Turan Out 101

Jessica didn’t want to make Derrick angrier, but there was no escaping him now. Her fingers trembled as she secretly shared her location with Zachary. 

“Are you trying to call him?” Derrick roared as he lunged forward, ripping the phone from her 

grasp. 

Jessica swiftly locked the screen before he could catch what she was doing. When Derrick checked her phone, there was no chat message or call history–nothing suspicious at all. 

“Derrick,” she calmly called, forcing herself to stay composed as she reached to take her phone back. “I’m married to Zachary. You should give up before you embarrass yourself any 

further.” 

Disbelief clouded Derrick’s eyes as he froze in place. After a long, tense moment, he sank to his knees in front of her and looked up. 

“Jess, please wait for me. Once I marry Celine, the Leroy family will hand over the government project. My father will also give me his seat in the logistics department. I’ll have money then. I’ve already signed everything. After the wedding, Celine won’t stand in our way- 

Jessica gave a low, humorless laugh. She had prepared herself for this moment, yet tears still welled in her eyes. 

“You really are something,” she said softly, shaking her head. “You hide your ugliness well. I bet you’d make an excellent politician.” Her lips curved into a bitter smile as she met his eyes. “You’ve perfected the art of lying, Derrick. I almost have to admire it.” 

Jessica never would have guessed that their so–called love had been nothing more than a trade of convenience–one where he played the game, and she allowed herself to be played. 

Celine must have truly loved him to stoop so low, agreeing to such a heartless arrangement. 

Even so, Derrick still believed that Jessica would come back to him. In his mind, her love was 

blind, eternal, and unconditional. 

He let out a low, mocking laugh. “It doesn’t matter what you say. Once I have money, when Zachary gets bored of you—” 

and 

“Mr. Quinton, that’s quite a bold claim,” a low, dangerous voice cut in. 

The wooden door creaked open, and a tall figure stepped into the dim light. His like molten lava as they landed on Derrick, who was still kneeling on the floor. 

eyes 

burned 

Chapter 1 

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Derrick flinched and scrambled to his feet. 

“Honey,” Jessica murmured as she turned toward Zachary with a tear–streaked face. 

Derrick’s sharp gaze flickered between them. Did she just call Zachary “honey“? 

As Zachary strode forward, the fabric of his black trousers tightened over the firm muscles of his legs. “Mr. Quinton,” he said coolly. “How many teeth do you still have left?” 

Derrick’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “Mr. Jones, you misunderstand,” he 

stammered. “I was only trying to catch up with Jess.” 

“Is that so?” Zachary asked, raising an eyebrow as he stepped to Jessica’s side, taking her hand 

in his. 

Zachary’s sharp, icy gaze fell on Derrick, sending a chill down his spine. 

“If you’ll excuse me,” Derrick muttered, casting one last look at Jessica before forcing himself to turn and leave the private room. 

“Are you alright?” Zachary asked gently, tracing his finger along the corner of her eye. 

“I twisted my ankle,” she admitted. 

Before she could say another word, Zachary kneeled and lifted her foot to inspect it. 

Her white high heels lay discarded beside them, and his rough, warm hands closed around her delicate ankle. Heat rushed up her leg, spreading through her body until her face flushed 

crimson. 

Jessica couldn’t quite grasp what was happening to her. A strange heat spread through her chest, and her heart pounded uncontrollably in her chest. She bit her lower lip, forcing herself to look toward the door instead of him. 

“Did he hurt you?” Zachary asked. 

“No,” she whispered. “I just twisted it by accident.” 

“Jess,” he started. “You don’t have to be a superhero.” 

“I thought it was all over,” she said faintly in response. 

Zachary let out a soft chuckle. “Over? Derrick’s marrying into the Leroy family for power. Once he gets it, who knows what he’ll do next?” 

“You knew?” she asked, suddenly wincing. “That hurts.” 

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She gripped the armrest as a sharp jolt of pain shot through her ankle. 

Zachary carefully massaged her ankle, choosing not to answer her question. 

Her soft, trembling voice filled the air, making it hard for him to resist the urge to pull her beneath him. 

“It’s only a minor twist,” he said at last, rising to his feet and holding out his hand. “Try taking a few steps.” 

Jessica took his hand and slipped her heels back on. With his support, she took a few tentative steps forward. Thankfully, it didn’t hurt much anymore. 

The banquet stretched on until 10:00 pm that night. 

Jessica leaned back in her chair, holding a half–empty glass of red wine in her hand. Across the room, Zachary stood at the steak counter, personally grilling a cut of beef. 

Chapter 102