Chapter 7

“Don’t scratch! Hang in there! Get her allergy medicine!”

The servant hurried over with the medicine, but it did not help. Zoey still looked miserable and kept scratching herself.

Julian saw how much pain she was in, and his anger flared. He turned sharply toward Zara.

“You put peanut butter in her oatmeal!”

“Yes.” Zara looked confused. “Isn’t that what she likes?”

“Who told you Zoey likes peanut butter? She’s been allergic to peanuts since she was a child! She can’t have even a trace of it!

“Zara, I asked you to take care of her, and you didn’t like it. So, this is how you decided to get back at her? How could you do something so cruel?”

Julian grabbed the bowl of hot oatmeal from the table and hurled it at Zara.

The hot oatmeal splashed all over her. It stuck to her hair and clothes and ran down her body.

Her skin burned, but the ache in her heart was even worse.

She stood there in shock and could not even defend herself.

“I feel awful, Julian. I…”

Zoey passed out again.

Julian completely lost his temper.

He turned to the two bodyguards behind him and shouted, “Grab her!”

“What are you going to do?” Zara struggled with all her strength.

“Julian, Ruby told me Zoey likes peanut butter!”

“You still have the nerve to make excuses? You and Ruby have always been close. Why would she lie to you? Everyone knows Zoey’s allergic to peanuts!”

In that instant, Zara understood everything.

Ruby had done it on purpose.

She had worked with Zoey to put on this act, and she had deliberately set Zara up.

“Someone get the strawberry jam. Hold her down and force it into her mouth!”

Zara could not believe what she had just heard.

“Julian, have you lost your mind? You know I’m severely allergic to strawberries!”

Once Julian found out about Zara’s strawberry allergy, he had always paid close attention to what she ate.

Candy, cakes, desserts…

Whenever there was even a chance that something contained strawberries, he would warn the staff ahead of time. He never allowed anyone to add strawberries to her food.

Once, someone accidentally put a little strawberry jam in a cake. Zara had an allergic reaction, and Julian had nearly destroyed that person’s bakery.

But this time, he was willing to punish her for Zoey.

Zara’s heart shattered. Before she could explain herself, the servant forced spoonful after spoonful of strawberry jam into her mouth.

She desperately turned her head, but she could not break free.

Within moments, she felt unwell.

Her throat tightened, and she struggled to breathe.

She bent over and coughed.

Julian’s eyes were fixed on Zoey.

“Call the family doctor right now! Hurry!”

Julian carried Zoey upstairs.

Zara’s vision blurred. Then, everything went dark.

When Zara woke up, it was the next day.

Julian sat beside her bed. When he saw that she was awake, he looked helpless.

“You’re awake. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Zara did not look at him. She simply turned her head away and stayed silent.

“Zara, please don’t be like this. I was furious at the time. That’s why I treated you that way.”

Julian took her hand and kissed it.

“I’m sorry. I promise I won’t ever let you suffer like this again, okay?”

She did not respond. He sighed.

“Zoey just had a baby. Whatever you’re upset about, please don’t take it out on her while she’s recovering. I promise I’ll find a nanny for her as soon as possible.”

Just then, his phone rang.

“Zoey, what’s wrong?”

“Where are you? I miss you. The baby misses you too. Why aren’t you home yet?”

“I’ll be home soon, okay? Just give me ten minutes.”

After he hung up, Julian hesitated.

“Zara, I’ll come back to see you later. I…”

Zara pulled her hand away.

“Go.”

“Get some rest. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow, okay? Once you’re discharged, I won’t make you take care of Zoey anymore.

“Go back to our house for now. I left the divorce papers on the nightstand beside our bed. Keep them somewhere safe. Once Zoey finishes her recovery, we’ll get married again right away.”

He turned to leave. Zara looked at his back and said calmly, “Goodbye, Julian.”

She knew it was the last time she would ever see him.

“See you tomorrow.” He hurried out, and the door slammed shut.

Zara looked at the IV bag above her. She waited until the bag was empty, then removed the IV and got out of bed.

She went back to the house she had shared with Julian. She took the divorce papers and her luggage. Then, she put her wedding ring back where it had always been.

On the way to the airport, Ruby sent her a text.

[Zara, I didn’t mean for the peanut butter thing to happen. Zoey threatened me. She said she’d get Julian to fire me if I didn’t help her. You know how badly I need the money. I’m sorry.]

Zara read the message but did not reply.

She blocked Ruby and deleted her number. Then, she did the same with Julian’s number.

After all these years, she was done with both their friendship and their love.

When the plane took off, Zara looked out at the clouds.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

She thought, ‘Julian, I’m leaving.

‘From now on, we’re strangers.’