Chapter 11 Zachary clutched the flimsy annulment letter, his knuckles whitening under the strain. Emmaline's neat, elegant hand- writing declared their engagement dissolved, stating simply that they would go their separate ways. There was no ex- planation. No hesitation. No trace of emotion. He stood by the hospital window, feeling as if the air had thickened, making it hard to breathe. How could Emmaline call off their engagement? He couldn't wrap his head around it. She'd adored him since they were kids, their lives intertwined for over two decades. He couldn't fathom what could have driven her to sever their bond so abruptly. Then, a chilling thought struck him-had she found out something? His heart sank. He'd been so careful to keep his involvement with Juanita under wraps, certain Emmaline was clueless. But lately, she'd seemed distant, her warmth toward him cooling. When he'd mentioned taking Juanita to celebrate, she'd barely reacted. The realization stirred unease in his chest. "Zack, you okay?" Stephen's voice broke through from behind. Zachary snapped back to reality, shoving the annul- ment letter into his pocket, his voice betraying a faint rasp. "I'm fine. I'll head out now." He sped home, driving like a man possessed. The subordinate following him didn't dare breathe, allowing Zachary to take the keys without argu- ment. Pushing open his front door, he found the living room eerily empty. He stormed into the bedroom. Emmaline's side of the closet was a gaping void, her clothes gone. The bookshelf, once brimming with her favorite novels, stood barren. A faint floral scent lingered, but the vibrant girl who'd filled this space was nowhere to be found. His heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible fist, leaving him dazed. "Za- ck, you're back? Didn't you go to pick up Emmaline? Where is she?" Juanita's voice chirped from the doorway. Zachary turned, his tone flat and numb. "Emmaline's gone to study abroad. She's called off the engagement." A fleeting spark of triumph flashed in Juanita's eyes before she masked it with concern. She hurried over, her voice dripping with feigned worry. "Study abroad? So sudden? She didn't even talk it over with you?" Her hand reached for his arm, her tone softening to a seductive purr. "Maybe it's for the best, Zack. I was worried you'd take the hit to your reputation if you ended things first. Now that she's left, we can be together openly." She tugged lightly at his sleeve and leaned in slightly, preparing to kiss his cheek. Zachary recoiled as if burned, shoving her back with more force than he intended. Juanita stumbled, catching herself against the doorframe. "What's wrong with you?" she gasped, clutching her arm, her eyes wide with shock. He turned away, his voice rough. "Nothing. I'm just exhausted from training. I need to rest." For reasons he couldn't pinpoint, Emmaline's absence left him unsettled, and in that moment, Juanita's closeness felt suffocating, almost re- pulsive. Juanita bit her lip, swallowing her irritation, and sidled closer. "So, when are we getting married? You promised me, Zack. I've given you everything!" Her voice carried a needy edge. "Not now," he cut her off. "If I marry you right after Emma leaves, people will talk. Plus, I just pulled strings to get you through the hospital exam. Marrying now would look like you're riding my coattails." Hearing that, Juanita re- laxed. She took it as a sign of agreement, and the irritation in her eyes vanished. After all, she owed her hospital job 0.0 % 10:01 Chapter 1 to him. Her face lit up with a bright smile. "Okay, I'll wait! I'm off to check on the wedding house decorations-I'll make sure they're perfect!" She breezed out, oblivious to the impatience flickering in Zachary's eyes. The next morning, Juanita invited a few neighbors over to help deck out the wedding house. Balloons and streamers filled the space with festive cheer, clashing starkly with Zachary's brooding mood. "Where's the bride? I don't see Emma anywhere," said Kaley Gomez, a longtime neighbor of Emmaline's. "Didn't you say we'd be planning the decorations together?" 85.7 % 10:01