Chapter 422

---- Chapter 422 "What gives you the right to lay a hand on me?" Anne shouted at Donovan. "You have no business meddling in our lives. If anyone should get lost, it's you!" Zachary frowned, clearly unwilling to make a scene in public. "Anne, just go," he told her. She gave a mocking little laugh. "Fine. I'll let you two talk." With that, she snatched up her bag and started down the stairs. As she passed, she caught sight of Giselle across the room. A thin, triumphant smile curled at her lips before she disappeared below. Only after Anne was gone did Donovan turn to Zachary, his voice cold.

"What the hell are you doing?" Zachary's answer was flat, almost bored. "You saw it with your own eyes. What's there to be so worked up about? It's just a woman I slept with." "You slept with her?" Donovan's gaze blazed with fury. "That's right." Zachary shrugged as if it were nothing. "She came on to me first. I was drunk, and I gave in. Later, I figured -since she threw herself at me, why not take it?" Donovan's hand swept across the table, sending a glass tumbling to the floor. "Uncle Don, why are you so riled up?" Zachary sneered. " ---- Haven't we always been close? It's just a woman.

Besides, I'm. only picking up what you didn't want. Can't you just turn a blind eye?" For a moment, Donovan barely recognized his own nephew. His eyes burned with agitation as he rasped, "Are you deliberately throwing your life away?" "Throwing my life away?" Zachary gave a bitter laugh. "Don't make it sound so dramatic . I slept with a woman-one who has nothing to do with you. Why act like it's the end of the world?" He let out a cold smile. "You don't have to be so good to me, Uncle Don. The truth is, because you've treated me too well, I've become a weakness others use to control you.

You have your own family now. From now on, let's just stay out of each other's way." Donovan glared at him. This was the same nephew he had once shared everything with -their bond tighter than blood. Now he had become so careless and debased that Donovan's chest tightened with frustration . Yet no words of reprimand came. Meanwhile, Giselle had slipped out. A few minutes after Anne's exit, she quietly followed her downstairs. She spotted Anne by her car, her head bowed over her phone. Without hesitation, Giselle strode over.

Anne turned at the sound of approaching footsteps -just in time to catch a hard slap across the face. ---- The blow was so forceful her ears rang. Blood welled at the corner of her mouth, and her cheek burned. "Bitch!" Anne spat, raising a hand to strike back. But Giselle caught her wrist in an iron grip, calm and steady, then swung her other hand across Anne's opposite cheek with equal force. "y-You..." Anne stammered, stunned and trembling. She knew she was no match for Giselle ina fight. Shaking, she fumbled for her phone, threatening to call the police.