Chapter 33
When Anika returned to the villa, the large living room was pitch black and unlit.The moment she turned on the light, she frowned
and smelled the bitter smoke in the air.
Looking at the man in the living room, Anika paused and said, "Zac, why didn't you turn on the light? It's too dark in here."
He sat expressionlessly on the sofa, his eyes indifferent, and there were a few cigarette butts in the ashtray on the coffee table.
Zac didn't say anything.
Just from looking at him, one could tell that he had an unpleasant mood.
Anika stood up and walked over to him, asking, "What's wrong?"
Zac regained his senses and slowly met her gaze.
Then, he smiled and shook his head lazily, "Oh, it's fine.I just smoked a few cigarettes."
When she went out, Anika said that she would go shopping with Nataly after work.
He didn't expect her to come back so early.
Anika looked at his indifferent expression and sighed, "Smoking damages your body.You better smoke less in the future for your
sake."
This was the first time she had seen Zac smoke.
Zac then raised his eyebrows and said with a teasing expression, "Anika, why are you so concerned about my affairs recently?
Why are you even meddling with my smoking?"
Anika choked slightly and took the cigarette pack on the coffee table.
Then, she narrowed her eyebrows and replied, "I was afraid that I would be forced to inhale your second-hand cigarette smoke
and endanger my health."
Then, she pointed to the words on the cigarette case and said, "Smoking is harmful to your health.If you don't have any
addiction, you should smoke less."
During their stay, she hadn't seen Zac smoke, so even if he was addicted to smoking, it wouldn't be a very big deal.
They had gotten along well these days, and she didn't want to see him fall into the path of a smoking addict.
Zac casually replied, "You're right."
When he finished speaking, he caught a glimpse of her gaze and shook his head again, "I know.I won't smoke in the future."
He wasn't addicted to cigarettes, so he rarely smoked cigarettes.
At most, he smoked two cigarettes when he was socializing.
But because he was in a really bad mood, he wanted to smoke for a bit.
Now that she had mentioned the matter of smoking, his emotions and mood changed slightly.
But just as he finished thinking, Anika lowered her eyes and asked him, "So, why did you smoke here just now?"
Zac looked up at her with a faint look in his eyes.
A moment later, he chuckled and looked out of the window.
His voice was turned somewhat relaxed, "Let me see...I solved some things, but I found that it was not as liberating as I
imagined it would be.’’
The most crucial witness in the case back then was Leo, Grayson's assistant.
The money was handled by the other party, but Leo disappeared after Grayson was imprisoned.
Leo, who had surrendered in Misty Bridge City because of his father's death, he had already told Officer Smith everything he
knew when he called.
Zac had almost finished piecing together the entire scenario, despite the fact that he still needed more evidence to confirm his
deduction.
Thinking of this, Zac leaned against the sofa.
The corners of his lips curled up slightly.
He looked back at Anika and said, "Anika, you said that I am arrogant and flamboyant.You were right."
Just like his father, back then, the business was too simple and basic.
He had inadvertently robbed too many people of their profits and after that, things happened one after another.
Zac knew very well that the interests of the company were paramount.
‘‘If it was me, shouldn't I get quietly involved?’’
When he thought of this question, he instantly felt that his obsession was somewhat empty.Anika didn't expect Zac to be
thoughtful.
She felt that he was being stressed by everything.
She comforted him slowly, "Don't think like that.Actually, you have many good points."
"Oh?"
Zac raised his eyebrows and looked at her, as if he was waiting for the next moment.
Anika pursed her lips and said, "I'm serious, and you're much better now than before."
Zac said indifferently, "What about for example?"
Anika was in a bad mood, so she could only say the first things that came to her head to deal with his persistence ...
"For example ...you always take the initiative to do the housework and wash the dishes.” Many men can't do it.
"You continue to help me everyday and you don't bother me when I'm busy:"
"You've helped me a lot lately, but you didn't ask too much."
At least until now.
She smiled as she said this and glanced at the man "You were a pretty good person in high school, despite being a bit
arrogant.You weren't like the other wealthy students who bullied their peers.You also didn't engage in puppy love or switched
girlfriends on a weekly basis."
This proved that his nature was not bad.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen to call Zac at the wedding.
But just as he finished speaking, the man smiled faintly and said, "That's a mistake”
Anika looked at him blankly. ‘‘Mistake? What mistake? She was praising him, so why did it have an opposite effect? '’
When Zac met Anika's clear eyes, he knew that she didn't have the slightest bit of clue of what he said.
So he withdrew his thoughts and said, "Didn't I bully you?"
Hearing this, Anika choked and suddenly understood.
She shook her head and smiled lightly, "I'm not talking about bullying like that. “ Furthermore, I've returned you a favor, so I won't
bother with you anymore.At most, he tortured her with questions, with homework, or with trivial matters that were close to being
called nonsense when she wanted to ask questions about him.
She wouldn't be concerned about him at the moment.
Her fury faded as she discreetly left him to what he was doing and watched him nonchalantly read a terrible draft in front of the
whole school's instructors and kids.
Zac looked at her expression and then changed the topic, "Are you free this weekend?"
Anika looked at him and thought for a few moments before nodding her head, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, accompany me to a dinner party."
Zac didn't say it clearly, but Anika had already understood from the other party's expression.
She was going to cooperate with him to show her affection in public at the party.
However, this was originally agreed in the marriage agreement, so Anika didn't refuse and casually replied, "Alright, I will spare
time.The man turned his eyes slightly and stood up.He took out a bunch of keys from the coffee table drawer and handed them
over.”
Anika hesitated for a bit and took it, then said, "What is this?"
"There are quite a few jewelry on the second floor on the left of the study.Go and choose one."
Zac looked at her leisurely.
Seeing that she seemed to be refusing, he continued, "It's Madam Celine's birthday banquet.Help me pick out if there's anything
suitable for a congratulatory gift"
Anika couldn't refuse even if he hadn't said that.
She nodded and took the keys to the study on the second floor.
The study was decorated in the same simplicity.
The shelves were neatly packed with books, and the desk in the middle was large and tidy.
Although she didn't come here often, she knew which cabinet Zac was referring to on the second floor on the left.
Using the key to open the thick safe door, even Anika couldn't help but be shocked when she saw the dazzling collection of
jewelries inside.
Fortunately, the security of the villa area was good.
Otherwise, a thief could easily gain a fortune just by going in this one room alone.
After pondering for a moment, she chose a jewelry.
It was a dazzling ruby necklace.
Anika had interacted with Madam Celine several times.
She was fifty or sixty years old, and her favorite jewelry was red blood stones.
The ruby necklace that she chose wasn't necessarily heavy, but it was very expensive and was quite exquisite in the eyes.
Just as she was about to close the safe, she caught a glimpse of a bracelet in the corner of the room.
It was a hot-selling item from the T family in their early years.
Anika had bought one in her sophomore year.
However, she was rather unlucky.
Before she could wear it, she encountered a pickpocket on her way back to school.
It was a waste that she didn't experience wearing it after purchasing one.
During that period of time, Anika was always thinking about discussing the cancellation of the engagement and studying abroad
with her grandfather.
She was so distracted that she didn't even notice the people around her.
The bracelet was one of the best-selling bracelets from the T family back then, and it wasn't expensive either.
Anika noticed it because it was too inferior to the jewelry she found on the safe.
The other jewelries looked like it was from an auction, but this one was obviously not.
‘‘Then, why did Zac put such a bracelet in the safe?’’ However, just as she thought about it, a voice came behind her ...
"Have you chosen yet?"
Zac leaned against the door with one hand in his pocket.
His gaze fell on the chain in Anika's hand.
He raised his eyebrows and said indifferently, "Anika, you don't want to choose this one, do you?"
"You can't choose this one.’’ The man's final voice was gentle and his tone leisurely.
"Why?"
Before she could think too much, the words in her head had already been spoken.
After regaining her senses, she was about to explain that she did not want to choose this bracelet, but Zac had already crossed
his arms and slowly walked over.
He was tall and looked down at her with deep eyes, "What do you think?"
Anika's eyebrows twitched slightly as she pursed her lips and said, "Is there a special meaning about this jewelry?"
Of course there was.
If not, he wouldn't have placed such an ordinary bracelet in this pile of jewelry and just placed the bracelet somewhere else.
Zac curled his lips and chuckled.
He stared at her with his deep eyes and casually said, "You said that I didn't have puppy love in high school, but you were
wrong..."
His gaze hesitated for a moment, then he recalled the conversation he had with Elliot today.
He raised his eyebrows and said in a low voice, "This bracelet was left to me by my first love.I can't give it to you just like that."
The author has something to say: “ Zac”
Good fellow, back then, I chased after thieves for two whole streets.
Under the statement, once Zac confessed, he would not leave behind any misunderstanding between the two of them and give
others the slightest possibility of poking fun at them