Chapter 24
Zachary appeared before Braelynn once again, his demeanor bordering on madness.
This time, he was no longer filled with the anger and resentment of their last encounter, but instead carried an almost obsessive excitement and fervor.
He barged straight into the office of the community center, ignoring the attempts of Alexander’s subordinates to stop him. His eyes were fixed on Braelynn’s barely noticeable belly, and his voice trembled with agitation: “Braelynn! I know everything now! The child… the child is mine, isn’t it? Why didn’t you tell me?!”
When Braelynn saw him, her face instantly turned pale. She instinctively took a step back, protectively shielding her stomach.
“Zachary, get out! You’re not welcome here!”
“No! I’m not leaving!” Zachary stepped forward, his gaze burning with a frightening intensity. “Braelynn, this is our child! This is the bond between us! Come back with me! Let’s get married! Give the child a complete family! I’ll treat you well, and treat the child even better! Let’s forget everything in the past and start over, okay?”
His words were urgent and chaotic, filled with unrealistic fantasies.
“Keep dreaming!” Braelynn trembled with anger. “Zachary, listen carefully! This child is mine and has nothing to do with you! I will never go back with you! And I will never let the child acknowledge you!”
“How could it have nothing to do with me?! I’m his father!” Zachary growled. “Braelynn, don’t be stubborn! How are you going to raise a child
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on your own? Do you want the child to suffer with you in a place like this? With me, he can have the best of everything!”
“The best of everything?” Braclynn looked as if she’d heard the most ridiculous joke, her eyes cold and filled with grief. “Is that the ‘best‘ filled with calculation and betrayal? Is it the kind where you can sacrifice the child’s mother just to prove something to another woman? Zachary, you are not worthy of being called a father!”
“L…” Zachary was momentarily speechless, then pleaded anxiously, “I know I was wrong! I regret it! Braelynn, for the child’s sake, give me one more chance! Just one!”
“A chance?” A cold voice interrupted.
Alexander had appeared at the doorway at some point, his tall figure blocking the frame. His gaze was as cold as a blade as he stepped inside, positioning himself in front of Braelynn,
“Zachary,” he stared at the nearly deranged man before him, his voice laced with undisguised mockery and chill. “When did you ever give her a chance? Was it when you accused her of colluding with kidnappers? Or when you locked her up to please another woman? Or when you allowed her to almost get run over?”
Each of Alexander’s words landed like a heavy blow on Zachary’s heart, and also tore open Braelynn’s bloody wounds.
Zachary’s face turned ashen, his lips quivering, unable to retort.
Alexander’s gaze swept over Braelynn’s pale face before settling back on Zachary, his tone resolute and forceful, as if declaring his sovereignty:
“From now on, the child will bear the Wadsworth name. I will be his father.”
“As for you.” he stepped closer to Zachary, the atmosphere between the
Chapter 24
two men instantly tense, “Go back to wherever you came from. Don’t come here to humiliate yourself again.”
1200 Mouchars
Zachary looked at Braelynn standing behind Alexander, her gaze cold and resolute, then at the man before him, exuding dominance over his child and woman. Overwhelming jealousy, anger, and despair finally consumed him completely.
“Don’t even think about it!” He suddenly turned to Braelynn, his eyes now disturbingly obsessive and even crazed. “Braelynn, listen to me! This child must acknowledge his ancestry! If you don’t come with me, I’ll sue you! I’ll fight for custody! I have plenty of money and lawyers, I’ll make sure you lose everything, and you won’t even get to see the child!”
He had completely lost his sanity, spewing threats without restraint.
Braelynn was frightened by the ruthlessness and determination in his words, her face growing even paler as she instinctively clutched her belly tighter.
Alexander’s gaze instantly dropped to freezing point.
He grabbed Zachary’s collar, his voice low and terrifying, carrying a beast- like threat: “Go ahead and try. Let’s see if your Fidgett family lawyers are faster, or if my methods are harsher.”
He leaned in close to Zachary’s ear, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, coldly uttering a few words: “I don’t mind making you disappear for good.”
Zachary was intimidated by the undisguised ruthlessness and murderous intent in Alexander’s eyes.
He knew this man wasn’t joking. He really would do it!
A cold fear instantly extinguished his frenzy, bringing him back to his
senses.
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Chapter 24
1 Vouchers
Alexander suddenly released him, as if tossing away a piece of trash: “Get out.”
Zachary staggered back a step, looking at Alexander standing like an impenetrable wall protecting Braelynn, then at Braelynn’s wary and disgusted gaze. He knew he had been utterly defeated once again.
And this time, he had lost even more completely, even more hopelessly.
He retreated in a daze, his eyes hollow. At last, he glanced at Braelynn’s belly–inside was the continuation of his bloodline, yet it might also be a dream he could never reach.
He finally understood that he had lost Braelynn for good. Along with the child who had come unexpectedly, he had lost them forever.
Like a beaten, broken stray dog, he left in utter disgrace.
In the office, only Braelynn and Alexander remained.
Braelynn could no longer hold herself up; her legs gave way and she nearly collapsed.
Alexander caught her just in time, pulling her tightly into his arms.
Leaning against his solid, warm chest, Braelynn listened to his steady, powerful heartbeat. Her nerves, stretched taut for so long, finally relaxed, and tears of fear and grievance silently fell.
“Don’t be afraid.” Alexander’s voice sounded above her head, low and reassuring. “I’m here.”
He gently stroked her back, his movements a bit clumsy but full of protective intent.
“I won’t let anyone take him away, and I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
This time, his promise was clear and unwavering.
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Chapter 24
288 Vouchers
Braelynn nodded in his arms, and for the first time, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Outside the window, the sunset was blood–red, stretching and merging their shadows tightly together.
The road ahead might still be difficult, but at least in this moment, they
leaned on each other, facing it together.
