Chapter 22
Queenie’s words cut through Zachary like a venomous knife, each syllable twisting it deeper into his chest. He couldn’t refute them because he knew Queenie was telling the truth.
“Shut up!” He stepped forward, gripping her hair tightly, feeling the fragile strands snapping in his grasp as his expression grew more twisted. “What nonsense are you spouting? It’s all because of your manipulation! You’re the reason things turned out this way!”
“See? I told you. You’d pin all the blame on me. You’re nothing but a complete-”
The next instant, searing pain shot through her stomach. She was kicked backward and slammed hard against the wall behind her.
The intense pain and the metallic taste of blood flooding her mouth overwhelmed her senses. She opened her mouth, but the agony left her momentarily speechless.
Meanwhile, Zachary staggered back a step, his chest heaving violently.
“I’m leaving.” His voice was low and hoarse, a thick metallic scent seeming to permeate his throat. “Don’t let me see you again.”
“Zachary, what do you mean?” Queenie suddenly found the strength to struggle forward and grabbed his collar desperately. “Are you dumping me? It won’t be that easy! I’m telling you, as long as I’m alive, you’ll never be with Yasmine!
“And you know what? Every time I watched you hurt Yasmine for my sake, it made me tremble with excitement. If you dare abandon me, I’ll make sure everyone knows what a pathetic scumbag the Smith family’s great heir really is!”
Zachary suddenly let out a low laugh that made Queenie freeze. It was as if she could see the ice crystals forming in his eyes, reflecting her own distorted image. An inexplicable chill ran through Queenie.
“Queenie.” He slowly pried her fingers away. “Have you forgotten who your family depends on to survive? Did my past love for you make you so think I’ll forgive you no matter what you do?”
Queenie’s expression instantly changed. “You…‘
arrogant that
you
“Starting tomorrow,” Zachary straightened his wrinkled collar, his tone utterly calm, “Smith Group will completely withdraw all our investments.” “No! You can’t do this!” Queenie finally showed panic. “My father will kill me! Zachary, will you… Will you look at me? Please look at me!” “What does that have to do with me?” Zachary didn’t spare Queenie a single glance as he turned toward the door, mockery filling his eyes. “That’s your problem, isn’t it? Besides, aren’t you an expert at manipulating people, Ms. York? Finding another fool to deceive should be easy enough.”
“Zachary!” Queenie lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his legs. “Zach, I was wrong! Everything I said was just the anger talking! Please, don’t pull the funding!
“You know how much I love you. I was just afraid someone would steal you away! I meant none of what I said! Seeing how you treated me just made me so angry that I said those horrible things!”
Zachary looked down at her tear–streaked, desperate face and felt nothing but disgust. “Queenie, we’re done. From now on, I don’t want to even hear any news related to you.”
“No, no, Zachary! You can’t treat me like this! You can’t!”
The heavy door slammed shut, cutting off Queenie’s hysterical screams.
Standing in the night, Zachary pulled out his phone and called his assistant. “Immediately freeze all financial support to the York family. Also, hand over the evidence of Queenie’s bullying and criminal evidence to the police.”
After hanging up, he looked up at the starry sky, but all he could see were Yasmine’s cold, clear eyes. This time, he wouldn’t let her down.
