Chapter 375 Take off Your Pants First
Zachary had a death grip on the snake. In that split second, he was all instinct, no time to aim for a weak spot.
Lydia was huddled behind him, and the snake sank its fangs into his leg.
With a fierce toss, Zachary flung the snake, and it hit the ground with a thud.
Lydia's scream brought the bodyguards running. They got rid of the snake fast, and Zachary, with a cold stare, glared at the group in the living room. "Why the hell didn't you check these packages?"
"Lydia said it was cool to skip the check."
Lydia hardly ever shopped online, maybe once or twice a month tops. No issues before, so they got lazy.
Zachary's jaw clenched, eyes blazing. "From now on, everything that comes into this house gets checked. Sarah, take my mom to her room to chill."
Lydia wasn't exactly brave, and with her heart issues, she was pale and clutching her chest as Evander helped her. Sarah had just given her some meds.
Winona's mind was racing, a mess of fear, anger, and worry. It had to be that person. Couldn't get to Zachary, so they went after his parents, timing it just right.
But how did they know they'd be back today?
Winona asked, "When did that package show up?"
"This afternoon. The housekeeper brought it in after grocery shopping."
So it wasn't about knowing they'd be back; it had been there a while. Could all these "coincidences" be planned? The thought was chilling, and Winona shivered.
If it was that person, their scheming was next-level scary.
In the living room, everyone was holding their breath, not daring to make a sound.
Zachary's eyes were dark as he stared at the dirty blank card in the box, a bad feeling hanging over everyone.
No one spoke, except Winona. She grabbed his arm, her face pale, skin cold as ice.
Zachary frowned, wrapping her hand in his. "Don't freak out, the bodyguards already tossed the snake."
Winona's fingers were shaking. "Let's hit the hospital first. We can deal with this later."
Hearing "hospital," Zachary turned, scanning her nervously. "You hurt?"
"I'm fine, but you got bit. What if it's venomous?"
Winona held back, not wanting to jinx it.
"If it's venomous, moving around will spread it faster. The doc getting here takes as long as us getting to the hospital. But first, we gotta squeeze out the venom. Otherwise, I might be toast by the time the doc shows."
He'd seen the snake was a common type from rural areas. A bite would hurt, but they were usually chill unless provoked.
But this snake was off, too riled up. It had lunged as soon as the box opened.
Zachary told the bodyguards to check the surveillance footage. Everyone scattered, relieved. The Bailey family's bodyguards were not just muscle; they knew their stuff, including snakes.
But right now, no one was gonna tell Winona the snake wasn't venomous.
Winona dug through the medical kit, grabbing iodine, gauze, and a scalpel. "Lie down, let me check your wound."
She wasn't exactly Bear Grylls and couldn't tell one snake from another unless it was super obvious. She just followed Zachary's lead.
Zachary, who had been standing tall, suddenly slumped, looking weak and struggling to talk. "Let's go to the room upstairs."
"Aren't you supposed to stay put? Just chill on the couch, the doc can get to you faster."
Zachary mumbled, "The bite's on my leg. I gotta take off my pants. It's kinda awkward with everyone around."
"You're wearing underwear," she pointed out. "Mom's upstairs, Dad's with her, and the doc won't come down until they're done. Everyone else is busy and will knock before coming in. The only one who might walk around is Sarah. She practically raised you. Mom said she even bathed you when you were little."
Zachary coughed, embarrassed. "That was when I was a kid. It's different now."
"When your life's on the line, who cares?"
Zachary stood his ground, hand on his belt buckle, making it clear: pants off only in the room.
Winona didn't get his stubbornness but went along. The injured guy got the final say. If he got worked up, the venom might spread faster.
She didn't want him picking up another bad habit after all this.
Even though Zachary didn't stay there much, the bedroom was spotless, and the bed smelled like sunshine.
Winona helped him lie down, then dashed downstairs for the medical kit. "Take off your pants first."
Before leaving, she glanced at him. Apart from looking weak, he seemed okay, which was a relief. If the snake was venomous, it wasn't too bad, or he'd be in worse shape.
With the medical kit in hand, Winona hurried back upstairs, bumping into Evander in the hallway. He asked, "How's Zachary? He got bit by a snake. Did the bodyguards say if it was venomous?"
"They didn't say, but judging by his condition, even if it was, it shouldn't be too strong."
Lydia's coughing came from the room.
Winona said, "Dad, I'll handle Zachary. You go take care of Mom. She has a heart condition, so let's keep this on the down-low for now."
She wasn't sure if Lydia had seen Zachary get bit, but she seemed pretty freaked out, so probably not. Otherwise, she wouldn't be so calm.
Back in the room, Zachary was still leaning against the headboard, pants still on.
Winona frowned. "Didn't I tell you to take off your pants?"
Zachary said, "I don't have the strength. Maybe it's the snake venom."
"You weren't drinking, how can there be any aftereffects?" She rolled her eyes. "You're just scared."
Winona was calm on the outside but freaking out inside. She'd never dealt with a snake bite and wasn't sure if these were venom symptoms.
She unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. Then she patted his butt. "Lift up a bit, just enough to get off the bed. Don't strain yourself."
As she helped him with his pants, she reassured him, "Don't stress. You've been talking this whole time, so it can't be that bad."
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