“That was Maddy,” answered Ophelia. But before she could put down her phone, Zachariah grabbed
hold of it and pulled up the call history. Sure enough, Madeleine was at the top of the list.
Zachariah opened the message app to find the most recent message sent to her by Madeleine. His
expressions souring, he shot Ophelia an insinuating look. “You’re still in contact with that Tassach
guy?”
“Yes,” answered Ophelia, “Tassach and I are still friends, even though we didn’t make it as a couple, so
I’d be lying if I said we didn’t talk to each other at all.”
“Block his number,” Zachariah demanded with a displeased look on his face, “and never see him
again.”
“My good sir,” said Ophelia, “that would be rather dictatorial of you, wouldn’t it?”
“You’re mine and mine alone. Hence, I demand that you stop associating with any man at all,” replied
Zachariah.
“You’re that insecure?”
Zachariah shot her a look.
And that made Ophelia laugh out loud. She walked towards him and looped her arms around his neck.
“My dear Mr. Chambers,” said Ophelia, “with your amazing achievements and these good looks, I am
the one that should be worried. I don’t think I will ever cheat on you, as long as you still want me
around.”
Placing a hand on her hips, Zachariah pulled her in and pressed their bodies together. He stared at her
and spoke with a steady voice. “Remember that you’re mine. Without my permission, you shan’t have
any contact with any man – or else.”
“Oh my good lord, are you jealous, Mr. Chambers? Because if you’ll admit it, I promise I won’t even
look at any other guy from now on.”
“You are such a saucy little minx.”
Ophelia didn’t reply, unsure whether he meant it as a compliment. Instead, she asked, “Does that
mean, dear sir, that you are, in fact, in love with me, too?”
That stumped Zachariah. Did he love Ophelia? He wasn’t sure, because to say that he didn’t wouldn’t
be completely accurate, since he had such unique feelings for her.
“Mr. Chambers, are you still completely indifferent to my existence after I’ve been a good wife and
mother for almost five years?”
Pinching her nose gently, Zachariah answered dotingly, “Stop letting your thoughts run amok. What you
need to do right now is to keep healthy to ensure a smooth delivery of the baby.”
Ophelia was slightly dismayed. Zachariah wouldn’t admit his feelings for her to this day – or maybe,
maybe his caring and tender ways were temporary and only for the sake of the unborn child. He
claimed not to want a kid, but the Chambers family would surely cherish their first grandson. Was
Zachariah being nice to her solely because of the kid?
“Mr. Chambers – Zach. If I told you that my only wish was for you to tell me that you loved me, would
you say it?”
Patting softly on the top of her hair, Zachariah said, “I guess it’s true what they say – that pregnant
women have ‘a bee in their bonnets,’ since it’s been all that you do all day.”
Ophelia was still smiling, but the light in her eyes dimmed immediately.
Zachariah caught that, as he reached for her cheeks and gently caressed it. “Are you mad?”
Ophelia’s smile was charming, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You have given me a comfortable life, and
you’re being extra nice to me these days, so I wouldn’t dare get mad at you. That would be rather
immature of me.”
Scratching gently at her nose, Zachariah spoke with a lower voice. “I’m not sure I can quite believe you
there, because you’re pouting, like, a lot.”
Brushing his hand away, Ophelia answered, “I’m not as petty as you think, Mr. Chambers.”
Holding her in his arms, Zachariah mumbled something softly in her ears.
Upon hearing that, Ophelia’s pupils dilated, and her eyes turned red. With a slightly hoarse voice, she
said, “Finally, I get to hear these words from you.”
“Silly girl,” replied Zachariah, ruffling her hair with a smile, “so that’ll stop you from spiraling out, right?
Well then, you ought to be in bed, since it’s already bedtime, and you’re very pregnant right now.”
“Do you know what you’re like, Mr. Chambers?” asked Ophelia jokingly.
“What?”
“You’re like one of those helicopter moms, as you’re being very wordy right now. But somehow I find
this new side of you more grounded and more charming. I’m loving this version of you.”
In Zachariah’s eyes reflected a deep passion that he wouldn’t even know that he had.
While Ophelia was being lovey-dovey with Zachariah, Tassach was driving all the way back to the
Conduibh family residence.
Mrs. Conduibh didn’t greet him with her usual warmth when she saw him come in. Instead, she said
with a sneer, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t my son. I thought you forgot about having a family at all.”
Still distraught about what Madeleine had said to him, Tassach semi-patiently greeted back, “Hey
mom.”
“Don’t mom me, boy. You’re a big guy now – a top dog, and I wouldn’t dare being considered your mom
since I’m so beneath you now.”
That, Tassach knew, was Mrs. Conduibh still being mad at him for the whole thing with Grace.
“You will always be my mother,” said Tassach very seriously as he sat on the sofa.
Mrs. Conduibh snorted coldly. “If you really do regard me as your mother,” she said with anger, “you
wouldn’t have treated Grace like that. Ophelia, Ophelia – it’s always about Ophelia. If I knew how she
would stand in the way between you and Grace, I’d have come up with a plan to throw her in jail four
years ago!”
Still distraught about what Madeleine had said to him, Tassach semi-patiently greeted back, “Hey
mom.
“Don't mom me, boy. You're a big guy now — a top dog, and | wouldn't dare being considered your mom
since I’m so beneath you now.”
That, Tassach knew, was Mrs. Conduibh still being mad at him for the whole thing with Grace.
“You will always be my mother,” said Tassach very seriously as he sat on the sofa.
Mrs. Conduibh snorted coldly. “If you really do regard me as your mother,” she said with anger, “you
wouldn't have treated Grace like that. Ophelia, Ophelia — it’s always about Ophelia. If | knew how she
would stand in the way between you and Grace, I'd have come up with a plan to throw her in jail four
years ago!”
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