Chapter 1682: Chapter 1682

Chapter 1682

Skyler stood firm, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “You can check if I’m lying or call Desiree yourself. If this was such a big deal, why didn’t Desiree give you a heads-up? She probably wanted you to waltz into your own downfall.”

The leader of the thugs eyed her skeptically, his face a mask of doubt, before slowly fishing out his cell phone and dialing a number. The chick we’re supposed to rough up is Zavier’s fiancée?”

Skyler couldn’t hear the response, but she watched as the thug’s expression soured, his face twisting into a scowl before he spat out a filthy curse and ended the call.

He glared at Skyler with a begrudging respect. “You got lucky, girl.” With those words, he signaled to his lackeys, and they slunk away into the shadows. The Rivera and the Duran families, titans in the Capital, were not to be trifled with. The thug knew that as well as anyone.

Skyler watched them go, her legs giving out as their figures faded from sight, and she collapsed into the bushes with a thud. Her stomach churned like a bonfire, and she heaved into the underbrush, emptying the undigested remnants of her lunch.

Just as she felt utterly drained, a large hand appeared with a bottle of mineral water.

Skyler jumped, looking up to find Zavier standing over her, the last person she expected to come to her rescue. Her mouth opened to speak, but another wave of nausea hit, and she was bent over the bushes once again.e2

Zavier looked down at her, his presence regal and detached. “Here I thought you’d grown a spine. Turns out you’re just scared out of your wits.”

Snatching the water from his hand, Skyler rinsed her mouth and spat, then asked, “When did you get here?”

–

“I passed by just as those thugs were hassling you,” Zavier replied.

Skyler pressed her lips together, not bothering to respond.

Zavier crouched to her level, eyes searching hers. “You blame me for not showing up sooner?”

Skyler had always known the only person she could truly rely on was herself. She never expected a savior. “I never thought that.”

He studied her pale face. Even now, she was putting on a brave front. “Really? You never thought that?”

Blinking back tears, Skyler mustered a bright smile. “Whether you choose to help me in danger or not, it’s your prerogative. No blame to be cast.”

No sooner had she spoken than her stomach rebelled once more, and she was doubled over, retching into the greenery. With nothing left to bring up, she was left weak and drained.

Zavier frowned in disgust. “Coward.”

Skyler didn’t respond. She hadn’t cried or panicked in the face of danger, and she’d found a way out. She was no coward.

“Coward,” Zavier repeated, a note of command in his voice. “Get up. I’m taking you to the hospital.”