NovelEnglishTears streamed down Zoey's cheeks in an instant. She wanted to lash out at Fitch, to accuse him of blindness. "Are you freaking
blind? When did you seeoffend her?"
But she didn't dare. While she was a whiz at work, in matters of the heart, she felt as lowly as dirt.
Yet Fitch saw none of her self-debasement. To him, Zoey was still the woman who took advantage of his amnesia, the one who had
tricked him into bed.
His brow furrowed, too frustrated to stay any longer. He stepped ahead, leaving only a biting remark in his wake.
"Stop chasing after anyone linked to the Haskins. Have sdignity, for heaven's sake."
He was obviously alluding to the dozen desperate calls Zoey had made to him. To him, she was nothing but a relentless nuisance.
Zoey stood frozen until his figure had vanished, then she leaned weakly against the wall.
She had known Fitch's gentleness, but this was the first tshe realized just how chilling his harshness could be.
Her tears fell again, and she hurried back to the restroom, confronting her red-eyed reflection in the mirror.
She had been working overtime; the bloodshot in her eyes was pronounced, and she had lost weight recently. But her cheeks
looked swollen from a few harsh slaps, and her lips throbbed with every word.
Taking a deep breath, she heard footsteps behind her and stiffened, then saw Carol's face in the mirror.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtCarol peered curiously at her dress. "Did you switch skirts halfway through the night?"
Zoey and Carol weren't really close, hardly friends, but they had met several times.
Zoey straightened up, cordially addressing her. "Ms. Miller."
The restroom was much brighter than outside, and Carol immediately noticed Zoey's swollen face, her eyes narrowing.
"Who hit you?"
Maja had entrusted Zoey to her care, and now, Zoey had been hit at the gala.
Who dared to be so brazen?
"It's nothing, just an allergic reaction to something | ate last night," Zoey lied.
Carol grabbed her wrist firmly, her tone steady. "Don't playfor a fool. | can still see the imprint of a hand. Was it Fitch? | saw
you talking to him earlier. Cwith me, we're going to make a scene!"
Zoey was startled, trying to pull away.
But Carol's grip was strong, and she dragged Zoey out of the restroom and into the banquet hall.
Carol had always had her way in life, and though the Miller family had recently faced sissues, she still commanded respect in
their circles.
She zeroed in on Fitch's location, dragging Zoey along.
In Fitch's presence, Zoey was always meek, and now, as they drew closer, she felt almost delirious with fear.
Carol didn't hesitate, confronting Fitch with Zoey in tow.
Fitch was discussing business with Tyler when a shadow loomed over him.
Looking up, he saw the furious Carol and a pale-faced Zoey.
Tyler raised an eyebrow, nudging Fitch. "Your doing?"
He knew Carol was tight with Maja, and Maja was lan's woman. A little respect was due.
As lan and Maja were abroad, the least Tyler could do was not bully their friend.
He had sdecency after all, leading him to rib Fitch. "Ms. Miller, what's got you so worked up with Fitch? Let's talk this out, no
need for a scene."
Carol looked ready for a fight.
She released Zoey's hand, locking eyes with Fitch. "Did you slap her?"
It didn't seem likely; this man didn't appear the type to lay a hand on a woman.
Zoey, standing behind her, discreetly tugged at Carol's fingers, pleading for her to drop it. The whole room was watching now.
Fitch set his glass down on a passing tray, his voice icy. "No, | did not."
"But | saw her crying after talking to you, Mr. Haskins. Surely you wouldn't bully a woman, would you?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAt the mention of bullying, Zoey's heart ached, and her tears fell anew.
Tyler knew of the entanglement between her and Fitch, but that was during Fitch's brief memory lapse, which, once regained, he
refused to acknowledge.
He offered Zoey a tissue, his voice soft. "Zoey, let's not make a scene. We can talk after we leave."
Otherwise, the story of him and Fitch teaming up to mistreat a woman would spread like wildfire.
He didn't care about his own reputation, but if the story reached lan overseas, it would be a tough one to explain.
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