Love and Devotion No Longer His to Claim (Angela and Dexter) novel Chapter 300

"Elena, I'm scared. What if things don't go as we planned? I'm really afraid…"

The moment Amber got into the car, her fear immediately showed on her face. Her shoulders shook, and her face was ghostly pale as if she was tormented by inner demons.

"What are you afraid of? What's done is done, and what was meant to happen has happened. If you like him, then just pursue him," Elena said coldly as she drove, her tone hinting at impatience.

If only Elena had known Amber was so timid, she'd never have chosen the latter.

Amber's face fell. "B-but…"

"No buts." Elena suppressed her growing frustration before continuing slowly, "Amber, your performance over these next two days will determine whether she can secure her position. You got that?"

The color drained from Amber's face completely. She understood exactly what Elena meant.

When they had planned this from the start, that had been the exact arrangement. But now that things had unfolded this way, she suddenly felt extremely uneasy, as if everything would veer off its intended path.

Her eyes filled with tears, and one tear escaped.

She had no way out, absolutely none.

Ever since she had been little, she'd been the perfect, obedient child—the one everyone had praised.

Yet happiness had always eluded her. Her parents cared little for her feelings, using her only as a means to boost their image, forcing her to acquire every skill and squeezing out the last vestiges of her freedom.

Then came Zack—a beam of light in her dull, dreary life.

His free spirit, audacity, warmth, cheerful attitude, and rebellious nature were everything she had ever yearned for.

She felt different from her old self when she was with him. With him by her side, she felt alive again.

She couldn't lose him. Since that was the case, she had to take the risk!

…

That night, while some were plagued by nightmares and others tossed in bed, Zack lay awake, unable to sleep.

She then added, "She's such a wonderful woman—how could you not appreciate her? If you two really do end up together, just imagine how happy your mom would be."

"Happy? What's there to be happy about? I only fell for her back then because she's beautiful and docile, but I never expected her to be so troubled. She's always watching me with a grin on her face. I can't believe this. Am I really such a piece of crap that even a dung beetle wants to cling to me?"

Zack waved his hand dismissively as he spoke before forcing another smile—though this smile was disturbingly cold. "Either way, I won't back down no matter what. If I did it, it's on me. If not, no one can drag my name through the mud."

…

Soon, the night passed, and the following day went by.

Dexter dedicated a lot of manpower to investigating what had happened at the bar two months ago and everyone involved.

At last, they got a lead from Zack's drinking buddies that night.

Someone had seen a waitress helping Amber into Zack's room that night, but unbelievably, the waitress, Sally Ortiz, had since vanished.