Chapter 3 Zachary, assuming Emmaline was just worn out from work, didn't dwell on her distant demeanor. As usual, he opened the door of his Jeep, ushering both women inside for the ride home. But as they drove, his attention gravitated unmistakably toward Juanita. From the back seat, Juanita chattered softly about hospital gossip, her voice punctuated by bursts of bright, tinkling laughter. Zachary, though reserved, responded with a gentle warmth, his replies soft and attentive. As they neared their destination, a scrawny stray cat darted across the road. Zachary slammed on the brakes, but the Jeep grazed the poor creature. "Oh no!" Juanita gasped, leaping out to check on the cat. Its hind leg was injured, and it trembled, mewling pitifully. Cradling the cat, Juanita's eyes brimmed with tears. "Zachary, it's so pitiful... Can we take it in? But... I'm just an in- tern, barely scraping by. And I'm staying at Dr. Walsh's place-would a cat be too much of a bother for her?" Zachary glanced at Emmaline, then said with unshakable confidence, "No way, Emma loves animals. She won't mind." Then, turning to Juanita with a tender tone, he added, "Don't worry about money. I'll cover the cat food and vet bills." Juanita's face lit up, her tears giving way to a radiant smile. "Really? Oh, Zachary, you're too good to me!" She stroked the cat lovingly, then paused, a spark of inspiration in her eyes. "Let's name it... How about Zuanita?" Zachary's lips curved into a warm, indulgent smile, catching the playful blend of their names. "Sounds perfect." Emmaline stood to the side, watching the scene unfold in silence. When she heard the name, a cold, bitter laugh al- most escaped her throat. Even a cat needed to carry a trace of their intimacy, as if the world had to know how "in sync" they were. Her chest ached as though pricked by a thousand invisible needles, but she held her tongue. She sim- ply stood there, silent and detached, like a stranger looking in on someone else's life. As if suddenly remembering her presence, Juanita clutched the cat and stammered, "Dr. Walsh, please don't be up- set... I didn't mean anything by the name. It's just... Zachary's paying for it, so he's kind of its co-owner, right?" Emmaline's lips twitched into a faint, emotionless smile, cutting her off. "Why would I be upset? After this, he won't have anything to do with me anyway." Her voice was quiet but sharp, slicing through the air. Zachary, still distracted by the soft warmth of Juanita's fingers brushing against his when they'd both touched the kit- ten, didn't fully catch what she'd said. "Hmm? What did you say, Emma?" he asked absentmindedly. Emmaline met his clueless gaze, the sting in her chest deepening at the irony. He wasn't even listening to her any- more. His heart was already elsewhere, wholly claimed. Brushing it off, she looked away. "Nothing. Just that when we get back, Nita should start packing to move out." Juanita's face crumpled, tears spilling over. "Dr. Walsh! Did I do something wrong? Please, tell me, and I'll fix it! Don't make me leave..." 0.0 % 10:00 Chapter 3 288 iVouchers Zachary's brow furrowed, his tone laced with disapproval and a subtle protectiveness. "Emma, Nita's settled in at your place. She's comfortable there. Why make her move out so suddenly?" Emmaline's gaze locked onto his, cool and unflinching. "She's settled, sure. But does that mean she gets to stay in my home forever? Zachary, it's my place." Zachary faltered, at a loss for words. He'd never heard Emmaline speak to him like this-sharp, resolute. Juanita, choking back sobs, tried to smooth things over. "Zachary, don't fight with Dr. Walsh... I'll move; I'll go right now. It's just... I might not find a place right away. I... I might have to crash under a bridge tonight..." Her voice trembled, her frail frame looking utterly desolate. Zachary's heart twisted. "That's ridiculous! You're not sleeping under a bridge!" he blurted, then turned to Emmaline, falling back on his usual excuse. "Emma, we're not married yet, and I'm sure Nita will find a place before then. She's your intern, so we should help her out while we can, right?" Emmaline's heart throbbed with a dull, aching pain. He was shielding Juanita from hardship, yet dressing it up as if it were for her sake. As if his concern was rooted in her wishes. Too tired to argue, she turned and walked toward her temporary pre-wedding home. Back at the small apartment, Juanita, eyes red, began packing her things. Zachary rolled up his sleeves to help; their movements filled with unmistakable intimacy. Emmaline sat at the living room table, pulling out a pen and paper to list what she'd need for her study-abroad journey, pointedly ignoring the charged whispers and accidental brushes in the next room. Suddenly, Juanita's voice broke into a panicked sob. "Oh no... Zachary, I can't find the gemstone pendant my grand- mother left for me!" 62.9 % 2 10:00