Chapter 11

Time flew by. Before anyone realized it, it was already 5:30 p.m. Most employees of Yel Corporation had started leaving by 5:00, and now, only a few remained in the office building. In the business department, Zachary was still poring over a client's information. Across from him, Anya rested her chin on her hands, letting out a bored hum. She looked at Zachary and asked, "Do you really need to work this hard? It's already after hours. Can't you just finish reading those files tomorrow?" It was past the end of the workday, yet Zachary showed no signs of leaving. But that wasn't what bothered Anya. What bothered her was that she really wanted to eat his cooking. "You don't have to wait for me. I'll leave after I finish reviewing these documents," Zachary replied without looking up, his attention fixed on the client files in front of him. His job involved maintaining client relations, somewhat like a customer service role. Most of the time, it was an easy gig, but occasionally, things got hectic. When everything was smooth, Zachary could take it easy and even slack off a bit. But when issues arose, he got busy and sometimes had to face angry clients. Anya rolled her eyes as she spoke. "Do you think I want to wait for you? I just want to eat your cooking." Compared to yesterday, she seemed bolder now. After spending more time with Zachary, she realized that despite his status, he didn't have the arrogance of a rich heir. He was surprisingly easygoing. Zachary looked up at her briefly before putting down the files. Upon seeing this, Anya raised an eyebrow, confused. "What? Are you done?" "You said you wanted to eat my cooking, right? Let's go. If we wait any longer, the market will be closed," he said as he tidied up the files, shut down his computer, and headed toward the elevator. Anya grabbed her bag and quickly followed. As they walked side-by-side, she tilted her head, grinning as she said, "Mr. Lloyd, I'm starting to realize you're not just a patient man. You're quite considerate too! Men like you, hmm… are a real catch." She spoke with a playful glint in her eyes, her tone lighthearted. However, Zachary frowned and shot her a warning look. "Don't flirt with me," he said sternly. Anya giggled in response. After she stopped laughing, she noticed something surprising. Zachary's ears had turned a faint shade of red. It was like discovering a new secret. Just as she was about to tease him further, Zachary's phone suddenly rang. He took it out and answered without thinking. "Hello? Who is this?" "Who is this? Zachary, did you delete my number?" Wendy's voice came through the receiver, carrying an unmistakable tone of accusation. Zachary replied coldly, his tone distant. "Apologies, Ms. Jennings, we've signed the divorce agreement. My affairs are none of your concern." "Zachary!" Wendy's angry voice came loud and clear. Zachary remained silent, simply listening. He even considered hanging up the phone. There was a heavy sigh on the other end, and Wendy's tone softened a bit as she said, "Today is Friday. Don't forget to come to my parents' house for dinner." Without a second thought, Zachary refused. "Sorry. I'm busy tonight. And I don't see the point anymore." Wendy's voice turned sharp again. "We've signed the agreement, but we haven't finalized the divorce in court. Legally, we're still married. And as long as we are, it's necessary." Her determination was clear. She wouldn't let this go. Zachary thought it over but still turned her down. "I've already promised a friend I'd cook for her tonight." There was a brief pause, then Wendy's voice returned, slightly tense. "A friend? Is it a woman? What's your relationship with her? Do I know her?" Zachary glanced at Anya, then replied, "Yes, it's a woman. We're just friends, and I'm not sure if you know her." Wendy's tone became almost pleading. "A woman? Zachary, not all women out there are as trustworthy as you think. Be careful, don't let anyone deceive you." "That is my business, not yours. Worry about yourself," Zachary said, his patience wearing thin. "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up now." Just as he was about to disconnect the call, Anya suddenly leaned over, her voice soft and playful as she called out loudly, "Honey, who are you talking to?" "What?" Zachary blinked, turning to look at Anya in confusion. She shot him a mischievous smile and winked. "Zachary!" Wendy's furious voice echoed from the phone speaker, loud enough that both Zachary and Anya could hear it clearly, even without the speaker on. Without hesitation, Zachary ended the call. Anya half-expected him to get angry, or at the very least scold her. But to her surprise, Zachary just gave her a quick glance and said, "Don't do that again." With that, he walked straight into the elevator. "Is this guy a saint or something? Where's his temper" Anya muttered under her breath, quickly following him into the elevator. Zachary remained silent, his eyes distant, still mulling over Wendy's call. Every Friday, Wendy would finish work and pick him up to have dinner at her parents' house. This had been their routine for five years. But each time, Harold would wear a stern expression and find fault with everything he did. He'd either accuse Zachary of being a freeloader or say that he wasn't taking good enough care of Wendy. But the most frequent criticism was how the sons of other families were so accomplished, like how much money they earned and how well they treated their in-laws. During these dinners, Zachary would remain silent, keeping his head down while Harold would slam his cutlery down and berate him in front of everyone. This weekly ritual was something Zachary had grown accustomed to. In his mind, as long as he was married to Wendy, it was just a meal with her family once a week. There was no need to make things unpleasant. Since Wendy was Harold's beloved daughter, Zachary couldn't bring himself to argue or defy her father. The way Zachary saw it, he didn't want to put Wendy in a difficult position. As for any humiliation, he could bear it. But now, there was no need to endure it anymore. They were preparing for divorce, so why should he keep suffering Harold's scorn? The elevator doors opened, and Zachary stepped out. Just then, his phone beeped with a text message. He checked it and saw that it was from Wendy. Her message was blunt. "Tonight, you must come to dinner. Otherwise, I won't go to the courthouse with you on Monday to finalize the divorce," she had written, the threat clear between the lines. Zachary felt his anger flare as he read the message. Wendy was trying to threaten him.