No Remarriage for us Stay Away (Lenora and Zachary)

Chapter 434 Am I Pathetic

Lenora saw Zachary on a late evening in mid-July.

The sky was growing dark.

Carrying her camera bag, Lenora had just finished her day of shooting and was stepping out of a building.

On the stairs in front stood a tall man holding a bouquet of flowers, seemingly waiting for someone.

Lenora didn't notice him. She was glancing at her phone while walking forward, checking the license plates of passing cars as she waited for the ride-hailing service she had booked. Until Zachary, holding the bouquet, stepped forward and blocked her path.

"Nora."

Hearing the familiar voice, Lenora froze. She raised her head quickly and looked at Zachary in front of her, shock written across her face.

After standing still for two seconds, she asked indifferently, "What do you want?"

Seeing her attitude, Zachary realized asking for her forgiveness this time would be no easy task.

But it was his fault for making decisions on her behalf without informing her.

Awkwardly, he forced a smile and extended the bouquet. "I'm here to take you back."

Lenora looked at him in disbelief, then feigned ignorance. "Zachary, are you crazy? Don't tell me this is another bet with Susanna? I have no interest in being part of your games." "No," Zachary denied immediately. "Nora, I have nothing to do with her. I..."

"Zachary, do you take me for a fool?" Lenora interrupted him with a calm yet piercing gaze.

Zachary paused. Her cold and detached eyes silenced him.

Opening his mouth, he stammered, "No, Nora, please believe me. I know I'm about to face a crisis, and I was afraid you'd get caught up in it, so I staged that scene with Susanna." "Do you think I'd believe that?" Lenora asked mockingly.

Zachary grew anxious. "I can find someone to prove it to you."

"And who's to say you didn't pay them off?" Lenora chuckled lightly. "Zachary, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. I have work tomorrow."

She noticed her rideshare had arrived and walked around Zachary, heading toward the car. She opened the door and got in without looking back.

Zachary hurriedly turned around and chased after her, only to watch the car merge into traffic and disappear.

He stood motionless, still holding the bouquet he never got to give her. His solitary figure looked forlorn.

Recalling the coldness in Lenora's eyes, Zachary felt a stabbing pain in his chest.

He knew he had broken her heart first. He had lied to her too many times.

She had finally mustered the courage to be with him, and he had crushed that courage himself. Her heart, once open to him, had now rebuilt a protective shell. So, it was natural for her not to believe her own explanations, but he wouldn't give up.

No matter how hard it got, he would win her back.

Lenora glanced in the rearview mirror at Zachary, thinking he must be feeling quite dejected now.

Just like how she felt that day, leaving the Fuller Group building with a heavy heart, not wanting to do anything at all.

The second time Lenora saw Zachary was the next morning.

She woke up a bit late. After grabbing a couple of pieces of bread, she headed out with her camera bag slung over her shoulder.

As soon as she stepped out of her condominium building, a car stopped in front of her.

The driver's side window rolled down, revealing Zachary's handsome face. "Nora, let me drive you to work."

Lenora feigned irritation. "Zachary, what exactly do you want? I've already told you, I won't let you deceive me again."

Zachary gave a bitter smile. "Nora, I didn't deceive you. I know it was wrong to keep things from you and to hurt you. But I swear, it's you I like. It's always been you." "What? Did Susanna dump you, so now you've come back to me? Do I look that pathetic to you?"

"No, Nora. That's not it..."

"I have a boyfriend now. Stop pestering me."

Zachary's face fell, and he struggled to steady his breathing. "You... You're lying to me, aren't you, Lenora?"

"What's there to lie about? Why would waste my effort to lie to you?"

Lenora glanced at her watch and walked past his car. "Sorry, my boyfriend's here to pick me up. I have to go to work. Goodbye."

Zachary followed her gaze and saw an Aston Martin parked by the curb.

From his angle, he couldn't see who was in the driver's seat. He could only watch as Lenora opened the passenger door and got in. His eyes darkened, turning pitch black as he stared at the car.

His sharp gaze grew venomous, like a serpent stalking its prey, waiting for the right moment to strike.

When Lenora mentioned having a boyfriend during their conversation at the detention center, Zachary had wondered if she was bluffing. But it turned out to be true.

She had been in Fairlake for just over a month, and she'd already found a boyfriend.

Boyfriend? I instructed someone to protect her, and I know of her every move. When did she get a boyfriend?

His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white.

It's fine. Even if Nora has a boyfriend, I can deal with him. I've already dealt with Connor. No one can stop me.

By noon, Lenora glanced at her watch. It was lunchtime. "Let's wrap it up here. We'll continue in the afternoon."

"Got it," said one of the staff members nearby.

The amateur models visibly relaxed as well.

Lenora had been hired for a photo shoot of a new jewelry collection by a niche brand. The centerpiece of the collection was a pair of couple rings.

Just then, a staff member walked into the studio. "Fay, someone's here to see you."

"Oh, okay. I'll head out."noveldrama

Organizing her camera, Lenora walked out and saw Zachary standing at the door with a lunchbox.

Seeing her, he approached with a smile, as if nothing had happened. "Nora, I brought you lunch."

Lenora looked at him helplessly. "Zachary, what are you trying to do? You were the one who said you didn't like me, and now you're the one clinging to me."

"That was out of necessity. It was never how I truly felt. I only wanted to protect you. If you don't believe me, you can call Elijah."

"He works for you. Of course, he'd back you up."

"What will it take for you to believe me?" Zachary's gaze was determined. He gazed at her as if he'd do whatever she asked, even if it killed him.

"Ever since I returned from Folask, I've been reflecting. Yes, you made mistakes, but during that time, you were attentive to me in every way. I thought of giving you another chance. Then you turned around and told me it was all part of a bet with Susanna, and that you never liked me. After that, I promised myself I'd never trust you again."

Her words were like a dagger, stabbing deep into Zachary's heart, spreading a bitter, aching pain.

She'll never trust me again....

"Even if what you're saying now is true, you could've told me about your predicament. I'm not unreasonable. I wouldn't have insisted on staying and dragging you down. Yet, you didn't. You decided on your own what was best for me without considering my feelings. You knew Susanna was a sore spot for me, yet you still used her to provoke me. Zachary, you say you like me, but I don't feel it. I came to Fairlake to start a new life. Zachary, please stop bothering me." Lenora looked at him seriously.