Chapter 282: What He Owed Her in the Past
Zachary's voice was filled with accusation as he asked "Did you blacklist me?"
Throughout the day at the office, he had attempted to call Winona multiple times, but each attempt was met with the disheartening message that her line was busy. That’s when the realization hit him: he had been blacklisted.
Winona used her fingerprint to unlock the door and stepped inside, but Zachary straightened up, prepared to follow her in. Lately, under the guise of caring for her, he had managed to secure a spot on her couch, slowly inching his way back into her life. But today, as he moved to enter, Winona blocked him with her hand. "My foot is healed. I don't need you to take care of me anymore."
Zachary stared at the pale arm barring his way. After a long pause, a low, humorless laugh escaped his lips. His eyes, however, held no amusement, only a frigid sharpness that pierced to the bone. "When your foot was injured, he was nowhere to be seen. Now that you're healed, he shows up. A cheap meal can make you so happy that you’re still smiling, but after all my days of taking care of you, I never saw you smile at me."
When the elevator doors had opened earlier, he had seen Winona smiling. But as soon as she saw him, the smile had vanished, as if she wanted to make it abundantly clear she didn’t want him there.
"Yes, a cheap meal can make me happy, but you can't even give me something that simple." Winona’s voice was edged with raw emotion, her tone sharp with the weight of past grievances.
"The clothes, jewelry, and bags filling the entire closet at Regal Oaks were all bought by me. If converted to cash, it would be enough for you to eat fish for a lifetime," Zachary retorted, frustration evident in his voice.
Standing opposite Winona, his gaze dropped to her rosy lips, which only served to escalate his anger. "The housekeeper said you don't eat fish with bones, but you ate the fish Austin gave you. So, it's not about being picky; it's about who gives it to you, right?"
"You remembered that the housekeeper said I don't eat fish with bones, but when she called to tell you I had a fever, I didn't see you rushing back," Winona countered, her tone laced with bitterness. She inhaled deeply, trying to suppress the flood of memories of Zachary’s negligence. There were so many instances of his indifference that recounting them all would take days and only serve to infuriate her further.
"I was on a business trip abroad at that time," Zachary snapped, the memory clearly making him uncomfortable.
He didn’t need to ask when Winona had the fever because he remembered. He had instructed Dylan to book a flight immediately, but logistics meant it would still have taken at least ten to twenty hours to get back, even without any delays.
Winona let out a derisive laugh. "Were you on a business trip, or were you with Fiona?"
She flashed back to that period, hooked up to an IV in a crowded hospital where she couldn’t even find a room. Alone and miserable, she had to drag the IV stand with her to the bathroom. As she sat there, watching the news in the infusion hall, she had seen a segment about her husband and his first love. Fiona was pictured in the background, her profile unmistakable to Winona.
Zachary’s frown deepened. "I didn’t even see her; I wasn't even in the same country as her."
He looked completely genuine, with no hint of deceit. Had Winona not seen them together on the news, she might have believed him.
"We're already divorced. Even if you admitted being with her, I wouldn't bat an eye," she spat with evident disdain. "But you go ahead and deny it."
Her cutting mockery made Zachary's pupils contract. His hand, pressed against the door frame, clenched into a fist, veins bulging. His voice was hoarse, heavy with emotion. "Winona, I don't know where you got the idea that I was with her, but I wasn't. I was on a business trip and didn't even see her."
That night had been the rival company's anniversary celebration. He had rushed to book a flight back after receiving the housekeeper's call.
"None of this matters anymore. We're already divorced. Talking about the past is meaningless."
Zachary gritted his teeth. "We can remarry even after a divorce."
Winona coldly said, "From the moment I decided to divorce you, the thought of remarrying never crossed my mind."
The man stared at her intensely, his lips tightly pressed together. "I'll pretend you didn't say that just now, Winona. I won't hold it against you for forcing yourself to eat something you don't like for Austin's sake. Let's reconcile."
"It wasn't forced. Life is long and one should try new things. Even fish with bones can taste good."
Zachary eyed the woman, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, and sneered. "Are you talking about fish or people? What did Austin do today that made him seem fresh and worth trying?"
Winona didn't bother explaining. Let him misunderstand. She had no intention of remarrying and was open to new relationships. Someone would come along eventually.
"Winona," he reached out to touch her face, but she stepped back, avoiding his touch. Zachary remained calm, withdrawing his empty hand. "With me around, you'll only have me in this lifetime. Today's young men can't handle much. Don't go messing with them. If you can't give them a future, don't break their hearts. It wouldn't look good if someone took it too seriously and something happened."
Winona's expression darkened. "Are you threatening me?"
"No," Zachary smiled faintly. "just a reminder. There are a lot of people jumping off buildings or into rivers after being dumped these days."
Winona didn't believe a word he said. This man definitely had bad intentions.
She glared at him, recalling what Austin had said. "Even a pig is more capable than you."
Zachary's voice was low and hoarse. "How do you know pigs are capable? Have you seen one?"
Winona felt exasperated, sensing a disconnect between what she said and what Zachary understood.
Zachary looked down at her ankle, which no longer showed any signs of injury. "Your foot isn't healed yet. The doctor said it still needs care. Open the door, I'll..."
Winona gave him a perfunctory fake smile and slammed the door shut.
Zachary closed his eyes, listening to the fading footsteps behind the door. He leaned against the wall and lit another cigarette.
The flame reflected in his cold eyes, adding a warm glow. Through the swirling smoke, Zachary stared at the light, lost in thought. It wasn't until the lighter burned his finger that he snapped out of it, releasing the button abruptly.
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