Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter 29 He Had Changed
Zachary couldn’t shake the feeling that everything had shifted. Nathaniel’s behavior had changed drastically since Cecilia’s death. Gone was the confident, cold demeanor he once wore with ease. Now, he was distant, as though he were trapped in a world of his own. He hardly spoke, lost in his thoughts, and threw himself into work, barely stopping to rest. Even Cecilia’s belongings, left behind in Calvin’s house, were quietly retrieved by Zachary at Nathaniel’s request. Zachary had noticed the change in Nathaniel, but he couldn’t make sense of it.
Unable to hold back his curiosity, Zachary approached Mason one afternoon. “What’s going on with Nathaniel lately?” he asked. Mason just shook his head, clearly unsure. “I have no idea. Do you think Mr. Rainsworth might actually have feelings for Cecilia?” he asked quietly. Zachary paused, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his sharp eyes. “Who knows?” he replied, brushing off the thought.
Yet, as he got into his car, his mind couldn’t let go of the idea. If Nathaniel truly had feelings for Cecilia, why was he so focused on pushing through the acquisition of Smith Corporation? He knew how important it was to her—Regas Smith had built it from the ground up, and Cecilia had always cherished it. If Nathaniel cared for her, why was he causing trouble for her remaining family members overseas? Zachary didn’t know that Cecilia had severed ties with Paula and Magnus, but he did know that she had few relatives left. So why the harsh treatment?
Zachary’s mind raced with questions, but he shook them off as he arrived at a luxurious neighborhood. Stepping out of the car, he looked around, assessing the surroundings. “This place isn’t cheap, is it?” he asked his driver. The driver replied, “At least one hundred grand per square meter.” Zachary barely reacted. The cost didn’t matter to him. He understood that such places were out of reach for most people.
When he arrived at the house, the housekeeper opened the door. “Ms. Smith’s belongings are in the master bedroom. Mr. Reese said you should take them and leave immediately.” The housekeeper’s tone was cold, and there was no warmth in her words. She clearly didn’t care for Zachary’s presence. Zachary looked at her with a raised brow. “Where is Mr. Reese?”
The housekeeper scoffed, her disdain obvious. “I’m not his attendant. How would I know where he is? He’s busy, and he has no time to deal with people like you…” She muttered as she went about her tasks. Zachary’s assistant, who followed behind, was about to say something but hesitated when he saw Zachary’s uncharacteristic calmness.
Zachary didn’t say a word. He walked directly to the master bedroom, where Cecilia’s belongings were already packed. The housekeeper had clearly anticipated his arrival. Without pausing, Zachary started packing the items into suitcases. But then, his hand froze as his fingers brushed against something—a pendant. An intricately designed emerald dragon pendant.
Zachary’s eyes widened. This was no ordinary pendant. It was a family heirloom passed down through generations of the Sinclair family, the only one of its kind. Four years ago, he had given this pendant to the person who had saved his life. And now, it was here, in Cecilia’s possession. How had it ended up with her?
His grip tightened around the pendant as his mind raced. His thoughts were interrupted by his assistant’s voice, and soon, the room was quiet again, the packing continuing as planned. But Zachary couldn’t shake the feeling of unease growing within him.
On the way back, Zachary received a call from someone he had tasked with investigating the incident from four years ago—the one that had saved his life. “Mr. Zachary, we’ve found out that the person who saved you was Ms. Cecilia Smith, the daughter of the Smith family.” The investigator had also sent photos, retrieved from hospital records.
Zachary’s eyes fixed on the photos. Despite the poor quality, he recognized the bloodied figure immediately. It was Cecilia—it really was her. His hand shook, his grip on the phone turning white. Memories flooded his mind—memories of how he had treated her, the harsh words and actions he’d directed at her. He remembered their second meeting after Cecilia had become Nathaniel’s fiancée.
And yet, all this time, he had never known the truth. Cecilia had saved him. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. How could he have been so blind?
