Chapter 4

"Drink some warm water," Zach said. "Wendy hasn't woken up yet, and I can't leave her side. Rena, be good. I'm exhausted. Stop making a fuss, alright?" With that, he ended the call. Upon hearing the dull beep of the disconnected line, Serena felt her eyes burn with unshed tears. Years ago, when she had gastric perforation, Zach had held her in his arms and cried for a long time after she woke up from surgery. She still remembered how he had knelt beside her hospital bed—a man so tall yet curled up like a lost, helpless dog. He had buried his face in her neck, his voice hoarse with anguish. "Rena, it hurts. Every second you were in that operating room, I felt like I was being torn apart. Do you know? You are my life." That same man, who once treated her as his whole world, now dismissed her pain as nothing more than a childish tantrum. When disappointment turned into despair, there was nothing left to feel. Clenching her teeth, she endured the agony long enough to dial 911. … By the time she was taken out of the ambulance, the pain had nearly made her lose consciousness. Through the haze, she heard a familiar voice. "Wendy, are you cold? Hold onto my neck." She struggled to turn her head. Through the gaps between the bustling medical staff, she caught sight of Zach. Dressed in a black dress shirt, he strode forward quickly, his tall frame exuding urgency. Wendy was wrapped in a gray blanket, her delicate hands clinging to his neck as she nestled against his chin. She whispered something, and he lowered his head with a soft, affectionate smile. The hospital corridor was chaotic, but in his eyes, there was only Wendy. Serena watched as he shielded her, carefully helping her into a car. She watched as the familiar Cayenne sped away. Lying on the cold examination table, Serena shivered. Her sweat-soaked clothes clung to her, sending chills deep into her bones. She numbly went through the treatment. A nasogastric tube was inserted down her throat. The discomfort made her retch violently, tears streaming down her face. By the time she was wheeled into a temporary hospital room and hooked up to an IV, it was already 1:30 am. Beside her, a nurse was tidying up the adjacent bed while chatting with another nurse. "Do you know who that couple in the ER just now was?" "No idea, but that guy was really handsome," the other nurse replied. "Handsome? That's Zach Foster, CEO of Foster Group." "No way! The billionaire CEO of Foster Group? I saw him wiping that woman's face and hands, doting on her like she was a treasure. I'm so jealous." "People say rich men are unfaithful, but I think they just haven't found the right one. Dr. Sutton was even called to the VIP suite. That woman had a severe asthma attack and had to be put on a ventilator. Mr. Foster was so distressed, his eyes were red." "She was wearing pajamas. Must be his fiancee." … Serena slowly pulled the blanket tighter around herself, but she couldn't stop shivering. A nurse came over to check the IV drip before offering a kind suggestion. "Miss, you should call a family member. With your condition, you need someone to take care of you." Serena forced a weak smile. "He's busy. He doesn't have time." The nurse didn't say anything else. She simply closed the door and left. From the hallway, a soft sigh drifted in. "Some people live different lives. One's suffering alone with a gastric perforation, and no one cares. The other? An asthma attack and the whole hospital's top specialists are summoned…" Serena slowly closed her eyes. That night, she slept deeply. … By the time she woke up the next morning, sunlight was already streaming through the window. She suddenly remembered her appointment and hurried to grab her phone. Her WhatsApp was flooded with unread messages—all from Wendy. Wendy: "Thanks to Ms. Jansen's disinfectant spray, Zach's bed is so big, so soft." Wendy: "Your pajamas are a little tight on me. You should eat more. Zach likes it when he holds me and feels my chest." Wendy: "It's 3:00 am now. Bet you never thought I'd be the first one to sleep in Zach's bed before you, huh?" Wendy: "Zach made me chicken soup. He searched for the recipe himself. How touching." At the very bottom was a photo. Zach's boxer briefs lay discarded on the floor, tangled with a wrinkled pair of pink lace panties. Serena hated pink. She had never bought anything in that color. So after returning from the hospital last night, they still had the energy to be intimate. How… passionate. A sharp pain stabbed through her chest. She swallowed her nausea and saved the screenshots. Her stomach felt empty and acidic, but at least the pain had dulled. However, when she got out of bed, her legs were still weak. Supporting herself against the wall, she walked to the nurse's station and insisted on being discharged. She didn't have time to rest in a hospital. … As soon as she got into a cab, her phone rang. Zach's name flashed on the screen. "Come out of the hotel now. I sent Morton to pick you up." That commanding tone. It was as if no matter what had happened, she would always be waiting for his summons. Serena leaned back against the seat, her complexion ghostly pale. "I'm not at the hotel." "You went out? Shopping again?" His voice carried a hint of impatience. "Cancel your plans. Go home today. You know Wendy better than anyone. I don't trust the maid to take care of her properly." Serena almost laughed in disbelief. For a moment, she actually thought Zach was calling because he had sent Morton Castillo to take her to the hospital for a check-up. She thought he was worried about her gastric perforation. When she didn't respond, his tone softened. "Rena, I know you're upset about last night. And about Wendy staying at our place. But I've already explained. You two are close friends. Don't let this ruin your relationship. This is a chance to talk things out." Serena remained silent. For the first time, she realized just how shameless Zach was. "Wendy ended up in the hospital. You should take responsibility. Be good and listen to me, okay?" There it was again—"Be good". Serena hung up. Zach's WhatsApp message came through almost immediately. "The doctor recommends a bland diet. I threw out the scented candles. Get rid of the rest." Serena wanted to ask him if he still remembered those medical notes he had once carefully written after her surgery. But now, it didn't matter anymore. She stopped by a shopping mall near the café and bought a new outfit, changing into it before heading to the restroom to apply light makeup. The concealer hid the exhaustion on her face. Right on time, she arrived at Eastside Café. Clement Turner was already waiting in a private room. His sharp features carried a hint of scrutiny. "You really want to sell?" Serena sank into the couch across from him, her gaze cold. "Your ambitions have nothing to do with me, Mr. Turner. But I have one condition—you can't attend Zarena Group's shareholder meeting next Monday. You'll wait another week. If you agree, I'll sign right now." Some things needed to be revealed one by one. Dropping everything at once would ruin the fun. Clement tapped his fingers on the table. "You and Zach had a falling out?" Everyone in Yellowbrook City's business circles who had dealings with Zarena Group knew how deeply Serena loved Zach. She had given him everything. She straightened, her icy eyes locking onto his. "Mr. Turner, the shares in my hands are rightfully mine. Taking back what belongs to me is reasonable. But if you're trying to fish for Zarena Group's secrets, then this deal is off." Owning original shares didn't mean taking over Zarena Group. In the end, who came out on top would depend on their abilities. Clement didn't ask further. He swiftly pulled out the contract, signed it, and transferred the funds. Once Serena confirmed the money had been received, she stood up and left.