Chapter 25: The Truth
It had to be a coincidence! If Cecilia had saved him, why hadn't she mentioned it? And if it was she, everything he'd done to her over the years…
Zachary closed Cecilia's medical report and returned to his office, where he sat in silence all night.
The next morning, he called Stella. "Stella, let's meet. I have something to discuss."
At a private restaurant, in a reserved room, Stella arrived, elegantly dressed. A waiter took her coat. Zachary's eyes fell on her smooth arms—no scars. Four years ago, his car accident had left him trapped, unconscious, and bleeding. A young girl had risked her life, reaching through the shattered window to force the door open. Her arm had been deeply cut by the broken glass; the hospital director had said it required stitches. Therefore, any such injury should still be visible.
Under Zachary's gaze, Stella grew uneasy. "Zach, you said you had something to tell me. What is it?"
Zachary withdrew his gaze, his tone cooling. "Cecilia is dead."
Stella was stunned. "When did this happen? How could it be so sudden?" Her words expressed disbelief, but beneath, a profound relief welled up. Cecilia was dead! The last obstacle between her and Nathaniel was gone.
"It happened today. She died from excessive blood loss. The doctors couldn't save her." Zachary picked up his glass of red wine, swirling it before drinking it in one gulp. Through the glass, he glimpsed a fleeting expression of joy on Stella's face before it vanished.
"This must be fate," Stella sighed. "She was born into unimaginable privilege, then used her family's power to force a marriage with Nathaniel. Now, her death is nothing but karma."
Karma? For the first time, Zachary sensed something terrifying in Stella's words. Was it wrong to be born wealthy? He knew Nathaniel's marriage to Cecilia was a business arrangement; no one could force Nathaniel. So why, in Stella's mind, did that justify her death?
Zachary remained silent, the room seeming to grow colder. Stella realized her misstep. "Zach, you know I'm talking about Cecilia. She was just…scheming."
Zachary murmured, "Mm," and poured another glass of wine. He reflected: every accusation of Cecilia's scheming had come from Stella. He'd never witnessed it himself. Perhaps Cecilia's only "scheme" was her deep love for Nathaniel, her efforts to please everyone around him, including Zachary. But could that be called scheming? The wine suddenly tasted flat.
After four years of trusting Stella, Zachary found it hard to believe she'd lie. How could someone who'd risked her life to save him be a bad person? His voice was unexpectedly hoarse. "Stella, lately I've often dreamed of the past, of when you saved me. I dreamed of you telling me not to be afraid, that everything would be okay. Because of you, I survived. Do you remember?"