Chapter 175 Mr. Jennings, Take Me
Marlee didn't want to die.
Whether it was his words or just him standing there, the color drained from her face.
"I... I can't die. My son, Denny... he still..."
Tears streamed down her cheeks, words choking in her throat. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to suppress the pain threatening to overwhelm her.
The door clicked shut. Just the two of them now.
Zachary walked slowly to the window. Not much of a view from here.
"You know I can keep your whole family alive."
He stared out at nothing, offering the hope she was desperate for.
He was the richest man in Rosewood City. One word from him could seal the Elikin family's fate—or save them.
Marlee might not have seen much of the world, but she believed he had that kind of power.
"What do you want? How can I get you to help us?"
She cried, helpless and broken. Fate had stripped her down to nothing. She had no fight left.
"Tell me the truth."
Zachary turned, his gaze burning into her.
The hope in her eyes flickered and died.
Marlee collapsed onto the hospital bed, her thin frame shaking as she sobbed.
"I'll give you time to think about it."
Zachary didn't push. He stepped out.
What he didn't expect was for Marlee to bolt in the middle of the night.
When Lucas delivered the news, Zachary didn't even flinch. People backed into a corner always ran.
"Let's head to the detention center."
Zachary was already moving.
---
Lucas had contacted the station ahead of time. When Zachary arrived, he went straight in.
In the visitation room, Dennis was already fidgeting, barely keeping it together.
When he saw Zachary, he looked like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline.
"Mr. Jennings, please help me. I messed up. I know that now. Just get me out of here."
All his swagger was gone. He just wanted out.
"Help me with something, and I'll help you."
Zachary crossed his legs, speaking deliberately.
Dennis hesitated for a second, but only a second.
"Name it. One thing, a hundred things—whatever you need."
Zachary's eyes narrowed. "I want to know about Quinley's background."
Dennis looked confused. "She's my sister. What's so strange about her background?"
Apparently, he didn't know Quinley wasn't actually an Elikin.
"She's not your biological sister. Technically, your parents adopted her."
"That's impossible."
Dennis shot back immediately.
These past few days locked up had given him nothing but time—time to pace, time to remember. Most of his good memories involved Quinley. With her around, he'd always been the spoiled one.
"Your mother already admitted it."
Zachary stated it plainly.
Dennis's head dropped. The truth hit too fast, too hard. He couldn't quite wrap his mind around it.
After a long silence, he finally spoke. "So what do you want from me?"
"I want you to convince your mother to tell the truth. I want to find Quinley's birth parents."
"But she's already dead, isn't she? What's the point?"
Dennis couldn't understand.
"If it matters to me, that's reason enough." Zachary was already standing. "Think it over. This is your one shot. Assaulting an officer could mean jail time, but I can have you out today."
"Mr. Jennings, I'll help you."
Dennis knew how to read the room.
"I'll arrange for your mother to visit soon."
With that, Zachary strode out.
---
His visit had given Dennis hope.
But Marlee's refusal had planted thorns in Quinley's heart. What secrets were hidden in her past? She'd even thought about confronting Colin and Marlee as Quinley, demanding they tell her the truth.
After leaving the detention center, Zachary headed to the apartment in the south district.
Light still glowed from Quinley's window. He knocked and let himself in.
"Still up?"
Zachary moved toward her slowly. For reasons he couldn't name, all he wanted was to hold her.
"Can't sleep."
His arms wrapped around her, solid and warm.
Quinley didn't pull away. Right now, she needed this. Something to wrap around her loneliness.
"I promise. I'll find the truth. I'll find your birth parents."
It was a promise, even if promises were worth nothing.
"Okay."
The night deepened around them as they held each other, like they could hold the whole world in their arms.
"I need you," Quinley whispered.
The emptiness in her heart transformed into a physical ache, desperate to be filled. Holding wasn't enough. Kissing wasn't enough.
"Don't be afraid. You have me."
Zachary's lips found her earlobe, his tongue tracing every inch of her skin. On that bed, he poured everything into her—love, soul, raw connection. Physical closeness seemed to fill the void in her spirit.
All night long, she was insatiable.
First, Zachary led—gentle and warm, like spring sunshine smoothing the dampness from her soul. Then she became something wild and graceful, moving between instinct and spirit.
By the time dawn broke, they were both too exhausted to move.
Quinley curled into Zachary's chest and fell into a deep sleep.
But Zachary couldn't sleep. His fingers traced through her damp hair, coming to rest on the scar at her temple.
If he was healing her, she was healing him too.
"From now on, I'll protect you."
He pulled her closer.
---
Quinley slept until noon. The space beside her was empty, the bedroom door ajar, the smell of food drifting through the air.
She pulled on a robe and found Zachary in the kitchen, moving with determined chaos.
"You're up?"
He turned, pot lid in one hand, spatula in the other, grinning at her.
"Since when do you cook?"
Quinley eyed him skeptically. Zachary was the ultimate workaholic. Kitchens were foreign territory.
"While you were gone, I tried making the dishes you used to cook for me. Took a lot of attempts, but I guess I figured it out eventually. Go freshen up—food's almost ready. Let's see if it's any good."
Warmth spread through Quinley's chest.
When she came back, the table held three dishes and a soup. Zachary stood there in her floral apron, smiling at her.
"Try the eggs. Tell me what you think."
He lifted a forkful to her lips.
She froze. He was meticulous about hygiene, never sharing utensils.
"What? Don't trust my cooking? Come on, eggs are my specialty."
He sounded ridiculously confident.
Quinley opened her mouth and took a bite.
Best eggs she'd ever tasted.
Halfway through lunch, Zachary's phone rang.
It was Marlee.
"You want the truth? I'll tell you."