Chapter 5
After Caleb Lane left, Zane picked up the phone and dialed Zoe Parker’s number.
“Zoe,” he began, his voice flat, “if you give the patent naming rights to Lila, I’ll take care of you. You won’t need all that superficial stuff. We can just live our lives together.”
Zoe Parker had always loved him. He knew that.
And he knew that if he made this offer, she’d accept.
In his mind, this was a fair deal. He wouldn’t owe Lila anything.
On the other end of the line, Zoe Parker laughed–an odd sound, half–mocking,
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half–amused.
Zane Cooper frowned. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. When are you coming back? I’ve prepared a gift for you in the study.”
Zane Cooper’s brow relaxed.
He was sure Zoe Parker would agree–after all, she loved him so much.
He softened his tone. “Wait for me.”
After hanging up, Zoe turned and casually tossed her phone into the trash can.
“Let’s go, Professor.”
For some inexplicable reason, Zane Cooper
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felt unsettled on his way back–despite the fact that everyone should have been happy with the outcome.
The unease only grew stronger when he returned to the villa.
The house was dark when he returned–no lights, no signs of life. It was eerily quiet.
He tried to calm himself, telling himself that Zoe Parker’s eyes were only just recovering, and maybe she wasn’t used to the light yet.
But before, no matter how late he worked, Zoe Parker would always leave a light on for him.
She said it was to remind him that, even in the stillness of the night, someone was waiting for him to come home.
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Zane Cooper rushed into the house, butit when he reached the empty bathroom, hiss unease reached its peak.
Where is she?
He yelled, “Zoe Parker! Where are you?!”
But no one answered, and the silence of the room mocked him.
Yes, the study.
Zoe had mentioned leaving him a gift in there.
He rushed to the study, but when he saw what lay on the desk, he froze.
It was the signed divorce papers, clearly labeled with Zoe Parker’s name.
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She wasn’t throwing a tantrum; she really wanted a divorce.
No.
No, it couldn’t be. Zoe Parker loved him more than anything. How could she leave him?
He grabbed his phone and dialed her number.
“We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not available.”
He dialed again. And again.
Each time, the voicemail echoed back at him, until he finally threw his phone to the ground in frustration.
The jade bracelet that had been underneath the divorce papers rolled off the desk and
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clattered at his feet.
He picked it up, his fingers trembling involuntarily.
This was the bracelet he had given to the girl who saved him when he was young.
It was supposed to be with Lila Bennett.
Why was it here, with Zoe Parker?
A thought struck Zane Cooper’s mind, making his face pale and his eyes bloodshot with rage.
Lila Bennett looked up as Zane Cooper approached, oblivious to his dark
expression.
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“Zane, you’re here. Did you get Zoe Parker’s
patent?”
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