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Novel Catalog
Chapter 30 Not A Big Deal
Zachary ran his hands through his hair in frustration, the weight of everything he’d just learned pressing down on him. His mind was a mess, the questions swirling around like a storm. He clasped his head and let out a frustrated shout, causing his assistant to look at him in confusion. “Mr. Zachary, what’s wrong?” the assistant asked, his voice full of concern. Zachary snapped out of his daze and looked at him, as if coming back to reality. “Let me ask you something,” he said, his voice heavy. “If someone saved your life, and you didn’t know it, and then you treated her poorly in return, why wouldn’t she tell you? If she had, you wouldn’t be against her, right?”
The assistant paused, thinking carefully before responding, “Well, there could be a couple of reasons. First, maybe she thought you already knew who saved you, but when you didn’t ask, she assumed you weren’t the type to be grateful, so she figured telling you wouldn’t matter. Or maybe she didn’t think saving you was a big deal, so she didn’t feel the need to bring it up.”
Zachary’s thoughts flashed back to Cecilia. She had never mentioned anything about saving him, or anything she’d done for Nathaniel and those around him. She truly hadn’t cared. The realization hit him like a sharp thorn lodged in his throat, causing unbearable pain. He clenched his fists, trying to push the gnawing feeling aside.
As he returned to Seabay Villa that evening, his mind still reeling, he spotted a familiar figure in the courtyard. “Zach, you’re back,” Stella said, standing up to approach him with a practiced ease. She walked toward him like they were still a couple, as if nothing had changed.
Looking at her now, however, Zachary felt nothing but detachment. He watched as Stella began to button his shirt, her playful tone attempting to mask her true intentions. “You’re all grown up now, and still so careless…” she teased.
But Zachary wasn’t in the mood for games. He pushed her hand away coldly. “What do you want?” he asked bluntly. Stella seemed undeterred by his coldness, but there was something about her that felt off. She wasn’t acting like her usual self, not the woman who had always been so attentive to him. “I heard Nathaniel went looking for Cecilia. How did that go?” she asked casually.
Zachary narrowed his eyes, staring at her. He could see right through her feigned innocence. “Cecilia has been dead for a long time,” he replied flatly, his voice cutting through the air. “Didn’t I already tell you? What are you so afraid of?”
Stella hesitated for a moment, then quickly backpedaled. “I’m just curious,” she explained, her tone defensive. “After all, the Rainsworth family helped me in the past. Cecilia was at fault, but the Rainsworth family was kind to me. Zachary, what’s wrong? You’ve been acting strangely lately.”
Zachary’s eyes darkened. They helped me? he thought bitterly. He hadn’t seen a single sign that Stella had ever intended to repay the Rainsworth family. Without revealing his true feelings, he casually handed her the coat near the emerald pendant. “Maybe it’s because Dad keeps asking about the emerald pendant. Didn’t I give it to you? Give it back to me, and I’ll get you something else.”
At the mention of the pendant, Stella’s face shifted, a brief flash of unease crossing her features. “I’m sorry, I lost the emerald pendant,” she quickly said, her voice laced with false sweetness.
Zachary said nothing, simply watching her with cold eyes. He didn’t expose her lies. He wanted to see how long she could keep up the act. Later that evening, when Stella left, Zachary made no arrangements for her to be escorted home.
As she sat in the minivan, Stella couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over her. “You’re dead. Why do you keep causing me trouble? Why didn’t you tell me about the emerald pendant?” she muttered under her breath, her voice barely a whisper.
Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder rattled the air. Stella jumped, startled, and looked out the window just in time to see a familiar building in the distance, its structure crumbling in the glow of a lightning flash.
The driver spoke up at that moment. “Isn’t that the landmark building of the Smith family? How could it be torn down?” he asked, his voice filled with surprise.
A few days later, Nathaniel personally ordered the complete demolition and reconstruction of the Smith family’s building. The decision baffled everyone, including those in high society. It seemed like a waste of money to many.
Zachary couldn’t understand it either. He stood silently in front of Nathaniel, watching him with a mixture of confusion and concern. “Nathaniel, why are you doing this?” he asked, his voice quiet but pressing.
Nathaniel remained still, his eyes closed, as if lost in thought. Zachary couldn’t hold back any longer. “Nathaniel,” he said, finally speaking up for Cecilia, “what happened back then had nothing to do with her. It was all orchestrated by her mother and brother…”
