Zara bit her lip, surprised that Garret would call her out right in front of Daron. Daron didn’t even try to defend her, so she spoke up for herself, her voice sounding a bit aggrieved.
“She just looked so pitiful, crying like that, so I tried to comfort her a bit,” Zara said.
Garret gave her a sideways glance. “You call that comforting her?” he said. “What you did was more like…”
Zara didn’t let Garret finish. She cut him off and fessed up right away. “Garret, I know I messed up. I said the wrong thing, Honestly, I just wanted to impress everyone,” she said.
‘I promise I won’t do it again,” she added.
Seeing her looking all apologetic and pitiful, Garret stayed quiet for a moment before finally saying, his tone flat. “Just wate ind learn. Now’s not the time for you to show off,” he told her.
Zara nodded, “Got it.” She humbled herself and defused the tension perfectly, smoothing things over without a hitch.
Garret hadn’t meant to give Zara a hard time. He knew she’d never really fit in with the Zamora family, so she’d gotten used o trying to win people over.
Her move just now was all about wanting to show off; she just wanted to get on Daron’s good side. Garret didn’t give it nother thought and followed Daron.
Daron, who was that Mrs. Zamora, the family member mentioned just now?” Garret asked.
Could it be someone from the second branch of the Zamora family?‘ Garret wondered. ‘We’re out here leading the rescue fforts, and now the second branch is swooping in to steal all the credit?‘ he thought.
Daron just frowned, not bothering to answer Garret. As they walked toward the ER, sure enough, they spotted members of he second branch of the Zamora family.
But those folks were hanging back near the edges, not right up front. The entrance to the ER was already packed with the patient’s family.
Harris noticed Daron and, after a brief pause, spoke up. “Daron, you sure got here fast,” Harris said.
Daron looked over at Matthew, his tone calm. “When it’s a matter of life and death, how could I not move quickly?” Daron replied.
‘You’re up early, Matthew, he added.
Matthew’s tone was flat, with a trace of irritation. “Doesn’t matter how early I show up, you two are always here before ine, he said, a little sour.
Hearing that, Daron looked up and walked toward the center of the crowd. There, right in the middle, was Marina, comforting the injured person’s family.
The family had gathered around her, tearfully pouring out their grief Marina’s eyes shone with genuine care, not a him of insincerity. Her voice was gentle as she clasped their hands firmly, assuring them that no matter what, Zamora Groups would take full responsibility.
Garret saw what was happening too, lowered his voice, and whispered to Daron ‘So it’s Marina, he murmared
He’d thought the second branch of the Zamora family would get here ahead of them, but in the end, it was Marija who
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Chapter 382
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ended up in the spotlight. Daron hadn’t expected that the Mrs. Zamora the workers‘ folks were talking about was actually Marina.
Marina had always kept their marriage under wraps. If she hadn’t revealed her identity, nobody would’ve known she was Mrs. Zamora. She probably admitted who she was just for him.
Daron felt a wave of emotion in his eyes, his deep black gaze locked onto Marina, unable to tear himself away.
Zara bit back her frustration. She’d been sure Hayley would be the first one at the hospital, but to her shock, it was Marina who showed up ahead of everyone.
She drew in a slow breath, bowed her head, and buried the envy burning in her eyes. When Zara finally got her emotions in check and looked up, she saw Daron heading straight for Marina.
Marina was sticking close to the patient’s family, anxiously waiting for any updates, so focused she didn’t even realize wher Daron came up right beside her.
Matthew saw Marina and Daron standing side by side, let out a heavy sigh, and leaned in to whisper to the person next to him. “Get them to take down the news they put out,” he said.
The person next to Matthew leaned in, covered their mouth, and whispered in his ear. “As soon as we got word that Mr. Zamora was on site, we told them to retract the news, but they wouldn’t budge; they flat–out refused to take it down.”
Matthew’s face turned ashen, his expression stiff. Just as he was about to leave the hospital, he spotted Zara lingering at the back of the crowd, fixated on Daron and Marina, totally spaced out.
With just one glance, Matthew couldn’t miss the raw envy blazing in Zara’s eyes.
The person next to Matthew looked a bit uneasy and whispered, “Mr. Zamora definitely knows who leaked the news. That’s why he’s refusing to let us take it down; he wants to make himself look good.”
‘Mr. Matthew, we need to take action now, or Mr. Zamora might kick us out of the center of power,” the person added in a low voice.
Daron already knew exactly what they were plotting; there was no way he’d show them any mercy from then on.
Over the years, Matthew’s ambition had only gotten bigger. All he wanted was to take full control of the Zamora family while he was still alive. But now, Daron had seen right through his ambitions.
Anyone at the top would never keep a threat close. Daron had already pulled Leo down from the top at Zamora Group before; he sure wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to Matthew.
Matthew let out a long breath, cast a quick look at Zara, and murmured to the person next to him. “Don’t worry. One way or another, we’ll find a way to drag him down from that spot,” he said.
After saying that, Matthew strode off without looking back. Zara noticed Matthew shoot her a look, so she immediately ducked her head and stepped aside, playing the part of someone meek and easy to push around
Only after Matthew left did Zara finally lift her gaze, staring straight at Marina and Daron She bit down hand on her lips her eyes full of frustration and unwillingness to accept it.
It should be me standing next to Daron right now, not Marina, Zara thought, bitterness and jealousy churning inside her This was the ending she had imagined the night before, when she walked out the door.
Zara had pulled an all–nighter at Daron’s side, helping him lead the rescue on the front lines. But when it was finally her moment to shine, Marina ended up getting all the credit. There was no way Zara could just swallow that.
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Chapter 382
55 Vouchers
If looks could kill, Marina would’ve been shredded a thousand times over by the daggers in Zara’s glare. Marina could feel that unfriendly stare on her. She glanced over and saw Zara standing off in the corner.
Since she’d come straight from the front lines with Daron, there was still some dirt on her clothes. Marina shot her a cool glance, then looked away, unfazed. She lowered her gaze to Daron, noticing the dirt on his clothes too. She bit her lip, then quietly looked away.
Zara had already gotten her cast removed, and she’d be joining Zamora Group soon. This was the perfect opportunity to push Zara into the public eye. Honestly, it was no surprise that Daron set things up for the people he cared about.
After this, when Zara started at Zamora Group, she’d be walking in with all that glory and a new title; nobody would dare mess with her or treat her like a nobody anymore. Man, he really pulled out all the stops for her.
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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.
