Chapter 618 There Is a Bit of a Problem
Zachary found a passerby to help take a photo. With their good looks, they didn't need to pose deliberately; even a close-up shot would look great as long as it wasn't from a terrible angle.
The camera clicked.
In the photo, Zachary was holding Winona from behind, his eyes slightly lowered as he looked at her, focused as if she were the only person in the world. His usually sharp features were softened by the warm lighting, and his eyes were filled with undeniable affection.
Zachary took the phone and thanked the passerby in Aetherian. The person replied with something Winona didn't catch, but even if she had, she wouldn't have understood.
"What did he say?" she asked, scrolling through the photos. The passerby had taken several shots, one of which had a blurred background, making the neon lights look like a sky full of fireworks. Her eyes reflected the warm hues.
"He said you were beautiful," Zachary replied.
Winona sent the photos to her phone. "Did he also say that you were incredibly lucky to find such a beautiful girlfriend and that you should cherish me?"
"No."
Winona turned to glare at him. Zachary really had no sense of romance. Shouldn't he have played along with her?
Zachary held her hand. "But I completed the thought in my mind."
Alright, his emotional intelligence was hit or miss.
Even so, Winona was pleased, a smile tugging at her lips. "You passed. Let's go, it's rare for us to be out. Let's explore."
Zachary quickly sent the photo to Matthew: "Does it look good?"
Matthew replied with a few ellipses before asking, "Are you bored?"
Zachary didn't respond. His goal was just to make Matthew look at the photo. Matthew, however, had more to say: "What's going on with your health?"
"Did Winona ask you?" If not, Matthew wouldn't suddenly inquire about his health.
"She's really worried about you, Zachary. Since you've decided to be with her, you should trust her and be honest. You're not married yet, and she has the right to know about anything that might affect her. If you hide things from her and she regrets it after marriage, legally, that's considered fraud."
Zachary looked at Winona, who was picking out accessories nearby, a smile forming on his lips. "I'll think about it after her competition."
He put his phone away and walked over to Winona. "Found anything you like?"
She straightened up and showed him two pairs of earrings she had picked out. "Which ones look better?"
"They both look great. Let's get both," Zachary said.
Asking him was pointless; he would probably praise anything she wore, even if it was a piece of bird poop.
After standing for too long during the day, Winona's feet were aching. After visiting a few more stores, her initial excitement faded, replaced by a wave of fatigue. Her legs felt heavy, each step a struggle.
Holding a warm cup of cocoa, Winona said, "I don't want to shop anymore. Let's go back."
Zachary, not particularly interested in shopping, naturally agreed. "Alright."
It was getting late, and the cold weather combined with the off-season meant the once bustling street was now quiet. Zachary held Winona's hand as they walked back to the hotel. "Winona, I have to go back home tomorrow."
His trip to Aetheria was a last-minute decision, and two days was the most he could manage.
"I've arranged for a driver who speaks English. You can contact her if you need anything."
Winona knew Zachary wouldn't stay long, but hearing he was leaving the next day still felt sudden. "Why so soon?"
"It's the start of the year, and there's a lot of work at the company. The documents to sign are piling up. If I don't go back, the shareholders will be upset."
"But I have plans for tomorrow. I can't see you off."
These past two days had been busy, and she hadn't had much time alone with Zachary. She had hoped to visit the wishing tree with him during her break, but they had spent most of their time at museums, which she was getting tired of.
"I'm not a child; I don't need to be seen off. I'll come back to see you during your competition."
His flight was scheduled for 3 PM the next day, and Dylan was there to pick him up.
As soon as Zachary emerged from the terminal, Dylan spotted him and walked over. "Mr. Bailey, should we head to the office or take you home to rest first?"
Zachary frowned, hesitating for a moment. "Home."
He had initially planned to go straight to the office, but he had a headache, likely from the long flight and not eating, causing some dizziness.
"Alright," Dylan said, handing Zachary a document that needed signing. "Mr. Bailey, I looked into the matter you asked about, but there are some issues."
Zachary paused, his hand hovering over the document. "What issues?"
Dylan explained what he had found.
Zachary was silent for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "Keep investigating."
As they passed a large supermarket, Zachary asked Dylan to pull over. "I'll buy some things. You can head to the office; I'll drive home later."
He planned to eat upstairs. With Winona away, he had given the house staff time off, so the fridge was likely empty, and he didn't want to cook.
Seeing Zachary's exhaustion and the red veins in his eyes, Dylan was worried about him driving. He imagined the worst-case scenario: the next day's headlines about a multinational CEO dying in a car crash due to fatigue, leaving billions in assets unclaimed.
"Mr. Bailey, maybe I should wait in the car."
He could use the time to relax. He had been working late into the night, and his hair was thinning from the stress.
Zachary, unaware of Dylan's wild thoughts, would have kicked him to the news department if he knew. Such talent was wasted on him.
"No need," Zachary declined.
Dylan reluctantly left, glancing back at Zachary, hoping he would change his mind.
Zachary went upstairs to eat before heading to the basement supermarket. His headache worsened, feeling like someone was hammering his skull. He pushed the cart with one hand, rubbing his temple with the other, trying to alleviate the pain.
He picked up a bottle of milk from the refrigerated section, intending to check the expiration date. Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through his head, making his vision go black. The milk bottle slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor, white liquid splattering everywhere.
Zachary's body swayed, and a hand reached out to steady him. "Are you okay?"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
