Chapter 175 Interruption
Her move was sudden, and just as her lips were about to touch Zachary's, he raised a hand to block her.
Fiona didn't push further. Her self-respect, fueled by the fleeting courage from the alcohol, preventing her from debasing herself further. The fog in her eyes slowly dissipated as she regained sober clarity.
Separated only by the width of his palm, she gazed at Zachary with a sardonic smile curling her lips, "Even if it's not with me, I won't let you be with her."
Zachary pushed her away and stood up to fetch a bottle of ice-cold water from the kitchen, tossing it to her.
The chilling sensation startled Fiona, and she instinctively flung the bottle aside.
Zachary questioned, "Sober now?"
"Then go to sleep."
Winona Sullivan had planned on sleeping in that morning but was abruptly awakened by a call from Sarah.
"What's up, Sarah?" Winona asked, still groggy.
Sarah’s voice was urgent. "Winona, Lydia fainted. Where did you put the medication last time?"
Lydia had been diagnosed with a heart condition, but it hadn't bothered her much for a long time. The household staff had gradually stopped paying such close attention, though they remained particular about her diet. No one expected her to suddenly pass out.
Winona Sullivan sat up in bed, her remaining grogginess instantly replaced by shock. She hurriedly threw on some clothes and replied, "In the nightstand, bottom drawer."
She had placed the medicine there after they had brought Lydia home, making it easily accessible.
"Wasn't Mom have been fine all this time? Why did she just fainted?" Sarah's voice sounded uncertain, followed by a loud thud as if the phone had been dropped, and then the call ended.
Even though she knew Crest Manor had Sarah, the doctor, her dad, and Zachary Bailey present, Winona still couldn't shake her concern. She quickly brushed her teeth and drove over.
By the time she arrived, Lydia was conscious, leaning against the headboard with a pallor on her face and an IV in her hand.
"Dad, how's Mom doing?"
"She's better now, just got a little too angry. She'll be fine after some rest."
Winona nodded, careful not to stress Lydia with questions about the cause, but her eyes swept the room and didn't spot Zachary Bailey. Could they have argued?
But Zachary was always dutiful towards Lydia, especially after learning about her heart condition, complying with nearly everything she wanted. What could have made them fight?
Winona stood up, "Sarah was making soup when I arrived. I'll go check on it. If it's ready, I'll bring a bowl up for Mom."
As she descended the stairs, her gaze swept the space, searching for any clues that might explain the tension in the air.
It looked like Lydia had collapsed in the living room, where the chaos of the couch and coffee table remained untouched. Approaching to tidy up, Winona spotted Lydia's phone on the floor.
Without a lock screen, it was still on. Picking it up, Winona saw the latest news about Zachary Bailey and a blurry photo of him kissing Fiona Clark on a couch, likely snapped through glass from an opposing building.
That's when it hit Winona. She understood why Lydia had been overwhelmed to the point of fainting.
Winona Sullivan clenched her phone, her anger rising incrementally as a car engine shutting off, its echo resonating through the garden. Sarah heard it too and emerged from the kitchen, heading towards the door to greet whoever had arrived, but Winona called out to her, "Sarah, let me handle this."
Without a reply, Winona strode through the garden toward the front. Sure enough, Zachary Bailey had returned, but he wasn't alone—Fiona Clark was by his side. They weren't holding hands or displaying overt affection, yet how they walked shoulder to shoulder spoke volumes of their close relationship.
Winona stormed over to them, and at the sight of her, Zachary's eyebrows furrowed in a mix of surprise and concern. "What are you—"
"Slap!"
Winona cut him off mid-sentence with a swift slap across the face. Fiona’s eyes widened in disbelief, shocked by the ferocity of the brow. Winona didn’t utter a word of warning.
Zachary's head snapped to the side from the impact, leaving reddened finger marks on his cheek, a clear indication of the force behind Winona's slap.
Fiona, fuming, stepped in front of Zachary, assuming the role of his protector. "How dare you hit someone? If I'm not mistaken, you two are divorced. What gives you the right?"
With a deliberate motion, Winona thrust Lydia's phone into Zachary's chest and snapped her hand back, slapping Fiona squarely across the face, with more intensity than before.
Fiona staggered back, clutching her cheek, a ringing in her ears, staring in disbelief at the woman before her.
Winona snapped, "Couldn't you two wait even two minutes to draw the curtains? Might as well have broadcast it live."
"Winona," Zachary said sternly, anger tingeing his voice, "What on earth are you doing so early in the morning?"
"You knew mom's health can't take the stress. Why didn't you suppress the news?"
Zachary finally glanced at the phone she had thrust at him. His phone had been switched off since the previous night, and he hadn't bothered fetching his charger from the car, so he was unaware of the media frenzy. He quickly scanned the news headlines and then strode angrily towards the villa. "How is Mom?"
Watching Fiona follow Zachary inside, Winona remarked acidly, "Planning on bringing her in too? Or do you just want to stress Mom out so much that she passes out again?"
Zachary Bailey glanced at Fiona Clark trailing behind him and pursed his lips. "You wait in the car for me."
Today was the anniversary of Fiona's father's passing, and he had promised to accompany her to pay respects.
Fiona Clark said, "I want to apologize to Mrs. Bailey in person, to ask for her forgiveness."
Winona Sullivan definitely wouldn't let Fiona Clark come up today. Even though their relationship had progressed to meeting the parents, it still wasn't the right time. Lydia had just woken up and couldn't handle such a big shock. "Fiona Clark, if you dare take one step forward, I'll make sure you leave here on a stretcher," she threatened.
Zachary Bailey’s brow frowned. "You wait here for me," he ordered.
Fiona Clark seethed, shooting at Winona Sullivan a glare that could curdle milk. Hip lips twisted into a scornful smile, but she kept her voice soft, "Winona, are you holding me back because of Mrs. Bailey, or are you still harbor feelings for Zachary? Are you hoping to win his back, playing the devoted ex-wife even after the divorce?"
At Fiona’s words, Zachary's gaze snapped to Winona, his eyes searching hers for any hint of the truth.
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