Hugh''s voice was cold, but his touch remained gentle as he helped Serena to her feet and led her out of the restaurant.


    Zach''s eyes fixed on their intertwined hands, a growing difort gnawing at him.


    Serena was nothing more than Hugh''s mistress, yet it seemed as if she had received all of his affection. Did she really not care about the love Zach had once shown her?


    Frustration bubbled up inside him. Just then, his phone buzzed relentlessly in his pocket. Neal''s name shed across the screen.


    "Why are you still wasting time in Javerton City? If you couldn''t secure the chip deal, get back to Yellowbrook. There''s a mountain of work waiting for you."


    Neal rambled on about business, hardly giving Zach a chance to speak before issuing his final ultimatum.


    "If you''re noting back to manage Foster Group, don''t bothering back at all!"


    The call ended abruptly, leaving a faint ringing in Zach''s ears.


    He had failed to secure Larson Group''s support, and all the major projects in Javerton City had fallen through. One failure after another had drained Neal''s patience.


    It was time to go back.


    But...


    Zach slowly clenched his fists, a cold, menacing glint shing in his eyes. Serena hadn''t changed her mind, and the thought of failing both in business and love twisted painfully in his chest.


    "No, I can''t go back empty-handed like this. Rena, wait for me," Zach murmured.


    He called Morton. "Arrange a grand proposal for me. It should take ce at a popr restaurant with heavy foot traffic. Make sure it''s well-publicized so everyone hears about it."


    ...


    Wendy hadn''t expected toe across the proposal n.


    After a long day of work, Zach returned home and left his phone on the table.


    While pouring herself some water, Wendy noticed the screen was lit up. As she reached to hand the phone to Zach, a message from Morton popped up on the


    screen.


    "The proposal arrangements are all set."


    The message contained the address, the time, and a picture of an enormous diamond ring.


    Wendy''s heart nearly leapt out of her chest.


    A proposal? Was Zach finally ready to give her a title?


    And right in the heart of the downtown shopping district!


    Her heart raced, and she almost screamed in excitement. But the she realized this surprise was meant for her. She covered her mouth, trying to suppress the excited tremors running through her.


    Quietly, she ced the phone back where it had been.


    Back in her room, Wendy heard Zach''s footsteps echo down the hallway.


    When they stopped in the living


    room,


    Suddenly spoke. "Goo . Don''t let the surprisi


    extra careful before she


    slip."


    What if Serena found out about the proposal and decided to back out?


    But Zach knew that once he proposed to Serena, whether


    sessful or not, it would be public knowledge. She would be forced into the spotlight alongside his name.


    There would be no chance for Hugh to take Serena away from him.


    The thought made him chuckle as he sent Serena a text invitation.


    On the other side of the wall, Wendy listened closely, barely able to contain her excitement.


    She was about to be Zach''s wife!


    Meanwhile, Serena nced at the invitation text on her phone.


    "Doesn''t he have work to do?" she muttered.


    Thinking of the mountain of tasks waiting for her at Amber Group, she deleted the message.


    "If you''ve got nothing better to do, you might as well head home. Staying here is just a waste of time."