The Forgotten Lineage

Chapter 11

Zach knew he shouldn't put up with them. He didn't know the man's name and didn't care—he wasn't the only man Sarah had targeted. Zach may have felt hurt by his wife's behavior in the past, but perhaps those feelings had changed. He no longer reacted as angrily as h

His days were obviously very boring. There was no work and none of the things that used to ignite his passion for life. Being unemployed might have been his dream, but not with the status of an unrecognized son-in-law and a husband with no self-respect. If only Zach had been more careful in choosing his friends and partners, maybe he wouldn't have had such bad luck. But does regretting the past change anything? Zach just needed to get out of this horrible f

"Is there any way I can get out of this damn trap of fate?" he said to himself.

Since the horrific incident, Zach had lost touch with his friends and even his ex-girlfriend. None of them could be contacted or

"Sir, where are we going?" asked the driver. The car had already circled the city streets three times without a clear de

Zach wanted to snap at his chatty driver. However, he decided against it when he saw the police station they had just passed. The sigh

"Oh my! How could I forget what happened yesterday?" He recalled the bar girl who was skilled in martial arts. He immediately ordered the driver to stop the car. Zach got out and took wide strides toward the station.

He asked the officer about the robbery case from the previous day. The officer explained that everything was in order despite the scuffle between the woman and the robber. The evidence clearly showed that the robber was at fault, and Hannah had only acted in self-defense.

"Self-defense?" Zach was skeptical. Judging by the woman's strength, it seemed the robber was the one who needed to protect himself. However, in the context of this case, it was clear that Hannah deserved to be freed and honored for her heroic act.

That was a relief. Zach had come only to make sure, so he was about to leave when the officer stopped him, saying, "I think your girlfriend is a tough and smart woman. Apart from defending the victim, she also emphasized how there should no longer be any oppression or discrimination against women. Her words matched her actions."

Zach didn't care much and didn't consider it anything extraordinary. To him, all women were the same. He responded casually and left.

On the way, the driver asked for permission to stop for a toilet break. Zach agreed, and the car pulled into the city's largest shopping center. Uninterested in going inside, Zach chose to wait outside and find a place to smoke.

On a bench in a small park, he looked up and gazed at the tall skyscrapers. Benne Avenue was a shopping center owned by the Bennett family. It was not only the largest in the district but also the largest in the city, with a name that had spread nationwide. Zach let out a long sigh.

"Maybe if I had a shopping mall this big, I could pay off all my debts." It was wishful thinking. Zach had no access to such resources and wouldn't be left alone by Mrs. Grace.

The luxuries Zach had were conditional. He could live a high-class lifestyle, but his freedom was taken away. That was the trade-off. Zach sighed again, the sound heavy. The cigarette he had just lit no longer appealed to him, so he threw the nearly intact butt down and stomped on it.

"You're even uncivilized with just one cigarette in your hand."

The voice almost made Zach jump. He turned to find the woman from the previous day standing beside him.

"Hannah?" he said softly.

The woman sat beside Zach without permission, then shifted closer to him. Zach gasped, feeling uncomfortable with Hannah's sudden behavior.

"What do you want—"

"Lift your leg," ordered Hannah, glancing at Zach's foot, which was resting on the cigarette butt.

Although confused, Zach complied. He was surprised when Hannah picked up the butt and placed it between her lips. Zach's jaw nearly dropped at what the beautiful woman was doing.

"Take out your lighter!"

"Did you just order me around?" Zach asked, but got no response other than Hannah's expressionless stare. He took the lighter from his pocket and handed it to her.

"Your attitude is too rough for a bartender."

Hannah chuckled as she lit the cigarette. "I'm not working, sir," she replied casually.

"But when you're at work, it's no different."

"Just ignore it if you're uncomfortable."

"Of course, but hey! You're the one who suddenly sat here and took the cigarette I threw away!" Zach thought it was gross—not to mention the fact that Hannah didn’t seem to mind using something discarded. "Are you really like this? Picking up trash and using it for yourself?"

Hannah blinked, her expression blank. She then looked at the man beside her.

"This cigarette is worth more than you."

Zach's gaze sharpened at her words. "You—" His chest rumbled with anger, his face red. He had seen glimpses of her character but never imagined her words could cut deeper than those of the Bennett family.

Zach quickly stood, glaring at Hannah. "Remember, you and I don't know each other. A rude woman like you shouldn't be working as a waitress! I really feel sorry for the owner of the bar where you work."

Hannah remained unbothered, as if Zach's words were nothing but a breeze in spring. Seeing her cold reaction, Zach added sharply, "I swear, one day I'll take back that bar. This was never my fault—it was just injustice from the start! I was treated unfairly by them!"

Hannah's words had stung for a reason. Zach couldn't deny that she'd called him less valuable than trash. The truth was, she was probably right.

He had no right to be angry with anyone or anything except himself. "I will make everyone who underestimates me regret it for life. I swear!"