.”
“You’re really dense, hah? You can’t even tell when 1’in being sarcastic.
]“) understand!” Aether ascend him. “After everything Viviandid to you, I still ached you to be kind to her. That was my fault.
*had no right to be generous on your behalf, to make you put up with that.
“I’m sorry, Zachary,”
Zachary Conner’s favorability 5. Current favorability:-73-)
“you say you understand, but if you had to do it over again, you’d still take her side, Zachary muttered, reluctantly eating the noodles.
Aetherwalted until he finished before stepping forward to clear the dishes. “Twart taking her side, it’s just…
“If you and Vivian switched places, I would plead for you, too.”
“So, to you, she and 1 are equal?”
“Of course not!” Arther said seriously. “You saved me twice. You’re way more important
“If you two fell into a river, I’d me you!”
Eachary Conner’s favorability -2. Current favorability–11.1
What kind of childish question was that? only someone completely love–struck would even asksomething like that.
And worse, why did Zachary feel oddly relieved by her answer? What the hell was he even relieved about?
Archer, sensing that his mood had improved, dashed over to her bed. She pulled a document from under her pillow and handed it to Zachary,
“This seems like a Conner family secret. I didn’t look at it.”
Zachary look the envelope and tore it open without hesitation.
Inside, the paternity test results were clear as day–Rosa and his childhood trend were mother and som
Zachary for, his mind blank with disbelle “Where did you get dus?”
“What’s wrong?” Arther was confused. “Is there a problem?”
“You’re asking me what’s wrong?” Zachary grabbed her arm tightly. “Who gaw this to you? What exactly are you trying to do? Why are you even getting close to me? What’s y
