Chapter 118 Seeing Zachary Again
Kelly's words had barely left her mouth when Marlee's suspicious gaze landed on Quinley.
"You came back here last night?"
The trip from downtown Rosewood City took two to three hours. Round trip would be four or five hours minimum. Last night, Quinley definitely hadn't been home, and when she did return, it was late. But there was no way she'd had time to come all the way out here.
Marlee's cloudy eyes focused on Quinley, waiting for an answer. But Quinley acted like she hadn't heard the question.
"Kelly, you saw me come back last night?"
Kelly laughed. "Quinny, I watched you grow up. No matter how much you change, I'd never mistake you for someone else. Yesterday, you came to me for the spare key to your place. When you left, you bought me a big watermelon—what a waste of money! I'm here alone, how am I supposed to finish the whole thing? Come on, you and your mom should come over and help me eat it. I'm worried it'll go bad if I wait too long."
Kelly pulled enthusiastically at Marlee's arm, dragging her toward her own unit. Quinley stood rooted to the spot, her legs suddenly heavy as lead.
"Quinny, come on! It's hot out here, much cooler inside." Kelly had reached her door and called back to Quinley.
"You go ahead. I'll put the album back first." Quinley forced out a response, picking up the album and heading toward the stairs. But every step felt like walking on cotton.
That woman was back. She'd impersonated Quinley and taken all her photos. Why would she do that?
Inside the room, Quinley set the album aside and sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. She pulled out her phone and messaged Detective Wilson.
[She didn't leave. She's back.]
Detective Wilson replied instantly. [Where is she?]
Quinley sent her location and told Detective Wilson about Susan appearing at her old home, impersonating her and taking the album.
[Is there something special about those photos?]
Detective Wilson couldn't help asking.
Quinley let out a long breath. She had no idea what that woman was trying to accomplish. She was like a ghost—appearing and disappearing at will. But she seemed to know everything about Quinley's life. She knew where Quinley lived, knew her relationships, and with that identical face, what the hell was she planning?
[No, they just document my childhood.]
Detective Wilson went silent for a while. Eventually, another message came through. [Ms. Elikin, take my advice—get out of there. I think you might be in danger.]
But what kind of danger? He was only speculating. Without concrete evidence, Detective Wilson didn't elaborate. But Quinley took his words to heart. She had a growing sense that Susan was playing a much bigger game.
After Marlee chatted with Kelly for a bit, she and Quinley started the journey back to the city.
"Quinny, I'm sorry about your brother's wedding. I know I've put you in a difficult position. But it's not what you think—even though you're not my biological daughter, I've always treated you like you were my own."
Marlee took Quinley's hand, apologizing with obvious guilt. The album was missing only Quinley's photos, and it made her overthink things. Kelly said Quinley had come back last night in such a hurry. Had she thrown away the photos out of spite? That was all Marlee's guilty conscience could come up with.
"Mom, I know. We'll always be family." Quinley squeezed Marlee's hand tighter, offering comfort.
That afternoon, as soon as she got home, David called.
"Quinny, there's a party tonight. Dress up nice—I'll pick you up at seven."
Rosewood City's elite loved throwing parties for any reason imaginable. Back when she worked at Apex Global Group, Quinley had attended plenty with Zachary. At first, she'd been curious—each party felt fresh and exciting. But after a while, she figured out the game. These people weren't gathering just to socialize. They were expanding their networks, hunting for new business opportunities.
The Brown family held significant standing in Rosewood City. David was a doctor who'd never dabbled in business, but no one forgot he was a Brown—the future head of the Brown Group. Quinley had chosen to work with him. Even if it was just a fake marriage, she needed to play the part and attend these kinds of events.
So despite her distaste, she didn't refuse. "Okay."
At seven PM sharp, David pulled up outside the Elikin family home.
Quinley wore a modernized moonlight-white gown that made her look gentle and refined, every bit the wealthy socialite. She had delicate features to begin with, and with just a touch of makeup, she was absolutely stunning.
When David saw her, his eyes lit up. "Quinny, you look incredible!"
Her beauty wasn't the showy kind. It was understated, unpretentious—the kind you saw once and never forgot. That low-key, unforgettable beauty had a way of burrowing deep into people's hearts.
"Where are we going?" Quinley asked.
David finally snapped out of his daze, though his eyes remained glued to her. "Get in first. You'll see when we get there."
Half an hour later, the car stopped at an estate. Quinley had been here a few times with Zachary. The grounds were massive—grand, luxurious architecture, a huge lawn perfect for outdoor parties, a terrace for stargazing and conversation, and a large outdoor pool for leisure.
David got out and walked around to Quinley's side. He opened her door like a gentleman, offering his arm. Quinley naturally looped her hand through it. David was tall and handsome, radiating confidence. Quinley was soft and elegant. Together, they looked perfect—the man like a tree, the woman like a vine, intertwined and complementary.
"Mr. Brown, right this way." Someone recognized David and greeted him warmly, though their eyes were fixed on Quinley.
Under the lights, she was breathtaking—like a lotus rising from water, like a goddess descended from the moon.
"Hey, keep staring and I'll gouge your eyes out." David jabbed two fingers toward the man's eyes playfully.
The man clapped David on the shoulder, lowering his voice—though Quinley still heard him. "Mr. Brown, great taste. Introduce me to this beauty, will you?"
Before he could finish, David grabbed the hand on his shoulder. He was still smiling, but his grip was vicious. "I'll introduce you properly at the wedding."
He spat out the word "introduce" through gritted teeth. The man winced in pain, his face twisting.
"Don't worry, don't worry. I'll bring a huge gift—won't let you down." David released him, and the man scurried away.
"This place is crowded. Stick with me so the wolves don't pounce." David tightened his hold on Quinley's arm. He was like a victorious general, wanting everyone to see the woman beside him, but also like a jealous boyfriend ready to throw punches if anyone looked at her too long.
"I'm not feeling great. I'd like to find a quiet corner to rest for a bit." Quinley placed a hand over her chest.
David scanned the venue and spotted an empty seat in a corner near the pool. "I'll take you there."
The location had a clear view of everything but wasn't too conspicuous. From there, Quinley could see the whole party, and more importantly, David could keep an eye on her from anywhere.
Once Quinley was settled, David had a server bring over fruit and snacks before finally leaving her side.
Quinley didn't enjoy this kind of noisy gathering. She sipped a drink and reclined in the lounge chair, eyes half-closed, enjoying the night breeze.
Suddenly, a commotion rippled through the crowd.
Quinley opened her eyes.
And there was Zachary, dressed in a moonlight-white suit.