Chapter 11
Her gaze fell on the figure downstairs, both familiar and strange.
It was Zachary
Though it had only been a short while since they last met, he seemed to have been completely consumed by some kind of anxiety. Even his once upright posture now radiated exhaustion and obsession, and he had lost a significant amount of weight.
A faint sense of unease flickered across Braelynn’s heart, but it was quickly replaced by a stronger feeling of irritation and wariness.
She took a deep breath and said to Henry and Maria, “Dad, Mom, please wait inside for a while. I need to go downstairs.”
She walked down the stairs, and as soon as she stepped out of the apartment building, Zachary suddenly turned around. His bloodshot eyes locked onto her, as if he wanted to devour her.
The next second, he reached out abruptly and grabbed her wrist, his grip so strong it felt as if he might crush her bones.
“Come with me.” His voice was hoarse as he dragged her toward a secluded corner, not giving her any chance to refuse.
Braelynn was caught off guard and stumbled as he pulled her along.
The sharp pain in her wrist made her frown. She tried to break free, but his grip only tightened.
Occasionally, passersby glanced curiously at the apartment entrance, but intimidated by Zachary’s forbidding aura, no one dared to approach.
Chapter 11
“Zachary, what kind of madness are you up to now?” As soon as they reached the corner, Braelynn forcefully shook off his hand. Looking down, she saw clear marks left on her wrist.
She stepped back to put some distance between them, her eyes cold as ice. “You chased me all the way here just to show off your violence again?”
The alienation and disgust in her eyes were like a sharp knife, stabbing deep into Zachary’s heart. The pain was suffocating, but it only fueled his obsession.
“Is it the Aidley family forcing you? Or is it that Alexander guy making. you marry him?” He stepped closer, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly. “Tell me, is it?”
“No, I chose this myself.”
Hearing this, his expression changed dramatically. His lips trembled, filled with suppressed anger and confusion. “Why? Why are you in such a hurry? How can you marry someone you barely know?”
“Or is it just to spite me, to get revenge, so you deliberately degrade yourself like this?”
Braelynn lifted her gaze to meet his almost fiery eyes, not flinching at all.
“I didn’t.”
Her tone was calm. “Alexander is capable and decisive. Marrying him is the best choice for me right now, and I am doing it of my own free will.”
She paused, then countered, “But what about you, Zachary? Haven’t you already gotten engaged to the person you chose? Didn’t Carolina get exactly what she wanted? So why are you here now? What do you want from me?”
Are you suspecting again that I did something to hurt her?”
Chapter 11
Zachary was stunned by her question, as if struck on the head.
He remembered that last time, he had indeed accused her without knowing the truth.
Now, it was understandable that she would think this way.
He really was engaged to Carolina, but so what?
From the engagement party until now, not a moment had passed without regret, not a moment without thinking about the person in front of him. He thought of her resolute eyes, her cold tone at this moment.
He wanted to say he regretted it, wanted to say she was the only one in his heart. But as the words reached his lips, seeing her unyielding attitude, his pride and chaotic emotions made him speak without thinking.
“Weren’t you supposed to love me? Braelynn, you clearly love me, so why choose someone else? Why?”
“Love?”
Braelynn reacted as if she’d heard the most ridiculous joke, suddenly letting out a cold laugh filled with mockery and sorrow. “Zachary, are you talking about the last lifetime? Maybe. Maybe I was blind in the last life, expecting something from you, hiding my sharp edges for you, until you told me on your deathbed that your heart belonged to her. You wouldn’t even be buried with me, isn’t that right?”
Her gaze grew distant, with a hint of relief. “But in that lifetime, I spent my whole life and even gave my life to learn that you never had me in your heart. You only ever loved Carolina. I already let you two be together, didn’t I? In this life, I don’t want anything to do with either of you. I just want to live my own way.”
“No! That’s not true!”
Chapter 11
Zachary grew agitated, suddenly stepping forward and reaching out to
grab her. “Braelynn, it’s not what you think. I was confused by her before, but if I could do it all over again, I…”
Seeing Braelynn’s defensive posture, Zachary suddenly panicked, gripped by a fear of losing her forever.
“Will you let me explain? Please?”
“Let go of me! Did you hear me?”
Braelynn shouted sternly, struggling with all her might.
She pushed him forcefully, using both hands and feet to resist, refusing to let him get close.
“Zachary, let go! We’re already even!”
As they struggled, a steady and slightly cold voice sounded from behind. them.
“Let her go.”
