I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra) novel Chapter 71

My jaw dropped. "Steven gave you this?" I couldn't believe it. Steven had actually paid back the money for me?

Horace's expression shifted slightly as he pushed the check back toward my uncle. "Zephyra is short on cash right now. As a friend, it's only right that I help out."

"That's not how it works," I said, taking the check and pressing it firmly back into Horace's hand. "There's no 'only right' about it. You worked hard for your money. Besides, money I owe Steven doesn't really count. Just take it."

When Steven and I finally divorced, I'd just tell him to deduct it from the settlement.

Horace’s expression flickered. He stared at me as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. I beamed at him. "Go on, take it. Why do you look so unhappy about getting your money back?"

He was just as strange as Steven. Steven got angry when he couldn't spend money, and Horace got upset when he received it. I didn't get it. If someone owed me that much and paid it back on time, I'd be smiling in my sleep.

Horace gave me a long, deep look, then glanced down at the check before finally accepting it. He forced a small smile and adjusted his glasses. "We're out of fruit. I'll go buy some more."

"Okay! Uncle Julian loves grapes. Get some of those," I said cheerfully.

"I will," he replied, turning and leaving without another glance back.

"Zephyra." Julian's low, weak voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked down and saw that his face had gone pale. He was lying back against the pillows, one hand pressed to his chest.

My heart lurched. "Uncle Julian, you look terrible! Is it your heart? I'll call a doctor!"

"He didn't mistreat me," I said calmly. "Uncle Julian, it was an arranged marriage for business. He doesn't love me, and I don't love him. There are no feelings between us. We lived together for a year, and it was just… empty. So I decided I wanted a divorce."

Julian seemed to relax, relieved that I hadn't been abused. He was silent for a moment before asking, "What do you think of Horace?"

Even though I hadn't known Uncle Julian for very long and he was usually a man of few words, I could tell he was a warm person beneath his gruff exterior. His intentions were always clear in his eyes. I held up my hands in a 'stop' gesture. "Uncle Julian, I know what you're thinking. Horace is my best friend. Don't even consider anything else. Besides, he's in love with someone else. Please don't try to play matchmaker."

I poured two glasses of water from the pitcher.

Julian blew on the hot water, a thoughtful look on his face. Then he said something that nearly made me choke. "You know, from where I'm sitting, I think they both love you."