Chapter 17 Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed
Chapter 17 Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed
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Anneliese remained unfazed. “Huh, your mom used to sell fish at the wet market–didn’t seem allergic to dog hair then, did she? You know better than anyone whether she’s really allergic or not. You really think she’s not doing this on purpose just to make my life hell?
“And your sister–what, she’s still a kid at 19? Zacharias, your sister cracked Meatloaf’s skull open. That’s animal abuse. And you’re just going to pretend it didn’t happen?”
Zacharias‘ face darkened with frustration. He looked at her with obvious disapproval. “Anne, my dad was never reliable. My mom raised Lenora and me all by herself.
“You know how hard she worked and how much she suffered. She’s a little hot–tempered now because of how rough life used to be. Can’t you just be more patient with her? Try to keep the peace?”
It was true that Melody had had a hard life. Zacharias‘ father, Richard, had been a deadbeat who drank and beat his family. Melody had raised her two kids by selling fish at the market.
Back when Anneliese lived in the same neighborhood, her adoptive father had been a firefighter and her mother a schoolteacher.
At the time, whenever Richard went on a rampage, Melody would bring Lenora over to their place to hide.
She’d always been sweet to Anneliese–holding her hand and praising her endlessly, saying how much she hoped Anneliese would marry her son someday. Lenora even used to call her Anneliese endearingly all the time.
But somewhere along the way, everything changed.
Was it after that scandal ruined her reputation? Or when Clauderias Tech went public and Zacharias‘ status suddenly rose?
Maybe it had started long before that.
Truth was, some people would suffer with you, but never stomach your success.
Anneliese looked at Zacharias, her gaze heavy with sarcasm, no longer in the mood to argue. “Zacharias, I didn’t cause your mom’s suffering, and I sure as hell don’t owe her or your sister a demn thing. Why should I give in to them?
“Let me remind you–when my adoptive father died, it was your mother who begged my grandmother for his death pension to help your family pay off their debts. If anything, she
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11:32 Fri, Sep 5
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Chapter 17 Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed
88
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owes me.”
She had been ten when her father died in a fire. Her adoptive mother had miscarried and died after falling down the stairs in a panic. It had been a one–two blow–Anneliese lost her whole world in a matter of days.
She’d barely finished burying them when disaster struck the Shaws.
Richard had killed someone while driving drunk, and debt collectors swarmed the family. Melody had begged her grandmother for help, and her soft–hearted grandmother had handed over every last penny of the compensation money.
Years later, when Melody fell ill, Anneliese had secretly worked at a mermaid restaurant for two years just to pay the medical bills. The chronic cold in her body–that was partly from too much time in cold water during puberty.
And what had she gotten in return?
Just exhaustion. So deep she sometimes wanted to scream at herself for being so stupid.
You should’ve seen through these people a long time ago, Anneliese Claude. They’re cold. Selfish. And you were a fool.
She didn’t want to look at Zacharias anymore. Instead, she turned her attention to Meatloaf.
But Zacharias couldn’t stand the way she looked so indifferent. He grabbed her hand and said through gritted teeth, “We’re talking about a dog biting someone, and you’re dragging up ancient history? Enough. You’re going to take care of them and apologize–now.”
I’m not going! Let me go!” Anneliese yanked her arm away with all her strength.
Zacharias snapped. His face clouded over as he barked an order at the two bodyguards. “Fine. A dog that bites people has no place here. No need to treat it. Hold it down and put it down!”
The bodyguards obeyed without hesitation and moved toward Meatloaf.
Sensing danger, the dog whimpered and backed into the corner, barking in panic.
Anneliese had long stopped expecting anything from Zacharias. But even so, his cruelty still cut deep.
Hatred filled her tear–bright eyes. “Zacharias! You’re a monster! Did you forget?! You’re the one who gave me Meatloaf!”
He knew exactly how much the dog meant to her.
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11:32 Fri, Sep 5
Chapter 17 Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed
88
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After her parents died, she’d lived with her grandmother. It was Meatloaf’s arrival that brought warmth and laughter back into the house.
She had always been grateful to Zacharias for giving her Meatloaf, and over the years, the dog had become family.
Her grandmother didn’t want to move to Oceaton, worried she’d be a burden, and chose to stay behind in Baytree. Meatloaf had been her only companion since.
Zacharias knew all of this–and he still wanted to put Meatloaf down.
There had never been a moment when Anneliese hated this man more, or hated her own blindness more.
“Stop! Get away from him! Let go of me!”
The vet and assistants were too intimidated by Zacharias and his men to intervene.
The two bodyguards had already pinned Meatloaf down. One of them strapped on a muzzle. The dog’s wet eyes were wide with fear and confusion. It couldn’t even bark–it just looked at Anneliese in a silent, desperate plea.
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