Chapter 12
The door flew open, and Zachary stepped out, cloaked in a black trench coat.
The usual laid–back smile was gone, replaced by an icy, murderous
chill.
The thugs froze, clearly not expecting anyone to show up.
“Back off, kid. Or we’ll deal with you too,” the bald man snarled, gripping his hammer.
Zachary ignored him completely, walking straight toward them.
His steps were slow but filled with crushing pressure.
“Leave.”
He said only one word. It was quiet, but laced with deadly cold.
The men exchanged glances but didn’t back down, emboldened by their numbers.
“Damn it, you’ve got a death wish! Get him!”
Claude Knox roared and swung the window breaker at Zachary.
Zachary’s eyes flashed coldly. He sidestepped.
At the same time, his hand shot out like lightning, gripping Cl wrist with precision.
le’s
A sharp crack echoed, followed by Claude’s scream.
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Chapter 12
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In one swift move, Zachary had dislocated his arm.
The other men barely had time to react before Zachary closed in.
Dull thuds and the crunch of dislocated joints rang out one after another.
In just over ten seconds, the once–arrogant thugs were all groaning on the ground.
Zachary hadn’t even broken a sweat and his trench coat wasn’t the slightest bit ruffled.
He walked over to Gabrielle’s car and pulled open the driver’s side door.
“Get out.”
His voice had returned to its usual tone, but his eyes remained icy.
Gabrielle’s legs felt weak. She steadied herself on the car door to stand.
Looking at the men writhing in pain on the ground, her stomach churned.
Zachary glanced at them and then turned his eyes to Gabrielle’s pale face.
“Seems someone can’t wait to see you gone.”
His tone carried a hint of mockery, but it was also true.
Her lips trembled. The first thing that came to mind was Cecilia’s crazy behavior.
“It was her… it must’ve been her…”
“Do you have proof?”
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Gabrielle’s question was blunt and pragmatic.
Zachary shook his head. There was no proof, just speculation.
These thugs wouldn’t easily give up whoever was behind them.
“No evidence means she’s still the pure and innocent lover in Timothy’s heart.”
His words struck Gabrielle like a needle.
Right. With no evidence, no one would believe that.
Everyone would assume Gabrielle had staged the whole thing.
Or some Timothy–obsessed lunatic had done it.
Cecilia, on the other hand, might gain even more sympathy from Timothy.
Zachary gave a short chuckle as he looked at Gabrielle’s face.
“I’ll handle these guys. You get in my car.”
He didn’t call the police. That would only complicate things and alert the real culprit.
Gabrielle got into the passenger seat.
The air inside smelled faintly of cologne, mixed with a barely noticeable trace of blood/
Zachary returned quickly and started the car.
He didn’t ask where Gabrielle wanted to go. Instead, he just headed straight for the city.
“They were paid to destroy you.”
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Chapter 12
His voice broke the silence, calm as if stating something trivial.
Gabrielle closed her eyes. Her fingertips were ice–cold.
They indeed wanted to destroy her, not just physically, but in all possible senses.
If Zachary hadn’t shown up tonight… the consequences would’ve been unimaginable.
She would’ve been violated.
Tomorrow’s headlines would be about the Cobbett heiress’s scandalous private life.
The Goldsteins would immediately cancel the engagement to save face.
Gabrielle would be utterly disgraced. She would become a laughingstock across all of Balamora.
It was so ruthless.
“Cecilia… how could she…”
She murmured, disbelief lacing her voice.
“What wouldn’t she dare? She’s got nothing left to lose.”
Zachary scoffed.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.