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Chapter 95
~Zara’s POV~
"You... You did this?" My voice was barely a whisper as realization dawned.
"Yes, wifey," Snow replied and I could feel the satisfaction in his voice. "Not happy? Or would you have preferred Andrew Blake handling it?"
Relief, frustration, and disbelief surged through me all at once. I narrowed my eyes, trying to keep my cool. "Why didn’t you let me handle it?"
Snow’s gaze turned steely. "Why didn’t you come to me first, Zara? Or was it easier to turn to Blake?"
I held his gaze, my frustration mounting. "I told no one. Andrew only overheard a phone conversation I had with my family, that’s all. He investigated and decided to help."
His grip loosened slightly, but his intensity didn’t falter. "That doesn’t change anything, Zara. You are my wife, and no one—no one—gets to mess with you or your family without answering to me first."
I gulped, completely grounded by his words. "Next time, don’t go running off alone. Come to me, Zara."
His words struck deep, a strange warmth spreading through my chest. I’d expected his usual detachment, his cold, calculated approach, but this raw, protective side of him... I hadn’t been prepared for that.
For the first time, I realized I didn’t have to face this alone.
Snow’s gaze held me firmly, his eyes fierce, yet there was a softness there I hadn’t expected.
"Go to your family, Zara," he said quietly, but the command in his voice was unmistakable. "Let them see that it’s all taken care of. You don’t need to be here... I’ll handle anything left."
I blinked, feeling the last remnants of my resistance waver under the intensity of his stare. There was something in his words that suggested more than just control—it was a sense of protection that felt strange, almost... safe.
I gave a slight nod letting my frustration fade now replaced by a feeling I couldn’t quite name.
Aish!
Snow stayed by my side as I made my way to the car. When he opened the door, I hesitated just for a moment, then slipped into the driver’s seat, his hand lingering on the door as he bent slightly to meet my eyes.
"Next time, Zara," he said in a low voice, "come to me first. No one else. Understood?"
There was no room for argument in his tone, no chance for a clever retort. I could only nod.
With a final, intense look, Snow closed the door, and I watched as he stepped back, giving me a single nod before turning to head back to his car.
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~Ivan’s POV~
The screen of my phone was practically vibrating with the force of my grip, my pulse throbbing with anger. Marcus picked up on the third ring, and before he could say anything, I let loose.
"Explain to me, Marcus," I bit out, my voice barely above a hiss. "Explain to me how the plan crumbled to nothing and why she’s running back home instead of begging me to help her family."
There was a pause, and I could almost hear the nervous swallow on the other end of the line. "Ivan... there were some... unforeseen developments. We have reason to believe that Snow Zephyr intervened. Our sources indicate he’s the one who pulled the strings and settled things."
"Snow?" I echoed, my tone dripping with contempt. "Of course, it would be him." I began pacing furiously. "One mistake, Marcus. You were supposed to leave no loose ends, and yet here we are."
Marcus stammered, his tone pleading, "Ivan, Snow’s influence is extensive, and his resources are—"
"I don’t want excuses," I snarled, cutting him off. "You’ve already failed. This needs to be corrected, immediately."
My phone nearly slipped from my grip as I pressed it to my ear, fury making my hand tremble at his excuse.
The first call had been a waste of time, my so-called "contacts" useless and spineless, too afraid of Snow Zephyr’s reach to help me reclaim control over Zara.
"Forget it," I snapped, cutting the call short. I paced my office, breathing hard, my mind racing. If there was anyone with the skill—and the lack of moral compass—to pull off what I needed, it was Marcus.
I dialled Marcus’s private line, a number rarely used and even more rarely answered. He picked up after a few rings, his voice smooth and unbothered, as if he’d been expecting my call.
"Well, Ivan," Marcus greeted with a mocking lilt, "what a surprise. To what do I owe the honour?"
I bit down my frustration. This wasn’t a man to grovel to, but I couldn’t afford to mess up this chance. "Marcus," I replied, keeping my tone measured, "I have a business proposition."
There was a pause, then a soft chuckle on the other end. "A proposition? This doesn’t sound like you, Ivan. I thought you handled your problems on your own."
"I usually do," I retorted, gritting my teeth, "but this one’s... different." I took a steadying breath, laying it out without any unnecessary detail. "There’s someone I need to be... reminded of her place. Her name is Zara, and she’s protected by Snow Zephyr."
Marcus laughed, a deep, rich sound that only served to grate on my nerves. "Snow’s girl, hmm? Interesting choice. You realize he doesn’t take well to threats, don’t you? Let me guess—she turned you down?"
The jab hit harder than I’d like to admit, but I forced myself to ignore it. "I need her life in disarray, Marcus. Something that’ll make her question everything she thinks she knows about him. You’re good with that kind of chaos."
Another pause. I could hear him considering the idea, weighing it.
"And what exactly do I get out of this?" Marcus asked, amusement still evident in his voice. "I don’t usually bother with petty vendettas."
"Not petty," I corrected him coldly. "I’m offering you a stake in Zephyr Corp’s upcoming contract. A contract that, if things go my way, will be up for grabs once I’m done with him."
Marcus hummed thoughtfully, a slight edge entering his tone. "That’s tempting, Ivan. But Snow’s powerful, and the risk here... it’s high."
I clenched my fist. "That’s why I’m calling you."
There was a long silence, and then finally, Marcus spoke, his tone dark. "Fine. I’ll take your deal.