Chapter 539
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Now that Albert had shown up, Zack was still acting like he didn’t care about his own safety. Nipsy hurried to grab Zack, trying to hold him back.
“Mr. Clark…” Nipsy tried to say.
But before he could finish, Zack shoved him aside.
“Get lost. This isn’t your place to talk,” Zack snapped.
Nipsy’s family was pretty much the lowest among everyone here.
A flicker of anger flashed in his eyes, but he quickly went with the shove and let himself fall.
He fell to the floor with a cry of pain, clutching his hand.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward him.
Nipsy’s face twisted in pain as he gritted out his words, struggling to speak.
“I think I might have broken my hand,” Nipsy groaned.
Zack was completely ignoring him, fueled by booze and bravado, ready to barge straight into the Finleys’
house.
Seeing what was happening, Nipsy picked himself up off the floor, rubbing his hand awkwardly. He muttered, “Guess I’ll need to hit the hospital, so I’ll be heading out.”
He wasted no time getting back to his car, started it up, and sped away.
There was no way he could afford to cross any of these people, and sticking around would only make things worse for him.
He’d originally hoped to play matchmaker for Elnora and Zack. After all, they’d been secretly seeing each other for years. If he could pull it off, both of them would owe him big time.
But being the guy trying to set them up was way tougher than he thought.
Zack was stubborn as hell. Albert was right there, and he still wanted to rush in like nothing could stop him.
If word of this got back to the Clark family, Zack would be in deep trouble.
And if anyone found out he was the one who brought Zack here today, he’d end up stuck in the worst spot, with nobody on his side.
Pretending to be hurt was the best way to slip out of there.
As Nipsy left, Zack was left all alone at the Finleys’ front door.
12:54 Thu, Apr 23.
Chapter 539
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Albert blocked Zack’s path, grabbed him by the collar, and socked him right in the face. He slammed Zack to the ground, yanked him up by the collar, and smirked.
Albert said, “Mr. Clark, people say you’re honest when you’re drunk, but from where I’m standing, you’re just using it as an excuse to cause trouble.
“You think you can bully my wife’s family just because you think no one’s here to stand up for them?”
Albert shoved Zack to the ground, yanking him up by the collar. Zack’s face went pale as a sheet, and the drunken haze cleared from his mind in a flash.
He knew deep down he was out of line, but there was no way he’d let himself look weak in front of Albert. So he threw himself right into the fight, grappling with him.
Zack never had the upper hand to begin with, and now that he tried to fight back, Albert just kept him pinned. It wasn’t long before Zack’s face was bloodied and bruised.
Daron waited for Albert to calm down a bit before stepping in and breaking them up.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Daron said.
Zack lay battered on the ground, but his mouth was as sharp as ever. He refused to admit defeat.
Zack spat, “Albert, you really think beating me up means you get Elnora? Dream on.
“Let me make it clear. Elnora’s always been mine. Past, present, and forever, she only cares about me.”
Elnora stepped out of the Finley family’s house and overheard Zack’s claim.
She walked over to Albert’s side, looked down at Zack lying on the ground, and said cooly, “Really?”
“Funny, I don’t remember ever feeling that way,” she added.
Zack froze for a second when he saw Elnora, then scrambled to his feet, staring at her.
“Elnora, you finally decided to come out and see me,” Zack said, his voice full of relief.
Elnora shot Zack a frosty, emotionless glance.
“I’ve already called Mila. She’ll be here soon to pick you up.” Elnora told him coolly.
Zack’s face suddenly changed, and he blurted out, “I’m not going back with Mila.”
“Elnora, I want to be with you. I’ve already made up my mind. I’m divorcing Mila, and I want to be with you. Please, don’t marry Albert. Stay with me instead,” Zack pleaded.
Albert couldn’t help but laugh in anger at Zack’s words.
He never thought someone would try to steal Elnora from him right under his nose. It was downright ridiculous.
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Chapter 539
Elnora looked away from Zack and spotted the split on Albert’s lip, frowning a little.
“Why would you think I’d ever settle for secondhand goods?” Elnora said.
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As she spoke, she reached up and wiped the blood from Albert’s lips, sounding just a little annoyed.
“How do you manage to mess up your lip just from a scuffle?” Elnora said.
Albert took her hand, flashing a roguish smile.
“That’s just battle scars, marks of a real man,” he joked.
Elnora raised an eyebrow. “I don’t really get the whole ‘battle scars’ thing, but honestly, I’d much rather my groom look drop-dead handsome and perfect at our wedding.”
Albert grinned. “It’s just a little scratch. I’ll be all healed up before the big day. I promise you’ll get your handsome groom back, good as new.”
Elnora nodded.
Zack never in his life imagined Elnora would call him “secondhand goods.”
His face turned deathly pale at her words, and seeing Elnora and Albert so comfortable together, it felt like his heart was bleeding out right there.
Zack gritted his teeth, staring hard at Elnora.
He said, “Elnora, stop pretending. You don’t love him. You won’t be happy with him.
“Elnora, only I can give you real happiness.”
Zack took a step toward Elnora, but she just stared at him with a cold, emotionless look, her voice icy.
Elnora said, her tone sharp and dismissive, “Zack, you really overestimate yourself.
“In my world, no one’s ever been irreplaceable.
“Those years you and Mila were sneaking around behind my back, you really should’ve just told me sooner. I’m not the most generous person, but Mila’s been my close friend since childhood. I would’ve let you be with her, so you wouldn’t have had to sneak around for so long.”
Zack was left speechless, frozen in place.
Elnora gave him a cold, arrogant look and spoke in a flat, cool voice, “Zack, just go home already. Stop embarrassing yourself.
“I don’t want to be anyone’s punchline, so I hope you can own up to your choices. Let it all go and head back to your family where you belong.”
Zack never thought Elnora would actually tell him to move on. He let out a bitter laugh.
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Chapter 539
“Elnora, how am I supposed to just let go?” Zack said, his voice strained.
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“After everything we’ve been through, can you really just walk away? I don’t buy it. Don’t tell me you’re not hurting too. I…” His voice broke, unable to finish.
Elnora shook her head. “You’ve got it all wrong. I’m not suffering.”
Maybe she’d been feeling off lately because she was sick, but it had nothing to do with losing a relationship.
She was just annoyed that the Finley family’s mess still wasn’t sorted out, and now her health was falling apart on top of it.
Honestly, she got pretty lucky. After what happened with Reese, her health issues were sorted out, and the Finley family’s debts were finally cleared.
Life was just getting better for her, and she didn’t have any big worries about the future.
In the end, she was the one who really won.
Why would she be miserable? Why wouldn’t she be happy?
Setting emotions aside, if you just look at things from a career perspective, Albert and Reese were her true benefactors.
People like that were almost impossible to come by these days.
Elnora said, “Zack, just because your own life is falling apart doesn’t mean everyone else is as miserable as
you.
“Honestly, things have been going well for everyone lately. You’re the only one who’s a mess.”
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