Chapter 73 You Have No Right
That day was noon with blazing sun. Quinley had just finished cooking pumpkin when Lucas appeared in the Maybach. She quickly emerged from the kitchen.
Lucas stood with his hands at his sides, seemingly telling Zachary something. The atmosphere was heavy.
"Mr. Murphy, you're here." Quinley greeted him, and he nodded slightly.
Zachary's expression was terrible—dark and gloomy, his thin lips pressed into a cold line, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Accustomed to luxury, he'd never endured such hardship. The courtyard's harsh conditions, the heavy dampness, and his fever had made him visibly thinner.
"The pumpkin pie is ready. Let me bring you some."
Quinley turned back toward the kitchen, but Zachary stopped her. "Don't bother. We're leaving for Rosewood City immediately."
His decision was firm and resolute. He turned and walked toward the Maybach.
Quinley tidied the kitchen and followed him to the car. In the back seat, Zachary leaned against the headrest with his eyes tightly closed, his fists clenched as if enduring something.
Quinley knew something major had happened. Since Zachary didn't mention it, she knew she shouldn't ask.
The Maybach retraced their route—muddy and bumpy all the way. Quinley turned to look at Zachary several times. He seemed to be sleeping, yet also seemed lost in his own world.
They were the same type of people, preferring to keep troubles to themselves. They digested bad emotions alone and found their own answers to unsolvable problems.
Having spent three years by Zachary's side, Quinley could often guess his thoughts, but this time she couldn't read him.
The car sped along for nearly four hours before finally reaching Rosewood City.
"Mr. Murphy, please let me out at the next intersection."
Though she'd agreed to Zachary's request, now that they were back in Rosewood City, she needed to maintain distance and return to her proper place.
Lucas looked at Zachary through the rearview mirror. Without his word, Lucas didn't dare make decisions.
"Ms. Elikin, you'll get out when we reach our destination."
Quinley assumed they were going to either Apex Global Group or Maple Estate, but she never imagined it would be the Jennings Manor.
The Jennings Manor was where William and Emily lived—Zachary's former home. However, except for holidays, Zachary rarely came here.
Quinley had accompanied Zachary once before, though he hadn't let her enter. That time was for William's sixtieth birthday—the Jennings Manor had hosted a grand banquet for guests. Zachary, mindful of their father-son relationship, had come to deliver a gift.
Quinley had waited in the car while Zachary delivered his gift and left.
"Mr. Jennings, please let me out."
Quinley turned to look at Zachary, but he gripped her hand tightly.
"You'll come in with me shortly."
The Maybach turned onto the green pathway outside the Jennings Manor. Suddenly, a harsh white color struck Quinley's eyes.
Along both sides of the driveway, funeral music played, and she could faintly hear sounds of wailing.
As soon as Zachary's car appeared, someone reported it. Soon, Joe, dressed in black, emerged from the manor gates. About the same age as William and not yet seventy, he hunched his back and knelt on the ground, trembling.
"Mr. Zachary Jennings, Mr. William Jennings is gone."
Joe wailed heartbreakingly, his cries mournful.
Sitting in the car, Quinley felt the air itself had frozen.
When she'd first started at Apex Global Group, William still held the top position. He had a terrible temper and often scowled angrily. Quinley had seen him several times, and unfortunately, he'd been furiously angry each time.
Back then, Zachary was only the general manager of the marketing department, while William made all company decisions. He was strong-willed and decisive—Zachary had inherited part of his character, just not his explosive temper.
Nearly two years into Quinley's employment, William had heart problems. With Apex Global Group in chaos and William unable to manage, he'd dumped the mess on Zachary while taking his young wife Emily York abroad for medical treatment.
Under Zachary's iron-fisted management, Apex Global Group had come back to life and developed rapidly. However, rumors in the board meeting earlier this year suggested William's health had recovered and he would soon return to helm the company.
Quinley never imagined he would die so suddenly.
Zachary opened the car door and stepped out with his long legs. Quinley and Lucas also got out, standing on either side behind Zachary.
"Joe, you've served my father your entire life. You accompanied him abroad for treatment this time, and you told me his health was recovering well. How did he suddenly die?"
Zachary's voice was cold as ice, like harsh wind cutting into Joe's heart. He wasn't close to William, but the man was still his father. He resented and hated him, but didn't wish him dead.
Joe prostrated on the ground, his shoulders shaking with sobs.
"My condolences! He died of a sudden heart attack. He... he..."
Joe looked up, his gaze suddenly falling on Quinley. Seeing her standing behind Zachary, his expression changed dramatically. He stammered but couldn't speak.
"What exactly happened to him? Tell me!"
Zachary's voice suddenly rose, veins bulging on his forehead. Having just recovered from fever and now agitated, his vision darkened and he nearly fainted.
Lucas and Quinley quickly supported him.
Joe didn't dare speak, but someone else did.
"He died because of you!"
A woman's voice suddenly came from the hall. Quinley looked toward the entrance to see Emily, dressed in mourning clothes, being supported as she emerged.
She was William's second wife and Zachary's nominal stepmother. This was Quinley's first time seeing Emily.
She appeared fragile and pitiful. Though about the same age as Sylvia, her careful maintenance made her look a generation younger. With William's death, she was devastated—her delicate face covered in tear tracks, her eyes red and swollen.
Supported by others, she walked out, each step seeming to drain all her strength. She pointed a trembling finger at Zachary and roared:
"I know you hate me! If you hate me, come at me directly! What did your father do wrong? Why did you force him to death this way? Zachary, are you satisfied now? Are you satisfied?"
Emily's accusations were emotionally charged and infectious, drawing everyone's gaze to Zachary.
"Aunt Emily, you're slandering me."
Zachary's gloomy face was covered with frost, his brow tightly furrowed, his eyes narrowed into sharp blades.
"Slandering you? You killed William with anger, and now you want to bite back at me?"
Emily clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face. As William's wife, her words carried authority as she attributed William's death to Zachary.
Bystanders, not understanding the situation, turned their gazes toward Zachary.
"I won't admit to things I didn't do. I will investigate exactly how my father died and get to the bottom of it. It's not your place to spread rumors here."
William's memorial hall was set up in the main hall. Zachary stepped forward, walking straight inside. Lucas and Quinley followed.
However, just as Quinley was about to pass by Emily, she suddenly blocked her path.
"You have no right to enter!"