Chapter 170 Undressing Him
The dark red hue of the track was marred by large water stains, a stark contrast to the otherwise pristine surface. Zachary Bailey sat there, one knee bent, his pants still dripping from the recent drenching.
Winona Sullivan, her lips pursed in a tight line, reached down to unbuckle his belt.
Zachary's gaze was firmly locked onto her face, a prominent and unignorable sight. A half-smirk played on his lips as he asked, "If I hadn't called for you, were you just going to stand there and watch me freeze?"
It wasn't until a security guard handed her the clothes that he began to believe she might have actually considered helping him.
Her focus remained on the task of undoing his belt, her voice soft yet resolute as she replied, "There are guards around; you won't freeze."
The guards were employees of Tranquil Lake Park Management. If someone were to freeze to death on their watch, the victim's family could hold them accountable. In response to her words, Zachary Bailey fell into silence.
The belt clasp came undone as Winona Sullivan reached to unbuckle his slacks. However, his hand intercepted hers. Rising to his feet, his voice was calm yet tinged with unexpected anger, "I'll change myself."
Winona Sullivan remained unperturbed by his attitude.
Zachary didn't bother to retrieve the bag that had fallen to the ground; he had spare clothes in his car.
The driver responsible for the fender-bender was still waiting when Zachary approached. The man hastily whipped out his phone, pointing at a picture, "You were driving in flip-flops. I've got it all here. You share the blame for the accident."
Zachary, already in a foul mood, bristled at the accusation. Ice and menace crept into his glare, sharp as a knife, "I wasn't wearing any shoes while driving. Besides, whether or not I braked suddenly, a rear-end collision is solely your fault. Contact your insurance for the claim."
The man fell silent.
Zachary retrieved some clothes from the trunk, changed in the back seat, and then called his secretary to handle the situation.
Once that was taken care of, the ambulance arrived.
Despite being coherent, Zachary had been soaked in the lake for an extended period in cold weather. For safety's sake, he needed to be checked out at the hospital. Winona Sullivan, considered a family member, was persuaded by security to accompany him.
She sat wordlessly on the bench, unable to see outside due to the drawn ambulance curtains. Her gaze landed on Zachary lying on the stretcher, "Never took you for the heroic type."
Zachary glanced at her silently and snorted, "If you’ve got nothing nice to say, keep it shut. No need for your sarcasm."
Winona zipped her lips and pulled out her phone, scrolling through Facebook and leaning back in her seat.
The recent event was already making headlines, and it was catching fire with Zachary Bailey at the center. She accidentally tapped into the details, casually glancing over.
In one picture, she was seen unfastening the metallic buckle of Zachary's belt.
Staring at the photograph, Winona couldn't hold back a curse, "Damn it!"
Even though the image was censored, the editing was sloppy. Anyone who knew her could recognize her at a glance.
The man’s brooding gaze settled on her.
The car was quiet, save for the whooshing of air from the air conditioning, "Why did you tell my mom you were going to jump into the lake?"
Winona's finger paused mid-swipe on her smartphone screen, and she looked up, "So, you jumped in to save someone because you thought it was me?"
“If I said yes, would you be grateful, maybe stay at the hospital to look after me?”
"No, I'd just think you were an idiot." Ignoring their decade-long acquaintance and three years of marriage to deem her capable of jumping into a lake based on a few words was incredibly foolish.
Zachary Bailey turned his head to the side, his visage a mask of indifference. "I happened to be passing by and did what anyone would do. Don't flatter yourself," he said, his voice as cool as the evening air.
The interior of the ambulance was warm and silent. Fatigue and weariness quickly washed over him like a tidal wave, and Zachary Bailey succumbed, his eyes closing as he fell into a state of semi-consciousness.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Zachary Bailey was due for a check-up. As he waited at the entrance, he crossed paths with the young woman he had saved. Clad in an oversized cotton jacket belonging to a security guard, her damp hair was strewn haphazardly around her pale, ashen face. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.
"Thank you for saving me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
In contrast to her disheveled appearance, Zachary Bailey, despite being equally soaked, radiated an air of nobility. His eyes were half-closed, and without lifting his gaze, he grunted in acknowledgment.
The girl studied his profile, her heart fluttering with admiration. He was as handsome as the heroes described in novels, the epitome of a gallant savior. The more she pondered on it, the faster her heart pounded. "You have such a good heart, diving into the cold water to save me without a second thought for your safety."
At last, Zachary Bailey opened his eyes and cast a glance at Winona Sullivan, who was settling the bill at the counter. "You've got the wrong guy," he said, his tone dismissive.
Embarrassed, a blush spread across the girl's pale face. "I'm Stella. What's your name?"
Seeing that Zachary Bailey had no intention of engaging further, Stella's expression morphed into one of hurt. "I jumped on purpose. Today, I found out my boyfriend and my best friend..."
Zachary Bailey had no interest in other people's dramas. His brow furrowed with annoyance the moment she began her story. "Pick a secluded spot next time you decide to end it all. Don't drag others down with you. If something had happened to me today because of your stupidity, not only would your parents be attending your funeral, but they'd be facing a massive lawsuit."
Stella's pained expression froze as she stared at the callous man before her; the desperation she felt struggling in the lake was nothing compared to the turmoil she felt now.
Her emotions boiling over, she shouted at him, "Who asked you to save me? What I do is none of your damn business!"
Winona Sullivan came over after settling the bill, catching this scene. She paused briefly, looking at Zachary Bailey, "What upset her so much?"
Glancing at her, Zachary Bailey responded, "Probably because she failed at dying and wants to try again."
The exam room door swung open, and Stella, still in distress, was wheeled in; she shot Zachary Bailey a fierce glare before she left.
The man was unaffected, making her look like a fool.
Puzzled, Winona Sullivan looked at him. "Why is she so hostile towards you?"
Zachary Bailey met her gaze with an icy stare, "What are you trying to say?"
"Did you run your mouth and tick her off?"
Even the most desperate soul, facing their savior, would typically muster a "thank you." But that girl, so charged with emotion, shot him a glare before storming off. It felt off to her.
Was it really a lack of manners?
Zachary Bailey regarded her with a cold detachment for several long minutes, finally letting out a hollow laugh. "Winona Sullivan, you're questioning me over some stranger?"
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