Chapter 355

---- Chapter 355 "shut up," Zachary snapped as his expression darkened. "Don't get mad just yet," Anne said as her smirk widened." Having been at war with her for years, I know exactly what kind of woman she really is. I bet you still haven't figured out why she got close to you in the first place." She elaborated, "She was already involved with Donovan long before you ever met her. And when she wanted him to break off his engagement with me, she used you as leverage. "She knew you were Donovan's nephew and that you two were closer than father and son.

So she deliberately made her move on you and reeled you in just to force Donovan to break up with me. Marrying him has always been her endgame. "To her, you were just a pawn. If Donovan didn't give her what she wanted, she would have kept stringing you along and playing with your feelings. "And look where that got you... You nearly lost your life over someone who never actually cared. Sadly, you're still hung up on her even until now..." Anne's voice dripped with disdain. "Enough!" Zachary slammed his glass onto the table, almost smashing it into pieces.

Knowing she had finally hit the nerve she was aiming for, Anne hid a triumphant smirk. After hearing her words, Zachary felt the old wounds ripping ---- open again. The shame, betrayal, and sting of defeat crashed over him as memories of her flooded back despite his efforts to bury them. He had suspected Giselle before, but he was too blinded by infatuation to brush it off. He had even convinced himself that it was all in his head. But after hearing Anne lay everything out so clearly, every detail fell into place. His expression turned grim as he felt a hint of resentment.

Without a word, he poured himself a big glass of wine and chugged it down. He hoped the burn would drown out his feelings. "That's why I said you got the worst of it. You had everything going for you, and you gave her your all. But she played you dirty, used you, and damn near got you killed. "That would've left your parents grieving for their only child. The more I think about it, the more it chills my bones.. added fuel to the fire. "That's enough!" Zachary kept drinking, refusing to listen to her. "Why not?

The sooner you see her true colors, the sooner you can free yourself from this mess. Zach, isn't that what you want?" Anne twisted the knife deeper, saying, "If you still don't believe me, think about what she did after she broke up with Donovan. She ran straight into Gideon's arms. She even came ---- to my house asking for her personal documents so she could marry him. "Doesn't that tell you that she never loved you? She has never had feelings for you, not for a bit! You're just a pawn to her!

Gideon meant more to her than you ever did!" "Shut the fuck up!" Zachary exploded, slamming a bottle of red wine on the table. It shattered with a deafening crash. Upon achieving her goal, Anne fell silent. She ordered a few bottles of cognac and poured them generously into Zachary's glass. "Zach, I know how much you're hurting. However, what's done is done. We can't change the past, and all we can do now is live in the moment. So tonight, let's drink until none of this matters." Glass after glass, she kept refilling both glasses and matched him sip for sip.

She stopped eating anything else and let alcohol do its work. Meanwhile , Zachary was spiraling . Anne's words cut deep, and the liquor only made it worse. In the dim, suffocating room, Giselle's face kept flashing in his mind. She was the woman who once made him lose himself completely. The pain was unbearable, so he drank desperately to drown the memories. At some point, he went dead drunk, slumped over the table, and mumbled incoherently. ---- On the other hand, Anne was only lightly buzzed. Gazing at Zachary's handsome face, she decided to take the next step.