Chapter 78
“What the hell, Issac!” Summer snapped, trying to keep her eyes on the road while he clutched her phone. “Gave that back
But it was too late, Issac had already opened her messages and seen the latest text from Charlotte,
She was waiting at a kebab shop in some nearby town.
He didn’t stop at reading just that message he scrolled through their entire conversation, his jaw tightening with each text. The wins in his temple throbbed as his grip nearly cracked the screen.
So Zarek fucking Weasley had swooped in to rescue her,
Which meant he’d been tracking her all along.
Even Summer could see the guy had ulterior motives. How dare Charlotte play innocent?
Despite clearly seething, Issac maintained enough composure to text back “On our way,” find the kebab shop on the map, and direct Summer to drive there.
“And if you try anything stupid,” he added coldly, “I’ll throw you out and drive myself.”
Perfect, Summer thought. How the hell did I get stuck playing chauffeur to this psycho?
Given that he looked ready to explode, she didn’t dare argue. She liked breathing, after all.
Charlotte never imagined in a million years that Summer would cross paths with Issac–let alone have him hijack her car.
One innocent text had completely blown her cover.
Not long after climbing into Zarek’s car, her stomach had growled embarrassingly loud. Without comment, he’d turned into a small town where only a kebab shop and a Subway remained open this late.
“Let’s do kebabs,” she’d said, trying to sound casual.
She’d texted Summer the location, figuring her friend probably hadn’t eaten dinner either. She ordered an extra portion with extra beef.
Zarek gave
her a knowing half–smile. “So you do have a heart after all.”
“What?” Charlotte blinked. “Oh–right. Um, do you like spicy food?”
Her hasty recovery wasn’t quick enough. Zarek caught that momentary flash of confusion in her eyes and instantly realized his mistake.
The food wasn’t meant for him at all.
“Bit late to ask about spice preferences after ordering, isn’t it?” he said, his voice neutral but eyes amused.
“Not really,” Charlotte gestured to the condiments on the table corner. “You can customize when it arrives.”
“…” Zarek studied her for a moment. “Let’s be honest. Was this order actually for me?”
“Of course!” Charlotte’s eyes went wide with practiced innocence. “Who else would I be ordering for?”
What else could she do? It was like when your boss accidentally takes credit for someone else’s work. She could hardly snatch it back and say, “Actually, that wasn’t meant for you.”
Her “star employee” capital was running low as it was.
“Ms. Whitmore,” Zarek said with a soft laugh, “you’re wasting serious talent not being in Hollywood.”
Charlotte’s face went crimson.
Under the harsh fluorescent lights that highlighted every detail, her little white lie was completely transparent.
10:04
The Moment I Let Go My Uncle: Escaping the Forbidden Past,
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“Tine,” she surrendered “Tordered it for Summer”
Zarek said nothing more
When their food arrived, he didn’t touch his
Charlotte sat uncomfortably, geminely starving but unable to eat with him watching her with that “you ungrateful, dishonest woman look. How could she possibly enjoy her food now?
She mentally promised to always order for him first in the future!
Outside, headlights flashed as Summer’s car pulled up.
Through the glass storefront, Charlotte spotted Summer getting out of the driver’s side. She started to wave, then froze as the watched a tall figure emerge from the passenger seat.
Oh no. No, no, no,
Zarek noticed her expression change and glanced over his shoulder.
He saw Summer, looking like she’d rather be literally anywhere else, and Issac, radiating pure murderous intent.
After a moment of mental calculation, he turned back to Charlotte, who looked ready to crawl under the table.
“Tate,” he said simply.
Charlotte nodded numbly. “Yep. Fucking fate.”
What else could you call it?
After everything, Issac had found her again.
The door swung open with a jingle.
Issac made a beeline for their table, sliding in next to Charlotte with barely contained rage. His eyes swept from her face to the kebab in front of her.
Unexpectedly, he smiled–that dangerous smile that never reached his eyes–and grabbed her hand, pulling the kebab toward himself. He took a deliberate bite.
“So hungry you had to run off for a midnight snack?” he asked with false lightness. “You could’ve just told me you were starving.”
Charlotte’s answering smile was brittle enough to shatter.
Issac turned to Zarek, all pretense of civility evaporating. “Tell me, Weasley, is this a hobby of yours? Circling around other men’s wives? She’s married, in case that detail escaped you.”
The kebab shop owner, his wife, and the only other customer openly stared now.
Free relationship drama with their late–night meal!
Summer couldn’t take it anymore. “Jesus Christ, Issac, stop acting like a rabid dog. Mr. Weasley was helping her after YOU dragged her to the middle of nowhere!”
Issac turned to her with glacial calm. “Wasn’t it you who texted that–what was it?-if he wasn’t interested in Charlotte, you’d stand on your head and eat your shoes? Ready for dinner?”
Summer choked: “…”
Charlotte wanted to disappear: “…”
Neither of them had ever imagined their private conversation would reach Zarek’s ears this way.
The atmosphere congealed like day–old hummus.
After what felt like an eternity, Zarek smiled with effortless charm. His composure remained perfect–the kind of unflappable confidence that made even his most outrageous actions seem reasonable.
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The Moment I Let Go My Uncle: Escaping the Forbidden Past.
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Chapter 78
“Whether I’m interested in Ms. Whitmore is entirely my personal business,” he said, his voice as smooth as expensive whiskey, “If my actions tonight have upset you, Mr. Wood, I can only apologize. But regardless, even if you are technically still her husband, forcing yourself on an unwilling woman is… how shall I put this? The behavior of a man with more entitlement than character.”
Charlotte stopped breathing.
Her heart hammered against her ribs.
Damn, Summer thought. He basically just said “Even if I am after your wife, you can’t do anything about it” in the most elegant way possible.
The man was absolutely intoxicating.
Both his appearance and his character belonged in another league entirely.
Issac sat there, choking on rage, his fist clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. If looks could kill, Zarek would have been reduced to a smoldering pile of ash.
“Excuse me,” Zarek called to the staff, his tone unchanged.
The kebab shop owner’s wife practically shoved her husband aside to reach their table. “Yes, handsome? What can I get you?”
“We’ve been so caught up in conversation that our food’s gone cold,” Zarek said with a charming smile. “Could we get four fresh orders?” He glanced at Summer. “With extra beef for the lady.”
Summer melted a little inside.
“Right away!” The owner’s wife beamed, clearly starstruck.
Soon, four steaming kebabs appeared at their table.
Issac was too furious to eat.
Charlotte managed half a portion, her appetite destroyed by the tension.
Summer spent the entire meal sneaking glances at Zarek while methodically devouring only the meat and ignoring the bread.
Only Zarek ate with perfect composure. When he finished, he dabbed his mouth with a napkin and said mildly, “Such a waste of perfectly good food.”
“I’m not done!” Summer protested, suddenly attacking her plate with renewed vigor. She polished off everything, including the sauce, and let out a satisfied burp.
“Summer…” Charlotte passed her a napkin with concern.
She knew Summer often skipped breakfast and stayed up late reviewing cases. Her stomach was sensitive–eating too quickly could trigger acid reflux
or worse.
Summer waved her off. “I’m fine! We can’t waste food in this economy.” She glared across the table. “Issac, eat yours or I swear I’ll force–feed you.”
Issac shot her a look that could freeze hell.
When Charlotte tried to get up to pay, Summer yanked her back down. “You’re finishing every bite too, missy.”
Charlotte sighed in defeat. “…”
