Chapter 5
To be precise, it was several messages-from different people, yet all conveying the same sentiment:
[OMG Lily! Congrats on your decade of love! I’ll fly back for the wedding and hook you up with juiciest Venmo gift! ]
[Lily, wishing you and Zachary a lifetime of happiness. Hope you two start a family soon!]
Just as I was baffled by this sudden blizzard of well-wishes, a notification popped up-Zachary had sent me a friend request or
Facebook.
[Check my latest post. Happy now? Can we drop the drama?]
“Drama?” I muttered under my breath. The audacity of this man-when he was the one who’d been MIA on my birthday while jet-setting with his assistant.
Funny how Mom had begged me for Zachary’s contact last Christmas. He never bothered to add her. Silver lining, I guess-at least she wouldn’t see this trainwreck unfolding in real time.
I fired off quick replies to the group chat:
[Appreciate the love, but Zach and I called it quits weeks ago.]
Then I took a deep breath and updated my status-public visibility enabled:
[PSA: Single AF. Not engaged. Not looking. #NoRingNoThing]
Less than two minutes after the post went live, my phone rang-Zachary’s name flashing on the screen.
I didn’t answer.
But the man was relentless, calling over and over until I finally blocked his number.
With silence restored, I collapsed onto my comfortable and soft bed, slipped on my headphones, and let the music drown everything out.
Monday arrived in a blink.
After a hearty brunch made by Mom, I arrived at the Real Estate Center right on time, my steps light. Just as Mr. Harris and I were about to sign the contract, his phone rang abruptly.
After a few seconds of listening, his expression shifted to surprise. He hesitated before handing the phone to me.
“Miss Quinn, this call is for you.”
I knew Zachary had connections. I knew he was resourceful.
But never expected the ever-composed, ruthlessly logical man to go this far just to get me to pick up the damn phone.
Stepping into a quiet corner, I finally snapped.
“Zachary. Are you serious right now?”
The icy edge in my tone seemed to catch him off guard. After a beat, his voice darkened.
“Lily. Why are you telling people you’re single?”
“Because it’s the truth.”
Chapter 5
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A cold laugh crackled through the line.
“Leaving a key and a damn note counts as a breakup now? Grow up, Lily. You’re almost thirty. We’re engaged. We’re getting married-having kids, just like you wanted. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is? How are our friends supposed to show up at the wedding after this stunt?”
1 pinched the bridge of my nose, biting back a laugh.
“There won’t be a wedding.”
“What the hell does that mean?” His voice sharpened. “Are you actually breaking up with me?”
Lowering my gaze, I answered without hesitation.
“Yes. We’re done.”
Silence.
Through the background noise on his end, I could tell he was at the airport, probably about to board. Glancing at Mr. Harris- who was eyeing me nervously, no doubt worried his sale was about to fall through-I moved to hang up.
But then Zachary’s tone softened, almost pleading.
“Lily…just give me this one trip. The second Madison’s stable at the Zurich clinic, I’m on the first flight back. We’ll-”
