Zachary didn't hesitate; he scooped Seraphina up, ignoring her fierce resistance. She was no match for his strength.
With tears brimming in her eyes, Seraphina looked up at Zachary's chiseled face. The thought of him being Della's fiancé made her chest tighten with pain. "I don't want to go back," she choked out.
Zachary's expression softened, but his tone remained firm. "Seraphina, stop this. What's going on?" She couldn't find the words to respond.
It had been a moment of emotional collapse.
Taking a deep breath, she fought back her tears. "Your fiancée is my cousin," she said, her voice trembling with accusation. "I don't want to be the other woman."
Zachary's eyes darkened as he gazed into her tear-filled eyes. "I'll handle it. I don't love her."
Seraphina wanted to say more, but Zachary silenced her with a kiss.
His cold lips and tongue dominated her breath, and she struggled to push him away.
Zachary held her tightly, his eyes intense as he looked at her slightly wet lips. "It's you I love." Seraphina was stunned.
Zachary's expression was stern.
Seraphina mustered all her strength to push him away, her voice filled with sorrow. "Let's break up. Marry Della as you promised and don't hurt her."
Zachary's gaze was unwavering. "I won't break up with you. Even though we haven't been together long, I won't give you up. I'll cancel the engagement."
Seraphina's face turned pale, and she swayed, nearly collapsing. Zachary caught her, but she instinctively pushed him away, leaning against a rock.
Zachary looked at her frail figure, his voice softening. "It's cold. Let's go back."
Seraphina stubbornly refused. "No, leave me alone."
After Zachary pressed her, Seraphina revealed that Sofia had told her about his engagement to Della.
The sky darkened, and after a few claps of thunder, it began to rain lightly. Standing in the rain, Seraphina couldn't push Zachary away and could only look at him in despair.
"Seraphina, come with me. You'll get sick in the rain." Zachary wrapped his arm around her waist, ready to take her away.
Seraphina tilted her face up defiantly, letting the rain soak her clothes.
Zachary shielded her head with his hand and firmly grasped her wrist. "Let's go."
They moved through the mountains.
At the camp entrance, Knox and the others anxiously awaited their return.
"Is something wrong with Seraphina?" Dane asked worriedly.
"Who knows," Knox replied, shaking his head.
As a rival, Sofia emerged, seeing everyone at the camp entrance. Upon learning that Seraphina was missing and Zachary had gone to find her, she was seething with anger.
Sofia approached quickly, her face tense. "What's going on? What happened?"
Someone glanced at her, their expression complicated, and pointed into the distance. "Seraphina is missing. Mr. Baker went to find her."
Hearing this, Sofia felt a surge of inexplicable rage.
Seraphina again! That name was like a thorn in her heart.
She gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with intense hatred.
Sofia couldn't help but sneer inwardly. How shameless. A woman like Seraphina, and he still cared so much.
Little did she know, at that moment, Seraphina felt like dying.
When they returned to camp, the others dispersed upon seeing them safe.
Zachary dropped Seraphina onto the couch in his room. Though she wasn't hurt, she was soaked, her hair a mess, and her face pale.
Seeing her in such a state, Zachary's heart ached, but his tone was harsh. "Go take a shower. Don't catch a cold."
Seraphina pouted. "I won't. Getting sick would be better."
Zachary raised an eyebrow and took a step forward. "Not going to shower?"
Seraphina glared at him.
In the next second, Zachary picked her up and headed to the bathroom.
Seraphina screamed in fright. "What are you doing? Put me down!"
Zachary didn't stop. "If you won't move, I'll do it myself."
Seraphina bit her lip, her body stiff.
She was on the verge of breaking down, struggling desperately. "Put me down! I can walk myself!"
Zachary finally set her down, his gaze cold. "If you step out of the bathroom, I'll come in and help you."
Hearing this, Seraphina reluctantly walked into the bathroom. Zachary stood guard outside. "Fine, I'll shower," she muttered. Zachary waved his hand. "Good."
The door closed, and the sound of running water filled the room. Zachary watched the shadow behind the door, urging, "If you don't start, I'm coming in."
Meanwhile, Knox and the others approached, wanting to check on Seraphina.
Zachary waved them off impatiently. "She's fine. Go about your business."
He then headed to Seraphina's room to get her clothes.
In the bathroom, the water flowed, but Seraphina sat on the toilet, tears mixing with the water.
"Della, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
Zachary placed the clothes outside the bathroom, raising his voice. "I left your clothes here. Put them on after you shower, so you don't catch a cold."
Seraphina took a deep breath, gathering herself to finish her shower.
When she emerged, she thought Zachary had left. Wrapped in his usual towel, she cautiously opened the door, only to find him still sitting on the couch.
Their unexpected encounter startled both of them.
Seraphina gasped and tried to retreat to the bathroom, but she slipped and fell.
Her knee hit the ground, and she cried out in pain, tears streaming down her face. "Zachary, don't look at me. Please leave."
Zachary quickly averted his gaze, lifting her and placing her gently on the couch.
Her knee was bleeding, surrounded by bruises. Zachary's heart ached as he covered her with a coat and fetched the first aid kit.
Seeing Zachary kneeling before her, tenderly applying medicine, Seraphina felt a wave of nostalgia.
In their deepest moments, Zachary had knelt before her like this, gently tending to her wounds.
Lost in thought, she heard Zachary's soft voice. "Even without you, my engagement to Della would be canceled eventually."
Seraphina's tears fell as she choked out, "Zachary, try dating Della. She's cheerful and beautiful..."
Zachary didn't stop, nor did he look up. "I'll handle my relationships."
Seraphina wiped her tears, mentioning Della's hopes for the engagement. "Della has been waiting for this. If I had known about you back then... things wouldn't be like this now."
She paused, emphasizing, "Maybe we just met at the wrong time."
Zachary's hand paused, his gaze icy. "Is that why you're so eager to end things? You think meeting me was a mistake?"
Seraphina shivered under his stare, reluctantly admitting, "Yes, it was a mistake."
Zachary's face darkened, his fists clenching.
Sensing danger, Seraphina urged him to shower. "You're soaked. Don't catch a cold. Go shower."
Zachary snorted, grabbing his clothes and heading to the communal showers.
Seraphina sighed in relief, using his absence to pack her things, thinking: I must end things with Zachary completely. Some people, whether you meet them or not, it's fate.
Sofia, bored in her room, was playing on her phone when she heard a knock.
Allan, excited, said, "Sofia, you won't believe it. I went out filming and saw a rare bird. And I caught a video of Zachary and Seraphina kissing on Stone Mountain!"