Chapter 32 Marrying a Wife
"But she's cunning. She's been by Zach's side for three years, and I've been away for so long—I'm practically a stranger to him now."
Alicia knew perfectly well that with her own abilities alone, becoming the future Mrs. Jennings was nothing but a pipe dream. But if Sylvia would throw her full support behind her, then maybe this dream could actually come true.
So she had to get Sylvia on her side—and make sure Sylvia wanted to be there willingly.
"Ms. Parker, maybe I should just let go. I love Zach, but I want him to be happy more than anything."
Alicia's eyes reddened as she dabbed at her tears, testing Sylvia's reaction while putting on a show of reluctant resignation.
Sylvia immediately grabbed her arm. "Alicia, you're the only one who can be the Jennings family's daughter-in-law. You're the only one I'll accept as my son's wife. You just need to be patient."
"Mary, call the young master. Tell him I suddenly fainted."
Mary obediently rushed to call Zachary.
The Maybach was halfway down the road when Lucas received Mary's call.
"Mr. Jennings, something's wrong—Ms. Jennings collapsed!"
Mary's panicked voice came through the phone.
"What happened?"
Zachary's chest tightened. Though he wasn't close to Sylvia, she was still his biological mother, and he'd always known about her poor health.
Lucas immediately turned the car around, heading straight for Sylvia's villa.
"She was fine just a moment ago, talking with Ms. Davis. I don't know what happened—she just stood up and collapsed."
"Call the doctor."
Zachary's voice carried a note of urgency.
The car quickly arrived at Sylvia's villa. Zachary stepped out and strode toward the house. Sylvia was already lying on the large bed in her bedroom, with Alicia sitting beside her, clutching Sylvia's hand and continuously wiping away tears.
The doctor was conducting a routine examination.
"Doctor, how is my mother?"
The doctor removed his stethoscope, his expression grave. "The lady fainted due to overwhelming anger. She needs proper rest. I'll go prescribe some medication."
The doctor left the bedroom, and the room fell quiet except for Alicia's soft sobbing. Sylvia lay on the bed, her face pale yellow and looking utterly exhausted.
She suffered from a disease of the heart—one that had tormented her for most of her life. Until that emotional burden was lifted, she wouldn't recover.
"Zach, this is all my fault. I didn't take good care of Ms. Parker."
She was the precious daughter of the Davis family, never having lifted a finger for manual work, yet here she was willingly serving as Sylvia's companion. Zachary should have been moved.
Instead, he merely glanced at Alicia with disgust. "You should go. My mother needs rest."
His voice was ice-cold.
Alicia's eyes grew even redder. "Zach, let me stay. With Ms. Parker in this condition, I can help out."
Sylvia had staged this whole act for her benefit. If she left now, what would be the point?
"There are doctors and nurses here. You staying would only create more chaos."
Zachary's face showed clear irritation, his words even harsher.
Alicia found herself in an awkward position, so Sylvia immediately stepped in to help.
"Zachary."
Her voice seemed to have aged ten years in an instant—weak, trembling, and pitiable.
Zachary approached but didn't come too close. Sylvia reached out with a shaking hand, trying to grasp his.
He saw her intention clearly but didn't extend his own hand. After all these years, Zachary had grown accustomed to maintaining distance from everyone, including his biological mother.
"If you're ill, you should rest properly."
He pulled over a chair and sat down beside Sylvia's bed. Her performance was convincing—it almost fooled him.
"Ms. Parker, please rest well. I'll come see you tomorrow."
Alicia realized that staying would only invite more humiliation. Sylvia had told her to be patient and think long-term, and she quickly grasped the message.
"Zachary, walk Alicia out. It's not safe for a young woman to go home alone this late."
Alicia paused at the doorway, turning to look at Zachary. His upright silhouette radiated security, but he remained so cold and indifferent toward her.
"Lucas will take her home."
Alicia's hopeful expression crumbled, though she didn't let it show. "Ms. Parker, there's no need to trouble anyone. My family sent a driver—I can get home on my own."
She left the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.
Once she was gone, Sylvia let out a heavy sigh. "Zachary, why are you so stubborn? Alicia truly cares for you. Even if you won't consider her feelings, you should at least treat her kindly for my sake."
Zachary crossed his long legs and peeled an orange, offering half to Sylvia. "Done with the act?"
He cut straight through the pretense.
Sylvia's expression hardened. "Don't be ungrateful. Alicia has the Davis family backing her. Her eldest brother Jeremy is in politics, her second brother Harold is in business. Marry Alicia, and you'll have their support. Then you'll be able to secure your position in the Jennings family."
Sylvia had explained this strategic advantage to Zachary multiple times, but he never listened.
"You have so little faith in your son?"
He didn't smile, his face dark as he turned the question back on her.
Sylvia felt frustrated. Zachary never listened to her, and she felt like she was punching cotton.
"Zachary, are you even listening to your mother? Everything I do is for your own good!"
Sylvia suddenly raised her voice.
Zachary methodically separated the orange segments and ate them one by one. The orange was a bit sour—not to his taste. After a few pieces, he tossed the rest in the trash.
"So you two are working together?"
Zachary's gaze burned into Sylvia. He didn't say much, but every word hit the mark.
"What are you talking about? You're my son, and Alicia is my future daughter-in-law."
"I don't acknowledge that."
Zachary let out a cold laugh, pushed back his chair, and stood up.
"The Jennings family will never allow a woman like Quinley through their doors. You'd better give up that fantasy."
Sylvia dropped all pretense. She wanted to lay the brutal reality before Zachary, to force him into submission.
The Jennings family was prominent in Rosewood City, while Quinley came from humble origins—she didn't meet the family's standards for an appropriate match. Now, with those scandals circulating about her, whether true or false, the Jennings family would never accept her.
Though Sylvia was no longer part of the Jennings family, she still concerned herself with their affairs.
"I will marry whoever I choose. No one can decide that for me. If I like someone, I'd marry a beggar from the street. If I don't like someone, I wouldn't touch her even if she were a royal princess."
Zachary's words rang with finality.
Sylvia was furious, realizing she was losing control over Zachary more and more.
"I'm your mother. I don't approve."
She made one last attempt to use her maternal authority to control him.
But once again, she was disappointed.
Zachary walked straight toward the door, his back to Sylvia, his voice especially cold.
"I'm the one who needs to get married. Not you."