No Remarriage for us Stay Away (Lenora and Zachary)

Chapter 449 Waiting For Someone

Zachary interrupted her, "I brought her over. I was worried she'd get implicated because of me."

Tamara's expression cracked for a brief moment before she furiously exclaimed, "Zack, do you like her so much that you'd resort to such an excuse? Aren't you afraid she'll rekindle her old flame? Don't forget, they have a child together!" Tamara was implying something significant.

A sharp glint flashed in Zachary's eyes as his hand that was resting on the armrest clenched tightly for a moment before relaxing. "You're overthinking, Aunt Tamara. I have people protecting her. I know exactly who she's been in contact with. But from the way you're speaking, you seem to know who that person is. Is he from Fairlake?"

Tamara let out a light laugh and shook her head. "I don't know. But I clearly remember meeting her in June. Her belly looked about seven or eight months along, so she must've gotten pregnant after coming here."

In the photo, Lenora was wearing a dress, and it did seem to be summer.

Zachary had already chosen to accept it, and since Lenora knew nothing about it, he naturally wouldn't show anything in front of her. Yet, every time he thought about it or saw her, he couldn't help but feel a sting of bitterness in his heart.

His expression tensed as he lowered his gaze. "Let's not bring this up again. Aunt Tamara, I thought you invited me out because you missed me and wanted to catch up. If you're going to talk about this, I'm afraid I can't stay."

Seeing how protective Zachary was of Lenora, Tamara seethed in anger inwardly.

If she had known it would come to this, she would have found a way to get rid of Lenora when the Fuller family first adopted her!

Yet, Zachary wasn't particularly filial to her, so she couldn't afford to fall out with him completely.

Tamara had no choice but to suppress her anger. She exhaled loudly. "Fine, let's not talk about her. You don't know how worried I was when I heard you were in trouble. I even returned to the country and called in every favor I could. Thankfully, you're all right." "Thank you, Aunt Tamara."

Zachary believed Tamara's words.

Aside from the disagreements regarding Lenora, Tamara had always been kind to him.

"There's no need to thank me. You're my child. How could I stand by and do nothing when you're in trouble?"

When Lenora wasn't mentioned, the conversation between them was relatively harmonious.

Tamara asked about Allison and Harrietta, and Zachary answered her questions in detail.

Before they knew it, more than an hour had passed.

Their reunion was coming to an end.

Zachary glanced at his watch and said, "It's getting late. Aunt Tamara, where are you staying? I'll take you home."

"No need. I've made plans to meet a friend. You go ahead." Tamara waved him off.

Tamara had initially come to this area to meet a friend, which was when she happened to encounter the pregnant Lenora and took the photo.

Zachary didn't question her and said, "All right. It's already late, so be careful. I'll head back first."

He got up and left.

As she watched his departing figure, Tamara's gaze darkened. She poured herself a glass of wine and downed it in one go. The burning liquid stung her throat and churned in her stomach, but it was the only way to dull the ache in her heart. Bertram had abandoned her, and her son was distant.

If she had known it would end like this, she wouldn't have left Jacaster or her child, no matter how much chaos she caused for the Hoffman family!

Tamara drank two glasses in quick succession. By the third, she finally slowed down.

Leaning back in her chair, she sipped slowly and finished her fourth glass.

It seemed as though she was waiting for someone.

In a nearby booth, Isla watched Tamara sitting alone and asked Alice, "What do you think? Should I go say hello?"

Alice thought for a moment before replying, "Go ahead but be polite. Keep it brief."

"Okay."

Gathering her courage, Isla picked up her glass and walked toward Tamara.

Out of the corner of her eye, Tamara noticed Isla approaching. A faint smile of satisfaction appeared on her lips. Tamara had learned Isla would be here tonight, which was why she'd arranged to meet Zachary at the same place.

She had bet that Isla would come to her.

And she'd won!

"Good evening, ma'am. May I sit here?" Isla gestured to the seat across from Tamara, smiling warmly.

"Of course." Tamara nodded.

Alice was observing from her booth not far away.

She'd only asked Isla to say hello and make a good impression. Too much talk during a first meeting often leads to mistakes. Unexpectedly, more than ten minutes later, Isla still hadn't returned.

Sitting across from Tamara, Isla seemed to be engaged in a lively conversation.

Several more minutes went by before Isla finally returned with her glass.

Alice couldn't help but ask, "What took so long? Who is she? What did you two talk about?"

Isla hesitated, a flicker of emotion crossing her eyes.

"Isla?"

Snapping out of her thoughts, Isla said, "She's Zachary's mother. We didn't talk about much, just casual conversation."

"So, she likes you?"

Recalling Tamara's words, Isla blushed slightly and nodded. "Yes."

"That's good. It's a promising start."

After parting ways with Alice, Isla returned home with Tamara's words echoing in her mind.

Tamara said that if Isla truly liked Zachary, she was willing to help her.

She said she had a huge secret about Zachary.

She also stated Fay was only after Zachary's money and that she'd disapproved of Fay from the start.

She said she recognized Isla and had liked her from the moment they'd met. She hoped Isla could replace Fay as her daughter-in-law. Isla's heart raced uncontrollably.

The next morning, Lenora accompanied Zachary to Fairlake International Airport.

Zachary was reluctant to part with Lenora, but the company needed him back, and Lenora had unfinished work that required her to stay.

Wrapping an arm around her waist

he kissed her forehead and

reminded her, "Once you're done

with your work here, you must come back to me, understand?"

"I'll try if I have time," Lenora replied.

"Hattie misses you."

"I'll do my best."

The boarding gate was opened, and Zachary walked toward it reluctantly. "I'm leaving now."

"Okay."

"I really am leaving."

"Mmm."

"I..."

Lenora tiptoed and pecked him lightly on the lips. "You're leaving now."

Boarding the plane, Zachary found his seat in first class and opened his laptop to work.

Passengers trickled in, and someone sat in the seat beside him.

Focused on his work, Zachary didn't pay attention.

Isla, sitting next to him, couldn't stop her heart from racing as she watched his focused profile.

After returning home the previous night, she'd told her father she wanted to stay with her uncle in Jacaster for a while. Bjorn was puzzled.

Isla hadn't visited Jacaster since she

was ten when she and her mother stayed for a month. During that time, she'd had a falling-out with her cousin.

After being scolded by Meredith, Isla toned down her behavior but still carried an air of superiority.

Since then, Isla hadn't accompanied her mother on visits to Jacaster.

Bjorn couldn't understand why Isla suddenly wanted to go now, nor could Zephyr.

Isla simply pouted and pleaded,

saying it was a whim. Knowing

itynoveldrama

Zephyr would also be visiting

Jacaster soon, Bjorn relented and allowed her to go.