Ricky tried to free himself from Stan, but the other man kept a vice-like grip on his hand to stop him from running.
Even so, Ricky protested. “No. I’d never agree to that–there’s no way I can do it anyway. Just let me go!” Stan told him as politely as he could, “You’re the best man for the job.”
“What do you mean I’m the best man for the job? Do you think Sheryl wouldn’t be devastated if I were the one who told her?! I won’t be the villain here! I refuse!”
To Ricky, Stan might as well have been telling him the worst joke ever.
Even if his mother had been at odds with Sheryl and Abigail, there was no doubt that his mother had done more than her fair share of mistakes.
And after he spent a lot of time with Sheryl and Abigail, he could feel that they were generally kind, and long since considered them family. Sheryl had since become a mother figure as well… but if he told her that Abigail was dead, she would die weeping!
“Can’t we hide it?” Ricky certainly believed that silence was the better idea here.
“Do you really think we can hide a person’s death?” Stan asked, holding his gaze. “Well, maybe we can lie to her for a couple days or months, but do you think we can keep going for a year? I’m asking you because that’s the best for everyone.”
Ricky did not really see his point. “Why?”
“Abigail’s death is a devastating tragedy for you and everyone. No one wanted this to happen, but it did- but we are obliged to live on, because we’re alive. That’s why I want you to tell Sheryl right now, or Diarmuid would sink into another fit of depression if she starts crying around him in a few days, just as he starts to recover.”
“What, you think Diarmuid could forget my sister in days? She even had a baby with him! He’s so ruthless, getting over her after just a few days…”
“I’m just giving an example there.” Stan wanted to roll his eyes at Ricky–did this boy really have such poor comprehension?
On the other hand, Ricky was staring at Stan as if he was an idiot. “And do you think Sheryl could bear the pain? It will stay with her for the rest of her life, and if you don’t want her sad around Diarmuid, you should ask her to not show up around him at all.”
“She’s babysitting Tommy. It’s impossible to stop them from meeting…”
“Pain is inevitable, but holding it in and then letting everything blow up at once is nothing good either,” Ricky countered.
Stan actually did a double take and chuckled. “I didn’t think you’d be this reasonable, kid.”
“It’s the truth. We’re all going to hurt together if we can’t hide the truth.”
Three days later, Stan had completed renovations of the castle into a snowy fortress–one would feel as if they set foot in the North Pole the instant they entered
Zachary was stunned. “You lost your job?”
Lulu had already turned to leave, not remotely bothered to answer him.
Zachary was not going to let up so soon, however, and caught her by the wrist.
“Let go!” Lulu exclaimed, appearing utterly disgusted by his touch.
It certainly cut Zachary to the quick-she hated him so much already?
“Do you really think that our past was that stupid?”
Her words were basically a refusal to acknowledge their past relationship, and it was unacceptable to him.
Even if they had broken up, they used to be truly in love.
How could she dismiss it like that?
“What else would it be?” someone suddenly asked.
It was Ricky, who had returned with Lulu’s drink, shooting Zachary a glare as he gave it to her.
“You are the one who cheated Lulu, and then doubted her even though she clearly wasn’t the one behind the banners, and you made her lose her job too. How despicable can you be? But it’s fine—I’ll take good care of her, and you don’t have to worry. So stay away from her, especially today. My patience has its limits, and I’ll beat you up if I have to!”
Lulu quickly pulled Ricky away, not wanting anything to do with Zachary, let alone argue with him.
As for Zachary, even if he did not believe that Lulu was the one behind the banners, it must be his mother who got her fired.
Even he decided that he could not deny it-and was there any meaningful difference, whether it was him or his mother?
All he could do was watch as Lulu left… just as a hand suddenly clapped him heavily on the shoulder twice. “You’re married, so try to keep it in your pants. Be nice to your new bride instead of bothering Ms. Adams all the time”
“I’m bothering her? Is that how you see it?” Zachary turned and shot a dirty look at the man beside him.
James blinked. “Is that not the case?”
“Of course not! I know we’ve broken up, but I’m not really bothering her. I mean, can’t we at least be friends? Can’t friends show concern for each other?”
“Exactly. You’ve broken up with her, so how are you going to be friends?” James told him earnestly. “There’s no way it’s happening. Just lead your separate lives and be content about it.”
Zachary was left fuming and storming off.
Ember Lindt certainly knew how to curry Mrs. Slate’s favor. Though she was from a rich family and was just a newlywed bride, her work was absolutely immaculate.
As she brought Mrs. Slate a bowl of chicken soup to Mrs. Slate, she cooed, “I’m sorry that Zachary is always so busy, Paula, but I promise to take care of you in his stead.”
Mrs. Slate’s grin could not have been broader. “Oh, you didn’t have to-you could’ve just left this to the cooks. You were your parents’ beloved child, and I shouldn’t make you work now that you’ve married into our family.”
Ember lowered her head with a faint smile, as if embarrassed, and kept charming Mrs. Slate.
“It’s no trouble. You’ve been taking good care of me too, Paula.”
That was when Zachary returned home and saw them, and he immediately told Ember, “Go upstairs.”
He was not watching his tone as he was already furious.
“What’s wrong, Zachary?” Ember walked up to him and tried to calm him instead.
“I need to talk to my mom. Go upstairs!” he repeated, even more stern now.
Mrs. Slate got to her feet and told Ember calmly. “Ember, go upstairs for now.”
Ember had every intention to act the part of a tame, obedient wife and daughter-in-law, and so had to go upstairs.
However, she felt uneasy not knowing what Zachary would discuss with Mrs. Slate.
As she headed upstairs, she hid near the stairway to eavesdrop, pretending to open and close the door to her room to trick those who were downstairs! Soon, she heard Zachary talking…
Zachary demanded, “You’re the one who got Lulu fired, aren’t you?”
Ember could clearly hear his voice from upstairs!
Mrs. Slate scoffed. “You call that a job? And yes, I framed her for a mistake and got her fired. She was the one who humiliated us with those banners at your wedding, and her behavior will only escalate if I don’t straighten her out.”
Ember was naturally smug when she heard that-Mrs. Slate now hated Lulu to the bone, did she not?
“Do you have any evidence it was her?” Zachary snapped.
“Evidence? She admitted it herself!’ Mrs. Slate shot back, furious that Zachary was still thinking about Lulu. “You’re married, Zahcary-you should be caring about Ember. Her family background matches ours, and she is the Lindts’ only daughter. It’s not just an individual marriage, but a marriage between families! Don’t you understand how lucky you are?”
Zachary had always known that his mother loved money and influence, and his father’s philandering ways left her suffering considerably.
That was why he gave in to her demands to break up with Lulu.
And yet, she was not stopping…
“I’ve already compromised on Lulu and even resigned as a doctor to marry Ember. Don’t harass Lulu ever again after I did everything you told me to,” Zachary told her just then
“If she stays away, I would have no reason to,” Mrs. Slate said, since she knew better than to push her own son too far.
Meanwhile, Ember was left clenching on the scaffolding as she stood upstairs.
Zachary still cared so much about Lulu?
What did she have to do for Zachary to only think of her? Lulu’s disappearance, perhaps?
Meanwhile, Zachary appeared despondent. “I hope you keep your word, Mom, or you’re going to make me appear less than a man to others.”
“What, did Lulu come to you? Did she say that you’re not a man?” Mrs. Slate raised a brow, at once wary and annoyed.
Zachary gave her a look of helplessness and misery
“Don’t worry, she won’t come to me ever again-she’s disgusted with me.”
“Who does she think she is?!” Mrs. Slate snapped, eternally convinced that it was Lulu who did not deserve her son. “She’s a measly jinx who works with dead people, and she’s disgusted with you? The nerve!”
“Everyone’s job has a purpose, Mom. Without law enforcement to keep the peace, your money would have been taken away, whether by kidnapping or even blackmailing. You’re only leading a stable, peaceful life because of those who do their jobs without complaint.”
Mrs. Slate was left fuming. “What are you saying? That I would be poor if not for the likes of her?!”
Zachary, however, stayed quiet and turned to leave, because he did not want to argue.
“Stop,” Mrs. Slate huffed. “Go upstairs and check on Ember. You’re already here anyway.”
Zachary turned stiffly around and held his mother’s gaze like a puppet devoid of emotion. “Aren’t you going to drug me again? So that I’ll sleep with her?”
Mrs. Slate glowered. “Watch your mouth!”
Zachary simply snorted in disdain and headed upstairs, although there was no telling whom he actually felt disdain for.
As he entered the bedroom, Ember, who was sitting on the bed, quickly got up when she saw him, flashing that innocent smile of hers.
“Is something wrong, Zachary? You don’t look well.”
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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