Chapter 132
Charlotte had been waiting at home when James arrived. She greeted him warmly, taking the folder and pastry box from his hands. Her e eyes brightened when she saw the prestigious bakery logo,
“You went to Le Petit Gâteau? I’ve heard so much about this East Coast gem but never tried it. Is this for me?” she asked excitedly.
James hesitated, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face, but nodded. “If you like it, we’ll go there sometime.
“That would be lovely.” Charlotte set the box down, watching as James headed upstairs.
Feeling reassured, she carefully opened the box, her earlier worries fading. James was still thoughtful as ever. But when she discovered the tube of burn cream at the bottom, her expression darkened.
Burn cream?
Why was there burn cream in a pastry box?
Her mind immediately went to Sarah–the competition incident where she’d been scalded. Her grip tightened around the tube.
It was for Sarah.
The pastries weren’t meant for Charlotte at all. They were intended for that woman. They’d only ended up here because James
couldn’t deliver them.
The sweet aroma of fresh pastries filled the room, but Charlotte had lost her appetite. She couldn’t bear to eat someone else’s
rejected gift. Without hesitation, she threw everything, burn cream included, into the trash.
Moments later, composed again, she brewed some Earl Grey and brought it upstairs to James.
After dinner, Sarah started clearing plates, but Zachary stopped her. His gaze was firm as he nodded at her injured hand. “I’ve got
this.”
Meeting his intense look, Sarah glanced away and yielded without protest.
Settling onto the couch, Sarah stared absently at the TV. Despite the volume, she couldn’t focus on the show. Her thoughts were
elsewhere, unsettled.
Her relationship with Zachary had grown uncomfortably close. Initially, she’d rationalized his attentiveness as concern for Mia’s
therapist. But now… she wasn’t so certain.
What kind of man shows such care for his sister’s therapist? Were his timely appearances when she needed help really just
coincidence?
Her cheeks flushed as memories surfaced: Zachary tending to her cut finger, cooking her dinner, reminding her to take her
medicine, rescuing her from awkward situations.
1/2
+20 Bonus
No matter how she tried to reason with herself–reminding herself of their different worlds–her heart wouldn’t listen.
Maybe, just maybe, Zachary felt something too..
She shook her head. No, she couldn’t think that way. Zachary Reynolds wasn’t just anyone; he was THE Zachary Reynolds of the East Coast, whose name carried enough weight to shake the city.
The whispers from the charity gala echoed in her mind.
“Obviously, between the Reynolds and the Chancers, it’s the Reynolds every time. She’s just another social climber.”
“As if the Reynolds would ever accept someone like her. Even if Zachary’s interested, it’s just a passing fancy. Nothing more.”
Her chest tightened at the memory. She stared into space until a steaming mug appeared before her.
‘Deep thoughts? Drink up,” Zachary’s voice broke through her reverie.
The chamomile tea’s earthy aroma filled her nose. Looking at the mug, her heart fluttered. “You didn’t have to go to the trouble again,” she murmured.
“No trouble at all,” Zachary replied with a slight smile.
Taking a sip, Sarah winced at the bitterness. She knew this daily tea was all his doing.
“Does anyone else know the great Zachary Reynolds makes such good chamomile tea?” she teased, glancing up.
Zachary chuckled. “Who else would I bother making it for?”
