Chapter 16
America, VIP hospital ward.
Zachary stood outside the hospital room, listening to Carolina’s hysterical cries and curses from within. Her words were nothing more than accusations of Braclynn’s malice and her own misfortune, interspersed with Henry and Maria’s helpless and weary attempts to comfort her.
There was no expression on his face, only a deep–seated exhaustion and annoyance lingering in his eyes.
The assistant who had gone to investigate had just returned, quietly reporting the findings in his ear. The background of those home–invading robbers was complicated, but they had no connection whatsoever with Braelynn’s previous life; any so–called collusion was out of the question. As for the cloud login records of those photos, they showed abnormal access traces from devices commonly used by Carolina.
Piecing together all the fragments of evidence pointed to a fact he was unwilling but forced to admit–he had wronged Braelynn once again. And this time, in an extremely harsh and hurtful way.
The hospital room door opened, and Maria came out with red–rimmed eyes. Seeing Zachary, she seemed to find her anchor: “Zachary, Carolina’s emotions are still very unstable. The doctor said she needs to rest and can’t be agitated anymore… What do you think…”
Zachary took a deep breath and pushed open the door to enter the hospital
room.
Carolina was leaning against the headboard, crying. When she saw Zachary come in, she immediately reached out, her tears falling even more pitifully. “Zach… you finally came… I’m so scared, I thought you
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didn’t want me anymore…
Zachary did not go over to hold her hand as he usually did. He simply stood at the foot of the bed, his gaze calm, even a bit cold, as he looked at
her.
“Carolina,” he began, his voice devoid of emotion, “let’s talk.”
Carolina’s sobs stopped abruptly, as if she sensed something off in his tone. Her eyes flickered. “Talk… about what? Zach, I feel so awful right now, my head is spinning…”
“Let’s talk about those robbers. Let’s talk about those photos.” Zachary cut her off, each word falling like an ice bead on the floor. “Why did you lie?”
Carolina’s face instantly turned pale, and she instinctively clutched the blanket tighter. “I… I didn’t lie! It was Lynn… she hates me, so…”
“Didn’t lie?” Zachary let out a cold laugh and took a step forward, his presence pressing down on her. “Do you need me to show you the investigation results? Do you need me to bring those people here to confront you face to face?”
“The robbers never knew Braelynn. The photos were copied by you from
her old devices.”
“And about taking the pills,” his gaze swept over the medicine bottle on the nightstand, “the doctor said the dosage was nowhere near lethal. It was more a reaction to fright and emotional agitation. Carolina, the one who staged all this was you.”
Carolina’s psychological defenses completely collapsed in the face of irrefutable evidence. She slumped on the hospital bed, tears streaming down her face. This time, it was no longer an act, but despair from fear and her plans falling apart.
Chapter 16
“Why… Zach, you weren’t like this before… you always believed me…” She tried one last time to struggle, using her tears to evoke his pity.
“Why?” Zachary looked at her, the last trace of warmth fading from his eyes. “Because I’ve woken up. Carolina, I watched you frame her again. and again, and I, like a fool, hurt her again and again.”
He recalled the cold look Braelynn gave him the last time she saw him, and his heart felt as if it had been struck hard by a blunt object, the pain numbing.
“Our engagement ends here.” Zachary’s voice was utterly calm. “I will announce to the public that it was dissolved peacefully due to personality differences. As for the Aidley family, I will provide appropriate compensation, but from now on, we owe each other nothing.”
Hearing about the end and compensation, Carolina reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She sat up abruptly and shrieked, “Owe each other nothing? Why?! Everyone in the city knows that I, Carolina, am Zachary’s fiancée! Now you’re breaking off the engagement–how am I supposed to face people? How will the Aidley family save face?! Aren’t you afraid people will call you untrustworthy, Zachary?!”
“Face?” Zachary let out a soft, mocking laugh, his smile full of endless ridicule and coldness. “My reputation, Zachary’s reputation, doesn’t need to be maintained by a woman full of lies and malice. I don’t care what
others think.‘
Carolina was completely panicked. She lunged forward, trying to grab his sleeve. “I don’t care! You can’t do this to me! I already belong to you! The Fidgett family can’t go back on their word like this…”
Before she could finish, Zachary yanked his hand back so forcefully that Carolina was thrown back onto the bed, her elbow hitting the nightstand, making her grimace in pain.
He looked down at her from above, his eyes as cold as frost. “Carolina, for
Chapter 16
your father’s sake, I’m giving you this last bit of dignity. Accept the end of our engagement quietly, take the compensation, and disappear. I can pretend none of this ever happened.”
He paused, his voice laced with icy warning. “But if you ever dare target Braelynn again, or spread rumors outside, I will make you understand what true regret means.”
Carolina lay on the hospital bed, the sharp pain in her elbow and the humiliation in her heart intertwining, making her whole body tremble. She watched Zachary’s back as he turned to leave–tall and resolute, without a trace of hesitation.
The fear and pleading from earlier gradually faded, replaced by a nearly twisted resentment. She would not let this go! Braelynn! It was all because of Braelynn!
your father’s sake, I’m giving you this last bit of dignity. Accept the end of our engagement quietly, take the compensation, and disappear. I cant
pretend none of this ever happened.”
He paused, his voice laced with icy warning. “But if you ever dare target Braelynn again, or spread rumors outside, I will make you understand what true regret means.”
Carolina lay on the hospital bed, the sharp pain in her elbow and the humiliation in her heart intertwining, making her whole body tremble. She watched Zachary’s back as he turned to leave–tall and resolute, without a trace of hesitation.
The fear and pleading from earlier gradually faded, replaced by a nearly twisted resentment. She would not let this go! Braelynn! It was all s all because of Braelynn!
