Chapter 38 What Are You Trying to Do?
Zachary wore a sharp navy blue pinstriped suit in a relaxed style, his long legs straight and imposing. His face was stone-cold as he stared directly at Quinley.
"Mr. Jennings, could you please move aside?" Quinley's soft voice reminded him.
There was only one pathway between the booths—not particularly narrow, but with Zachary planted in the middle, Quinley couldn't get through to deliver the water.
Percy was still devouring seafood when Zachary suddenly appeared, triggering memories of his recent beating. "Rude jerk, blocking the road," he muttered under his breath.
Zachary's razor-sharp gaze swept over him, and Percy immediately cowered.
"Zach, what brings you here?" Alicia hurriedly stood up, trying to sidle close to him. But he didn't even glance at her—his attention was entirely focused on Quinley.
"You really enjoy serving people that much?" he asked in a low, furious tone.
Quinley remained unfazed, smiling faintly. "Mr. Jennings, serving my future in-laws and husband is naturally my duty. Please move aside."
She held the water glass, trying to squeeze past him. When she moved left, he shifted left. When she went right, he followed. No matter what she tried, Quinley couldn't get through.
"Who is this?" Percy's mother looked suspiciously at Zachary. He was tall, handsome, and distinguished—clearly no ordinary man.
Alicia quickly linked arms with Zachary, smiling sweetly. "Mrs. Thomas, this is my fiancé Zachary. Ms. Elikin used to work at his company—she was his subordinate." She smoothed things over for Quinley while establishing her own position.
"Let go," Zachary said quietly, but Alicia held tight and wouldn't release him.
"Oh—" Mrs. Thomas drew out the sound. With a woman's sixth sense, she felt something was off about these three people.
"What are you standing there for? Go get the water!" Mrs. Thomas raised her voice several notches. When it came to ordering Quinley around, her attitude was identical to Percy's—if anything, even worse.
"Right away," Quinley smiled and agreed. The hand holding the cup showed red burn marks from her thumb to the back of her hand.
She tried to force her way past Zachary, but he grabbed her wrist. "Come with me." He wanted to take her away.
Quinley hurriedly shook him off. "Mr. Jennings, please let go."
As Zachary reached for her again, Alicia wrapped her arms around his waist. "Zach, so many people are watching. You don't want to embarrass everyone, do you? If Ms. Parker finds out you ruined Ms. Elikin's engagement dinner, do you think she'll spare her?"
Her voice was barely a whisper. Zachary knew his mother—she was vindictive. If he really took Quinley away today, Sylvia would definitely destroy her. His face darkened as he clenched his fists.
Quinley went to get fresh water and respectfully delivered it to Percy's mother.
"Quinley, let me be blunt—my son Percy is well-off and doesn't lack for women. If you can't be completely devoted to him, we might as well forget this marriage. These days, it's not so easy for a sparrow to become a phoenix."
Percy's mother spoke with obvious disdain, her words harsh but pointed. Quinley understood the implication but didn't argue back. "Mrs. Thomas, you're absolutely right."
Before Quinley finished speaking, a discordant voice suddenly rang out from the corner. "Bullshit! Complete bullshit!"
Everyone looked toward the sound to see David lounging against a bench, his face wickedly charming. In front of him, Hokkaido shrimp shells were piled like a small mountain. Seeing everyone staring, he simply burped and walked straight over to Quinley.
His narrow eyes focused on Quinley's injured hand. Her delicate skin showed tiny, dense blisters where the hot water had splashed.
"Can you drive?" David asked out of nowhere.
Quinley nodded. "Yes."
"I've been drinking. Drive me back to the hospital." He naturally draped an arm around Quinley's neck.
"Damn it, she's my woman," Percy snarled. He didn't recognize David, and his arrogance flared up again. He didn't like Quinley, but he didn't like others touching what was his.
"Look in a mirror before you talk. Someone like you? Dream on." David turned around and looked at Percy with pure disdain.
Percy was deeply insecure and hated when people called him ugly. His neck flushed red with anger as he prepared to fight, but Mrs. Thomas grabbed him back.
"We don't need this kind of woman anyway. She's already promiscuous before marriage—clearly trouble."
"Mrs. Thomas, please don't say that. Ms. Elikin isn't that kind of person..." Alicia still tried to salvage the situation, but Mrs. Thomas shot her a look.
"I've seen what kind of person she is today. Alicia, I don't approve of this marriage. Don't say another word."
Being rejected by Mrs. Thomas made Quinley secretly delighted, though she worried that Alicia's silver tongue might ruin her good fortune. She winked at David.
"Dr. Brown, I might not be available right now."
David understood perfectly and dragged her toward the exit. "If I say you're available, you're available." He forcibly pulled Quinley out of the fire.
"Ms. Elikin!" Alicia called out furiously, but Zachary had already abandoned her to chase after them. "Zach!" Alicia hurried to follow in her seven-centimeter heels.
Zachary's long strides quickly created distance between them. Unwilling to give up, Alicia ran after him. "Zach, slow down!" She grabbed his arm, but this time she wasn't so lucky. The moment her hand touched his forearm, he violently shook her off. Caught off guard, Alicia stumbled and fell directly to the concrete.
Her pampered hands scraped against the rough pavement, immediately showing bloody scratches. Tears welled up in her eyes as all her grievances exploded at once. "She doesn't like you—why do you bother?"
Tears rolled down her cheeks, washing out uneven tracks through her makeup.
"Whether she likes me or not is none of your business." Zachary's long-suppressed anger finally erupted.
"Zach." Alicia cried breathlessly. "We're already engaged, and Ms. Elikin has found her match. Isn't this arrangement good for everyone?"
"Good?" Zachary laughed coldly. Alicia appeared fragile and pure on the surface, but her heart was twisted beyond measure.
"To marry me, you didn't hesitate to frame Quinley's brother, did you? The car accident was your doing too, wasn't it?"
Alicia was shocked and shook her head frantically. "Zach, I didn't! I really didn't..."
Zachary's brow furrowed like knife cuts. "You didn't? You couldn't wait to find her such a 'good match'—what were your real intentions?" He pressed her relentlessly, leaving Alicia speechless. She kept crying, her sobs heartbroken.
"I really was thinking of her good, Zach. Why won't you believe me?"
"Alicia, let me tell you one more time—when I marry, it will be to a woman I love. And you are not among my choices." Zachary's words were final and cutting.
Alicia broke down completely. Zachary had never spoken so harshly to her before. She cried until her tears ran dry.
Throughout history, wanting to marry and being able to marry had always been two different things. Just because Zachary didn't want to marry her didn't mean she couldn't become his wife. Whatever the cost, she would force Zachary to submit.