Zayn seemed different from the last time Carla saw him two months ago.
He had lost a lot of weight, causing his features to become more defined than before. The knuckles on his hands seemed unusually prominent, while his sunken eyes conveyed a hollow, depressed gaze.
Zayn's carefully-styled hair had become long, messy locks, making him seem wilder and more mysterious than ever.
Carla's heart ached at the sight.
She felt deeply regretful when she saw his heartbroken gaze.
When Zayn lifted his head, she immediately retracted her gaze. She did not want him to notice that she had been staring.
Steeling herself, Carla cooled her demeanor and ignored his gaze. She lowered her eyes and walked further into the room.
Lisa exclaimed, "Carla! You've arrived just in time. Please explain everything to Mr. Giblo. He seems to have some sort of misunderstanding about Lucas, or he might've been too busy and missed the news of your engagement. Why, he thought Lucas took advantage of you, and he's interrogating him right now!"
"Mom…" Lucas warned, "Please leave. We'll talk things through with Zayn, and you shouldn't be involved."
"What are you rushing me for?" Lisa eyed her son disapprovingly before assuming the persona of a welcoming host and addressing Zayn instead. "Mr. Giblo, welcome to our manor. You and Lucas are great friends, and I'm happy to have you here as a guest. Feel free to stay for a few more days, so that you'll be around for Lucas' wedding as well!"
Lisa's invitation reeked of insincerity and condescension.
"Mom, stop it."
Lucas glanced at Zayn nervously and tried to push his mother out of the study room.
"Why are you pushing me?" Zayn's non-reaction fueled Lisa's insolence as she added, "This is my house, and I'm the host. I have every right to welcome him-"
"Mom, that's enough, " Lucas cut in and finally pushed his mother out the door.
Tensions remained high in the study room. Zayn had not exploded earlier because he did not care for Lisa's words at all; it had nothing to do with a good temper.
He only cared about Carla's opinion.
"I'm still waiting for an explanation, " he said hoarsely, staring at Carla with an indecipherable gaze.
I'll believe whatever she says. I'll believe it over anything I saw with my own two eyes.
Carla refused to meet his gaze as she replied, "There's nothing left to explain. We have nothing to do with each other, and anything I do is none of your business."
Her calm words hurt Zayn more than Lisa's insults ever would.
He could let any insult slide off his back, but he was powerless in the face of Carla's words, which felt like daggers stabbing straight through his heart.
Zayn asked cautiously, "So, last night, did you and Lucas really-"
He cut his sentence short as the scene he had witnessed the night before crossed his mind. The pain in his heart was unbearable.
The study room became eerily silent as he awaited Carla's answer.
Carla kept her head lowered as her hands kneaded her dress anxiously. She had no idea how to answer him. She wanted so badly to tell him that nothing had happened, yet last night's memories seemed to evade her.
I could tell him that I don't remember what happened last night, but it's just going to come across as a lame joke. He'll never believe that.
"Tell me!" Zayn suddenly shouted, his patience running thin.
His bellow frightened Lucas, who had headed back to the study room after ushering his mother out.
"Lucas, you need to take care of yourself!" Lisa stuffed something into his hands before she left.
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