Chapter 222


    With Desmond''s arrest, Lynch Corporation was officially dered bankrupt.


    No one dared to step forward to run or take over thepany. After all, doing so was akin to


    challenging Hamilton Corporation.


    Jacques sat in his wheelchair and watched the news on the television quietly as conflicting


    emotions flitted through his gaze.


    He never imagined Erin could wake up from heratose state. It was already a miracle that she


    stayed alive this long.


    Nheless, Jacques'' lips curved into a nasty smirk when he knew Erin had to spend the rest of


    her life paralyzed.


    It was a far more painful fate than remaining in heratose state.


    She would have to face that horrid reality every time she opened her eyes in the morning.


    As that thought crossed his mind, Jacques'' heart swelled with an indescribable sense of


    schadenfreude.


    He wheeled himself back to his room and headed toward a corner, where a single framed


    photography.


    His gaze turned cold the moment itnded on the photograph.


    Softly, he muttered, “Mom, I''ve finally avenged you. That woman is paralyzed for the rest of her life.


    She''s no better than the living dead now. And him. I know you''ll hate me for doing this, but that man


    is not worthy of your love. He only has Lynch Corporation in his eyes, and he''ll have no qualms


    about kicking you to the curb for someone else, so I don''t regret exacting revenge on him at all!”


    His tone softened as he added, “Mom, how are you doing over there?”


    Jacques reached out and stroked the photograph. The woman framed in it was smiling lovingly at


    the camera lens.


    He would always remember what his mother had said to him the day before she left the world. She


    had told him she could not carry on much longer, but she wanted him to continue living well with the


    knowledge of her love.


    Back then, Jacques had no idea what his mother meant by being unable to carry on until she


    jumped off the building and fell at his feet.


    Jacques''s eyes grew red-rimmed at the memory, and he vowed, “Don''t worry, Mom. I''ll do my best


    to live well, but you have to wait for me. I still want to be your son in the next life, and I swear I''ll


    protect you better when the timees.”


    Meanwhile, Thea smirked coldly as she watched the news.


    A fall from grace must be referring to Lynch Corporation. How foolish of them. I can''t believe they


    allowed Hamilton Corporation to reverse the situation at this stage. I shouldn''t have pinned any


    hopes on them at all.


    Then, as though remembering something, she grabbed her phone and called Zachary.


    However, no one answered the call.


    She fell into deep thought for some time before leaving the house with her purse.


    “Hello.” The bouncer at the club immediately recognized Thea when she arrived.


    She approached the staff and asked, “Is Zachary Lynch inside?”


    The bouncer nodded and replied, “Go on in."


    Thea darted into the club without another word.


    Soon, she arrived at a private room and opened the door to the sight of several women drinking


    with Zachary.


    Zachary was smiling brightly at hispanions and scarcely noticed Thea''s appearance.


    At that moment, he held a seductively dressed woman in his arms, and she whined flirtatiously, “Mr.


    Lynch, you''re so busy drinking with her. What about me? Aren''t you going to share a ss with


    me?”


    “Of course!” Zachary smiled and continued, “But I want you to feed me!”


    “How do you want me to feed you?” “How do you n to feed me?”


    In response, the flirty woman took a gulp of liquor and sat in hisp while Zachary leaned limply into


    the couch and shot her a drunken stare.


    The two of them were in an incrediblypromising position. Just as Zachary''spanion was


    about to feed him with her mouth, Thea mmed her purse on the couch and sat down, giving


    everyone a fierce re.


    The movement finally caught Zachary''s attention.


    He looked at her and drawled, “Why are you here?”


    “I came tofort you, of course, but it seems I''m wasting my efforts. It''s fine. Just pretend I''m not


    here and carry on with what you were doing,” Thea replied with an insincere smile.


    In his drunken stupor, Zachary''s eyelids drooped as he asked, “Do you want to join us and have a


    drink?”


    He shot her a rakish smile, a far cry from the persona he had assumed before.


    Sadly, Thea was not surprised at all. All men are bustards. This is their true personality.


    Thea''s smile stiffened slightly before growing into a wide grin. She nodded eagerly and said, “Sure!”


    After that, she poured a ss of liquor and walked toward Zachary.


    The three women sitting beside Zachary red at Thea in displeasure. It was evident that they


    would not budge to make space for her.


    Thea merely stood before the group and nced at the women. Finally, her gazended on


    Zachary.


    “This is my toast to you, Mr. Lynch!” She promptly doused Zachary with the ss of liquor.


    “Ahh!”


    “Argh!” “What the heck are you doing?”


    The three women beside Zachary shrieked immediately when they were also sshed by Thea''s


    liquor. They hurriedly grabbed napkins from the table to clean themselves before attending to


    Zachary.


    “Are you all right, Mr. Lynch?”


    Their dedication to Zachary was admirable.


    Meanwhile, Thea stood aside and smiled at the scene.


    Zachary lifted his gaze a short whileter and shot her a menacing re.


    His threepanions piped up once more, “Is she mad, Mr. Lynch?”


    “She must be!”


    “Kick her out of here, Mr. Lynch! What a downer on our little party!”


    Just then, Zachary snatched the napkins from them and ordered coldly, “Get lost!”


    The women turned around and said smugly to Thea, “Did you hear that? He wants you to get lost!”


    To their horror, Zachary shot them an icy look and seethed, “I want the three of you to get lost!”


    Stunned, the women took turns sputtering in disbelief.


    “Mr. Lynch?”


    “Get lost!” Zachary repeated angrily, his gaze leaving no room for negotiation.


    The women dared not try their luck further. Instead, they red at Thea furiously and sauntered out


    of the room.


    Once the door closed, Thea returned her attention to Zachary.


    He slowly cleaned his hands before getting to his feet.


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    “Do you have any idea what you''re doing?” Zachary stared at her warily.


    “Of course I do! I''m trying to sober you up!” came Thea''s reply.


    Zachary continued to stare at her. Something dangerous flitted across his gaze, and in the next


    instant, he roughly grabbed Thea''s arm and spun her around. Then, he stered his chest against


    her back.


    Thea was shocked when she felt the heat of his body. Her attempt to break free was futile when


    Zachary tightened his arms around her, his panting tickling her ear.


    “What are you doing? Are you crazy?” demanded Thea.


    Zachary merely scoffed and taunted, “Why? Don''t you like this?”


    “Let go of me, Zachary!” Thea continued shrieking, “Or don''t fault me for retaliating!”


    “Retaliating? How so?” Zachary appeared as flippant as ever.


    Thea tried but failed to escape from Zachary''s iron grip. Worst of all, she wore a short skirt, and it


    made their position seem more suggestive.