CHAPTER 9: CHAPTER 9: QUESTIONED

I was taken aback. Did Crystal Dawson hire a couple of guys?

Fueled by alcohol, I deliberately tiptoed closer to this man, "We’ll see if I can handle the loneliness."

After saying that, I turned and walked away. Honestly, I wasn’t really interested in this type of man, especially those who seemed like they had ulterior motives. I disliked them even more.

Crystal Dawson was not far behind me, doing who knows what, but when she saw me coming, she quickly scampered back to her seat.

"I can’t drink much, I’m heading back to sleep." I held my head, feeling a bit dizzy. If I got too drunk, my mom would scold me when I got home.

"I’m heading back too, I have work tomorrow, sigh," Tiana O’Connell got up as well. It was clear she wasn’t very enthusiastic about her job.

Crystal Dawson pouted, "It’s still early, and you guys are leaving already. It won’t be fun by myself. Let’s go, let’s go!"

She paid the bill and waved goodbye to the group of handsome guys, then the three of us left together.

Each of us called for a driver. Before we parted ways, Crystal Dawson grinned mischievously, "Zoe, do you think your Henry Preston will get jealous knowing you were out drinking with handsome guys?"

"Don’t mention him, it’s bad luck." I was already in the car, waving off Crystal Dawson.

"Hehe, bye-bye!" She seemed amused by something, happily getting into her BMW and driving off.

I instructed Lane to drive and then leaned back in the rear seat to rest my eyes.

Just as we were nearing home, a sudden brake jolted me awake in shock. "Lane, what are you doing?"

"Madam, I think it’s Mr. Preston’s car." Lane pointed at the Bugatti blocking the road.

Why was Henry Preston here on the road leading to my house? I rubbed my temples, "Alright, Lane, take my car home first. It’s getting late."

"Okay." Lane, who was quite skilled with cars, turned around and left swiftly.

It was just a five-minute walk home from here, so I detoured around the Bugatti, intending to walk back.

Henry Preston got out of the car and blocked my way. He looked very upset, with anger flickering in his eyes.

"Come, explain this," Henry Preston showed me a picture on his social media.

Wasn’t this the scene where I had deliberately flirted with that guy in front of the bar restroom? I was on tiptoes, and my face was very close to that guy’s, looking quite ambiguous.

Upon closer look, it was Crystal Dawson’s post.

She even captioned it provocatively: "The world is full of beautiful things; my Zoe is enlightened."

"Pfft!" I couldn’t help but laugh, "That’s quite the rhyme."

"Zoe Hathaway!" Henry Preston called my name through gritted teeth, his handsome face covered in frost.

"Didn’t you say we could do our own thing? Why are you questioning me now?" I straightened my posture and countered him.

Henry Preston let out a cold laugh, "We can do our own thing, but who told you to post it?"

I almost forgot. Henry and I do share some common friends, and Crystal Dawson is no exception. Her social media post was bound to be seen by some of Henry’s acquaintances. If any of them weren’t on good terms with him, they’d surely use this to mock him.

How could a man’s ego withstand such provocation? Especially someone like Henry Preston, who held such a prestigious status.

No wonder Crystal Dawson was grinning like a thief tonight; she intended to provoke Henry.

"Fine, next time I’ll tell Crystal and the others not to post it," I said, genuinely feeling a bit woozy. I didn’t want to argue with Henry here any longer. I just wanted to go back and sleep.

After that, I turned and started to leave, but Henry grabbed my hand.

I felt like my bones were about to break. Without enough fat to cushion, I let out a pained groan, "Ouch..."

Then I quickly lowered my head and bit down on Henry’s forearm.

Henry seemed shocked by my extreme reaction; he didn’t immediately shake me off but let me bite him. His muscular arm had a satisfying texture to bite into.

"Are you crazy?!" Henry finally remembered to shake me off. He grabbed the back of my neck, yanking me away like a dog. There was a very distinctive bite mark on his forearm, you could count how many teeth I had.

I gave Henry a dark look, and the unvented bitterness within me threatened to surface. I had liked him for so long yet never left a trace on him. But Azure Vaughn, who came later, had planted countless hickeys on his neck. In my previous life, I saw it several times.

They must have been in a flaming romance back then.

Leaving a bite mark felt like a small consolation for my regrets.

"Henry Preston, you have no right to question me. Over the years, I can’t even count how many women you’ve had rumors with, with just ten fingers. Don’t I have a reputation to uphold too? Hasn’t anyone mocked me behind my back?" I wiped the corner of my mouth, tasting a faint hint of blood; I must have drawn blood from Henry.

Henry coldly retorted, "Didn’t you bring this upon yourself? Did anyone force you into agreeing with Grandpa to marry me back then?"

Of course not. Back then, not to mention anyone forcing me, if someone hadn’t agreed, I would have picked up a knife to make them.

I believed that feelings would grow over time and that one day, Henry Preston would be moved and fall in love with me.

"Yes, I brought it upon myself, but people change. I’ve moved on now and don’t want to be shackled by my own unilateral feelings anymore. Is that wrong?" I asked him back.

"No," Henry’s response was as cold as ever, "You chose the wrong path, and you should bear the consequences."

"Henry, do you believe that in the near future, you’ll be the one to initiate the divorce with me? Won’t you wish I would disappear from your world forever?" I suddenly asked. A year wasn’t too long or too short; it was perfect for a wager.

Henry looked at me with disdain, "Zoe Hathaway, what dream are you making?"

His desire for revenge was intense. He used tactics that would harm both his enemy and himself.

I sighed, "Sigh, why don’t you believe me? Just wait and see, you’ll definitely let me go in the future. I’ve had a bit too much to drink tonight, I need to go home and sleep. You should leave."

"You’re going back to Maplewood Gardens to sleep." Henry grabbed me like an eagle snatching a chick and effortlessly shoved me into his car. Was he not allowing me to stay at my parents’ house any longer?

I protested vehemently, "No, I’m not going back to Maplewood Gardens. Open the door!"

Henry glanced at me but ignored my protest. The car swiftly departed from my parents’ house, heading towards Maplewood Gardens.

Annoyed, I glared at Henry, "Take me home, I left something behind!"

"What did you leave?" he asked flatly.

"The herbal medicine package." I was genuinely exasperated. Was it so hard to get a dose of herbal medicine?

"Are you terminally ill?" His lack of tact was astounding. No wonder so many people hoped he’d go bankrupt, especially those he’d relentlessly stepped on.

I chuckled, "No, I just want to gain a little weight and become a plump beauty."

Henry seemed to recall something, and his already icy demeanor turned even darker.