Hope you enjoyed the chapter, dear reader. Do you think Zinnia caught Duncan or not?
Duncan tried to keep his composure as Zinnia walked up to him. He faked a smile, turning to face her. "What do you mean?" he asked, attempting to sound casual.Zinnia took off her glasses, her gaze fixed on Duncan. "I remember you," she stated. Duncan's heart skipped a beat as he asked, "From where?"Zinnia smiled knowingly, "You were the other guy I saw in the hallway when I was leaving after my presentation the other time." Duncan chuckled, glancing away. "Oh, that was you," he said with a feigned surprise. Inwardly, he let out a silent sigh of relief, grateful that she didn't notice the tension he had been hiding. Duncan made a short prayer of thanksgiving in silence, grateful that Zinnia had recognized him without revealing his undercover identity. Returning his gaze to Zinnia, he noted the hardened expression on her face."Good to see you again, Miss," Duncan greeted, trying to maintain a composed demeanor."Miss? Don't you know me?" Zinnia questioned, her tone challenging.
Zinnia's accusatory words cut through the air. "You're just a two-faced impostor, pretending to be the mysterious heir of the Walton Group when, in reality, you're nothing more than a lowlife representative!" Her tone dripped with scorn as she glared at Duncan. Internally relieved that Zinnia hadn't fully unraveled his true identity, Duncan maintained his composed exterior. "Ms. Lennart, I assure you, I am who I claim to be; just a simple guy. Now, if you will excuse me," he responded with a hint of indifference. As Duncan turned to leave, Zinnia, unwilling to let him go without another jab, grabbed his arm. "Hold on a moment!" she demanded, her grip firm. Duncan raised an eyebrow, unimpressed but curious."What is it, Ms. Lennart?" he replied bluntly, his patience wearing thin. Zinnia hesitated for a moment, her gaze scrutinizing Duncan's face. "I won't let you deceive everyone with your charades. I'll find out who you really are," she declared, her eyes flashing with deter
Zinnia stared determinedly at the road ahead through the windscreen, her grip tight on the steering wheel. The weariness of her hands couldn't deter her determination as she drove with all her might, navigating through traffic with a fierce sense of purpose. "Duncan, what are you now? It can't be you trying to fool me as Dunstan Ark. No!" She slammed the car horn impatiently, provoking angry shouts from other drivers as she sped past them. "No. If you're supporting the Walton Group in one way or another, then you're going to pay dearly for it, Duncan. I can't be fooled!" Zinnia took a sharp turn, opting for a faster route to the hospital, her mind consumed by the urgency of discovering Duncan's supposed deceit. "I just need to get to the hospital soon and discover your plans and everything, then I will make sure my grandmother kicks you to the pit of hell," she sneered, determination fueling her relentless pursuit. Just then, her phone rang, and she tapped the connected wireless air
Zinnia, still recovering from the shock and disbelief, stared at Duncan lying on the bed, her mind struggling to comprehend the unexpected reality. She stammered, "Duncan... How...?" Karla, noticing Zinnia's bewilderment, tried to explain. "He's been here for a while. Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost." Zinnia, shaking her head in disbelief: "This can't be real. Why is he here?" Karla, attempting to soothe her and provoke her, said, “Are you dumb or forgetful? He's your husband, right? You should know that he had an accident yesterday and that's why he's here. Unfortunately, he's yet to regain consciousness. Geez, what kind of a wife are you?”Unable to contain her frustration and confusion, Zinnia sharply turned to Karla."Enough of your explanations! Who the hell are you, and why are you here?" She angrily asked. Karla, unfazed by Zinnia's outburst, shrugged casually, "I'm here taking the responsibility of watching over him. He needed someone, and I'm here.
Duncan, now fully recovered, stood up from the bed, acknowledging the questioning glances of those in the room. With a wry smile, he decided to reveal the mystery of his timely arrival. "You see," Duncan began, "I happened to be closer than anyone thought. While Zinnia was dealing with her misconceptions outside, I managed to slip into the hospital, thanks to Karla here." He nodded appreciatively toward Karla. Babette, still puzzled, asked, "But how did you get here so quickly? We didn't see you around nor did we see you walk into the hospital." “Exactly,” Abigail added. “You're confusing us, Duncan.” Duncan's smile widened as he explained, "Karla, being quick on her feet, delayed Zinnia from entering the room immediately. It gave me just enough time to pretend I was unconscious. When Zinnia finally came in, I was ready to play my part." Karla chimed in, "I bought him a few extra seconds by not letting her in right away. Teamwork, you know?" Babette's eyes widened in reali
The living room in the Lennart mansion remained eerily quiet as Zinnia struggled to recover from the forceful slap delivered by her grandmother. Ma'am Luna's stern expression held no hint of remorse, and the shock on Zinnia's face mirrored the collective astonishment of the family. For almost a minute, Zinnia stood there, speechless and wide-eyed. The room's tension thickened as the weight of the consequences sunk in. Finally, she managed to stammer, "Grandmother, what was that for?" Ma'am Luna, her gaze unwavering, replied with an icy tone, "That was for your reckless behavior and disrespect, Zinnia. It's high time you learn to take responsibility for your failures. Secondly and most importantly," Ma'am Luna took a step forward, her voice thickened as she continued, “It's because of your woeful breakdown. You've failed again. How dare you?!”Zinnia's brother, Marcus, stepped forward, his disapproval evident. He spoke to add pepper to the hot issue. "You've gone too far this tim
In the quiet aftermath of the kitchen, Laila paced in solitude, attempting to find solace in the emptiness. The unsettling words replayed in her mind, and she muttered to herself, "No one else knows the truth." A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she grappled with the uncertainty that lingered in the air. Meanwhile, in her room, Zinnia's anger and frustration erupted into more chaos. The sounds of shattering glass echoed as she vented her emotions. In a moment of brief respite, she caught her reflection in the broken mirror again. "It's all because of Duncan that I've been reduced to nothing, he will rot for this!" she seethed, the intensity of her curses filling the room. As Zinnia continued to lash out, a knock on her door interrupted the tumult. Startled, she hastily tried to compose herself. "What is it?" she snapped. Laila cautiously entered, her gaze shifting from the chaos to Zinnia's distressed face. "Zinnia, what happened? I heard the commotion." Zinnia, still fuming, e
Ma'am Luna, upset and visibly distressed, sat in her room, contemplating the repercussions of the lost deal. George, her son, entered with a concerned expression, attempting to ease her turmoil. “Mother, I understand how important this deal was for the family, but stressing over it won't change what happened.” Ma'am Luna, sighing heavily, responded, "George, this was a crucial deal for the legacy of the Lennart family. Losing it is a severe blow." George, trying to console her, said, "Mother, we've faced challenges before and emerged stronger. We can bounce back from this." Ma'am Luna, still disheartened, shook her head. "This was different, George. The consequences of this loss are far-reaching. It is not just about the deal; it is about the future of the Lennart legacy." George, choosing his words carefully, remarked, "Mother, we still have assets, alliances, and capable individuals within the family. We can rebuild." Ma'am Luna, looking at George, acknowledged his attempt to