Erin was speechless-there was really something wrong with him!
She had added certain herbs while she cooked it to help with James’ recovery.
She had tasted it herself, and it was definitely bitter.
“You need to get your tongue checked,” Erin told him.
Zachary looked up at her then. “Come, sit. Let’s have a chat.”
“I’m busy. I need to talk to Abigail,’ she replied.
“She left with her children. She’s not at home,” Zachary replied.
“I see,” Erin said and went to sit on the couch, staring at Zachary as she asked, “There’s something weighing on your mind, right?”
Zachary smiled. “How’d you know?”
“You were acting very strange,” Erin replied. “There’s either something bothering you, or you’re just crazy.”
Zachary was speechless. “You’re just a girl. Don’t you have any respect for your brother?”
Erin could roll her eyes right then. What even made him her brother?
Zachary remained serious as he broke it down for her. “Diarmuid, James, and I are as close as brothers, right?”
Erin nodded. ’Yeah.”
She knew that all too well.
“And of us three, Diarmuid is the eldest and a brother to you, but I’m older than James. Whether it’s because of your connection to
Diarmuid or to James, I’m a brother to you and should be addressed as such.’
Erin was speechless.
The man made sense, but having to call him ‘brother’ was too cringeworthy!
“Can I call you something else?” Erin asked.
“What then?” Zachary asked in return.
Erin thought about it.
Brother was definitely not going to cut it, just as ‘uncle’ was wrong.
“I think I’ll just stick to ‘Zachary’,” Erin said.
Zachary waved in refusal. “I’ve already explained everything to the letter. That definitely won’t cut it!”
“Well, I’m not going to address you as my brother,” Erin said, refusing to discuss it-somehow it felt like he was getting one over her!
“Then respect like you would Diarmuid…”
“You don’t hold that much weight in my mind,” Erin said, not giving an inch at all.
Zachary was speechless and deliberately put a hand on his chest as if his heart hurt. “You’re just a kid, but you really know how to break a heart.”
He was already lost in love and was now being abused by a kid.
Life was suffering!
Probably because Zachary appeared very miserable and was not actually feigned, Erin asked, “What’s weighing on your mind?
Care to tell me? I could help you find a way.”
Zachary said nothing and simply stood up to leave. “Forget it. You’d never understand.”
What, was he supposed to tell her how depressed he was right now? That his biological daughter would be calling someone else
‘dad’?
He was positive Erin would laugh at him if he did, and that was why he refused!
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you so sure I wouldn’t get it?” Erin caught his wrist, her curiosity piqued. “Tell me before you go.”
Zachary was left wondering about this life of his just then.
Why did it have to be so tragic?
And why did he have to talk to Erin and now have no way of getting out of this?
“I was just kidding,” he said then. ’You thought I was serious?”
Erin simply rose to her feet. “It’s fine if you won’t say. I just have to ask James-he’d definitely tell me.’
This time, it was Zachary’s turn to stop her.
If James did it, he would definitely spice it up, emphasizing how stupid Zachary was to lose his woman.
And when that happened, Erin would not show sympathy, even call him useless.
The noble impression he had in her mind would crumble!
That said, if Erin knew what he was thinking, she would tell him in no uncertain terms that he never appeared noble to her!
Zachary cleared his throat and said, “Do you really want to know? I can tell you, but you have to call me ‘brother’ first.”
Even as he spoke, he wondered what sort of a story he should give her…
“Brother,” Erin said then.
Zachary was left gaping.
He finally knew how James managed to bewitch Erin-she was just too naive, believing him just like that!
As he suddenly smiled, Erin stared at him and asked, “What’s that smile for? You were dumped, weren’t you?” “He wasn’t dumped-his brain is just malfunctioning,” someone scoffed coolly behind him.
Zachary turned to find James standing nearby, and he smiled awkwardly.” You’re still hurt. Why did you come out here? You should be staying in your room.”
“If I did, I won’t be able to listen to you embarrassing yourself,’ James said, scowling. “Over here, Erin.”
Erin quickly walked to his side, blinking. “Are you upset?”
“Not at you,” James replied.
Zachary reclined against the couch and asked, “Then, at me?”
“Who else is there?” James snapped while Erin helped him sit.
Zachary pouted. “You’re a cripple, man. Why don’t you stay in your room instead of coming out here?”
“Watch your language!” Erin snapped, unhappy with the personal attack.
James clapped her on the shoulder. “Calm down. Don’t you know why he doesn’t have a girlfriend? It’s because of that rotten mouth of his.”
Zachary was speechless. “Your personal attacks are worse than mine.”
James chuckled. “Pot, meet kettle.”
Zachary clicked his tongue. “Whatever you say.”
He got to his feet, ready to leave since he obviously was not winning here.
“Stop,” James told him.
“What?” Zachary stared at him warily.
“Remember, she’s your sister-in-law,” James reared his chin. ‘You know that I’m older.”
Zachary was speechless-he was just messing with Erin!
Still, he licked his lips and flashed a meaningful smile. “Fine, you’re older, old man.”
James really wanted to hit Zachary right then-it was almost impossible not to.
“Say it,” he snapped, glaring at him.
Zachary, however, could not bring himself to acknowledge Erin’s seniority when she was so young.
Looking at James then, he smiled evilly. “I’ll say it if you go back to your room.”
“Screw off!” James snapped. “Don’t you dare bully her again while I’m not around. I’ll cut your balls off.”
Zachary pouted. “Oh, how protective of you. I was just joking-why so serious?”
Erin came to a realization then—James was actually older than Zachary, but Zachary had manipulated her into calling him
‘brother’!
“How could he be so shameless?” she huffed.
“Exactly. Shameless,” James echoed.
“Tricking a kid like me is just heinous,” Erin added.
“Exactly. Heinous!” James echoed again.
Zachary was speechless. “You really deserve each other. Two peas in a pod, a nest of vipers, all of that.”
“Well, why don’t you look at your miserable self first?” James retorted.” Such a lonely soul. Tut, tut…”
“I’m not talking to you,” Zachary snapped and started to leave.
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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