"Zach, what are you doing here?"
The second Tara heard Zach''s voice, she clenched her fists without thinking. She had no idea how much of her conversation with Reese he''d caught. If he started asking questions, what could she even say? Zach still believed that the two million dors was an investment Ramos Corporation made for her.
Tara nced at Zach''s cold, unreadable face, ready to exin herself, but he spoke first. His voice was sharp and full of suspicion.
"Reese, you''re saying you sent two million through Ramos Corporation? Can you prove it?"
Reese''s hand curled into a fist at her side, knuckles turning white. She''d only found out about the truthst week while going through Ramos Corporation''s old books. The transfer slip,beled "investment paid on behalf," was still locked in the CFO''s office.
But Ramos Corporation had been run by Dylon for years. Everyone there was loyal to him. Even after Dylon bailed and started his ownpany, plenty of his people still owned shares in the new business. They all had his back. There was no way they''d let Reese get her hands on anything that could hurt Dylon. That''s why she felt so helpless with everything going on at Ramos Corporation.
"I don''t have the proof yet, but..."
"No proof?" Zach cut her off with augh that was pure mockery. His eyes were dark and cold. "Tara is still your cousin, you know. Even if you''re mad at your uncle for ruining Ramos Corporation and dumping all that debt on you, that doesn''t give you the right to use her like this."
He took a step closer, towering over Reese. "Or do you just hate seeing me and Tara together?"
Millie saw Reese''s face go pale and quickly stepped in front of her. "Zach, you grew up with Reese. Don''t you know what kind of person she is?"
Zach''s gaze turned icy. "I know her too well."
Back when he was dating Reese, he''d been blinded by love. He always thought Reese had it tough as the outsider and felt sorry for her. He''d ignored Tara for Reese''s sake, barely giving Tara the time of day.
But after getting together with Tara, Zach realized Dylon always pitied Reese for losing her mom young, so everything good had to be given to Reese, and Tara was the one who had to give way. In the end, Tara was the one who got hurt.
Thinking about it, Zach stared at Reese over Millie''s shoulder, his eyes cold and unwavering. “So I don''t believe a word thates out of her mouth."
Millie shook with anger, wanting to fight back, but Reese grabbed her arm.
Reese looked into Zach''s eyes and saw nothing but disgust. Her heart, which she thought had gone numb, twisted with pain. "Come on, Millie. Let''s go."
"But he..."
Millie tried to argue, but Reese silenced her with a look.
Reese knew arguing with Zach was pointless now. It would only make him angrier, and she didn''t want Millie to get dragged in.
She pulled Millie along, walking straight and tall, but the way her hand trembled on Millie''s wrist gave her away.
Zach watched them leave, frowning deeply.
Tara noticed, and a flicker of
satisfaction shed in her eyes. She
slipped her arm through Zach'' 19
spoke in a gentle almost hur voices "Zach, about the two million, I..."
“I believe you,” Zach cut in, his tone softening as he looked at her. "Even if Reese dide up with the. money, so what? You''re the who''s always been here for me.
“And besides, she''d just married into the Ratcliff family back then. Sebastian couldn''t stand her There''s no way he would''ve given her that much money."
"Excuse me, sir, ma''am, would you still like these clothes?"
A sales assistant came over, careful and polite, holding out a neatly wrapped trench coat and dress.
Tara smiled. "Sorry, I think I''ll look around a bit more."
She checked her watch. "Oh wow, look at the time. I actually have somewhere else to be."
Zach looked confused. "Didn''t youe here just to shop today?"
Tara shook her head. “No, I''m meeting Sofia. I just got here early, so I was killing time."
As she hurried out, Zach shook his head, a little helpless, and quickly followed to steady her.
"What are you meeting Sofia for?"