CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: HE WAS DOWNSTAIRS ALL NIGHT LAST NIGHT!

Zion Pence’s eyes quickly flickered with disgust. When he met Holly Crowe’s cold gaze, he quickly shook his head, looking incredulous.

"It can’t be! Mia Chapelle clearly said it was just a meal with Frederick Fletcher! Why... why would it turn out like this?"

Zion instinctively stepped back half a step, but that red mark burned his eyes, like a mark of shame.

A thousand emotions flashed through his mind, with the anger of having something he cherished for years violated reaching its peak.

Even though he deliberately avoided looking, he had to admit the fact.

Holly was tainted.

His possession was tainted.

As soon as this thought arose, he instantly felt nauseated.

"It’s not true... it can’t be true..." His voice trembled, as if trying to convince himself.

He stepped forward a little, "Holly, tell me this isn’t real, right?"

Zion clung to a shred of hope, desperately searching for excuses.

It must be her doing.

Or an allergy.

"Holly, this red mark, you did it yourself, didn’t you? You did it on purpose to spite me, right?"

As he spoke, he was trying to find excuses for Holly.

It must be a misunderstanding!

Holly isn’t that kind of woman, this must be her revenge!

She just wants to force me to admit my mistakes this way!

How could Holly be touched by someone else?

That’s so filthy!

The mention of the word "filthy" brought back a wave of disgust from his heart, like being pricked by a needle.

Every move he made, every expression of his was caught by Holly. She sneered, mocking, "What? Now that you know I’ve slept with someone else, you think I’m filthy?"

"Stop it!"

Zion suddenly grabbed her arm, unable to hide his madness, "Tell me! You guys didn’t do anything last night, did you? You’re just doing this on purpose to anger me!"

Holly met his gaze, speaking slowly and clearly, "I’m sorry to disappoint you."

Upon hearing this, Zion seemed drained of all strength, stumbling back a few steps, his back against the wall, muttering, "It can’t be..."

"Stop pretending." Holly tugged at her collar, "Who are you putting on a show for?"

"No, Holly!" Zion stepped forward urgently to explain, his Adam’s apple bobbing, "I was waiting for you downstairs at The Elysian all of yesterday! I was just afraid something would happen, afraid of what Frederick Fletcher might do to you..."

Holly sharply turned her head, her eyes suddenly changed.

"You were downstairs all night?"

She paused, each word carrying a chill, "So you watched with your own eyes as Frederick Fletcher took me away, yet you did nothing?"

"No!" Zion’s face turned blue, his words stuck in his throat, "I just... just..."

"Speak up!"

Holly pressed him step by step, her voice not loud but every word was piercing to the heart.

"Zion, you’re really good at finding yourself a way out. Do you dare swear you knew nothing about what happened last night? You’re still making excuses for yourself, don’t these poor excuses make you feel sick?"

Holly’s voice was frighteningly calm, "Do you even know, just based on what happened last night, I can report you!"

Zion just kept shaking his head, "No, no."

Holly sneered, coldly watching him like he was a clown.

Zion’s eyes remained fixed on her, becoming more agitated, "Holly, it’s not like that, I actually don’t care...."

"Yes! I don’t care!"

Zion suddenly raised his voice, like he finally found an excuse, "Holly, I don’t care! As long as you’re willing to come back, I can pretend none of this happened, including the things from before, we can write it all off, okay!"

As he spoke, his face showed a bit of stubborn sincerity.

It’s okay.

As long as Holly comes back, he can pretend nothing ever happened.

Just wash it off, after all... she was his to begin with.

Yes!

Thinking this, Zion was even moved by his own generosity.

Holly seemed to hear the biggest joke, watching his frantic demeanor, she couldn’t help but laugh, yet the corners of her eyes were red.

This man, why is he always like this!

Holly felt that life was too absurd.

"Zion Pence," her voice was distant and strong, "do you think this will level everything?"

"That’s not what I mean..."

Holly’s eyes were brimming with disappointment.

"You betrayed me! Set me up! Destroyed me! And now you show this generous and magnanimous attitude. Do you think that as long as you’re willing to overlook this, as long as you don’t care, I should be grateful? Thank you for your generosity? Thank you for giving me a chance to come back to you?"

Zion’s face became stiff.

"No..."

"I don’t want to hear you speak anymore." Holly interrupted him.

"Leave here immediately. Otherwise, I’ll call the police."

Zion’s lips trembled, wanting to say something.

Holly no longer looked at him.

Zion inexplicably adopted a bit of stubbornness and madness: "Holly, I will prove to you that what I said is true."

Prove?

Prove what?

His hypocrisy?

Or shamelessness?

Holly felt exhausted, both physically and mentally.

She stepped forward to unlock the door, in the last second as the door closed, she could still hear Zion’s hoarse shout from the other side, "Holly! I will prove it to you!"

The words brimmed with an insane determination.

Just a door’s width apart, inside the room.

Holly could no longer hold on, sliding down to sit on the floor against the door, she hugged her knees tightly and buried her head in them.

Always a realist, at this moment she absurdly hoped that time could reverse.

If time could turn back.

Then she wished God would be merciful enough not to let her run into Zion Pence ever again.

...

Downstairs, Zion exited the elevator, the deep affection on his face had vanished completely, leaving only malice in his eyes.

The defeat and pain from upstairs seemed like an illusion.

He took out his phone, dialing a number as he walked.

Not far behind him, under a tree, Mia Chapelle clenched her fists tightly, her nails almost piercing her skin.

The conversation in the hallway just now, she heard it all clearly.

She stared at the direction Zion left, then looked up at the floor where Holly lived, her eyes full of twisted hatred.

"Holly..." she gritted her teeth, her voice low like a curse, "Why don’t you just die!"

Mia took a deep breath, dialed a number, her voice carrying a hint of twisted delight, "Proceed as planned!"

She wanted to ruin Holly completely!

She wanted her to leave Beldon for good!