Chapter 9
Before I could react, Gavin stepped forward and grabbed my other arm, steady and calm.
“Lily doesn’t want to go with you,” he said evenly.
Zachary’s jaw clenched tightly as he saw me inching closer to Gavin, my whole body tense, resisting him.
With a sneer, he turned to Gavin.
“You do realize Lily and I are engaged, right? She’s already accepted my proposal. In a few days, she’s going to be my wife. So tell me what right do you have to interfere in a private matter between a man and his fiancée?”
Gavin’s hand tightened protectively around mine, his brows furrowed as he struggled to find the right words. But before he
could say anything, I already seething at Zachary’s delusional arrogance-cut him off with a cold laugh.
“Gavin’s my boyfriend. So yeah, anything that involves me is his business too. But you? You’re just a clingy, shameless ex who can’t take a hint. Where do you get the nerve to bark at my boyfriend like you still matter?”
No sooner had the words left my mouth than Madison stepped out of Zachary’s silver sedan, dressed in a hospital gown.
She leaned weakly against his side, her expression perfectly pitiful as she blinked up at me.
“Lily,” she began in a small voice loaded with passive-aggressive judgment, “I saw the photos people posted online-flirting
with that man at the party earlier. And now you’re leaving with him?
“It’s barely been two months since you and Zach split. And you’ve already jumped into another man’s arms?”
“God… how could you be like this?”
Jumped into his arms. Desperate for attention. Really?
I gave her a tight-lipped smile, fully unbothered by her fake innocence, and turned to Zachary with exaggerated warmth.
“She’s right, you know. Madison really cares about you. Honestly, you two make the perfect couple. I truly wish you all the happiness in the world-and a wedding as soon as possible.”
Zachary’s face darkened in an instant.
Madison, thinking she’d gotten the upper hand, was just about to double down with another round of fake concern, but then- Zachary saw me standing beside Gavin.
And it was like someone yanked him out of a dream.
Suddenly, without warning, he shoved Madison aside and bolted toward me.
She stumbled, scraping her knee on the rough pavement. Dazed and wide-eyed, she could only watch as Zachary rushed to my
si, panic flooding his usually composed features.
“Lily, it’s not what you think,” he blurted. “There’s nothing going on between me and Madison. She fainted near the office, that’s the only reason she was in my car-I was taking her to the hospital, that’s all.”
I stared at him, almost amused.
“And what exactly do you expect me to do with that information?”
Zachary looked visibly relieved that I didn’t appear angry.
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“I just wanted you to know,” he said softly, “that from beginning to end, it’s only ever been you.”
His hand reached toward my cheek-only for Gavin to yank me protectively into his arms, his tone cool and firm.
“Lily’s my girlfriend now. I’d appreciate it if you showed some respect.”
I didn’t even get a chance to silently thank Gavin for playing along before Zachary snapped.
He grabbed Gavin by the collar and-face twisted with fury-threw a punch.
Gavin could’ve dodged it easily.
But because I was in his arms, he didn’t move. He took the hit straight on.
Crack!
The sharp sound of a slap rang through the empty parking garage right after the blow landed.
Zachary froze, his fist still clenched, head turned from the force of my slap.
He didn’t move for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he turned back to face me, eyes hollow.
“Lily,” he said, voice low, “have you lost your mind?”
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