“Xena, I told you from the beginning. I’m never going to marry you. If one day you decide to leave, I’ll give you a generous sum of money. But I can’t make you any promises.”
Even without Liz in the picture, he would never marry a woman with just a state school degree who could only work as a secretary at hispany.
He liked Xena, but that’s all it was.
As long as she stayed quietly by his side, he was willing to give her a lifestyle she could never earn in a lifetime on her own. But if she wanted anything more than that, she was just chasing a fantasy.
As for Liz, Zac himself wasn’t sure how he felt about her anymore.
Before they broke up, he resented her and wanted nothing more than to be free of her. But now that she was really gone, all he felt was an emptiness he couldn’t exin.
Tears welled up in Xena’s eyes as she looked at him, heartbreak written all over her delicate face.
“I understand now. I was just too greedy.”
Zac’s gaze softened slightly. He pulled her into his arms with a sigh.
She lowered her head and stared at the charm hanging from her purse.
It was a blessing charm he had gotten for her during a business trip, one she had casually asked him to pick up. It was from some remote chapel on a mountaintop that required a difficult hike to reach. She hadn’t thought he would actually go but he had.
When he returned, he handed her the charm along with a set of diamond jewelry.
The moment she saw the charm, her heart had swelled with happiness and surprise.
To a man with nothing, spending money could be proof of love. But to a man like Zac, who already had everything, real love showed in the time and effort he was willing to give.
From that day on, she wore the charm every single day. She convinced herself that she was the one he truly loved. Liz no longer
seemed like a threat.
Looking back now, she realized just how naive she had been.
Still, she had no intention of giving up. She had already pushed Liz out of Zac’s life. There was no way she would stop now. She had to marry him, no matter what it took.
The car was silent, filled only with the sound of their breathing. After a long pause, Xena finally spoke in a quiet voice.
“Mr. Lincoln, as long as I can stay by your side, I’ll be content. I won’t ask about this again. And I won’t put you in a difficult position.”
She gently pulled away from his arms, wiped her tears, and looked up at him. Her eyes were clear and full of stubborn resolve.
Zac wasn’t surprised by her sudden change in attitude.
“Alright. I won’t walk you up.”
Xena didn’t respond. She simply opened the car door and stepped out.
Once the door shut behind her, Zac started the engine and drove away.
On the drive back, he made a phone call. His voice was cold and direct.
“Chase, find out who the man was-the one having dinner with Liz at Basil & Oakst night. I want his full background in my inbox within twenty-four hours.”
“Yes, Mr. Lincoln.”
The next morning, Zac had just gotten out of bed when Xena showed up at his ce.
She was holding a small food container and smiling with her usual gentle expression.
“Mr. Lincoln, I know your stomach hasn’t been great, and you barely atest night. I was worried you’d skip breakfast again, so I made some soup and brought it over.”
Xena had always been good at making soup. When she first found out about his stomach issues, she used to bring it to him regrly.
Zac had always appreciated this kind of quiet, thoughtful gesture. It seemed like she had finallye to her senses.
“I’m going to wash up,” he said.
“Alright. I’ll set the table so everything’s ready when youe out.”
“Sounds good.”
After he left the room, Xena began unpacking the soup and side dishes she had prepared, carefully cing everything on the dining table.
Once she was done, she sat down to wait.
At that moment, Zac’s phone lit up on the table.
She hesitated, then picked it up.
It was a message from Chase:
“Mr. Lincoln, the man who had dinner with Ms. Smithst night is named Ethan Xander. I’ve sent his full profile to your inbox.”
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