Chapter 46 What’s Owed
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Finished
Quinn handed Zayden a bowl of washed fruit and nodded. “I still have it.” She offered the fruit to him. “Zayden, thank you.”
She truly was grateful. But she also knew–if Zayden were to ask her for forgiveness now, she’d have no excuse to refuse him. Still, there was a thorn lodged deep in her heart. Even if she forgave him, that thorn would remain.
Unexpectedly, Zayden didn’t say anything. Instead, he stared at the peeled grapes in her hand and chuckled. “Did the grapes offend you or something?”
Snapping out of her thoughts, Quinn quickly passed him the fruit. “I’ll go wash you some more.”
As she turned away, Zayden’s smile slowly faded. His mind wandered back to what had happened last night.
The gas tank had hit empty. The car following them had caught up. When the attackers realized only Zayden had gotten out of the car–after the cushion blocked their view–they immediately pieced it together and turned back to chase Quinn.
Zayden rushed in to block them. Their cars collided, metal screeching as sparks flew. Then came the fight.
Though Zayden trained regularly and was in excellent shape, he was still outnumbered. Soon, he was overwhelmed.
When he locked eyes with Ethan, they both understood the killing intent behind the other’s gaze.
Ethan’s voice was chilling. “Mr. Zayden, you’re not getting out of this alive.”
Zayden, injured in the stomach, coughed blood, splattering it directly onto Ethan’s face.
He let out a low, bloody laugh. “Then you’d better finish the job. Because if I live through this… I’ll make sure you beg for death.”
Fury contorted Ethan’s features. He grabbed Zayden by the collar, teeth clenched. “Thanks for the reminder.”
He drew his fist back to strike–but the punch never landed.
Someone flew in from the side and kicked Ethan to the ground.
“Ugh!”
Ethan grunted as his face scraped across the dirt. He scrambled back up in ange.
Marcus now stood back–to–back with Zayden, both of them bloodied and breathing hard.
“Don’t get the wrong idea,” Marcus muttered. “I just didn’t want Quinn blaming herself.”
“Tch. Like you’re any different. We both know how you feel about her.”
Zayden wiped the blood from his mouth, swaying slightly. “But I’m not about to hand her over.”
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Chapter 46 What’s Owed
To Quinn, they were rivals. But at that moment, they were allies. It was almost ridiculous.
Finished
Then without a word, the two of them moved. In a blur, they disarmed their attackers and turned the fight around.
When the sound of sirens came from not far off, Ethan and his men realized the game was up and fled in
frustration.
Back in the present, Zayden felt a strange mix of emotions. Marcus’s intentions toward Quinn were obisom But the fact that he’d come back to save Zayden–even set aside their grudge–earned him a bit of respect.
Still, if Marcus ever tried to take Quinn from him, Zayden had no intention of backing down.
Five days later.
Zayden and Marcus had both recovered well. The doctor advised rest, but nothing more. The three of them packed their things, ready to head back.
Quinn had found a way to save her grandfather. The Tranquil Pill was still safe and intact. But the unease in her chest was only growing stronger. She urged the two men to hurry back.
And she was right to worry.
At the Fairchild estate.
Sam delivered the news to Olive.
She was playing with a small vial of liquid, her smile cruel. “Useless. All of them. She still got away–what a bunch of trash.”
Sam kept his head low. “Quinn moved too fast. By the time our people caught on, she already had the item
That was when they learned–the Tranquil Pill could save Norman.
After explaining everything that had happened in Riverville, Sam waited for Olive’s instructions.
But Olive said nothing.
Sam glanced up and saw she was staring at her phone.
She was watching the video he had just sent her–Quinn caring for an injured Zayden. The two of them looked closer than ever.
Tears welled in Olive’s eyes. Her hands trembled as she clutched the phone.
“So… he actually cares about her? Enough to risk his life for her?”
She let out a piercing, unhinged laugh that made Sam wince.
Then Olive lunged at him, gripping his collar. Her once–beautiful face twisted into something monstrous.
“Why?! If he cared so much, why didn’t he ever mention her when she was inside? Why did he suddenly
start caring once she got out?!”
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Chapter 46 What’s Owed
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If it were up to him, he wouldn’t pick Olive either. Anyone with eyes could see the difference between the
two.
Olive raised her hand–and slapped him across the face.