Chapter 173 One Step Away from the Truth
Quinley could tell Zachary was dead set on having this conversation.
But she wasn't ready. The hardest thing wasn't facing other people—it was facing yourself.
"I have plans this morning. I need to go."
She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
Zachary caught her arm. "It's still early. This won't take long." His voice was firm. "Sit down, Quinley. We need to talk."
That commanding presence of his—the one that made saying no nearly impossible—was back in full force.
Knowing she couldn't win this, Quinley changed tactics. She went into the kitchen and started making breakfast at a deliberately slow pace.
Tomato pasta with fried eggs. Same as always.
She dropped the pasta into boiling water, then started on the eggs. When the noodles were done, she scooped them into two bowls, added the sauce and eggs.
"There's another bowl in the kitchen. Get it yourself."
Quinley carried her bowl to the dining table. The world could be ending, but she'd still eat. That was her rule.
She kept her head down, shoveling noodles into her mouth. Tiny beads of sweat formed on the tip of her nose.
It was simple, homestyle food. But it brought back memories for Zachary—Quinley making this same dish at Doris's place.
"I'm sorry."
The words came out sincere.
Quinley had just taken a bite. His apology made her pause.
"I spent all night outside your door thinking about how to keep you here. Not just your physical presence—your heart too." His voice was steady. "I'm sorry, Quinley. For all the pain I caused you."
This was the second time he'd formally apologized.
But what good were apologies, really?
"What's done is done, Mr. Jennings. You don't need to keep apologizing. We should both move forward, right?"
She was throwing his own logic back at him.
Zachary hadn't expected that.
"I talked to Detective Wilson last night."
He'd planned to hide it. But after sitting outside her door for hours, he'd realized something—the lack of trust between them came from his own dishonesty.
Once you identify a problem, you fix it. So he decided to come clean.
Quinley's hand froze. She didn't say anything. Of course Zachary could get Detective Wilson to talk. The man was ruthless when he wanted answers.
"Maybe I can help you."
"How?"
She looked up at him. His expression was intense, his eyes sharp as a hawk's.
"Can I see the photo?"
Quinley hesitated. Now that Zachary knew everything, if he decided to interfere, she'd never be able to investigate on her own.
She stood, found the photo, and handed it over.
"Ever seen this before?"
Zachary studied it carefully, squinting. "No."
He flipped it over and immediately spotted the address on the back.
"This is your family's address?"
Quinley nodded. "That's what's so weird. Why would it be there?"
Zachary's expression darkened. "Let me keep this. Stop investigating—I'll handle it."
"How?"
"I have my ways."
Right in front of her, he called Marlee.
Dennis was still locked up. Marlee had been trying to reach Zachary for weeks without success.
The call connected quickly. Marlee's voice came through. "Mr. Jennings, have you decided to help my Denny?"
Quinley was close enough to hear everything. A sour feeling spread through her chest.
"Someone will pick you up shortly. We'll talk in person."
He hung up and told Lucas to get Marlee.
"Want to come?"
Zachary extended the invitation.
Quinley hesitated, arms crossed, head down. Once Marlee started talking, the truth would be right there in front of her.
But now that the moment had arrived, she was terrified.
People crave the truth. And fear it just as much.
"Come on. Good or bad, you deserve to know, don't you?"
Zachary stood and reached out his hand.
Half an hour later, Marlee arrived at Apex Global Group.
Quinley stayed in Zachary's private rest room. She wasn't ready to face Marlee yet. Hell, she wasn't ready to face the truth.
The door was slightly ajar. She could see everything in the office.
"Mr. Jennings, please, I'm begging you. Denny knows he was wrong. He's been locked up for almost two weeks now. Could you please put in a word? Get him released?"
Marlee started crying and pleading the second she walked in.
Zachary sat in his chair, expression stone cold. He didn't budge.
"Helping him isn't impossible."
He gave her just a sliver of hope.
Marlee's face lit up. "Oh, Mr. Jennings, you're such a good man! When Denny gets out, I'll bring him to thank you personally. Just give him one more chance—he'll turn his life around, I promise."
Zachary didn't respond. Just stared at her coldly.
"I'm going to ask you something. And you're going to tell me the truth."
"Of course! Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you everything."
Marlee promised immediately.
"Is Quinley your biological daughter?"
The question was sharp, cutting.
Marlee froze. She clearly hadn't expected this.
"Why... why are you asking—"
"Is she or isn't she?"
Zachary's voice was ice.
Marlee crumbled instantly.
"No."
The word came out barely above a whisper.
Zachary felt the shock of it, even though he'd suspected. In that moment, his heart broke for Quinley.
He'd once envied her seemingly harmonious family. Now he realized she'd been desperately holding that illusion together while feeling utterly alone inside.
"If she's not yours, where did she come from?"
"I..."
Marlee wanted to answer but seemed afraid to.
"We found her."
Her head dropped. Her hands twisted together.
"Where?"
Zachary pressed harder.
Marlee shook her head frantically. "I... I don't remember."
Through the crack in the door, Quinley watched the scene unfold. Her heart was in her throat.
She'd first learned about her origins when she was ten, overhearing Colin and Marlee talking late at night. She'd been shocked. Refused to believe it.
Later, when Colin got sick, Marlee had told her bluntly: You know your father ruined his health raising you and paying for your education, right? You owe us.
They raised her. She owed them. That had been the deal.
"Do you recognize the people in this photo?"
Zachary held up the picture.
Marlee leaned in, squinting. Her eyesight wasn't great.
Suddenly her pupils dilated. Her face went deathly pale.
"No... I don't know them."
Her hand trembled as she held the photo.
"Look again. Carefully."
Zachary's voice was harsh now, applying pressure.
But Marlee shook her head violently, like a broken bobblehead. "I don't know them. I really don't."
"If you don't know them, why is your address written on the back?"
Another sharp question.
Marlee covered her ears, shaking her head even harder. "I don't know! I don't know!"
She started muttering under her breath like someone possessed.
The more erratic she became, the more convinced Zachary was that she was hiding something huge.
But just as he was about to push harder, Marlee's eyes rolled back.
She collapsed to the floor.