Ricky remained where he was, but he taunted Zachary. “Lulu loved me even before she lost her memory. Even now, the feelings she has for me remain in her body, so you can’t stop us.”
Zachary did not argue and headed straight for his car.
Lulu followed him and studied him gingerly as she got in his car. “I was confused, so I didn’t push him away.”
Zachary said nothing, because he was in a sullen mood after overhearing Ricky’s conversation with Lulu.
He had never expected Lulu to find out that his mother tried to have her killed, and he actually doubted his mother’s suspicion toward Lulu before!
It seemed now that the fire was no accident-Lulu was a forensic doctor who had seen all sorts of crime. Even if she had forgotten everything, she would know more than the average person on how to commit a crime without leaving evidence behind!
And it was the case of that fire-there were no traces left at all, and even the ensuing investigation suggested that it was just an Accident.
Once they arrived home, Mrs. Slate already had the servants prepared dinner.
She had not begun eating since she was waiting for Zachary and Lulu, smiling as she watched them enter. “Dinner’s ready. Wash your hands before you eat.”
She was a lot more cordial now and could act nonchalant despite her suspicions.
“Shouldn’t you be staying at the hospital?” Zachary asked.
“The doctors told me that I can rest at home and I don’t like the smell in the hospital. I’ll be fine in my wheelchair anyway, but you should be careful too since you have yet to make a full recovery…”
“Yeah, just stay home if that’s what you want.” Zachary cut her short impatiently and took Lulu’s hand, heading straight to the washroom.
He said nothing on the way there.
Lulu thought that he had overheard her conversation with Ricky, but felt that he did not change the instant he took her hand. He must only feel grumpy seeing Ricky kiss her, and her apprehension slowly eased!
When they returned to the dining table, however, Mrs. Slate began to wheel herself away, saying, “Could you come with me to, my room, Zachary? I have something to tell you.”
Zachary did not get up and instead said, “You can say it here, whatever it is. Mrs. Slate pursed her lips, making an awkward face.
Lulu saw that and nudged Zachary with her elbow.
“You should go. She must have something to tell you.”
As Zachary got up reluctantly, Mrs. Slate looked up at Lulu with a smile.” You can get started with us.”
“Okay,” Lulu smiled in return-both of them were evenly matched when it came to keeping up appearances!
Once inside Mrs. Slate’s room and she closed the door, she told Zachary solemnly, “I have proof that the fire at our home was no accident. She did it and was trying to kill us with it!’
Zachary glowered. “Are you saying that we’re already dead?”
Mrs. Slate scowled, her fingers clenching on the handles of her wheelchair. ‘I was hurt, but I came back on a wheelchair because I had to. I’m worried she’d hurt you-“
“If she does kill me, I deserve it. Consider that I’m paying your debt.”
With that, he reached for the door handle, but suddenly paused and turned around to his mother again. “Don’t mention anything, and pretend you know nothing about the fire.”
After all, he knew very well that Lulu would just leave him if she could not have her revenge, and he wanted to keep her at his side even if she was doing it out of spite.
“If she leaves me again because of you, I’ll never forgive you!”
“Fine, I’ll even treat her like my daughter,” Mrs. Slate quickly replied. But you have to be wary of her-I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Zachary sneered. “You don’t want me to get hurt while you hurt others?”
Mrs. Slate had no comeback for that. “Look, I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve done it. What do you want from me? To send me to jail?”
She certainly did not like Zachary mentioning it endlessly-did she not have her own pride and dignity?
“Was it something I said? I’m just telling you to be careful because I don’t want you to get hurt, or is that wrong?”
Mrs. Slate ranted, holding her chest as if to hold back her frustration. “I was punished for my mistake, and there will be extensive scars left on me even after I recover. Your father had always been cold to me, so it’s not like this would help matters-he wouldn’t even want to look at me a second longer now! But have I complained about or spited Lulu Adams for this? No, because I know I deserved that after what I did, or are you saying that caring about you is unforgivable now too?!”
Zachary knew that he was prone to anger because of his foul mood, and now that he had calmed down, he said, “I know. I will watch out.”
Mrs. Slate was still huffing, however. “You can eat with her now. No need to wait for me.”
Zachary did not try to reason. He simply said, “The doctor must have told you to keep your diet bland, didn’t he? Just ask the servants to cook for you.”
With that, he opened the door and strode out, looking out at the dining area as he did.
Lulu was sitting there, eating alone without a care like an emotionless machine-cold and apathetic, unconcerned by anything.
Zachary walked over and sat by her side and put more food on her plate.’ Have some more.”
Lulu continued eating, but simply pretended as if she did not see him put the food in her place, and kept eating everything else.
Zachary watched quietly but said nothing, and they returned to their respective rooms after dinner.
Standing before his window with his arms folded before his chest, Zachary was musing to himself.
He had never gone to Lulu’s room previously, but things were different now -he was paranoid about her leaving him.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he must give her a reason not to leave.
And for a woman, a child was perhaps reason enough for her to abandon her hatred for his mother and himself.
He resolved himself the instant that thought crossed his mind.
He drove out to get what he needed, and after he returned, he poured milk into a glass in the kitchen and took it upstairs.
As he knocked on Lulu’s door, she asked, “Who is it?”
“It’s me,” Zachary replied.
Lulu got up and unlocked the door, which she kept locked every night before sleep.She was always wary here too!
“What is it?”
She kept her fingers on the doorknob, seemingly having no intention of letting Zachary in.
Zachary simply passed her the glass of milk. “Have some milk before you sleep.”
Lulu refused. “I was sleeping already, and I’ve already brushed my teeth.”
Zachary simply stood there without a word, as if he would remain there as long as Lulu did not drink it.
The stalemate lasted for minutes until Lulu took the glass, chugged it, and returned it to him. “Are we done here?”
Zachary studied her. “Why are you always so wary? Am I some sort of criminal?”
“Haven’t I always been like this?” Lulu replied.
Zachary pursed his lips. “I love you, Lulu, and that’s never changed, y’know?”
Lulu sensed that something was wrong with him right then. “You know I’ve forgotten.”
“You have, but you could ask about the past, couldn’t you?”
He was referring to the possibility that someone might have told Lulu that his mother tried to kill her.
“What are you talking about?” Lulu raised a brow.
“Do you know what your previous profession was?”
“What?”
“Forensic doctor,” Zachary replied. “We both graduated from the same university, and we used to date as students-“
“I’m sleepy,” Lulu said, not wanting to hear further and sensing that Zachary was acting weird.
Zachary, however, ignored her and continued. “When it comes to people of our profession, we are sharp when it comes to drugs…”
That was why the drug he spiked her milk with was colorless and tasteless, and he would not have sensed it either if someone else were to give it to him.
Lulu felt her strength leaving her body right then, as if it turned into jelly.
As she could not even stand straight, Zachary held her arm. “I’ll help you to bed.”
“No,” Lulu said in refusal.
“You don’t have to refuse me at this point.” Zachary said, taking her inside even as Lulu came to a realization.
“You spiked the milk?!” Her eyes bulged in anger. “What are you trying to do?”
Zachary stared at her. “I’m trying to make you stay.”
“That’s why you brazenly spiked my drink?!” she exclaimed, thunderstruck.” Is this who you really are?”
Did she really fall for someone as despicable, shameless, and heinous as him? Was she blind?
Zachary simply put her limp form in bed, and sat on the edge as he watched her. ‘I don’t know how you found out that my mother tried to kill you, but I know your temper. You’d never forgive us, but I don’t want you to leave me…”
Lulu laughed coldly. “Is that why you’re doing this? I’ll just hate you more if you do. Do you know how much you disgust me?”
Zachary froze.
He disgusted her?
He then realized what he did was wrong.
How could he do this?
He rubbed his temples, deciding that he was so afraid that she would leave him that he was being this outrageous.
“I’m sorry…”
He apologized as he fled the room, understanding how despicable he was behaving toward Lulu.
What would she think of him now?
She would push him away further, would she not?
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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