The Runaway Groom
Chapter 526

Chapter 526

When Zachary found James, he immediately said, “I need a favor.”"Sorry, but I don't have the time." James refused him right then, andgave him a serious look. “Look, I'm not refusing you for the heck of it,but Irene Spencer is trouble-"

“Lulu might be dead for all I know." Zachary was anxious. "I need toreplace her soon!"

James helped his gaze in silence for seconds. "You finally understandhow serious this is, huh? Don't you think it's too late already?"

Zachary could not deny that he had been careless, even as Jamescontinued scathingly, “If Irene didn't return to US and asked to replace outwhat happened to Lulu, you might really have presumed that she wasjust hiding and let the matter be altogether. It might already be too latenow."

Having no retort against that, Zachary knows that he could only counton himself now. "Yeah, I know."

James reminded him. “I'm sure that Ember Lindt is the key for thewhole mess."

Zachary snorted. "I thought you can't help?"

James shot him an icy glare. "You're really looking a gift horse in themouth here."

He was about to leave when a car stopped in front of them.

Ember alighted, and it was obvious she arrived looking for Zachary.Since she had always played the role of a warm, kind, andunderstanding wife in front of Zachary's friends, she was alreadysmiling at James as soon as she arrived. "Hello, Mr. Cross."

Unlike Zachary, James was experienced in business and encounteredmore than his fair share of colorful characters-someone like Emberhardly posed a challenge.

Keeping a straight face, he warmly replied, “Here for Zachary, aren'tyou?

Got into a fight recently? He was just ranting at me too, but if he everbullies you, just tell me-I'll help you give him an earful.”

Ember ginned. "Thanks, Mr. Cross-but don't worry, Zachary is alwaysnice to me. He'd never bully me."

As she spoke, she was looking at Zachary as if to say: 'See? Even yourfriends are on my side."

"That's good to hear. Anyway, I have to go since duty calls-take yourtime."

With that, James was gone-he had plenty to do and no time for smalltalk.

Still, he was worried enough to turn and glance at Zachary, but the manseemed to be too upset to respond.

James sighed-he was not supposed to go full hands-off with the man,especially when Zachary had worked as a doctor for most of his career.Zachary was still too much of a novice in both business andrelationships.

They were close enough to call each other friends, and no matter howdumb Zachary could be, James could not just stand aside and watchhim mess up repeatedly.

As he got into his car, he texted Zachary.

[Appeal to her emotionally.]

It was a nicer way to say “deceive her’, and he just hoped that Zacharyunderstood.

Zachary's phone soon jingled and he whipped it out for a look, glancingJames's way when he saw that it was a text from James even as hedrove off.

"What is it, Zachary?" Ember was glancing between Zachary and thedeparting car.

Her voice brought Zachary to his senses, and he stared at her justthen, seemingly understanding what James meant.

Hence, despite his frustration, he became much more gentle withEmber just then. "Sorry, I think I was in a bad mood. Did I scare you?"Ember was speechless in confusion.

She had come to Zachary hoping to explain herself, but Zachary somehow gave in.

"..N-Nol I understand how you feel" she said, keeping her face lowered to hide herexpression, because she did not know what Zachary wanted just then.

After all the time she spent with him, she knew that Zachary was a simple, down-to-earthman.

How he felt would always show on his face, and he never minced his words.

"I was getting paranoid because Lulu went missing, but now that I thought about it, that's justit was just being paranoid. She must be hiding out of guilt after what she did to you, and Ishould never have doubted you. You just lost our child..."

Ember handily threw herself into his arms. "I knew you'd understand, Zachary."

As Zachary looked at her, however, there was no warmth in his eyes at all but he said, "YeahI believe you. Let's go home."