Chapter 55
Charlotte was incandescent.
No one else besides herself knew how time–pressured she felt then. She initially assumed
everything would be settled before traveling to Westrope. Hence, having Zachary break his promise was completely unexpected.
He had wasted her entire morning.
Julie had seen her heading out in the morning in a rather cheery mood, only to return huffing and puffing.
“What’s wrong, Ms. Lynn?” she wondered.
“I’m fine. It’s just that I encountered a nut case!” Zachary was the one Charlotte referred to.
Her intense fury caught Julie off guard.
This meant that a woman’s personality would indeed change drastically if they hadn’t yet met a good husband. Julie recalled how gentle Charlotte used to be back then.
She was as graceful as a princess in Julie’s eyes. Alas, Zachary’s behavior made her short–tempered.
Zachary kept his word and turned up during lunchtime.
Charlotte eyed the exquisite gift box before her. “What’s this?”
“It’s for you,” he replied.
‘This is new… Charlotte thought, rendered speechless.
$
This was because they had never given one another gifts since getting married. Birthday and anniversary gifts were part,and parcel of other couples‘ lives. Some even planned all sorts of surprises during Valentine’s Day.
But her husband only fulfilled his obligations and was as useless as a stone most of the time. Eventually, even that pathetic responsibility of his was rescinded.
“A divorce gift?” Charlotte mused, ‘Does he really think it will make up for standing me up in the morning?‘ She needed nothing of the kind, as having a clean and swift divorce was better than anything she could receive.
Zachary’s face darkened then.
“Charlotte, stop it.” He was still attempting to suppress his anger despite his thunderous expression.
Charlotte raised her brows.
She clearly couldn’t comprehend Zachary’s attitude and thought, ‘What’s the meaning of this?‘
Chapter 55
“Do you think I’m messing with you?” Charlotte felt it ridiculous.
Zachary’s gaze was severe and chilly. He spoke. “Enough is enough. You might have changed plenty during the past three years, but this doesn’t mean the tricks you use on other men will work on me!”
Charlotte refrained from speaking, as she felt as if the entire world was collapsing.
Her head spun. She thought, ‘What the hell is this man talking about?‘
“It’s none of your business what tricks I use,” she snapped back.
“Whatever you say. Nonetheless, please don’t use them on me again. I’m too busy to fool around with you.” Zachary was surly as he took his fork and began digging in.
‘Is this the kind of attitude to possess when he proposed lunch with me? Moreover, what is with him speaking of such affectionate words in such a gloomy tone?‘ Charlotte pondered in utter confusion.
She remained stock still for a protracted moment as she stared at Zachary, who continued eating elegantly.
Zachary’s brows furrowed when he detected how still Charlotte was, eventually serving her a piece of beef.
Charlotte’s guard was up at once while her gaze was pinned on her bowl. It was as if she were taking in the food at Superb Estates.
She felt such tension that it turned her scalp numb.
All at once, she swept her bowl to the ground with a loud clang.
↑
Julie and the butler were startled, as they’d never seen Charlotte having such a temper.
Zachary’s face darkened even further at the shrill noise, his gaze observing the broken remains of the plate scattered across the ground.
It shifted to Charlotte and hardened even further till it felt glacial..
Charlotte was as pale as a sheet, her wispy figure overcome with uncontrollable tremors.
“What’s with that?” He considered, ‘Does it look like I’m planning to devour her? Is such a dramatic
reaction even warranted?‘
Charlotte met Zachary’s gaze tremblingly, her pallid face writ with fury..
“Get out!” She shot to her feet and pointed to the exit, piqued.
Zachary bit out with gritted teeth, “Charlotte!”
His patience was running thin.
Chapter 55
Alas, it was as if Charlotte couldn’t hear him as she screamed, “Leave right now!”
Bang! Zachary slammed his palms on the table and stood as well.
His slender fingers grabbed Charlotte’s chin. He spoke. “Charlotte, I’ve had enough. Don’t…”
“Mr. Sullivan, please release Ms. Lynn.” Julie stepped forward when she sensed something was off to seize Charlotte from Zachary, shielding her behind her back.
“Can’t you see that something is terribly wrong with Ms. Lynn?” Julie asked and gave Zachary a pained look.
That was when Zachary came back to his senses and restrained his anger bit by bit.
Charlotte’s tremors still hadn’t subsided when he returned his gaze to her. Even her face was drenched in cold sweat.
It didn’t look like she was acting.
He shoved Julie away and drew near to Charlotte. “Mr. Sullivan!” Julie called out in alarm.
“Call the doctor to come over,” Zachary cut Julie off before she could finish speaking.
Julie’s initial dissatisfaction with Zachary changed into shock at being yelled at. Since Charlotte seemed to be in dire straits, she hurriedly moved to dial the family doctor.
When Zachary’s strong arms carried Charlotte, the sense of her world crumbling overwhelmed her once more, and she slapped him hard in the face.
All was silent.
Zachary could acutely feel her trembling in his arms. Thus, he proceeded to carry her back to her room straight.
“Let go of me!” Charlotte struggled unceasingly until Zachary ultimately released her.
Charlotte cowered into the opposite side of the room the moment she regained freedom to stare at Zachary warily.
Her lips quivered. “Zachary, I’ll murder you if you dare hurt me!” she roared apoplectically.
Zachary finally realized then as to why she was reacting in such a way. It pertained to what happened three years ago.
His serving her food just now reminded her of his gentleness when they were at Superb Estates.
Little did she know that it masked his malice.
If she considered the rainy night when she was 18 her nightmare of a lifetime, Zachary would be too three years ago.
Chapter 55
She’d risked even death to resist hìm. No one knew how strong her mettle was to withstand his advances.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t withhold the emotions roiling within her when certain memories surfaced.
The doctor arrived promptly to check up on her.
The family doctor Julie called was the one Charlotte’s parents saw while they were still around. This meant he was privy to Charlotte’s condition.
Charlotte’s fatigue caused her to drift into slumber.
She also caught a cold from being outdoors the entire morning.
Outside the room, the doctor sighed. He explained, “It’s best not to agitate her. While it may seem like she’s recovered, the truth is that one’s mental disorder can’t truly be cured.”
The trauma one experienced could only be allayed by how much time had passed since then. Despite that, unpleasant memories still wouldn’t completely lose their sting.
Recalling such memories would feel akin to having a scab torn open again, its pain even worse than
before.
Zachary frowned slightly and glanced at Charlotte. Her strong reaction clearly had to do with not only the thing about Annie, but also what happened three years ago.
