Chapter 83 Zachary’s Return
Joseph had caught wind of the rumor about Nicole 5 years ago. He heard that she had spent a night with a random man in exchange for money.
However, if what Queenie said was true, the man from 5 years ago would have been him.
Joseph might have no control over his lower body, but he never had the need to spend money to get a woman in his bed. As a good-looking young master from a wealthy family, there were countless women who willingly threw themselves at his feet.
“Was Nicole not the one I had s*x with 5 years ago?” Joseph asked while looking at Queenie.
Queenie was now lying in the hospital bed with no makeup on. She looked so pale she could easily pass off as someone who was on the verge of death.
Her pupils slightly trembled after hearing Joseph’s question, and after swallowing the lump in her throat, she tilted her head to look at him.
“Could someone have spent money to get Nicole here because they planned to spend the night with you? Or could they have wanted to threaten you with a child after giving birth to one?” she hypothetically asked.
Joseph’s eyebrows began to crinkle together at that. He had spent countless nights with different women. So, he couldn’t possibly tell what everyone’s intention for getting in bed with him was.
However, if Nicole’s child really did share his blood, there was no need for him to continue worrying about anything else.
“So what you’re trying to say is that Nicole was the mastermind behind what happened, yes?” he asked again to reconfirm as he still couldn’t understand why Nicole would do what she did.
Queenie’s face fell again when she heard that name she despised and instead of answering him, she threw him another question, “Who else could it have been?”
“But why would she do that?” Joseph asked again.
“The paternity test of you and her child is already in her hands. She will use this opportunity to drag me and you down. That way, she can whip out an excuse to not let you meet the child even if you are proven to be the kid’s biological father.”
She briefly shut her eyes and by the time she had opened them again, they were already coated with tears threatening to fall. She then sniffled before continuing, “Nicole has always hated me and Mom. Doing something like this will be like hitting two birds with one—”
She intentionally left out the rest of the sentence as she was sure that Joseph already knew what she was trying to say.
Joseph’s frown was glued on his forehead throughout the entire conversation.
Come to think of it, he had heard that Nicole was looking for him to tell him something when he was with the Andersons, and coincidentally, he was drugged swiftly after that. There was no one other than Nicole who could have done such a thing.
His anger began to flare at the thought of that. How dare she include me in her evil schemes! She won’t get away with this! he fumed.
“Alright,” he eventually said with a nod.
Thinking back, he was grateful that nothing had happened between them then. It would be hard for him to protect his reputation otherwise.
Their conversation soon came to an end. As Queenie stared at Joseph’s retreating figure, her sad expression was instantly replaced by a pleased one. Now, she could just be the spectator of the dog fight without having to be involved directly!
Meanwhile, Lydia was back in the ward as soon as Joseph had departed. Her trained eyes stayed on her daughter while she closed the ward door with her hands. “Did he find out about anything, Queenie?” she urgently asked.
Queenie only shook her head in response. As her eyes shone a dangerous glint, her gentle facade was gone when she was alone in the ward with her mother.
“Don’t worry, Mom! That idiot Joseph believed everything!” she singsonged.
At the company, Nicole had shown the finished draft of the gown to Wendy. Wendy was so pleased that she immediately started to pick the fabric to make her gown come true.
Nicole finally managed to take a rest after her hectic schedule. By the time she looked at the clock, it was already past 7 in the evening. Even though she was way later than usual today, she immediately rushed home at the thought of her son being alone at home.
The first thing she saw after opening the door to her house was Zachary’s upright figure sitting on the couch. He seemed to have been reading a magazine until the moment he heard the sound of the door closing. “Nicole,” he greeted as he turned to face her.
“Why are you back so soon? Didn’t you say that you will be spending at least another half a month there?” Nicole chuckled as she walked forward.
Zachary’s stoic face had become gentle in that instant. After putting the magazine down, he approached her while scanning her top to bottom with her eyes.
“I kept calling your phone but it went straight to the mailbox every time. I only found out that you are okay after giving Hayden a call. However, I was still worried because I didn’t hear from you directly.”
Feeling slightly bashful, Nicole scratched the tip of her nose and quickly explained herself. “My phone is currently under repair. I got water in it by accident. You could have just told Hayden to pass the word if you needed me. There is the house phone that I—”
However, she couldn’t finish her sentence as Zachary immediately enveloped her in a bear hug.
Rendered speechless, she felt her body freeze upon contact.
