Chapter 4 Change the Lock

I made the call. Zack tried to snatch the phone from me, but I refused to let go.

His face fell, and he grabbed my arm as he pried my fingers open. Then I felt a sharp, unnatural pain shoot through my hand.

I looked down. My fingers hung limply, bent in a way they should not have been. 'Are they broken?' I wondered.

Zack snatched my phone and roared as he slammed it into the ground. "That's what you get! Call her? I can't believe how evil you are. You think of everyone in the worst way! Are you trying to get her killed?"

The breaking of my phone shook my heart, then I stepped back. This man was no lover of mine. He was a monster.

The police officer noticed my hand and said sternly, "What are you doing, Zack? I can put you right back in that room, do you hear me?"

Zack's voice was hoarse, and when he looked at me, there was only ice-cold hatred in his eyes.

I asked myself how things turned out this way. It was different seven years ago. Back then, we lived in a basement. In winter, we could not afford the heater, so we held each other for warmth at night.

Whenever my feet were freezing, he would sit up, rub his hands together until they were warm, then cup my feet in his palms to warm them.

After I fell sick, I was treated to the most sumptuous meal we had in months. I knew we had no money, and I looked at his pale face, the needle marks he tried to hide.

He sold his blood just so I could have something healthy to eat. I wondered if even that had been fake.

Someone hurried toward us with an umbrella. When she came close enough, I realised it was Jessie.

She quickly held the umbrella over Zack's head, looking worried and full of guilt. At least, that was how she wanted to appear.

"Don't fight over me, Zack. I know it's all my fault, but you shouldn't be risking yourself. I'm really sorry. You wouldn't have fought with Felix if it weren't for me."

So he had done it for her. Zack noticed that she was standing on tiptoe and immediately grew concerned. He took the umbrella from her. "I'll hold it, and don't beat yourself up. We didn't fight because of you."

I saw the concern in his eyes and gave a self-mocking smile. Then I walked over to the police officer and asked for an umbrella.

He frowned at my left hand. "We can give you a ride to the hospital."

I looked down. The pain was almost unbearable. Still, I shook my head and smiled. "No, thank you."

I went to the hospital by myself. After that, I bought a new phone, called my property manager, and listed my house for rent. "But someone's living there. Stubborn person. Might need your help."

"Leave it to us, Ms. Shayman."

The property manager brought his team over, opened the lock, and cleared everything out of the house.

Zack called me not long after. I hung up right away and blocked him everywhere. I refused to leave even a single thread of connection between us.

When Zack sent Jessica home, he noticed all her stuff was tossed out, and the lock was changed. He grabbed the property manager, who was showing the house to potential tenants.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The manager frowned. "So you're the squatter Ms. Shayman told me about. Honestly, do you know no shame? She let you stay for seven whole years for free. You should be thanking her. Instead, you're refusing to leave?"

Zack's face fell. He said coldly, "I want Jessica to tell me that herself."

The manager looked like they'd heard the best joke ever. "I'm afraid she doesn't have the time. She's already on a flight overseas. The lady's busy taking over her family business. She certainly doesn't have time for you."

Jessie's eyes went wide. "She went overseas? But your wedding is next week!"