“Don’t touch me, you filthy bastard. You make my skin crawl” Argelia pulled out a tissue, meticulously wiping her hand as if Zachary’s mere presence contaminated her.
Zachary’s pride took a sharp hit, his jaw tightening as her words sliced through him. “What did she just call me? A filthy bastard? I don’t even mind that she’s married, yet she has the nerve to look down on me?‘
But considering the inheritance, he forced himself to swallow the sting of her rejection. His eyes softened into a pained, wistful expression, masking the storm brewing inside. “Amy, please don’t be mad. I’m apologizing, aren’t I? Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just forgive me.
“Are you deaf?” Amelia’s laugh was sharp and cutting. I’m married to Landon
now.
Zachary’s lips twitched in frustration, but he quickly composed himself. “I know you’re just acting on impulse. Marriage isn’t permanent, Amy. You can always get a divorce. I don’t mind:
“Well, I do. You make me sick,” Amelia snapped.
Her patience was hanging by a thread, her brow twitching with irritation. She had tolerated enough of Zachary’s relentless. badgering. He knows I’ve discovered the truth, and I’ve already married someone else. And yet, here he is, still playing the role of the devoted lover. Does he really think I’m that gullible?
“Amy…” Zachary’s voice cracked as her dismissal hit him square in the chest. His facade of patience slipped, and his tone grew harsher. “What will it take for you to forgive me!”
“Nothing.” Amelia replied with an icy snort. There’s absolutely nothing you can do.”
Zachary’s temples throbbed as his composure teetered on the brink of collapse. “Amy…
Amelia’s tone turned sharp and exasperated. “Zachary, I know exactly why you’re here today. You’re after my mother’s inheritance.”
Zachary’s eyes darkened for a split second, the slip of his mask almost imperceptible. ‘So, she knows about the inheritance. That’s why she married Landon–to protect it. Good. That means she still cares about me. This can still work in can get her back.”
ΠΙ
favor. I
“I’ll never go back to the Edwards family, and I’ll never marry you. Let go of whatever delusions you’re clinging to,” Amelia declared, her words dripping with venom. Her teeth clenched so tightly she could feel the strain in her jaw.
“What inheritance? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Zachary protested, feigning innocence.
Amelia’s laugh was cold and unamused as she turned on her heel to leave.
But Zachary wasn’t ready to let her slip away so easily. He rushed forward, stepping in front of her to block her path “Amy, T just found out yesterday that you weren’t Mrs. Edwards‘ biological daughter. But it doesn’t matter to me, I don’t care about your background-
“And what’s wrong with my background?” Amelia snapped, her voice brimming with disdain. Tm the rightful heiress of the Edwards family. What’s so scandalous about that?”
Her thoughts churned with frustration If anything’s scandalous, it’s Sandra. Officially nineteen years old, but in reality? She’s twenty–two–older than me by months. The audacity of a secret love child to judge me!
“Amy, that’s not what I meant, Zachary sighed, rubbing his temple as if her words physically pained him.
Since she had come out of that operating room, Amelia had became a completely different person. Every word he uttered was met with a sharp retort, each one so precise it left him utterly speechless.
13:07 Sun, Dec 22 GG.
pter II
Zachary scrambled to come up with a plausible excuse, his tone laced with regret. “Amy, I had no idea it was a misdiagnosis. I really thought you were sick. I’m so sorry. I should’ve taken you to more hospitals for a second opinion.”
“A misdiagnosis? How conveniently casual Amelia took a slow, deliberate breath, her nails biting into her palms as she fought back her disgust. This was all their doing. Zachary and Sandra’s carefully orchestrated trap. Thank goodness, I was reborn in time. Another second and that scalpel would’ve ruined ine for life!
“Amy, please forgive me. I’ll make it up to you. I’ll treat you better from now on, I swear. Just please forgive me for the shock 1 caused you yesterday” Zachary’s voice took on a desperate edge as he dropped to his knees in front of her, his loud plea echoing through the street.
Pedestrians halted in their tracks, eyes widening in disbelief. Some began pulling out their phones, recording the scene as murmurs spread through the crowd.
“Look at that. They must’ve had a lovers‘ spat,” someone said, chuckling.
“Poor guy. He looks devastated. He must really love her to go this far, another remarked sympathetically.
Zachary ignored the sharp ache in his knees, the gravel beneath them biting into his flesh, as he savored the attention. The crowd’s pity fed his ego. I know Amelia too well. She’s always been weak when it comes to public pressure.
T
She’s a hopeless romantic and annoyingly moralistic. A little gaslighting, and she’ll crumble. With everyone judging her like this, she’ll feel so guilty she’ll pull me up within three minutes–tops–and fall right back into my arms!
Three minutes ticked by, then five, and still, Amelia didn’t budge. She stood firm, unmoved, her cold gaze fixed on the man groveling before her.
Her lips curved ever so slightly, the faintest trace of dark amusement lighting her expression. ‘So, he wants to put on a pathetic show for the crowd? Fine, let him. I hope his knees break before I’m done enjoying this. Nothing will make what he’s done to me.
Finally, Zachary’s knees started to tremble, his patience fraying along with his endurance. He tilted his face up to her. desperation written across his features. “Amy, if you don’t forgive me, I’ll just stay kneeling here. Forever, if I have to.”
“Oh, nothing too terrible,” Amelia replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Just slept with my stepsister for half a year and got her pregnant.” She delivered the words loud and clear, her sharp tone slicing through the murmurs of the crowd
The same woman, her face now a mask of disgust, stopped criticizing Amelia and turned on Zachary, She spat at him, “You’re disgusting, you filthy scum.”
The verbal lash stung more than the gravel under Zachary’s knees. His handsome face turned crimson as the weight of the public’s disapproval bore down on him..
He had never experienced such humiliation, and certainly not from Amelia, who had once been as meek as a lamb. He couldn’t believe she actually exposed him in public.
Face burning, he scrambled to his feet, stumbling away in shan His retreating figure was greeted with jeers and contempt,
Chapter 11
Amelia let out a contented sigh, her heart feeling lighter than it had in years. Humming a cheerful tune, she turned on her heel, her mind already racing ahead. The inheritance may be tied up for now, but there’s still the little matter of that misdiagnosis. Time to settle that score.
Amelia arrived at the hospital, her expression steely and determined. She intended to retrieve her medical records- evidence she needed to sur Jacob for malpractice.
However, to her growing frustration, the hospital staff informed her that her records were missing. Not a single trace of her files could be found. Her mind immediately flashed to Zachary and Sandra. Another one of their schemes. Do they really think this will stop me?”
And the funds Zachary had gotten for this ambitious venture were from selling Debra’s heirloom diamond hairpin–an antique treasure Amelia had been forced to liquidate in her last life.
Verify captcha to read the content
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Hiding in the Devil's Bed (by Malea Cox)