In addition to the 7,000,000 dollars in compensation and the divorce papers, David had agreed to buy Zachary a plane ticket for a flight scheduled to depart 10 days later.
But just before he hung up, David couldn't help asking, "Zachary, regardless of what happened between you two, you and Naomi have been together for eight whole years. Are you really willing to let her go?"
Zachary didn't answer, but waves of pain twisted through his chest.
…
Over the next three days, Naomi claimed she was busy and didn't make a single video call to him.
Meanwhile, Zachary continued to see Vincent's latest posts on social media.
Naomi and Vincent looked blissfully in love.
Vincent had arranged for the best postpartum care team in Varelle, the capital. In return, Naomi had the freshest roses from across the country flown in just for him. She'd even purchased the naming rights to a distant star and named it after him.
She had also started cooking for him, personally preparing all three meals every day without fail.
Throughout their eight years of dating and marriage, Zachary had never once tasted a meal Naomi had cooked herself. She had always insisted that cooking wasn't part of her daily schedule and that he wasn't allowed to disrupt her plans.
However, it turned out that Zachary simply wasn't worth making an exception for.
…
At last, Naomi completed her postpartum recovery and returned home from abroad.
By the time she arrived, Zachary had nearly finished packing his belongings.
Her gaze swept over the cardboard boxes piled throughout the house, and she frowned. "Why are you packing?"
Zachary hesitated, unsure whether to tell her the truth. "I—"
Before he could decide, Naomi casually lifted the lid of a box and interrupted him, "These things are all old and worn out. We might as well throw them away and buy new ones. They're just taking up space."
A chill spread through Zachary's palm.
The box Naomi had opened contained the wedding dress and suit they'd worn on their wedding day. Those items held precious memories for him. To Naomi, however, they were apparently worthless.
A flicker of mockery crossed Zachary's eyes, but his voice remained indifferent. "That's right. They're not important anyway. We might as well replace them with something new."
Even he couldn't tell whether he was talking about the things in the box or himself.
Naomi seemed about to say something else when a baby's sudden, piercing wail caught her attention.
She hurriedly turned to leave, but then seemed to remember something and glanced back at Zachary. "Zachary, I've adopted two children."
His entire body stiffened, and he felt as though he'd been plunged into a freezing abyss. He couldn't even remember how he'd managed to drag his rigid body into the living room.
The boy and girl he'd seen at the hospital lay in their bassinets, screaming and crying at the top of their lungs.
Zachary demanded an explanation, his voice hoarse. "What do you mean?"
Naomi simply handed him a set of adoption papers. "The children will be registered under our names. Starting today, you're their father."
When she saw how deathly pale he'd become, her brows drew together, and unmistakable impatience crept into her expression. "Zachary, you know how I am. I have to have children before I turn 29. My birthday is only a few days away. This is the best solution I could come up with."
Zachary began to tremble uncontrollably.
Her best solution was to have children with another man? And then hand them over to him so he could raise the children she'd conceived through her affair?
How absurd!
Zachary opened his mouth to speak, but another shrill cry from one of the babies interrupted him.
Suddenly, the front door burst open with a loud bang.
Vincent rushed inside and scooped up the crying baby, his face full of concern. "Naomi... Ms. Cole, the baby's crying so hard. You need to spend more time soothing them."
His eyes reddened as though his heart were breaking for the child. Then he looked up at Zachary.
At that moment, Zachary's heart sank into the deepest depths of hell. The man's face bore an uncanny resemblance to his own.
Suddenly, Zachary recalled a late night years ago when Naomi had gotten drunk. In the darkness, she'd abandoned her usual restraint and kissed him with unusual passion and fervor.
When her lips brushed the corner of his eye, she had murmured, "You'd look absolutely perfect with a beauty mark right here."
Vincent had a beauty mark in that exact spot.
Zachary felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head.
At last, he understood why he'd been so "fortunate" as to become a substitute in Naomi's life plan. It was all because he bore such a striking resemblance to Vincent.
Vincent was the first to speak, offering a polite greeting. "Hello, Mr. Brooks. I'm Vincent Harris, a professional newborn care specialist. Ms. Cole specifically hired me to look after the babies."
Naomi spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. "The twins were born prematurely, so they're fragile. The doctor said they should stay in a room with plenty of sunlight. Pack your things and move into the spare bedroom today. The children and Mr. Harris will stay in the master bedroom."
Zachary let out a quiet laugh. His eyes darkened as he stared at Naomi, and he enunciated every word. "Naomi, if you really need a child… I can divorce you, you know."
A shadow passed over Naomi's eyes.
She frowned and answered with deliberate emphasis, "No."
Zachary trembled slightly. "Why not?"
"Divorce isn't part of my life plan," Naomi replied.
Zachary watched her turn and walk away without the slightest hesitation. All the strength drained from his body, and he collapsed onto the floor.
So that was it. She wasn't refusing to divorce him because she still harbored even the slightest affection for him.
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