Chapter 6

When Zachary didn't respond, Lynette let it go. "If you don't want to, forget it." But as if trying to prove something, he answered quickly, "I'll take it. I'll handle your father's case." A faint smile finally appeared on Lynette's pale face. "Thank you." The word pierced Zachary. She had never thanked him before. And now that she wasn't fighting him anymore, wasn't this what he wanted? So why did it hurt? He forced the discomfort down. Maybe he just wasn't used to her making peace. It would pass. Five days after Lynette's discharge—and five days into Zachary's sudden streak of coming home every night—he finally addressed it. He insisted to Lynette that his relationship with Charmaine was platonic, arguing that his actions weren't driven by love for the other woman, but by a need for atonement. Lynette didn't argue. She merely nodded. Ultimately, a love built on lies would never last. The day before William's hearing, Zachary announced he was going abroad. He patiently explained to Lynette, "To put your mind at ease, I asked Charmaine to resign. She couldn't handle it and went abroad. Now, her ex-husband has detained her. I need to rescue her." Charmaine. Always Charmaine. Lynette knew it was deliberate. For the first time in her life, Lynette lowered her pride and begged. "Charmaine is overseas. If you go now, will you still make it back in time for my dad's hearing tomorrow? If she's being held captive, she should call the police, not you. Zachary, you promised me." His brows furrowed, but in the end, he still chose Charmaine. "Nettie, she's not like you. She's sick, and she only feels better when I'm with her. She has no family left. She only has me. "I promise I'll be there for the hearing tomorrow. Don't make a scene, Nettie." Lynette's eyes reddened. "Zachary, I only have my dad left. Is there really no one more important than Charmaine to you?" He hated her pettiness. He stood to leave. Stopping him with a firm grasp on his arm, Lynette laid her final ultimatum on the table. "If you stay and ensure my dad's second appeal is successful, I'll withdraw the divorce." This was her last trump card. But Zachary only said, "Nettie, I won't divorce you. But I still have to take care of Charmaine." With that, he left. Before going, he instructed the bodyguards to watch Lynette, to ensure she didn't cause trouble. She watched his retreating figure, a single tear sliding down her cheek. "Zachary, do you really know yourself?" she muttered under her breath. She didn't sleep that night, waiting for his reply. At last, the confirmation came—he was at the airport. He assured her he was about to board his flight back and told her not to worry. But the next day, half an hour before the hearing, Lynette failed to reach him. His phone was off, and so was Charmaine's. Time ticked by. Lynette sobbed as she dialed his number again and again. She must've made nearly a hundred calls, but all went unanswered. In the end, William's case failed once more. The attorney was absent, and naturally, the appeal was denied. William lost his final chance. He would forever bear the label of "sexual offender". In the courtroom, William looked decades older. His hair had turned white, his ankles shackled. Once a titan of business, he was now a convict. Lynette collapsed to her knees before him, slapping herself over and over, tears streaming. "Dad, I'm sorry. I'm the reason Mom is dead. I dragged you into this. If I hadn't insisted on marrying Zachary, none of this would've happened." As a child, she had always caused trouble, but William had always had her back. She thought marriage meant Zachary would take that place. Instead, he was the one who drove the knife in. "Zachary, I regret it. If I could do it all over again, I would never fall in love with you. Never," she whispered to the empty space where he should have stood.