Chapter 42
Sally was just about to answer when a deep voice cut in, “I’m heading to the office. She can ride with me.”
Brad turned at the sound, catching sight of Jaxon. His face instantly darkened.
“I can take the long way and drop her off. No need to trouble you, Uncle Jaxon.” Before Sally could say anything, Brad grabbed her wrist again and pulled her toward the car.
The scene made Jaxon frown, his brows knitting together.
“Brad, is this how the Zale family taught you to treat women?” Jaxon’s voice came from behind, clearly annoyed.
Sally was already shoved into the car by Brad.
Resting his hand on the car door, Brad glanced back at Jaxon, his expression calm. “Sorry you had to see that, Uncle Jaxon. But between my wife and me, we don’t stand on ceremony. That would just make things awkward.”
With that, he decisively shut the door.
Nathan, in the driver’s seat, started the car and pulled away.
Sally looked out the window at Jaxon, but her view was quickly blocked by Brad’s cold silhouette.
She had no choice but to look away.
Brad reached over and raised the partition inside the car.
The next second, Brad yanked Sally closer. “Is Uncle Jaxon really that good–looking?”
The sudden closeness made Sally frown. “He’s better looking than you. That’s for sure.”
Brad’s face fell, and his grip on her waist tightened for a moment.
“Let go.” Sally reached down, trying to pry his fingers off her waist.
“When did you and Uncle Jaxon get so close?” Brad’s voice was cold. “Is it because of the kid? Is that why you’re always around him? You even had the nerve to get in his car right in front of me?”
Sally couldn’t help but sneer.
“Do you really have no idea what’s happened to us?” Sally’s voice was icy.
“We haven’t signed the papers yet. As my wife, you still have obligations. Otherwise, people will talk.” Brad’s hand started to wander upward, almost on instinct.
Without hesitation, Sally raised her hand and slapped at him.
Brad jerked back, dodging at the last second, so his hand on her waist landed elsewhere.
The slap didn’t hit his face. It landed on his neck.
Even though it was just his neck, it still hurt like hell.
‘Are you out of your mind? You actually hit me?” Brad recoiled, clutching the spot she’d struck, his eyes suddenly turning ice–cold.
“Try to touch me again and it won’t just be a slap.” Sally’s voice was low and steady. “Didn’t I warn you before? I told you not to touch me! You brought this on yourself.”
“When did you turn into this? You used to be so gentle with me. You never raised your voice. Now you keep hitting me!” said Brad.
Three years in prison had already worn away any love she once had for him.
Now, all that was left in her heart was endless resentment.
“I’m not repeating myself. Instead of wondering why I’ve changed, maybe you should think about everything you’ve done,” said Sally
“Are you cheating on me?” Brad’s deep voice rumbled in Sally’s ear.
Saily shot back, her tone icy, “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? All these years, you’ve been hung up on your first crush. Mr. Zale, don’t even try to tell me you two are just friends. I’m not buying that crap.
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Chapter 42
At her words, Brad’s face fell.
When he didn’t say a word, she spoke up again, “Tell your assistant to drop me off at the bottom of the mountain.”
Brad asked, “You really can’t stand to be around me for even a minute?”
“That’s right.” Her answer was short and sharp, not a hint of hesitation.
Brad was so furious that he couldn’t even speak.
He wondered, ‘What on earth happened to her in prison? How could she come out and be so different?‘
Sally got out by the curb, ready to catch a cab home.
Unbeknownst to her, someone was already watching from the shadows.
Through the windshield, Caleb spotted Sally getting out of Brad’s car up ahead.
As the black Cayenne disappeared from view, he noticed Sally waiting by the curb for a ride. He lowered his voice and asked the man in the back seat, “Mr. Zale, Mrs. Zale just got out of Brad’s car. Should we go over there?”
Jaxon’s eyes darkened as he glanced down at his watch.
Jaxon’s
He was just about to say something when he saw Sally slip into a cab and drive off right in front of them.
A faint, unreadable smile tugged at Jaxon’s lips.
Once Sally was gone, Caleb didn’t wait for Jaxon’s answer. He stepped on the gas and drove forward.
“Did you manage to get in touch with Hazel, the one I asked you to contact a few days ago?” Jaxon looked up at the driver’s seat.
Caleb met his eyes in the rearview mirror and answered respectfully, “Her phone’s been off every time I tried. I meant to report it to you a couple of days ago, but things got busy and I forgot.”
Jaxon’s gaze narrowed slightly. “Her phone’s been off this whole time?”
“Yeah,” Caleb replied. “I’ll try calling her a few more times when I get a chance today.”
“Alright,” Jaxon responded faintly and fell silent.
When Sally got home, Abigail and Lillian were having dinner together.
She sat down and ate a little with them. Then she got started on the clinic work.
The clinic had been making steady progress these past few days. If all went well, it should be finished in a few more days. Tomorrow, she needed to take care of some basic equipment and hire another assistant.
The next day, after dropping Lillian off at school, Sally got started on her own plans.
While shopping for supplies, she was bent over checking out some plastic bags. These were for packing up herbal medicine for her patients.
“Well, well, isn’t this Mrs. Zale?” A shrill, grating voice cut through the air behind Sally.
Sally turned at the sound, and when she saw who it was, her eyes instantly went cold.
It was Lena, along with her friend, Elise.
Sally had no intention of dealing with them, so she turned back and kept picking out clear bags.
Just as she reached for a stack, a fair hand snatched them up before she could grab them.
Sally ignored it and reached for another stack.
But that same hand swooped in and took the ones she wanted again.
The obvious provocation was more than she could take.
Sally turned to Elise and said, “What’s your problem?”
Lena immediately jumped in to defend Elise, pulling her over. “Come on, Mrs. Zale. Elise just wants to buy some bags. Why are you being so harsh?”
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Chapter 42
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“Really? Because every time I reach for a bag, she grabs it first. That’s not shopping. That’s picking a fight,” Sally retorted.
Elise smirked, her eyes full of challenge. “This isn’t your store, Mrs. Zale. This place seems to belong to the Crownstone Group, right? That’s Jaxon’s company, not your husband’s…”
Sally didn’t bother with them and turned to leave.
Lena called after her, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Hey, Mrs. Zale, I heard you used that one million dollars Brad gave you to open a clinic. Didn’t you even talk it over with him first, huh?”
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