Chapter 2

"Go home for now," I said, not answering his question. "It's late."

Zachary's expression dimmed. He managed a weak reply.

"Then I'll come by tomorrow."

He backed toward the door.

"I also brought some things you like to eat."

When I said nothing, he forced another apologetic smile before finally turning to leave.

"I need you to look into two things," I told my assistant directly. "First, everything on Lily's background. Second, where Zachary's money has been going for the last three months."

My assistant nodded quickly.

I sat in the living room, staring at the letter on the coffee table. The handwriting was neat, the promises laid out point by point in careful detail — but I had no desire to even read it.

Over the next three days, Zachary didn't come back. He sent two messages a day — one in the morning, one at night — each one a brief account of his schedule.

I didn't reply to any of them. He didn't push further.

On the third afternoon, I was at my office going through project files when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Zachary pushed the door open and walked in, holding a document. He held it out to me.

"Nina, take a look."

"It's a copy of Lily's resignation. I've already approved it."

I glanced at it. Lily's signature was at the bottom, dated yesterday. Zachary's sign-off was in the approval field, along with an official HR stamp from the Sinclair Group.

"I also withheld her full month's salary as a penalty for her behavior at the engagement banquet."

Zachary said it like he was expecting a gold star. "Is that satisfactory to you?"

But when I still didn't say anything, the smile on his face grew stiffer by the second.

After a long silence, I finally said, quietly, "Let's leave it at that."

He let out an audible breath of relief, nodded quickly, and stepped back.

That same evening, my assistant delivered the report.

Not long ago, Zachary had purchased a one-bedroom apartment in a high-end complex downtown — in Lily's name.

On top of that, he'd been making regular transfers to her private account. Enough to cover all of her living expenses.

What I found most darkly ironic was a photograph included in the file. In it, Lily was wearing a watch on her wrist.

That watch was the limited-edition piece I'd given Zachary for his birthday last year. Fewer than ten existed worldwide. I'd had someone track it down and bid on it at auction in Switzerland specifically for him.

Zachary thought he'd hidden everything so well. What he didn't know was that his every move had been under my watch all along.

Not long after, both families arranged a dinner.

"Nina, Zachary has already sincerely apologized. That little incident at the engagement party is behind us now — don't dwell on it."

Mrs. Sinclair, who had been briefed on what happened, smiled warmly as she urged me to let it go. "The joint venture is already underway. We need to move forward on consolidating our interests — it's better for everyone."

My father nodded and looked at Zachary.

"Zachary, going forward you need to be more considerate of Nina. Nurture this relationship. And keep a close eye on the project."

Zachary stood immediately, giving a slight bow, his manner perfectly, impeccably humble.

"You have my word. I'll treat Nina right, and the project will run without a single issue."

He turned to me. "Nina, to give you peace of mind, I've had the preliminary review authority for the joint project transferred entirely to your team. I won't interfere at all."

As he spoke, he reached into his briefcase and held out a document with both hands.

"This is the formal transfer confirmation. My signature is already on it."

I didn't reach for it right away.

Instead, I looked at Zachary with something close to amusement.