Just as he was about to speak, Zachary noticed that Atlas, who usually had a kind and gentle demeanor, suddenly looked stern.
Zachary instinctively sensed that something was off with Atlas.
He knew that Atlas would never allow him to ruin tonight's dinner by publicly rejecting the arranged marriage. Doing so would embarrass both families and destroy the evening's atmosphere, which was why Atlas was so adamant about stopping him.
The words that were on the tip of his tongue felt like they were blocked by a massive stone, and he couldn't get them out.
Reluctantly, he swallowed his thoughts, a flicker of struggle and helplessness in his eyes.
The atmosphere in the private room became instantly tense.
This was the first time Zachary had ever felt such resistance and aversion to an arranged marriage.
As the clock neared 8:30 PM, he grew increasingly anxious about an important meeting he had to attend. Being late would have serious consequences.
He hurriedly stood up, straightening his wrinkled camouflage uniform, and looked apologetically at Della. "I'm really sorry, but I have to go."
Though he knew it was impolite, he had no other choice.
Hearing this, Della's eyes dimmed with disappointment and reluctance. "I was hoping we could get to know each other better. Are you leaving already?"
She fought back tears, trying not to let them fall.
Atlas's face was dark, his brows deeply furrowed as he watched Zachary leave in a rush.
Della quickly stood up, wanting to see him off, her eyes filled with unspoken longing.
Gathering her courage, Della tentatively asked Zachary about his feelings for her.
Without any preamble or hesitation, she asked directly.
Contrary to what she expected, Zachary stopped in his tracks, his calm gaze showing a hint of surprise, helplessness, and a barely noticeable touch of emotion.
After a long silence, he said, "Ms. York, I'm not worth your feelings."
His tone was light, but the words carried a heavy weight.
Della's smile froze for a moment, but she stubbornly replied, "Whether you're worth it or not, that's for me to decide."
"My job is dangerous and challenging. One wrong move, and I could be gone. Ms. York, you deserve someone better." Zachary's sincere words echoed in her ears, and Della's eyes gradually reddened.
As she watched Zachary drive away, it felt like her heart was being taken with him. She stood there until his car disappeared from sight, then turned back, her mind filled with thoughts of him, immersed in a gentle sadness.
Zachary drove straight to the suburban base, a secluded area surrounded by trees, where the night was filled with the sound of insects, adding to the silence.
Seraphina was struggling to stay awake; she had to wait for Zachary to return to get her internet access back.
The bump on her forehead still throbbed with pain.
Only Zachary could decide when she could use the internet, and she was filled with frustration and resentment.
Hearing the car, Seraphina perked up and rushed out of her room, heading straight for the parking lot.
The moment she saw Zachary, her pent-up emotions burst out. "Why did you cut off my internet?"
Zachary looked at the agitated Seraphina, his voice low and authoritative. "For your safety."
Seraphina was furious. "I have something important to do! I need to contact my boyfriend! It's a matter of life and death!"
Zachary was equally angry. "Safety comes first! Don't think I don't know what you're up to! I have a meeting to attend, and you better not cause any trouble!"
Seraphina ran after him. "What do you mean, cause trouble? I need to contact my boyfriend now, it's urgent!"
Zachary found her unreasonable.
They glared at each other, neither willing to back down.
Seraphina snatched Zachary's phone and quickly dialed Nico's number.
The call went through, but no one answered.
She kept trying, over and over.
But there was no response.
Her eyes reddened, and she dejectedly put down the phone, heading to the lounge.
In the dim light, her figure looked so lonely.
In the meeting room, the discussion centered around Seraphina's level of danger, as her information had been exposed, making her a target for international criminal organizations.
Therefore, investigating her social connections was crucial.
The team reported that Seraphina's boyfriend, Nico, had arrived in the country around 7 PM, and they were focusing on his social connections.
Zachary ordered his team to locate Nico, who was found at the Harmony Bay Hotel through surveillance footage and check-in records.
The footage showed Nico behaving intimately with another girl, first in the elevator and then taking a call before entering a room. The call revealed his plan to exploit his relationship with Seraphina to gain her parents' fortune, exposing his true intentions.
Seeing the footage, Zachary had the video sent to him and ordered an investigation into Nico's social connections over the past two years, intending to reveal Nico's true nature to Seraphina and eliminate potential risks.
After Zachary left, the team speculated whether he had feelings for Seraphina. Their heated discussion was cut short when Zachary suddenly returned, his gaze icy.
Everyone fell silent, fearing punishment, and the atmosphere became tense and oppressive.
Seraphina returned to her room, washed up, and got into bed, filled with confusion and disappointment. She couldn't understand why Nico wasn't answering her calls. Just as she was lost in these thoughts, there was a knock on the door. She got up to open it, finding Zachary standing there.
Zachary looked at Seraphina with a complex expression. After a moment of silence, he gravely asked her to change and come to the lounge, saying he had something to show her.
Seraphina raised an eyebrow, skeptical, and coldly replied that he should just say what he needed to.
When Zachary mentioned finding Nico, Seraphina's eyes lit up with hope.
Seeing this, Zachary felt a pang of sympathy. After all, Seraphina was from the York family, which had long-standing ties with his own. He didn't want to hurt her but also didn't want her to remain in the dark.
Seraphina invited Zachary into her room, saying she wanted to see his phone to learn about Nico's situation.
Zachary frowned, displeased with Seraphina's lack of boundaries. He sternly asked, "Are you sure Nico truly loves you? I hope you can be rational."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow and confidently smiled. "Of course he loves me. You don't need to worry about it."
Her confidence in Nico left Zachary feeling helpless. He shook his head and said no more.
Seeing this, Seraphina quickly closed the door, blocking it with her arms, and asked to borrow Zachary's phone, saying it was urgent.
Zachary gave her a cold look and shook his head. He was wary of her intentions and their relationship wasn't close enough for him to lend her his phone.
Seraphina, seeing his refusal, pleaded, "Please, I have an urgent matter. My phone is dead. Just let me use it for a moment!"
"No," Zachary replied coldly.
Seraphina frowned, not expecting such a blunt refusal.
She took a deep breath, planning to come up with a new strategy.
Seraphina tried everything—pleading, flirting, using every trick to borrow Zachary's phone.
Zachary remained unmoved, his face cold as he grabbed her wrist, pinning her against the door, and warned her in a low voice.
Seraphina's eyes filled with tears from the pain, her gaze resentful as she looked at Zachary, accusing him of being cruel.
Taking a deep breath, Zachary calmed his inner turmoil.
He decided to completely cut off Seraphina's contact with the outside world and arranged for her parents to be secretly protected, ensuring their safety.
This way, Seraphina could stay here peacefully without any further distractions.
After saying this, Zachary turned to leave.
However, just as he was about to step out the door, Seraphina's voice called out from behind him, "Zachary, wait a moment."
He stopped and turned back, his gaze cold as he looked at Seraphina.