Chapter 123 Mutual Destruction
Shrieks erupted from the crowd. Someone even started clapping. When women fought and it wasn't just verbal, the entertainment value skyrocketed.
Quinley's gown had a high slit. Her legs were long, and when Zachary complained she was showing too much, she'd sewn the sides partway up. Her needlework wasn't great—she'd wound the thread around several times.
Lisa went for broke, clearly intending to drag Quinley down with her. She yanked with all her strength. The dress tore exactly as she'd hoped, the opening plenty wide—until it hit the stitching. Then it wouldn't budge. So the wardrobe malfunction she'd been hoping for? Never happened.
Still, the fabric was expensive—custom-made during a business trip with Zachary. Seeing Lisa destroy it made Quinley's heart ache a little. Lisa bent down, still tugging. Quinley didn't stop her.
"One more round. Loser does the naked lap."
Quinley had been ready to let Lisa off the hook. Not anymore.
Lisa was seeing red from all the losses. This whole time, she'd been on offense while Quinley played defense. Lady Luck kept smiling on Quinley, and Lisa just kept looking more ridiculous with each defeat.
"You're on!" Lisa took the bait.
Someone pulled her away. The two women faced off. Quinley's eyes burned with intensity. One round. Winner takes all.
The count began. Their hands moved in a blur. Nobody dared blink, afraid they'd miss the show. The outcome? Same as before. When the count stopped, Lisa had lost again.
"Impossible. No way. You cheated." Lisa roared.
"Naked lap! Naked lap! Naked lap!" The crowd roared back.
Quinley's gaze fixed on Lisa. She had no desire to humiliate another woman in public, to make her the butt of everyone's jokes. But Lisa just wouldn't quit.
"Ms. Elikin, please show mercy." Helen arrived at that moment, grabbing Quinley's arm and signaling her to let Lisa go.
"Helen, if I were the one about to do a naked lap, would you be saying the same thing?" Quinley shot back.
Helen froze.
"Does it really have to be this way?"
Quinley said nothing.
"Naked lap! Naked lap! Naked lap!" The chanting grew louder and louder.
But Lisa clung to her cheating accusation, refusing to comply.
"Did she cheat or not? Are all these people's eyes just for decoration?" Suddenly, a voice came from the back of the crowd. Everyone turned to see Zachary in a pale suit, legs crossed, leaning back in a pavilion chair. His eyes looked dark and dangerous.
"Ms. Elikin is exceptionally skilled at rock-paper-scissors. Forget Lisa beating her—there's no one in all of Rosewood City who's her match." Lucas spoke coldly.
"Whoa!" Another wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.
Only now did Lisa realize she'd been digging her own grave this entire time.
"Ms. Brown, you made a bet. Honor it!" Lucas added.
Zachary rarely meddled in others' business. But today, he'd spoken up for Quinley and cleared her name. People feared Zachary—his word was law.
Lisa was completely unwilling, but she couldn't escape. She had no choice but to strip off her bra and panties right there, then run completely naked around the estate. She ran in front while a jeering mob chased behind. She became the estate's most spectacular sight of the evening.
Everyone on the terrace ran off to watch the spectacle. Only Zachary and Quinley remained.
He walked toward her, removing his jacket and holding it out. "Wrap this around yourself."
His jacket was also pale-colored. Tied around her waist, it wouldn't look out of place. Quinley's dress hadn't exposed anything, but it was still torn. Walking from here to the entrance would take a while, and running into people would be awkward. Quinley didn't refuse. She accepted Zachary's gesture.
"Thank you."
She wrapped the jacket around her waist, covering the damaged part of the dress perfectly. She walked ahead. Zachary followed behind. Two silhouettes—one tall, one shorter, one slender, one lean—moving toward the estate entrance one after the other, unhurried.
Quinley had arrived in David's car. He didn't want to leave yet, so she'd have to find her own way back. There were no taxis near the estate. Quinley walked along the road, heading forward.
"Get in." A Maybach pulled up beside her. Zachary rolled down the window.
"No thanks. I don't want to trouble you." Quinley declined.
She kept walking, her slender waist swaying gracefully. When she refused to get in, the Maybach slowed to match her pace, trailing alongside her. Zachary leaned back in the rear seat, his gaze fixed on Quinley's slender figure. She was stubborn. Like a rock.
"Ms. Elikin, please get in. You won't find a cab around here." Lucas couldn't help trying to persuade her.
Quinley pretended not to hear, just quickened her steps. After this standoff continued for a while, Zachary signaled Lucas to stop the car. He got out and followed Quinley on foot. Quinley quickly sensed someone behind her.
"Mr. Jennings, I don't want people to see us and get the wrong idea." Quinley stopped and turned to face Zachary.
His expression didn't change. "I'm walking my way, you're walking yours. If people misunderstand, that's their problem."
The logic made sense, but it wasn't exactly convincing. Quinley frowned and quickened her pace again. To match the gown, she'd worn three-inch stilettos.
Not very high—under normal circumstances, walking wouldn't be tiring. But right now, she was competing with Zachary in some unspoken contest, speed-walking that bordered on jogging.
In her haste, Quinley twisted her ankle. Pain shot through her. She crouched down halfway.
"What's wrong?" Zachary approached, his tall frame casting a shadow over Quinley.
She didn't make a sound, but her hand kept pressing on her ankle. Without thinking, Zachary bent down and scooped Quinley up in his arms.
"Put me down." Quinley struggled.
Zachary's expression darkened. "Stop moving. I don't want people to misunderstand."
He was actively trying to keep his distance from her? Quinley was genuinely surprised.
He carried Quinley to the car and set her in the back seat. To avoid suspicion, he opened the passenger door instead. "To the hospital." Zachary instructed Lucas.
This whole sequence of actions didn't feel like Zachary's usual style at all. Quinley was taken aback. She stole glances at him from the corner of her eye. He kept his gaze straight ahead, maintaining distance from her in a way that seemed both natural and deliberate. The car was quiet. Neither of them spoke.
When they reached the hospital, Quinley opened the door. Zachary reached out to help her, but she avoided his hand.
"Thank you. I can manage." She hopped toward the entrance on one foot. Zachary didn't insist, just followed behind her.
"Ms. Elikin sure is stubborn." Lucas couldn't help commenting.
Zachary shot him an icy look. He immediately shut his mouth.
"Call David. Tell him to come to the hospital." Zachary ordered.
"Why call him?" Lucas was completely confused.
But he didn't dare disobey Zachary's command. Despite his confusion, he made the call. About half an hour later, David arrived.