No Remarriage: You Don't Deserve Me (Lenora and Zachary)
Stay Away 399

Chapter 399 Deceived Again

As if he had heard a joke, Zachary arched his brow. "Lying to you? Why would I need to deceive you? What do you have that's worth my deception? Lenora, do you really think you're that important?"

"Are you dealing with some kind of hardship?"

"What troubles could I possibly have? Lenora, haven't you come to terms with the reality that I've never loved you? I didn't love you when you came to the Fuller family, I didn't love you when I married you, so what makes you think I would start loving you now?" Lenora shook her head, eager to prove something. "Since our divorce, when I began my travels, you've been following me. You helped me retrieve my wallet, and in Archulea, you even "

Chuckling, Zachary interrupted her, "The bet started from that moment. Otherwise, given your intense hatred for me back then, repeatedly driving me away, if I truly liked you, I would've kept my distance. Instead, I disregarded your wishes and kept pestering you simply because I wanted to win the bet."

Back then, Lenora was truly annoyed by his relentless pursuit.

Yet, it now became proof of his love for her.

"But didn't you say that Susanna deceived you, that the kidnapping was a hoax, and she was the one you've always claimed to be the main culprit behind my father's murder?" Lenora argued.

"Only in this way could I minimize the impact of the mistakes I made in our marriage. It would lessen your hostility toward me until you might be willing to reconcile with me."

Lenora moved her lips. "Was every step within your calculations?"

"It was pretty much like that. Do you know why I could always replace you when you were traveling abroad? It's because I placed a tracker on you. Even this time when you were kidnapped, I knew your location through the tracker from the very start. However, I deliberately delayed, allowing the lookout to discover the police when you were trying to bribe the kidnapper with money. That was because only when you were in despair, and I came to rescue you, could you truly appreciate me and depend on me..."

I see. So, it turns out that my worries, fears, dread, and the hardships I had endured were all part of his scheme.

Tears welled up in Lenora's eyes. Lips pursed, she spoke in a nasal voice. "After you returned from Australia, you said you had Susanna committed to a mental hospital. The time I saw her in the hospital, she looked particularly haggard..." That didn't look fake.

"I was just pulling your leg," Zachary said mockingly. "At that time, Susanna was sick and happened to visit me at the hospital when you ran into us. I was afraid you'd replace out, so I made up that story. When you later saw her at the restaurant, the truth was already slipping out. But I claimed I had my reasons and asked her to play along with Miles in a little charade, and you actually believed it.'

Tears instantly filled her eyes.

His words had long since left her heart riddled with wounds.

Lenora wore a blank expression. She forced her eyes open, struggling to keep her tears from falling. A hint of a sarcastic smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "I remember now. I saw her with Director Ladley at the restaurant, behaving intimately. Also, Mr. Marlow stayed over at her place-"

"Silence!" Zachary barked, his eyes piercingly fixed on her. "You're not allowed to slander Susanna! Seeing that you're at a disadvantage, you actually resort to tarnishing Susanna's reputation with such tactics. Lenora, you truly are despicable!" He took a step forward, lifting his hand to hold her chin, his voice dripping with scorn. "Do you know why I never went all the way those few times we were intimate? That was because the moment I touched you, I felt disgusted! There's no way I would betray Susanna because of you. However, you really are quite desperate and promiscuous. Even when I forced you, you managed to become so wet-"

Slap!

The sharp smack of a slap echoed throughout the office.

Lenora suppressed the bitterness in her heart, looking at Zachary as if he were a stranger. She took a deep breath, straining to keep her eyes wide open. "Zachary, is everything you've said true? Have you never lied to me?"

"Of course." Zachary lightly touched his bruised left cheek and scoffed. "I've long grown tired of your pretentious act in front of Grandpa and Grandma, acting as if you're above everyone else. Out of respect for them, I won't retaliate for this slap. If you know what's good for you, you'd better leave immediately."

Once, Lenora perceived Zachary as Susanna's lapdog, who would eagerly crawl over at a mere flick of Susanna's fingers.

Reflecting on it now, she realized she was no different than Zachary's lapdog. As long as he showed her a bit of kindness, she would quickly forget her pain and eagerly declare her loyalty to him.

At that moment, when Zachary told her to leave, she had no choice but to go either.

Lenora lowered her head, tugging at the corner of her lips to reveal a hint of a bitter smile. "I got it. I understand, I truly do..."

She spoke continuously, her voice gradually becoming softer, increasingly shaky, subtly laced with a choked-up tone.

Her heart ached so much it was almost unbearable to breathe.

Lenora sniffled, taking a deep breath to steady herself, swallowing the bitterness that filled her mouth. "I'm sorry for taking up your time, Mr. Fuller."

She took two steps back, then turned around and left.

As she approached the door, Zachary's voice echoed from behind her once more. "You know what to say to Grandma, don't you?"

"You don't have to worry about that, Mr. Fuller." Lenora closed her eyes, silent tears slipping from their corners.

She pushed open the door to the chairman's office, only to see Miles standing guard at the entrance, a look of trepidation etched across his face.

As Lenora departed with tears on her face, a flicker of guilt flashed in the depths of Miles' eyes.

Miles stretched his neck to watch Lenora enter the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors closed, he pushed open the office door. "Mr. Fuller." Zachary swallowed hard, his gaze dropping, a picture of solemnity. Gone was his previous demeanor of cold sarcasm. "She's gone?" he asked. "She left." Miles hesitated for a couple of seconds. "It seemed like Ms. Wilkin was crying earlier..."

Zachary's body stiffened, his hanging hand clenched into a fist so tight that his knuckles turned white.

It was only by exerting all his strength to restrain himself that he managed not to chase after her and pull her into his embrace. It's better for her to cry now than to fall into a dangerous situation. I wish for her to be well.

After exiting Fuller Group, a cool breeze brushed against Lenora's face.

She paused on the steps, her gaze unfocused as she stared blankly ahead. Tears blurred her vision, and a hollow, aching feeling consumed her chest. So, he's always been fond of Susanna. It turns out that everything he had done for me. during this period was all an act. I was the only one who took everything seriously. I mustered my courage, let down my guard, and approached him with sincerity, only to allow him to stab me ruthlessly in the back. How ridiculous. I've been deceived by Zachary once again. I promised myself not to believe him anymore. I'm really the biggest fool in this world, having been deceived by the same person twice.

Lenora wanted to leave, to completely distance herself from this place and to forget Zachary.

Lost in thought, she aimlessly moved forward and hailed a cab.

"Miss, where are you going?" Seeing Lenora silently shedding tears and not speaking, the driver looked at her sympathetically and called out again, asking, "Miss?"

"Drive me to the riverbank," Lenora replied.

The driver glanced at her in surprise, advising, "Miss, life is full of ups and downs. You should try to take things in stride. Look at you; you're still so young-"

"I wasn't contemplating taking my life. I just want to replace a place to be alone for a while."

"Ah... Okay."