ust then, Derrick and Celine arrived.
Sasha hurried forward to greet them both.
“Derrick, you’re here.”
“Congratulations, Sasha.”
“Hello, Sasha,” Celine said, linking arms with her without skipping a beat.
“Looking forward to your support in the future!”
Celine was Sasha’s father’s acquaintance, while Derrick only got to know Sasha when Celine brought him to hang out.
Only now did Jessica remember she’d met Sasha once. But because she’d overheard Sasha gossiping about her background back then, she never bothered to join their events after. She hadn’t expected Sasha to be the one who had been after Zachary.
Zachary glanced at Jessica and squeezed her hand. She smiled at him, signaling that she was
fine.
“Let me introduce you to my childhood friend, Zachary Jones,” Sasha said. “He’s the one I mentioned to you last time. All his family members are working as senators. And this is Jessica
Lockman.”
“Nice to meet you,” Zachary drawled out, his cold gaze falling on Derrick and Celine.
“Hello, Mr. Quinton and Ms. Leroy,” Jessica said, chuckling.
She seemed unfazed, but shivers raced down Celine’s and Derrick’s spines.
Derrick could still remember being pinned to the ground, beaten to a pulp as Zachary’s gaze landed on him. He’d never imagined Zachary’s background to be even more powerful than he initially thought.
Even Celine hadn’t expected Zachary, on top of being tied to a top–tier conglomerate, to have that kind of power backing him.
“Yes, we’ve met. I know who he is.”
Compared to Zachary, Derrick looked a little stiff.
“What? You two know each other?” Sasha gasped.
More guests began to trickle in, and she soon excused herself to greet them as well.
“Mr. Quinton,” Zachary drawled out, turning his head slightly toward Derrick.
That alone triggered Derrick’s memory. Zachary’s voice and tone were unforgettable.
“You’re…”
Derrick released Celine’s hand, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles audibly cracked. He remembered the night he called Jessica from the hospital–only for a man to answer.
It was Zachary. He’d recognized that voice no matter what.
So Jessica had been with Zachary even then.
“Mr. Quinton, have you forgotten me already?”
With a sneer, Zachary walked off with Jessica on his arm without even waiting for a response.
Derrick’s blood seemed to boil.
“Derrick.”
Celine reached for his hand, only for him to fling hers away.
“What’s wrong with you?” she snapped. “You’re not on his level, but why are you taking it out on me? How pathetic! You couldn’t even keep your composure the moment you saw her. But did she even spare you a glance?”
Derrick stopped in his tracks. After a brief pause, he swerved toward her and snarled, “We agreed to be together while staying out of each other’s businesses. Did you forget that?
“If you’re done with me, go ahead and yell all you want. Let everyone know you’re nothing but a mistress who clawed her way up!”
Fury swelled in Celine’s chest, her crimson nails biting into the fabric stretched over her slight bulge.
“What else did you do to Derrick?” Jessica couldn’t help but ask.
Zachary had found them a quiet corner, and they sat across a small table laden with tea and
pastries.
“I’d tell you, but you wouldn’t like it. We settled it like men.”
“Judging by how he reacted, you clearly had the upper hand.”
“When I kissed you that night at Sylvaria, he called. I didn’t hang up,” Zachary admitted.
Seeing how smug he looked, Jessica flushed. Derrick must’ve heard something he shouldn’t
have and misunderstood.
A wave of embarrassment washed over her as she withdrew her gaze.
“I thought you were trying to ”
“I definitely wanted to,” he interrupted.
Silence stretched on between them.
Zachary leaned back in his chair, savoring the memory.
“Are you angry?”
“No, Zachary. I’m not that petty.”
He said nothing more, knowing that just seeing Derrick today was enough to unsettle her.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Anything’s fine.”
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Chapter 100
