Chapter 6
After a few days of rest, Sally felt a little better, but on the day of the family dinner, her head was still cloudy.
As evening rolled in, she got ready and took a taxi to the Zale family’s estate.
The Zale estate sat halfway up the hill. Returning after three years in prison, Sally felt a heaviness in her chest.
At the entrance, a shiny Rolls–Royce Cullinan with custom plates caught her attention. It seemed Jaxon Zale was really back.
“Mom, dinner’s starting soon. Why are you so late?” Nick’s voice came from the doorway, sounding annoyed.
He stood there, clearly frustrated.
Sally glanced at her son, but her eyes caught two shadows slipping past him. It was Brad and Lena.
Sally couldn’t believe Brad brought Lena to a family dinner.
Sally walked inside, and Lena spotted her. “Great timing! The kitchen’s slammed. Mind helping out?”
The Zale household had plenty of staff, but with the holiday, several were off.
At past family dinners, Sally would cook to make sure Brad and Nick ate well. Yet somehow, both of the two still called her “lazy”
When she looked back, she found it so funny.
When Lena headed to the kitchen, Sally stayed put.
“Mom, go help Lena. She’s been working hard–don’t let her wear herself out,” Nick said, nudging her forward.
Nick gave her a push, his impatience obvious.
Brad was busy talking with his mom, Lauren, not even glancing at Sally.
Sally didn’t bother looking their way and went straight to the kitchen.
As soon as she stepped in, Lena handed her a dipping sauce dish. “Mrs. Zale, this is Nick’s favorite sauce. I’m swamped. Can you drop it by his seat?”
Sally started to say no, but a staff member slipped the dish into her hands.
Carrying the sauce out, she noticed two familiar guys coming down the staircase from the corner of her eye.
“Sally, you’re here?” Howard Zale’s voice called out, and Sally’s eyes flicked toward him.
The first thing she saw was a man’s sharp, striking face,
He wore a fitted black suit, a black ring on his right index finger highlighting his long fingers, giving off a distant, untouchable
vibe.
Every time she saw him, four words popped into her head: cool, polished, unreachable.
Jaxon was walking beside Howard, coming down the stairs. He gave her a quick, cold glance before looking away.
Sally’s grip on the sauce dish tightened for a moment.
This man, now standing at the top of the world… She never thought they’d meet again like this.
A second later, she looked away and said, “Good to see you, Howard…”
Howard, who hadn’t seen Sally in three years, pulled her to the couch for a warm catch–up before everyone moved to the dining table.
Howard sat at the head, with Jaxon to his right.
1/3
Sally sat next to Brad, with Nick between him and Lena.
Halfway through dinner, a choking sound broke the warm atmosphere.
“Dad, I feel terrible… my skin’s itching like crazy…”
As Nick spoke, a loud crash followed–his plate hit the floor.
He grabbed Jaxon’s hand, vomiting and trembling.
“What’s happening?” asked Howard. His face was filled with concern as he stood up.
Brad immediately rolled up Nick’s sleeve. His forearm was covered in red patches.
“Brad, is this an allergic reaction?” Lena asked, her voice tense. “But he’s only allergic to cayenne pepper, and there’s none in the food today!”
Divorce or not, Sally couldn’t just stand there, because Nick was her flesh and blood, no matter what he had done.
She hurried to Nick’s side, lifting his shirt to check his stomach.
It was definitely an allergy, and it looked serious.
Nick had been allergic to cayenne pepper since he was a kid. Once, a staff member’s mistake led to him eating some, and he’d fainted.
This time, it seemed like less, and he was still awake, at least.
Brad sniffed the dipping sauce, his brows knitting slightly. “Who made this?” he asked.
Sally’s eyes darted to Lena. “She did,” she said.
Lena shook her head fast. “I didn’t add any cayenne pepper. And after I made it, I gave it to Sally to bring out…”
Everyone turned to stare at Sally.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sally’s face darkened, her voice sharp. “You think I put cayenne pepper in it?”
“I’m not accusing anyone,” Lena said, her voice soft but pointed. “But I know I didn’t add anything.
“I get that you’re still upset about the three years you spent in prison, and maybe you’ve got a grudge against me.
“But to go this far? Using your own son with Brad? That’s cold.”
Her words turned every head against Sally.
Anger flashed in Sally’s eyes.
Anger flashed in Sally’s eyes. ‘So that’s why Lena pushed me to go to the kitchen.
It was a trap, and she’d walked right into it.
Howard, sensing the tension boiling over, stepped in. “Let’s get the family doctor here first,” he said.
“Yes, sir,” the butler said, rushing off to make the call.
Brad grabbed Sally’s arm. “Is Lena telling the truth? Did you put the cayenne pepper in there?”
“I didn’t,” Sally said firmly.
“Mom, Lena’s always been good to me. She’s never hurt me,” Nick said, his voice shaky. “But you’ve gone after her before. Why would you do this to me now?”
“I said I didn’t,” Sally repeated.
But it was like no one listened. No one believed her.
2/3
A famous actress versus an ex–convict? No wonder they wouldn’t believe in Sally..
The actress barely had to try to come out on top. No matter how much Sally denied it, it didn’t matter.
“Sally, three years in prison, and you’re still this cruel?” Lauren snapped. “Even a wolf doesn’t hurt her own cubs! To frame Lena, you’d use your own son? What’s wrong with you?”
“Mom, I’m so disappointed in you…” Nick sobbed, his tears making everything messier.
“Brad, nothing’s been proven yet. Don’t just accuse Sally,” Howard said sternly, grabbing everyone’s attention. “I don’t believe she’d do this.”
Sally glanced over, her eyes meeting Jaxon’s.
He leaned back in his chair, watching the drama with a cool smirk, like it was a show that had nothing to do with him.
“Mr. Zale, are you saying…” Lena’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke, “that I did this?”
