Chapter 13 Zachary returned to his car in a daze. He turned the key but had no idea where to go. Looking out the window, he was suddenly struck by how much he'd taken Emmaline for granted. When she was by his side, he never truly noticed her importance. But now that she was gone, his world felt painfully hollow, and the emptiness gnawed at him. He drove aimlessly for hours, finally pulling over by the river. The night breeze carried a chill as it brushed across his face. He pulled out the letter of annulment and placed it beside a crumpled note. Gazing at the churning water, a wave of panic gripped him for the first time. He had always believed Emmaline would never leave him. That belief made him reckless, made him ignore her feel- ings, and made him keep his ambiguous connection with Juanita. But now he understood that once love was drained dry, it could never be revived. Closing his eyes, he could see her in every flicker of memory-her laughter, her tears, her quiet strength. The images came in waves, vivid one moment, blurred the next, until all that remained was her hoing in his heart. subord se come back," he whispered. His voice was swallowed by the wind, scattering into the night without ed up, breathless. "Major Hinchcliffe, Ms. Clayton fell! She called the base looking for d Juanita's name, irritation flashed in his eyes. He didn't respond, only gestured for his Inside the room, Juanita heard the sound of the car and immediately put on a wounded expression. "You're finally back," she said pitifully. "My foot hurts so much." Zachary looked at her, his voice calm but edged with finality. "Tell me the truth. Who really botched that surgery? You or Emmaline?" Juanita's face paled, her voice trembling with panic. "Zack, what's that supposed to mean? Did Emmaline say some- thing to you?" "I'm asking you one thing," he growled, his patience snapping. "Did you lie to me?" "It was Emmaline!" she cried, her words tumbling out. "She messed up and pinned it on me to save herself. Don't you trust me?" "You promised yesterday that we'd get married soon," she went on, tears welling up. "Are you backing out? Are you still hung up on Emmaline?" Watching her act out her pitiful scene, Zachary felt nothing but cold disgust. "Someone reported your exam fraud," Zachary said coldly. "The hospital's already investigated it. What's your excuse now?" "What? That's impossible!" Juanita stammered. "You investigated before, and it was Emmaline who..." 0.0 % 10:01 Chapter 13 288 iVouchers "Enough!" he snapped. "You made the mistake, so face the consequences. Pack your things. You're moving out to- morrow." Juanita stared at him, eyes wide in disbelief, but Zachary didn't waver. He turned away and went straight to his room, shutting her cries out completely. For the first time, he refused to let her sway him. Back when the incident happened, he'd had doubts it wasn't Emmaline's fault, but he couldn't bear to let Juanita take the fall. The hospital dean, Stephen, was his grandfather's old comrade, and Zachary knew that if he said a word, the man would grant his request. So, against his own sense of justice and fairness, he intervened for her sake. Because of him, she passed the evaluation smoothly. He had bent his principles for Juanita, only to find that she used him to smear Emmaline's name. A sharp pang stabbed his chest. He'd been drawn to Juanita's youthful, carefree charm-so different from Emmaline's disciplined precision. That contrast once fascinated him. Back then, it had felt fresh and exciting. But now, he saw how wrong he had been. The woman he thought was pure and kind was nothing but a manipulative liar. After she left, silence filled the house. Zachary finally felt his thoughts clearing. Staring at the empty house, he mur- mured, "Emmaline, I messed up. Wherever you are, I'll find you and make this right." 10:01 65.7 %