Chapter 356
Chapter 356
Zane turned to Hayley, confusion written all over his face.
Zane said, “But what Zara’s doing doesn’t conflict with me working by your side.
“And with me around, there are many things I can help you with. Hayley, please don’t make me leave.”
E 55 vouchers
Hayley looked at Zane’s desperate eyes, the corners of her lips curved into a faint smile, and her brows were soft and gentle. Yet the words she spoke carried not the slightest warmth.
She asked, “So, Zane, are you reluctant to leave me, or reluctant to leave the high–paying job by my side?”
Zane was about to protest, but Hayley raised her hand, cutting him off, “I’ve already made my decision. I expect you to go along with it.
“For Zara’s sake, you have to go. I’ll make sure you’re compensated. Deal?”
Zane parted his lips, wanting to say more, but seeing the unwavering resolve in Hayley’s eyes, he just nodded.
Hayley smiled and turned her gaze out the window. “That’s good enough.”
“For Zara, we have to bear with it,” she added.
Zane fell silent.
Hayley said, “Let’s head back to the mansion.”
Zane replied, “Yes, Ms Hayley.”
He started the car and drove toward the Zamora mansion.
At the Zamora mansion, Zane pulled up to the entrance and got out to open the door for Hayley.
Hayley stepped out and glanced at the cars parked in the yard, her brow furrowing slightly.
After the ancestral ceremony, most of the family had returned to the mansion, but she didn’t see Daron’s car among them.
It was clear Daron wasn’t here.
A hint of seriousness flashed in Hayley’s eyes. Before she could look away, she saw Verena step out of Leo’s car and call out to her.
Verena called, “Hayley…”
Hayley ignored her and headed straight inside the mansion.
Verena watched Hayley walk inside, her eyes glinting with sarcasm before shifting to Zane.
Zane waited respectfully by the car. Noticing Verena looking his way, he offered a polite greeting. “Hey, Ms Dime.”
Verena nodded slightly, calculation flickering in her eyes.
She said, “You’ve been working for the Zamora family for quite a while now, haven’t you?”
1/4
10:06 am DDD
Chapter 356
Zane nodded. “Yes.”
B
55 vouchers
Verena smirked. “If I’m not mistaken, Harris put you with Hayley as her driver pretty soon after you started out.”
She added, “You’ve been by her side for quite a while now, haven’t you?”
Zane nodded slightly. “Yes, Ms Dime.”
Verena saw how deferential he was, her eyes narrowing just a touch, but she just walked off without another word.
Zane watched her go, his face growing solemn.
“The people in the Zamora mansion were pretty ruthless,‘ he thought.
Hayley had been officially added to the Zamoras‘ genealogy, making her the undisputed lady of the house.
Verena wasn’t about to let things go so easily.
After walking Bette out of the Zamora family’s ancestral hall, Marina didn’t bother going back in. She just called an Uber and took off.
She knew she could not head back. If she went back, she could not expect the kind of verbal beatdown Matthew would throw at her again. She’d rather leave outright than be in the discomfort of not being able to retaliate.
If she couldn’t afford to offend them, she could at least avoid them.
Besides, things at Finley Group were crazy busy lately, leaving her with plenty to do.
When Daron returned to his place and saw Marina’s car still parked in the garage, he went upstairs and searched, only to find no one.
His expression darkened. He finally took out his phone and called her.
The call connected almost instantly.
But the sounds on Marina’s end were noisy.
Daron frowned as he asked, “Where are you?”
Marina hadn’t clearly heard him. Holding the phone, she walked out of the factory.
Marina asked, “What did you say?”
Daron repeated, his voice clearly displeased, “Where are you?”
Marina sighed inwardly before answering, “There’s an issue at the Finley Group factory, so I came over to deal with it. Did you need something?”
Daron’s brow furrowed, his tone sharp. “Did you forget something?”
Marina pursed her lips and answered coolly, “The Zamora elders have plenty of opinions about me. Given the current situation, I don’t think it matters whether my name is written into the family genealogy for now.”
She paused for a while before continuing, “Besides, it’s just a name. It can be removed at any time and replaced with someone new. To me, it’s nothing more than a meaningless formality”
2/4
10:06 am DDD
Chapter 356
As soon as she finished speaking, Daron went silent on the other end.
65 vouchers
Marina’s grip on her phone tightened. She realized her words might’ve been too blunt, perhaps reminding him of how Wilhelmina’s name had been erased from the Zamoras‘ genealogy that very day.
But everything she said was the truth.
The Zamora family’s rules might look strict, yet they couldn’t withstand scrutiny.
If even the position of the former matriarch could be so easily replaced, then what was the point of adding someone in the first place?
Was it just so someone could be removed one day?
When she was a kid, listening to her grandpa talk about the Zamora family’s rules, she couldn’t help but be curious deep down.
She figured a family like that would treat their first wife with the utmost respect.
Reality, however, proved otherwise.
Even though Daron’s words about wanting future generations of the Zamora family to see her name beside his in the family tree had moved Marina, however, seeing an illegitimate child added, the former matriarch’s name erased, and the new wife stepping in as the lady of the house, whatever feelings she had just quietly faded away.
What could be erased so easily was never truly romantic.
After all, the Zamoras‘ genealogy isn’t some grand historical record.
And those women who scramble to get their names into the Zamoras‘ genealogy are probably just caught up in the family’s outdated ideals.
They think that once their name is in the tree, they will be acknowledged by the Zamora family.
But to Marina, the only tangible benefit of entering the genealogy was the material security the Zamora family provided.
Beyond that, it held no appeal.
Marina didn’t know if her words had struck a nerve with Daron, but since he’d already let Hayley into the ancestral hall, she doubted it really fazed him.
Just then, the factory manager stepped outside. Before he could say a word, Marina raised her voice and called out, “Alright, I’m coming right over!”
The manager was totally baffled.
He was just out for a breather, not even thinking of approaching Marina.
She lowered her voice and said quietly into the phone, “I’m getting busy here. I’ll hang up first.”
Without giving Daron any chance to respond, she ended the call.
After putting her phone away, she let out a long, heavy sigh.
She had been telling herself to treat Daron as a client and this marriage as a project.
3/4
10:06 am DDD
Chapter 356
But in this project, the real client wasn’t just Daron alone; it was the entire Zamora family.
And they were truly a nightmare to deal with.
4/4
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
