“Duncan, when you kidnapped me and poured ice water over me, did you ever think about our relationship? Let me tell you, all I feel for you now is hatred! Just wait, my revenge against you has only just begun.”
I clenched my palms, and my fingertips turned pale.
“No, it’s all that witch Angela’s fault! She used that voodoo bell to cloud my mind. Yes, it’s her. It’s all her fault.”
I let out a cold snort.
I was somewhat surprised by how quickly he shifted the blame onto Angela.
Angela, whose face was already disfigured, crawled over and grabbed the hem of his clothes.
“Duncan, how can you say that? You clearly loved me the most. We promised to…”
The man shook her off and cut off her words.
“Witch, the only one I love is Valerie. What do you think you are?”
Watching them turn on each other, I found it utterly laughable.
So, that was all the meaning of “childhood sweethearts” amounted to.
After returning to Zachary’s villa, the man pinned me against the wall.
At 1.9 meters tall, he held my shoulders and bent down toward me.
His gaze seemed to bore straight through me.
“Duncan isn’t right for you. Divorce him.”
I nodded.
Divorce was a given.
He helped outsiders hurt me and trampled on my dignity.
11:23
Chapter 67
288 Wouchers
What was the point of keeping him around?
“Valerie. I’ll marry you.”
Zachary stared straight at me, the dark hues in his eyes churning.
I looked up, astonished.
“Th–This… Zachary, you must be joking.”
The man shook his head.
“I’m serious. I don’t want to be your brother anymore. Besides, we’ve never been related by blood. Before your parents passed away, they asked me to take care of you for the rest of your life.
“Valerie, can you please look at me? Stop thinking about that jerk.”
Memories kicked in like a fast–forwarded film.
At seven, I fell from a tree. He carried me on his back, staggering and crying all the way home, his small vest soaked through with sweat.
At ten, I was cornered by thugs in an alley. He charged over, swinging his schoolbag, his face bruised and swollen, yet his eyes were as fierce as a wolf’s.
At 15, he wore an ill–fitting suit. Amidst his friends‘ jeers, he dropped to one knee, his hand trembling as he held a ring made from a soda can pull–tab.
“Valerie… will you marry me?”
Those memories are vivid, tinged with the scent of sunshine and grass, building the sturdiest fortress in my life.
Meeting Zachary’s beautiful eyes, my heart suddenly raced.
For the first time, I called him by his full name.
“Zachary, let me take a moment, please.”
The man curved his lips into a playful smile.
“I’ll wait for you.”
