Chapter 5

As Zachary lifted Charmaine into his arms to leave, his foot struck an empty bottle on the ground. It was Lynette's bottle of antidepressants. Charmaine's face stiffened. She reached out to snatch it back, but Zachary was quicker. He picked up the bottle and examined it. "Depression? Another one of your tricks?" Lynette's eyes burned painfully. Even with the truth staring him in the face, he refused to believe her. Zachary sneered. "Lynette, I treat you like a queen every day. You don't lift a finger at home. When we go out, I don't even let you carry your own things. Haven't I been good enough to you? What do you have to be depressed about? I honestly don't understand what kind of act you're trying to pull." Every contemptuous word cut into Lynette's heart—not enough to kill her, but sharp enough to make her wish it would. With a flick of his wrist, Zachary tossed the bottle aside. "Don't pull this stunt again. It's getting old." He turned to leave with Charmaine, but a sudden surge of adrenaline propelled Lynette forward. She lunged, her fingers locking onto Charmaine with a tight grip. "She can't leave! She just admitted my dad's downfall was her plan. There are cameras here. You can check them. "Zachary, say whatever you want about me, I don't care. But my dad's case must be settled!" Charmaine's heart jolted. In her eagerness to provoke Lynette, she had forgotten about the cameras. Just as she was panicking, Zachary said coldly, "Hah! There's no need to check. I don't believe you." Lynette stared at him in disbelief. Once, he had vowed never to doubt her. Now, only a few years later, he had abandoned that promise entirely. If he had only looked down, he would have seen the blood on her arms. If he had checked the surveillance, he would have uncovered the truth. The bitter reality was that Zachary wouldn't spare even a fraction of his energy for Lynette. In Whistletown, Zachary had absolute power. If he set his mind to a task, no one dared to stand in his way. Lynette was dragged home and locked away. Zachary claimed he needed to "cure her madness". He locked her in the absolute darkness of the basement, leaving her to face the one that had terrified her since she was a small child. He decreed that until she admitted her mistake, she would not eat. Each day, bodyguards came to ask the same question—had she realized she was wrong? On the first day, Lynette huddled in the corner, quietly clutching herself. On the second day, rats were released into the basement to force her to submit. She screamed in terror, but still refused to yield. By the third day, with the blood caked and dry, the light in her eyes went out. Looking into the infinite black, she said with chilling resignation, "I did nothing wrong. Just kill me and be done with it." At that point, she wanted nothing more than to die. On the seventh day, she was finally released. Zachary saw her lifeless state and panic seized him. He struck a bodyguard in fury. "If she dies, I'll bury all of you with her!" Amid the shouting, Lynette's eyes fluttered open. Confusion clouded her thoughts. If he no longer loved her, wouldn't it be better if she were dead? This was all Zachary's fault. He was the reason she was here. So why was he now pretending to be a good person? When she woke again, she was in the hospital. Zachary sat at her bedside, attentive and gentle, just as it had been years ago. For a moment, it felt as though time had reset. But Lynette knew the truth—some things, once shattered, could never be mended. The cracks would always remain. For three days, Zachary stayed by her side. When she finally opened her eyes, he exhaled in relief. "Nettie, this is all my fault. I didn't realize your body was this weak. I—" Lynette didn't want to hear it. She cut him off, her voice calm and detached. "My dad's second appeal is in a week. Are you still taking his case?" His words of concern died in his throat. Something in her had changed. The old Lynette had hated him, but love had still lingered in her eyes. Now, that love was gone.