Chapter 42

Giselle picked up the phone while standing on her balcony. “Hello, Zach?”

There was an extended pause from Zachary, as if he couldn’t quite believe it was Giselle he was speaking to. After a moment, he finally said, “Giselle, are you alright?”

Zachary had lost contact with her while he was abroad and later heard about her accident at the river. Since then, there had been no trace of her, neither alive nor...

Having been on many expeditions with her, Zachary was familiar with her survival skills and always held onto the belief that she was still alive. He even used his family’s private jet to return to the country to look into the matter. It was only upon hearing her voice now that he felt a sense of relief.

Giselle chuckled, reassuring him, “Don’t worry, I’m alright. It was just a simple misunderstanding.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Zachary replied. He paused momentarily before saying, “I’m back in town now. How about we grab a meal together? I’d love to hear the story straight from you.”

Though Giselle felt a bit apprehensive, especially considering the family ties between Donovan and Zachary, her hesitation was brief. She soon agreed, saying, “Sure, let’s have lunch together.”

Around noon, Zachary drove to her place and picked her up himself. She was dressed in simple, casual attire, with her chic, long hair styled in a lively high ponytail. Without any makeup on, she confidently made her way to the passenger seat without hesitation.

“You really gave me a scare this time,” Zachary said as he drove, making small talk. “I tried calling you countless times while I was in Usna, but you never picked up. Everyone I asked had a different story. It wasn’t until a few days ago that I heard about your car going into the river. I was so worried that I flew back immediately.”

“Thanks,” Giselle said nonchalantly as she leaned back in the passenger seat. She added with a hint of regret, “After the accident, my phone ended up in the water as well. I didn’t replace the SIM card for several days, so it makes sense that you couldn’t reach me.”

Zachary pressed on. “What exactly happened that night? With your expertise, I find it hard to believe you’d make such a basic mistake.”

Giselle paused for a moment. She had planned to tell the truth, but doing so would bring up decades of feuds between her and Renee, resulting in a never-ending saga. Perhaps it was better to remain silent.

“It was my own fault,” she said vaguely. “I didn’t know that part of the road well. I was on the phone while driving, took a turn too quickly, and ended up causing the accident.”

Zachary didn’t ask for more information. Seeing that she was unhurt and as lively as usual, he found no reason to focus on the uninteresting details. The pair had a delightful lunch at a nearby restaurant before making their way to a billiards hall.

Giselle had a natural talent for sports. In addition to enjoying thrilling extreme activities, she was skilled at ball games, particularly billiards, which she often played with friends. They spent hours absorbed in the game.

At around four or five in the afternoon, just when Zachary began feeling a bit worn out, he received a call. After that, he turned to Giselle and said, “My family wants me home early for dinner. Would you like to join us?"

“Hmm?” Giselle absently waved her hand to decline. “There’s no need to go to your place. Let’s just end it here for today. You should head home early.”

“Hold on! You didn’t let me finish,” Zachary replied with a slight grin. “I mainly wanted your help at my house. My grandmother has had a cat for many years, but it became seriously ill a few days ago. We’ve consulted several vets, but no one has been able to help. Since you’re an expert, I was hoping you could take a look."

“Why not just have your grandmother bring the cat to a clinic?”

“The cat is practically at death’s door,” Zachary said, his tone becoming serious. “Other doctors have said there’s no hope and advised us to give up. My grandmother has lost her appetite and is constantly worried because of this.”

Upon hearing this, Giselle hesitated and couldn’t help but ask, “Will your uncle be at your house tonight, too?"