Chapter 7
Howard let out a quiet grunt but didn’t say a word.
Everyone in the Zale family knew Howard wasn’t a fan of women in the entertainment world and didn’t approve of Brad’s connection with Lena.
Brad bringing her to the family dinner? Howard wasn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat.
Lauren, seeing Nick’s condition getting worse, helped him over to the couch.
Brad stepped up to defend Lena, his voice firmly on her side. “Grandpa, Lena would never do something like this. It’s got to be Sally; she pulled the same thing on Lena three years ago!”
His tone was cold, his eyes sharp with accusation.
But Sally’s heart? It was like ice, unmoved.
In the whole Zale family, probably only Howard had her back.
Lena started, “Mrs. Zale, even if you’ve got a problem with me, you shouldn’t have gone after a kid…”
“Slap…”
HOGE
Lena didn’t finish her sentence. Sally’s hand shot up, landing a hard smack across her face.
Everyone froze, mouths open.
Sally was always quiet, swallowing her pain without a word. This was the first time they’d seen her lash out.
“I’m not taking the blame for something I didn’t do,” Sally said, her voice calm but fierce. “You can pin this on me once, and I’ll let it go. But keep pushing me, and I’m not staying quiet.”
Her words weren’t loud, but they hit hard.
Her eyes burned with a storm ready to unleash.
At the head of the table, Jaxon’s sharp gaze flicked up, one eyebrow slightly raised.
His fingers, tapping the table, stopped. A small smirk tugged at his lips.
“This woman… she has some fire, he thought to himself.
“Sally, what the hell?” Brad rushed forward, pulling a stunned Lena behind him.
He glared at Sally. “Three years, and you’re still the same–just worse.”
The family doctor showed up just then, and Lauren, holding Nick, took him upstairs.
Sally ignored Brad, planning to check on Nick and get out of there.
But before she could take a step, Brad grabbed her wrist. “Sally, you’re not leaving until we settle this.”
“Settle this?” Sally pulled her arm free, her eyes flashing. “Fine. I want a divorce. Is that clear enough?”
The room went silent. Every pair of eyes locked on Sally, including Brad’s.
A family dinner, and she drops that she sure knew how to steal the show,
Brad suddenly had a feeling that the Prison hadn’t changed Sally for a bit.
Jaxon, who’d been watching the chaos unfold, finally let his eyes rest on her. Now he was really paying attention.
Her white, floor–length dress made her slim frame look even more fragile.
Her face, pale from years of tough times, now had a spark of life from her anger.
1/3
No one would’ve thought those delicate hands could hit so hard. Quick, clean, no hesitation.
And just like that… She’d caught Jaxon’s interest.
But every time his eyes landed on her face, something familiar nagged at him.
Where have I seen her before?‘ He couldn’t figure it out.
“Sally, if you want to make a scene, pick a better time,” Brad snapped. “Keep our personal drama out of the family dinner. You’re making a fool of yourself.”
“Then tell me, what’s not embarrassing?” Sally fired back, glaring at Brad as he stood in front of Lena.
She laughed coldly, “Admitting I spiked my own kid’s sauce with cayenne peppe
Taking the blame for someone else?
“The real embarrassment is someone who does the deed but won’t admit it.”
Brad snapped, “Sally, enough-”
Yet his words were cut off by a deep, commanding voice from the head of the table. “Brad, without proof, you can’t just blame her.”
Everyone turned toward the voice. Sally looked too.
When her eyes met Jaxon’s, she caught a flicker of something complicated in his gaze, tough to read.
Brad looked up, meeting Jaxon’s eyes just as Jaxon glanced away.
His shoulders stiffened, thinking, ‘Why is Jaxon backing Sally?‘
Brad’s dad had two brothers, and Jaxon was the youngest. Since old Mr. and Mrs. Zale had Jaxon pretty late, he’s not much older than Brad, his nephew.
Years back, Jaxon had gone his own way, building a business empire that made the Zale family’s wealth and power look small.
In the business world, he was untouchable–no one dared cross him, especially not in the Zale house.
Brad started to speak but stopped himself.
Just then, the doctor came downstairs, saying Nick’s condition wasn’t too bad and he’d been given meds.
After the doctor left, Brad spoke up again. “One way or another, we’re sorting this out tonight.”
“Oh, I’m ready to sort things out,” Sally said. “Since everyone’s here, why don’t you all watch?”
She walked to the sofa, grabbed a document from her bag with a quick flick.
Back in front of Brad, she slapped a divorce agreement down in front of him.
Brad picked it up, his eyes widening in shock. ‘She’s put this together that fast?‘
“Sign it, and we’re done for good,” said Sally.
With that, she turned and walked out, leaving a room full of stunned faces behind.
Brad stared after her, his hand shaking slightly as he held the papers.
A quiet humiliation for him in front of everyone? Even he himself got to admit this was well played.
In the corner, Jaxon’s eyes glinted under the soft light, hard to read. He gave a faint smirk.
Tonight’s drama? A total show, and he was eating it up.
Outside the Zale estate, Sally opened her ride–hailing app, trying to uber home.
But the estate was halfway up the hill, and after ten minutes, no driver had picked up the request.
2/3
She clenched her jaw and started walking along the road’s edge.
No way was she going back inside. She still had some dignity.
Five minutes later, a wave of dizziness hit. She touched her forehead. It was hot again. Probably her fever coming back.
Just then, headlights swept over her from behind. A Maybach drove past, then slowed and stopped beside her.
The back window rolled down.
Sally turned as a voice called out. “Need a ride?”
