Chapter 22
1332 Words
Ellie's P.O.V.
The drive back to White Mansion passed in complete silence.
My head rested against the cool window as city lights streaked past in blurred lines. Every muscle in my body ached, exhaustion settling deep inside my bones after everything that had happened.
However, something strange happened.
For the first time since arriving there, White Mansion no longer felt like a prison. After tonight, it felt safer than the house where I had grown up.
The realization made my chest tighten.
The car rolled to a smooth stop before the grand entrance. Theo stepped out first and opened the door for me.
“We're here, Madam.”
I climbed out slowly, my legs feeling unusually heavy.
“Thank you... Theo.”
He inclined his head politely.
“It was my duty, Madam.”
There wasn't another unnecessary word. He simply watched until I stepped inside before returning to the driver's seat.
I let out a tired breath. All I wanted now was my room, a hot shower, and a bed. Only sleep could free me from the constant replaying of the banquet scenes.
As I pushed open the door, the darkness greeted me. The mansion was unusually quiet. Only faint moonlight slipped through the enormous windows, casting long shadows across the marble floor.
I thought inwardly.
“Is everyone asleep already?”
Just as I took another step, a loud click echoed, and soft golden lights gradually illuminated the living room just enough to reveal the man waiting inside.
Zack!
He sat casually on one of the high chairs, one ankle resting over his knee.
A glass of wine dangled loosely between his fingers while a cigarette burned lazily in the other hand.
The bottle beside him was almost empty, and the ashtray was overflowing.
I paused.
“Had he... been sitting here all this time?”
But that thought disappeared as quickly as it came. Whatever he did wasn’t my problem.
Without acknowledging him, I walked past. His deep voice echoed through the silent hall.
“You are back.”
I didn't even slow down.
“If you're here to laugh at me,” I said wearily, “I'm really not in the mood tonight.”
Heavy silence followed my words. Then Zack asked seriously.
“Did anyone touch you?”
My footsteps halted. I turned around slowly to face Zack.
For one fleeting second, something unfamiliar like concern flickered inside his amber eyes. Before I could make sense of it, his gaze shifted to my face, pausing at my swollen cheek.
His jaw tightened. The lazy expression disappeared as his eyes darkened, lingering on the red mark left by Susan's slap.
Something cold flashed across his face, only to vanish in a heartbeat.
He leaned back against the chair and took another drag from his cigarette.
“Looks like someone beat me to it.”
Gosh.
For one ridiculous second, his acting made me believe that he cared.
I shook my head.
“You don't have to pretend. I know better now.”
“Good.” Smoke curled from his lips. “It would be inconvenient if you thought otherwise.”
He swirled the wine inside his glass.
“I'm only checking whether White Mansion needs to sue someone.”
There it was.
The Zack I knew. Always turning everything into another opportunity to provoke me.
As I no longer had the strength, I simply sighed, not ready to give him the satisfaction of the answer.
I was about to turn when he asked.
“How was your ex-fiancé's banquet?”
His voice remained infuriatingly calm.
“Did you spend the whole evening looking at him with doe eyes?”
Something inside me finally snapped.
I slowly looked up at him.
“Find another hobby, Zack. You aren't even in the top three most annoying people I've met this week.”
His brows knitted together, as if he was genuinely caught off guard.
“Excuse me?”
His suspicious tone made me groan. I stared at him for a long moment.
“I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you, Zack.”
Leaving him there, I turned toward the staircase, my steps heavy. My heart thumped as my wrist was suddenly caught in a firm grip.
“Ellie…”
I looked down at Zack’s hand before raising my eyes to his face. His expression had hardened again.
“Does that list include the people you tried selling those photographs to?”
Seriously?
That old accusation.
He pinched my aching nerve, but oddly, it no longer hurt.
Instead of answering, I looked pointedly at his hand around my wrist. My voice remained perfectly composed.
“Can you at least remember that I am technically your stepmother?”
For a heartbeat, neither of us moved.
His amber eyes searched mine before he answered quietly,
“No.”
There wasn't even a hint of hesitation.
“I refuse relationships forced onto me.”
His fingers loosened, so I gently slipped my hand free and nodded.
“Fine. Good to know that.”
Then I spoke politely.
“Theo handled everything at the banquet very well.”
I offered him a small, tired smile.
“Please thank Mr. Zackary for protecting me.”
The smirk on Zack's face disappeared, conflict appearing in his eyes. His lips pinched into a hard line as though he didn't know what to say anymore.
Eventually, he gave a faint nod.
“I'll… pass the message.”
Without another word, I turned and walked upstairs, his intent gaze following my every step…
******************************
Zack's P.O.V.
The mansion fell silent once Ellie disappeared upstairs.
I sat in my chair again, my gaze fixed on the untouched wine swirling lazily inside the crystal glass.
The front door opened, and measured footsteps echoed across the marble floor. Theo stopped a few feet away.
Tonight, something was different. His signature carefree grin was nowhere to be found. His face was unusually grim.
I didn't waste time on greetings.
“Report.”
Theo straightened instinctively.
“Madam Ellie arrived safely at the banquet. The reporters questioned her about marrying Mr. Zackary Walton instead of Jared.”
I sipped my wine as this media trail was normal. It was the first time in a long while they got fresh gossip about me.
But then Theo’s serious tone made me pause.
“The Hunt family accused her of seducing Jared. Mrs. Susan Hunt slapped Madam Ellie.”
My fingers stilled around the glass.
“And?”
“Mrs. Alice Hunt attempted to record another public video to humiliate Madam Ellie.”
Silence settled over the room.
Every time I believed they had reached rock bottom, they somehow found a shovel.
“They're remarkably creative.”
Theo almost smiled and briefly explained the rest of the events. I watched the wine rotate inside my glass.
“Did she cry?”
Theo shook his head.
“No.”
That answer surprised me more than I cared to admit.
“She remained calm.”
A strange silence followed.
I studied him for several seconds before looking back at my glass.
“That doesn't make sense.”
Theo blinked.
“What is it, boss? I have explained everything.”
I slowly swirled the wine again.
“I'm apparently not even among the three most annoying people she met this week.”
Theo stared blankly.
“What?”
I ignored the question as another thought surfaced. Someone had managed to upset Ellie more than I had.
That… was unexpectedly irritating.
I emptied the rest of my glass.
“Theo.”
“Yes, boss?”
“Find out everyone Ellie met during the past week.
Theo frowned.
“You suspect something?”
I stood and placed the empty glass on the table with a quiet click.
“I dislike incomplete information.”
My gaze drifted toward the staircase where Ellie had disappeared moments earlier.
“So let's find out who else has been annoying her.”
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