Chapter 826 The Zachary Then And Now


    Zachary’s words hung in the air as the rumble of a car pierced the vi’s silence. He turned to the


    window, watching Cherise wrestle a reluctant Lyra through the gate.


    Damien chuckled, “Look, our firecracker Cherry hase to interrogate us.”


    Zachary chuckled, hisughter carrying a touch of irony. “Crazy, right? Once upon a time, she was my


    world; Lyra was just the shadow in the corner. I never thought I’d be talking about her with you like this,


    let alone with a smile. But here we are.”


    In the past, he never entertained advances from any other woman. His eyes and heart were exclusively


    for Cherise. Hence, Lyra, the silent guardian angel who consistently appeared whenever he needed


    help and support, became a mere afterthought.


    It became a never-ending cycle of rescue and retreat, where she would inexplicably go MIA again after


    weathering through the storm with him.


    But Zachary was a changed man now, seeing things differently.


    A recent ident had flipped the script. It had shown him the power of care, the warmth of being


    looked after. It was Lyra, the girl he barely noticed, who’d picked up the pieces and shown him what


    true love and care felt like.


    Turning to Damien with aposed expression, he asked, “How should we exin this to them?”


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    Rubbing his throbbing forehead, Damien responded, “Just tell them the truth.”


    Concerning Raymond’s escape, Damien and Zachary believed the fewer people who knew, the better.


    Damien hadn’t mentioned a word to Cherise, fearing she would worry. But if hiding it affected the


    rtionship between newlyweds Lyra and Zachary, it might be better toe clean.


    After all, even if they kept it hidden, it would only be a matter of time.


    While Damien and Zachary conversed, Cherise dragged Lyra upstairs, questioning, “Hey! What’s going


    on with you, Zac?”


    Confronted with Lyra’s timidity, Cherise, usually lovely and charming, morphed into a fiery and


    argumentative woman.


    She guided Lyra upstairs and sat on the sofa across from Zachary, saying, “Lyra spilled everything to


    me. I think she has a point. If you genuinely don’t want to be with her, then divorce is the way to go.”


    Feeling amused and helpless, Zachary retorted, “Who says I don’t?!”


    As he spoke, his gaze helplessly shifted towards Lyra. But thetter, who had secretly had a crush on


    him for years, couldn’t meet his gaze. She just looked down with cheeks burning.


    Cherise, watching the awkward silence unfold, pursed her lips.


    Blessedly oblivious to the agony of unrequited love, Cherise couldn’t understand Lyra’s nervous flutter


    around Zachary. The girl couldn’t even make eye contact! All that admiration, all thatck of


    confidence… crazy!


    Lyra had no confidence, while Cherise had tons. So, taking a deep breath, Cherise faced Zachary.


    “Lyra says you barely slept on your wedding night. All alone in the study, sighing… Listen, she’s got


    insecurity issues. She watched you from afar for years, never daring to dream of being with you. Now,


    being your wife, seeing you sigh all night, she probably thinks you’re having second thoughts about


    marrying her.”


    Cherise’s lips firmed. “So, care to exin why the night-long sigh, Mr. Groom? Shouldn’t you be busy


    with your new wife?”


    Zachary’s eyes darted to Damien, silently begging for backup.


    Damien, catching his drift, shed a small smile. He stood, walked over, and gave Cherise a quick hug.


    “Hey, sorry to butt in, but this mess is kinda my fault.”


    Lyra and Cherise blinked. The former blurted out, “What do you mean?”


    Damien took a deep breath and said to his wife, “Everything. See, after you hit the hayst night, Mr.


    Kolson called. Turns out Raymond’s on the loose again.”