Chapter 184 A Searing Ache
Chapter 184 A Searing Ache
“Don’t move!”
:
Jonathan’s command rang sharp, his hoarse voice heavy with warning.
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Anneliese froze, completely at a loss. Like an ostrich hiding from danger, she instinctively buried her face against his chest, feeling as small and powerless as an insect.
“I’m fine now. Put me down,” she murmured.
His chest rose and fell in a tense rhythm. He inhaled deeply, then released the breath slowly before speaking again.
“Are you certain you can stand on your own?”
“Yes. You can let Jess in now.”
Jonathan knew he was already at the limit. Carrying her upstairs could still be brushed off as an emergency, but lingering any longer would only stir unnecessary trouble.
He didn’t care what people said about him, but she didn’t deserve to be dragged into rumors.
Gently, he set her down, helped steady her, and without another word, strode to the door.
As the door swung open, Jessica pressed herself against the wall, instantly covering her eyes in a dramatic flourish as if afraid of what she might see.
Jonathan didn’t even pause. “Ms. Sweeting, please look after her.”
He walked away without a backward glance.
Jessica peeked through her fingers, then dropped her hand with a sly grin as she slipped into the bathroom. A smirk twisted into a grimace.
Oh boy. Things are only just beginning, and he’s already claiming Annie like she’s his.
Meanwhile, Selina had been carried upstairs by Christopher. She hadn’t even warmed herself with a shower before wriggling out of his arms and pushing him aside.
She rushed straight toward Zion, who stood at the door of a guest room.
“Where are Anne and Mr. Fullbuster? Are they both in there?”
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Chapter 184 A Searing Ache
The very thought made her dizzy.
:
Without waiting for an answer, she lunged for the door, panic written all over her face.
Zion quickly intercepted her hand, his voice stern.
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“Ms. White, mind your words. Ms. Claude is resting in another room–Ms. Sweeting is with her. And Mr. Fullbuster is in this room right now. It wouldn’t be proper for you to enter.”
Hearing that Jonathan and Anneliese had already gone their separate ways, Selina finally exhaled in relief.
She realized she’d been overthinking it.
Anneliese’s reputation wasn’t exactly clean, and she was already married–there was no way she’d get tangled up with Jonathan.
He had only carried her to help, nothing more.
Still trembling from the cold, Selina nodded at Zion and staggered back to her own room.
Half an hour later, Zacharias finished tidying up and knocked at Anneliese’s door.
Jessica answered with a smile, but the instant she saw who it was, her cheer vanished like smoke.
“Ugh, it’s you. So annoying.”
Zacharias‘ face darkened. “Who did you think it would be? Jonathan?”
The way Jessica’s expression shifted–from bright and sweet to sheer disgust–sparked both jealousy and anger in him.
Jessica crossed her arms, smirking. “Well, well, so you did figure it out. Didn’t think that much self–awareness.”
you had
“Jessica Sweeting! You—”
Zacharias ground his teeth, his eyes burning with warning.
At that moment, Anneliese’s voice drifted from within the room. “Jess, let him in.”
Jessica let out an exasperated huff before stepping aside.
Zacharias strode inside, his gaze immediately falling on Anneliese, who sat propped up in bed
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Chapter 184 A Searing Ache
beneath a heavy quilt, her cheeks faintly flushed.
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A flicker of alarm crossed his eyes as he moved toward her, reaching out instinctively to check her forehead.
“Are you running a fever? Honey, I’m sorry, I—”
Before his hand could reach her, Anneliese jerked her head away, revulsion clear in her expression. At the same time, Jessica rushed forward, seizing his arm.
“Don’t you dare touch her!”
Zacharias had already been restraining his temper, but that was the breaking point.
He wrenched Jessica’s arm free with force, fury radiating off him.
“This is between me and my wife. Who the hell do you think you are? Get out!”
His strength sent Jessica stumbling backward until she collided with the cabinet, a dull thud echoing in the room.
Turning back to Anneliese, Zacharias barely had a moment to react before–splash–a cup of water struck him full in the face.
And it was scalding hot.
“D*mn it!”
His skin flushed crimson from the burn, his features contorted in shock and pain. The searing sting tore through him like fire, straight to his chest.
It was a searing ache.
He stood stunned, staring at Anneliese, who now balanced unsteadily on the bed, the empty cup clutched in her trembling hand.
“You burned me? You actually threw boiling water at me?”
In her panic, Anneliese had risen too quickly, and her vision went dark.
The cup slipped from her fingers, shattering on the floor as her body swayed and collapsed forward.
Zacharias instinctively reached out, but she weakly pushed against his chest, collapsing back onto the mattress.
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Chapter 184 A Searing Ache
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Her shove was so faint it barely registered, yet Zacharias stood frozen, his chest constricted with a turmoil of emotions.
