Her delicate shoulders gleamed under the light, framing her beautiful collarbones. Every curve on her figure was just right—neither excessive nor lacking, creating a perfect harmony. Droplets of water trailed down her skin, blending innocence with a captivating allure. Her beauty was both pure and enchanting. 

She was as delicate as a blooming jasmine and as pure as a lily. 

Zachary's gaze turned dark.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. 

One second... 

Two seconds... 

Three seconds…

Then, a sharp scream shattered the stillness, startling birds into flight outside the villa.

Cynthia covered her eyes in a panic, mortified to her core. She wanted to disappear into the ground. 

Zachary was rendered speechless. Her sudden scream, in the dead of night, could easily lead others to think that he had done something inappropriate. 

His voice, low and gravelly for 

Cynthia was at a loss for words. Her best friend was truly relentless. 

Fearing the conversation would only get more uncomfortable, she hung up the phone. She sprawled across the bed, forcing herself to stop thinking about the embarrassing events from tonight. 

"Just sleep it off. Once you fall asleep, it won't feel so bad," she thought.

It was a restless night. 

…

The next morning, Cynthia woke up with heavy dark circles under her eyes. 

Since her hand was injured, she didn't prepare breakfast. Jesse had already made spaghetti for everyone. 

Zachary and Mason were sitting at the table, the contrast between them striking. Zachary was graceful and composed while Mason exuded a cool air despite looking so adorable. Together, they looked like royals in a portrait, harmonious in every way.

Hearing her approach, Zachary lifted his eyes, which were gleaming. His gaze met hers, and for 

Since the accident, Mason had been deeply shaken. Back at Rivermont Estate, he hadn't spoken a word all evening and stayed glued to Cynthia's side, refusing to leave her.

In the end, it was Adam who, worried about the boy's condition, spent ages persuading him. Only after repeatedly assuring him that Cynthia was fine did Mason finally agree to return to his room with Zachary.

Zachary took him back, helped him bathe, and coaxed him to sleep. Once the boy was peacefully settled, the house fell quiet, but Zachary's mind refused to do the same.

The first time he met Cynthia, she had called him blind, sharp-toned, and rude. The second time he saw her, she was in the arms of an older man, displaying a complete lack of decency. The third time, she had barged into his villa under the guise of Janice.

To him, she had always been rude, conniving, and scheming. However, during the accident today, he had witnessed her throwing herself forward without a second thought. She had shielded Mason tightly in her arms. 

If not for her, Mason might not have survived unscathed. Afterward, she didn't even spare a moment for her own injuries, focusing only on the boy. 

Her actions had been brave, decisive, and selfless. She had placed Mason's safety above her own. It didn't seem calculated or manipulative. She came across as a simple, exceptionally kind-hearted young woman.

Had he misjudged her all along? 

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden chime of a phone. 

Zachary quickly looked for the phone, afraid that it would wake Mason. He realized the sound came from Cynthia's phone, which he had taken earlier to keep it safe after her fall.

On the screen, a name boldly flashed, "Dearest Baby".

Was it a man? The contact name was intimate, almost nauseatingly so.

He frowned as he stared at the screen for several seconds. Finally, he silenced the phone, stood up, and walked to Cynthia's room across the hall.

Cynthia, with her arm now in a cast, was in the bathroom rinsing herself off. When she heard a knock on the door, she frowned. 

Who could it be at this hour? Was Mason still feeling uneasy and wanted her to keep him company? 

She quickly grabbed her towel, wrapped it around herself, and rushed to the door. 

The door clicked open. To her surprise, it wasn't Mason but Zachary standing there. 

As always, he looked cold and dignified in his impeccable suit. His mere presence radiated an imposing air. 

In an emotionless tone, he said, "A man called you."

A man? Confused, Cynthia took the phone from him and checked the call log. When she saw the name "Dearest Baby", she immediately understood. 

It was Yasmine calling. He had misunderstood. 

Thank goodness he misunderstood! If he knew about Yasmine's existence, things would spiral out of control.

"T-Thank you. It's late—you should go rest," Cynthia stammered, nervously hiding the phone behind her back. 

Zachary's brows knitted tighter together. 

That was it? She wasn't going to explain herself? So, it really was a man calling?

And the way she was trying to chase him off—did she see him as an obstacle getting in the way of her little chat? 

An inexplicable wave of irritation rose within him. But why should he care? Whoever this man was, whatever contact name she gave him, and whether she chatted with him or not had nothing to do with him.

With a scoff, he turned on his heel, ready to leave.

Cynthia was eager to close the door and call Yasmine back. However, in her haste, her poorly secured towel—already precarious due to her injured arm—slipped.

With a rustling sound, the towel fell to the floor.

She was completely exposed under the bright overhead lights.

Hearing the noise, Zachary instinctively turned back and saw…

Her delicate shoulders gleamed under the light, framing her beautiful collarbones. Every curve on her figure was just right—neither excessive nor lacking, creating a perfect harmony. Droplets of water trailed down her skin, blending innocence with a captivating allure. Her beauty was both pure and enchanting. 

She was as delicate as a blooming jasmine and as pure as a lily. 

Zachary's gaze turned dark.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. 

One second... 

Two seconds... 

Three seconds…

Then, a sharp scream shattered the stillness, startling birds into flight outside the villa.

Cynthia covered her eyes in a panic, mortified to her core. She wanted to disappear into the ground. 

Zachary was rendered speechless. Her sudden scream, in the dead of night, could easily lead others to think that he had done something inappropriate. 

His voice, low and gravelly for some reason, broke the silence. "How much longer do you plan to let me look? Or are you doing this d

Chapter 22