Chapter 539 Never Forgotten
Samuel was drowning in work. He picked up the phone, but hung up just as fast. "He wants you to stay put at Regal Oaks," he said.
Winona couldn't just sit around. She had to make sure Zachary was okay. The news was blowing up with reports of his disappearance. Until she figured out if this was part of his plan or Timothy's doing, she couldn't chill.
She changed her clothes and was about to head out when she ran into Matthew. He looked relieved to see her.
After hearing about the mess at the Ramsey Group, he had rushed to Winona's place. He knocked for a while but got no answer. He thought about calling her but worried she hadn't seen the news yet and his call might freak her out. When he couldn't find her at the apartment, he decided to try Regal Oaks.
To his surprise, he found Winona just as she was about to leave. He felt a bit lucky.
"I'm going to find Anthony," Winona said bluntly. "Zachary's the head of the Ramsey Group now. If they charge him with illegal fundraising, he's in deep trouble."
"You can't help. Going there won't do any good," Matthew said, not sugarcoating it just because he liked her. "If Timothy's really gone after Zachary, it means his cover's blown. Timothy's not gonna go easy on Zachary. He knows Zachary's weak spot is you. Timothy won't let you off the hook, either. You're in just as much danger."
Timothy was definitely crazy enough to use Winona to get to Zachary.
Matthew added, "Winona, stay at Regal Oaks. Samuel and I will do everything we can to bring Zachary back safe."
To reassure her, he said, "Even though we're rivals in love, Zachary and I have been friends since we were kids. I may not be perfect, but I'm not the kind of jerk who'd hurt a friend just to win over a girl."
Winona was quiet for a moment before agreeing, "You make a good point."
Matthew thought he had convinced her and was about to relax when Winona continued, "I'll disguise myself so well he won't recognize me even if we're face-to-face."
With that, she dashed back into the villa.
Matthew watched her go and rubbed his temples in frustration. It seemed Winona was determined to go out.
Two hours later, Winona came downstairs. Her brown hair was now dyed red and styled in a voluminous afro. Her oval chin had been contoured to look sharp, and she wore heavy makeup with thick false eyelashes and fuller lips.
Matthew was speechless.
Not only would Timothy not recognize Winona, but even Winona's mother probably wouldn't.
It was Winona's first time wearing such makeup, and she felt a bit nervous. The mirror showed a different image than what she was used to. Winona asked, "How do I look? Unrecognizable, right?"
She had wanted to make her face rounder but didn't have the materials. Makeup alone couldn't achieve that.
Matthew replied, "Yeah."
Winona said, "Then I'm off. Remember to lock the door."
"I've got some business with Anthony, too. Let's go together." Matthew didn't want her to go alone.Winona didn't argue. Now wasn't the time for that. Matthew was definitely more capable in this situation. Having his help was better than wandering aimlessly. "Thanks," she said.
"If anyone should be thanking me, it's Zachary. Even though I know you and he..." Matthew paused, then said bitterly, "I still don't want to hear 'thank you' from you."
Winona said, "Matthew, you should go on more dates. Your mom says you don't meet other girls. How will you know you won't like someone else if you don't try? You might meet someone who catches your eye."
Matthew laughed helplessly. "You're truly heartless, leaving me no room for misunderstanding, always digging at my wounds, as if you're afraid I won't stop holding on to you."
Winona apologized. "Sorry."
When the news about the Ramsey Group's illegal fundraising broke, Timothy was with Zachary. Watching the TV coverage of the Ramsey Group's headquarters swarmed by people, Timothy didn't react with the expected hysteria or rage. "Nicholas, let's run. The Ramsey Group is finished. Dad will kill you. Even if he doesn't, with billions in illegal fundraising, you'll end up in prison," he said.
Zachary frowned. "Did you do this?" he asked.
The Ramsey Group had to go. Zachary wouldn't give Alton a chance to rise again. Even if he couldn't completely eradicate Alton, he wanted to eliminate most of his influence in Dreamopolis. But he hadn't planned on such a mutually destructive method.
Timothy said, "I know you don't like the Ramsey Group, so I helped you get rid of it. You should be happy now, right?"
"Happy that you sent me to prison?" Zachary said.
"You misunderstand. I wouldn't do that," Timothy said, pulling out prepared identification documents. "I've arranged everything. Look, even the IDs are ready. They're not fake; they're someone else's identity. It won't affect you at all, just like your identity as Nicholas. You've been using it for so long—hasn't it felt just like the real thing?"
"What do you mean? Just like the Nicholas identity?" Zachary pretended not to understand, unsure if Timothy was bluffing.
Timothy's previously smiling face turned cold. He stood up and walked over to Zachary. "You've remembered all along, haven't you? Or did you never forget that you're Zachary?" he said, spitting out the name, breaking the facade of brotherly affection.
Zachary didn't speak, implicitly confirming Timothy's words. There was no point in hiding it any longer.
Timothy asked, "Did you remember, or did you never forget?"
Zachary replied, "I never forgot."
He had wavered at times during those dark, hopeless moments when there seemed to be no way out. Not only did he endure physical beatings, but also psychological torment. Anyone would want to escape.
Zachary was human, not a god.
He knew that if he followed that voice and forgot his past, he could escape the nightmare.
At the time, Zachary didn't know Timothy was the mastermind, so he didn't understand why Timothy was so intent on hypnotizing him. But he understood that if he truly forgot Winona, he would lose the wife he had fought so hard to bring back into his life.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
