Zoey glanced at Harriet, who was leaning back on the couch with her arms draped over the headrest. With a soft sigh, she rummaged through the first aid kit, then sat beside her.
"Look at you," Zoey chuckled in disbelief, "you look more like a thug than a surgeon right now." Harriet only laughed, reaching around Zoey's waist as she applied some cream to her bruised lip.
"It's not like I'm that beat upâVien looks way worse," Harriet smirked. Zoey clicked her tongue, recalling the bruises marking Vien's face.
"That's because you almost got her killed," Zoey muttered, gently scolding her. "You really should control yourself. I thought it'd just be a quick fight, but youâ" She couldn't finish as Harriet tugged her closer, softly pressing her lips against hers.
"I won't do it again," Harriet murmured as she pulled back, her gaze lowered. "I know I lost control, got carried away. I'm sorry."
Taken aback, Zoey blinked. "What's gotten into you?"
Harriet looked up at her with a soft smile. "After I heard you yelling, I felt guilty. I told you I wanted to be better, but you ended up seeing a part of me I'm not proud of," she admitted, chuckling lightly. "Sorry you had to see that side of me."
Zoey swallowed a lump in her throat, taking Harriet's hand and noticing the tiny cut on her fingertip. "Honestly, it scared me to see you like that," she said gently, cleaning the remaining blood. "It felt like you wanted someone to stop you because you couldn't stop yourself."
She dabbed a bandage over the cut, her expression somber. "I don't know what would've happened to you or to Vien if I hadn't been there to pull you back."
Harriet tilted her head, watching Zoey intently. "You're not going anywhere, are you? I mean... after seeing me like that, you don't regret anything? You don't feel like leaving?"
Zoey chuckled, shaking her head. "I told youâyou can be yourself with me. No judgment. Why would I leave you? But... please don't do it again. My heart was pounding watching you in that ring. I thought I'd lose my breath just seeing you take those hits."
Harriet smiled, gently touching Zoey's cheek. "I won't. I promise, I'll do better."
"Good," Zoey replied, chuckling. "Because I don't want to marry a thug."
Harriet laughed softly, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, so you're thinking about marrying me now?"
Zoey shrugged with a smile. "You could say that." Harriet chuckled, pulling her into a warm hug.
Harriet sat across from Vera, summoned for a discussion about the building Zoey was planning to buy. Tapping her fingers on the desk, she glanced at Vera.
"Are you certain Ellie was part of this scheme?" Harriet asked, still processing the evidence Vera's connections had gathered. It felt almost unreal.
Vera nodded. "Yes, it makes sense now. Ellie Foster is a real estate agent who's been involved in this type of fraud for years. She collaborates with developers to inflate the building's price just before contracts are signed, doubling it for personal gain."
Harriet's face tightened. "But that's absurd. Ellie knew Zoey was interested in that building... How long has she been doing this?"
Vera clasped her hands. "Over six years now. She has a record, but nothing substantial enough to take her to courtâthat's how she's been able to keep doing it."
"And she's married, right? Ellie has a husband?"
Vera tilted her head. "Yes, married with a son. But there's something unusual," she leaned forward.
"What?"
"Her husband, Markus Schildt, is involved in the scheme as well," Vera replied with a scoff. "They inflate the price and pocket the difference when the sale goes through, splitting the profits. That's how they've built their wealth."
Harriet frowned. "If they're so wealthy, why is Ellie still lurking around Zoey? It doesn't add up." She rubbed her temples, trying to piece it together.
Vera clicked her tongue thoughtfully. "Have you spoken to Zoey about her inheritance? I found records indicating that Zoey has a significant inheritance under her name, managed by an attorney. It's not publicly disclosed, though. Do you know why?"
Harriet looked at Vera, clearly puzzled.
Vera rolled her eyes and gave Harriet a knowing smile. "Ellie has been trying to edge Zoey out of the picture. She's even been in contact with the attorney overseeing Zoey's inheritance. It's possible she's been angling for a way to gain access to it."
Harriet's brows furrowed. "Zoey has an inheritance? From her parents?" She paused, trying to process. "But if Zoey has an inheritance, why wouldn't Ellie?"
Vera nodded, exhaling deeply. "Zoey's inheritance comes solely from her father. Ellie, it turns out, is a daughter from a previous relationshipâZoey's mother had her before marrying Zoey's father. So, the wealth Zoey stands to inherit is exclusively from her father."
Harriet felt a wave of tension tighten in her chest. "And if Zoey actually receives this inheritance?"
"Then she'll surpass Ellie and Markus's wealth by a long shot," Vera replied. "Right now, Zoey's wealth is practically competing with theirs. But if she inherits everything from her father, she'd easily triple their assets."
Harriet ran a hand through her hair, her mind racing.
"Harriet, you need to tell Zoey about this inheritance," Vera said, her voice firm. "Ellie plays dirty, and she's had plenty of time to prepare a strategy for edging Zoey out. You have to protect her before things get dangerous."
Harriet looked down as Vera reached for her hand. "Protect her at all costs, Harriet. Now that the truth is unraveling, we can't be sure things won't escalate. Be prepared for anything."
Harriet leaned back, closing her eyes. "But Zoey told me they lost everything..." She paused, a new thought surfacingâVera didn't know about Zoey's heart transplant. She hesitated, considering how much she should reveal.
Vera raised an eyebrow. "Lost everything? You're talking about the family business, right?" She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "Yes, the family business was sold at a high price, which may have given the impression of a loss. But Zoey's inheritance doesn't come from thatâher father invested in multiple ventures, including stock markets, which earned substantial sums. The money is still in a bank vault, awaiting Zoey's personal authorization."
Harriet nodded slowly, absorbing this. "So, Zoey's father planned better than we thought."
"Precisely. And Zoey should be able to make sense of all this easily," Vera continued with a smile. "After all, she's not just an accountancy topnotcher; she graduated from Briar University. She has all the skills needed to handle and track her inheritance herself."