Chapter 246 Half Sisters
Chapter 246 Half Sisters
The smoke rose slowly, casting a faint shadow over his expression.
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The phrase “you all” made Zachary frown, just slightly. But he didn’t dwell on it; he assumed it was a slip of the tongue on Susanna’s part or maybe a momentary lapse.
After all, their past was long behind him now, a closed chapter he no longer cared to revisit or argue over.
Holding his cigarette between his slender fingers, Zachary asked in a casual tone, “So, you met with Grandpa? What exactly did you two discuss that day?”
Susanna’s gaze locked onto him, and there was a playful gleam in her eyes. “You really want to know?” she teased, arching a brow. “Well, too bad! I’m not telling you.”
Zachary had harbored doubts for some time now.
If Susanna had truly told his grandfather that he couldn’t live without her, why would the old man’s arrangements with the company shares show no signs of anger toward Zachary himself?
Instead, it had been Johanne who felt the brunt of his grandfather’s displeasure. Besides, his grandfather had always known about his emotional struggles–so why would he have so little resilience toward them?
After much thought, he could only conclude that his grandfather’s strength had simply run out.
With a short sigh, Zachary let it go, replying, “No point in dwelling on all that.” He took a drag from his cigarette. “I heard from Elijah that you’ve been wanting to see me?”
“Oh, stop pretending,” Susanna sneered, her smile sardonic. “You already know what cards I’m holding. It honestly surprised me–Lenora, of all people, turned out to be my half–sister by blood. What an odd twist of fate that both sisters would end up entangled with the Fuller family!”
Zachary didn’t react, instead exhaling a thin stream of smoke and asking calmly, “So what exactly do you want from me?”
As the cigarette burned down to its end, he lifted his hand and stubbed it out in the ashtray.
Susanna didn’t answer right away. Instead, she laughed coldly. “You’ve been out of the picture so long, I thought this bargaining chip might’ve lost its worth. But here you are, back to see me. You’re divorced now, yet you’re still willing to give up so much for her?”
Without missing a beat, Zachary nodded. “Yes. I am.”
For a moment, Susanna’s expression faltered, and her eyes flashed with jealousy and bitterness. She clenched her teeth, hissing, “She’s nothing but a worthless sl*t!”
In the past, she’d been left with no other choice but to end things with Zachary and go overseas. But only then had she realized how impossible it was to let go of him–not just the man himself, but the power he
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carried.
She regretted it, all of it. She’d waited and plotted for a chance to get back with Zachary, only to find him already married.
Zachary’s gaze turned cold as he looked up. “What did you just say?”
His look was cutting, like a blade that could slice through steel and stone.
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Chapter 246 Half Sisters
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Susanna didn’t back down, lifting her chin to meet his gaze directly. “I said Lenora is no better than her mother, using her looks to cozy up to men. Who knows how many have had their turn with her? Am I wrong?”
Zachary’s face darkened as he stared at her, his emotions roiling just below the surface. “Seems like you’re not here for a reasonable talk. You may as well head back to the mental hospital.”
“Oh, don’t you dare!” Susanna’s face twisted with a sly smile. “If you send me back there, I swear I’ll drag Lenora’s name through the dirt! You really think I don’t have more up my sleeve?”
With a smirk, she began to laugh mockingly. “Zachary, you need to wake up and face reality. Lenora’s a loose woman, even more pathetic than a common wh*re!”
Zachary’s hands balled into fists without him even noticing, and a vein throbbed at his temple. He’d never raised a hand against a woman, but Susanna was pushing him dangerously close to breaking that rule.
Swallowing down his fury, he replied through gritted teeth, “What else do you think you know?”
From inside her coat, Susanna pulled out a photograph, placing it on the table before slowly sliding it toward him. “See for yourself,” she said coolly. “Then you’ll understand.”
Zachary’s eyes dropped to the table, and he reached out, pinching the corner of the photo to bring it closer, studying it closely.
In the image, foreign buildings stood around a street corner, and Lenora–wearing a simple skirt–was captured in a candid moment, her figure slim and innocent, clearly a young university student.
But what stood out was the unmistakable swell of her belly; she was heavily pregnant, and it was clear that the photo had been taken near the end of her pregnancy.
Even though he’d already known about Lenora’s past, the photograph still hit him hard, an undeniable mix of anger and sorrow washing over him.
His hand tightened around the photo, the veins on his knuckles standing out as he glared at the image, as though his stare alone could burn through it.
Susanna watched his reaction, a pleased smile spreading across her face. “What now? She’s got another man’s child–are you still in love with her? Also, there’s no use destroying these photos. I have plenty of copies left.”
Zachary set the photograph back down, eyes closed briefly as he steadied his breathing. “Where did you get this photo?” he asked.
If Susanna had been in possession of this photo all along, she would’ve used it to force his hand long ago. The fact she was only showing it now meant she’d only just gotten it.
It was no wonder she’d been so eager to meet with him.
His plan was simple–coax Susanna into deleting every copy, shielding Lenora from further disgrace.
Susanna’s face twitched with discomfort, but she forced a smile. “You don’t need to worry about that. Just agree to my terms, and no one will ever see this photo or know about Lenora’s past. But if you refuse, I’ll make sure Lenora’s reputation is utterly ruined!”
The truth was, she didn’t even know where the photo had come from herself. One day it had just appeared, left on her desk by an anonymous source.
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Chapter 246 Half Sisters
It seemed that Lenora had angered quite a few people who were just waiting for the chance to use her past against her.
Between Lenora’s scandal–ridden mother and her chaotic personal life abroad, it would be impossible for her to restore her name.
Zachary chuckled dryly. “So you think, after seeing this picture, that I’d still be willing to negotiate with you on Lenora’s behalf?”
Susanna’s triumphant smile faltered.
“Actually,” Zachary continued coolly, “you’ve convinced me she’s not worth it. So, I’m not negotiating. You can go back to where you came from–the mental hospital.”
Susanna’s calm facade cracked, and her voice turned desperate. “Zachary! Are you serious? Aren’t you worried this could destroy Lenora? You’d really let her fall? It might affect you too, you know?”
How could his feelings have changed so quickly?
Zachary’s expression didn’t waver. “Reputation and gossip? You think I care? Elijah, take her-”
“Think about it! She’s still connected to the Fuller family,” Susanna interrupted, her tone laced with panic. “What about your family’s reputation? Do you want to disgrace everything your grandfather built with a
scandal like this?”
Zachary hesitated.
Seeing her chance, Susanna quickly offered her terms. “If you agree to let me walk away, this secret and that photo stay hidden. You’ll never see them surface, and I get to live my life. You can’t lose here, Zachary!”
In reality, Susanna had hoped Zachary would want more than just her silence–she wanted him to marry her. But if that was out of reach, she’d settle for the next best thing.
“Fine,” Zachary said with a calm nod. “But if you want this agreement, I’ll need every single copy, the original and any backups.”
“If I give you the original, I’ll have no leverage. Who knows if you’ll suddenly change your mind?”
“Then go back to the mental hospital. Elijah-”
“Deal!” she said, cutting him off. “You’ll get the originals and the backups.”
you off
Raising an eyebrow, Zachary studied her for a moment. “You killed my grandfather. I shouldn’t let so easily,” he said icily. “But for the Fuller family’s sake, we’ll do this. Elijah will go with you, delete every trace of those files, and then you’ll be free to go.”
Relieved, Susanna whispered, “Fine…”
With the deal settled, it was time for her to leave. But as she reached the door, she glanced at her reflection in the glass—a woman whose beauty had long since faded, barely recognizable even to herself.
With a bitter smile, Susanna paused, then turned back to Zachary. Her eyes filled with sorrow as she asked, “Zachary… did you ever love me?”
