CHAPTER 213: CHAPTER 213: HENRY PRESTON AND I WERE EXPOSED

The next morning, I left home with dark circles under my eyes, feeling rather worn out. As I drove past Henry Preston’s house, I glanced over but saw no trace of anyone in the yard.

Did he not come home last night? Caught by Azure Vaughn, he’d have to figure out how to appease her.

I pushed the thoughts about Henry Preston aside.

When I arrived at the company, I found the lobby on the first floor bustling with people, crowded with eager faces. There’s still about half an hour before work starts, yet no one seems in a hurry.

Someone noticed me and immediately the crowd’s gaze shifted to me, each face displaying different expressions.

A colleague from my department hurried over to me, whispering, "You should take the stairs, not the elevator; it’s packed here!"

"What’s going on?" I asked, puzzled.

Then, an angry voice rang out.

"Zoe Hathaway, you homewrecker!" Fern Tate appeared in the midst of the crowd, her face full of rage as she pointed at me, shouting accusations.

In an instant, all eyes turned to me. Many knew my identity, and their faces showed a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"What homewrecker? Fern Tate, why are you causing trouble at our company?" I couldn’t believe Fern Tate had the audacity to create a scene at my workplace.

Fern Tate’s face was contorted, her hatred unmistakable. She approached me and addressed the crowd, "This woman is Henry Preston’s ex-wife, your boss’s daughter; divorced but now pursuing her ex-husband who already has a girlfriend. Isn’t she a homewrecker?"

The others exchanged glances, clearly curious but cautious not to speak freely in my presence.

Fern Tate seemed ready to risk everything for Azure, but her actions were utterly insane!

"Where are the security guards? Why aren’t they here to remove this troublemaker?" I demanded of the crowd.

Soon, security guards rushed forward, and I pointed at Fern Tate, "Throw her out! Anyone who lets her in again will face consequences!"

Fern Tate glared at me, and as the guards moved to seize her, her emotions escalated, "Zoe Hathaway, you’re just jealous of Azure and trying to ruin her relationship with Henry Preston! You’re pathetic!"

I regarded Fern Tate coldly, still unable to fathom why she was so willing to be Azure’s shadow.

Soon, Fern Tate was driven out by the security guards, and the onlookers quickly dispersed, eager to get to their departments.

With a sullen face, I spent a frustrated day at work, only to receive the worst news.

The commotion Fern Tate caused reached my mother’s ears.

That evening, my home erupted in an unprecedented argument because my parents believed I was rekindling things with Henry Preston.

"Zoe Hathaway, you’ve disappointed me so much! How could you beg from Henry Preston?" My mother clutched her chest, her face filled with disappointment.

My father supported my mother, balancing his worry for her health with his anger, "Look at you now! Do you love Henry Preston that much? Even that little celebrity is claiming you secretly meet with him at night; what will people think of our family?"

The little celebrity is Rosalind Sutton.

She had shared with gossip reporters this afternoon about my meeting with Henry Preston last night, thereby supporting Fern Tate’s accusations at the company.

"Dad, Mom, I’m not rekindling anything with Henry Preston. I just found out some things about Sanctum Biotech’s connection to him and wanted to discuss it. I only want to ease my mom’s workload!" My emotions were flaring up, the suppression over the days slowly leading to an outburst.

My mom’s face was dark with anger, "I don’t need you to share my burden. If it comes to it, I’ll shamelessly ask your uncles for help; even if they hate me, I have ways to persuade them. How dare you approach Henry Preston? You’re going to be the death of me!"

"Mom, I truly never thought of going back! How could I ever return to a man who hurt me so deeply?!" I was on the brink of breakdown; why wouldn’t anyone believe me?

I once loved Henry Preston very deeply and humbly, but I’ve moved on and want to move forward, yet everyone believes I haven’t let go.

"You’ve barely been back, but have met him several times already, and now these scandals erupt. Both of you have partners—what will people think of our family?" my dad questioned.

Their reprimands left my mind in chaos, feeling intensely saddened and distressed, as memories from a past lifetime surged forward.

When I stubbornly refused to divorce Henry Preston, my parents had scolded me like this, yet ultimately had to help me.

Suddenly, warm tears burst forth from my eyes, as if precisely contained emotions were breaking free.

During my engulfment in negative emotions, my mother suddenly staggered and fell over right in front of me!

"Mom!"

"Honey!"

My dad and I cried out in shock.

But my mother was already on the ground, unresponsive; my heart raced painfully as I knelt down to check her condition and began CPR, instructing my dad, "Dad, call 911!"

In such a situation, I didn’t dare move my mom without caution.

My dad’s aging frame trembled for a moment but quickly steadied himself, hurrying to place an emergency call.

Once 911 arrived, they swiftly lifted my mom into the ambulance, my dad accompanying her, and I went to drive and follow behind.

"What happened?" Suddenly, Henry Preston appeared, his brow furrowed as he glanced at the distant ambulance, his tone filled with concern.

"Move!" At this moment, I was mixed with sorrow and anger, deeply worried about my mom’s health, and trembling all over; the root cause of everything was Henry Preston!

Henry Preston grabbed my trembling hand, "You’re shaking so much; how can you drive? I’ll take you there."

Filled with resentment, I glared at Henry Preston, "I just need you to stay away from me!"