Chapter 406 The Divorce
Zev’s fever burned with relentless fury, the medication doing little to ease the heat coursing through his body. Kelly called in the family physician in the dead of the night to give him a shot to break the fever.
She’d taken leave from work to tend to Zev.
The business was spiraling, but Zev’s survival was her sole focus now.
“Honey…” Zev’s voice came out soft, broken. His body twisted in agony, the fever ravaging him. Sleep was out of reach.
The painkillers he had used before–stronger ones when his body had been mangled–had left him resistant to simple medications like ibuprofen. They no longer offered relief. They only brought side effects that made him feel worse.
Sweat soaked through his skin, his body trembling with cold as though the fever itself were trying to break him.
Kelly wrapped him up in layers of blankets, pulling him close, the warmth of her body the only thing that seemed to soothe him. “Does it hurt that much?”
Zev curled tighter against her, nodding with a faint grimace.
Her heart twisted, eyes brimming with tears she refused to let fall. She swallowed hard, her voice soft but steady. “Hang in there…
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Zev inhaled deeply, the air burning in his lungs before he let it out slowly. His breath was hot against her skin as his arms tightened around her. “I won’t fall … ”
The words were for her. His strength, no matter how drained he was, was hers to rely on.
He couldn’t and wouldn’t give in. Not now. Not when he had her and their child to protect.
“When all of this is over… let’s try for a baby. You’ll make up for not being there for my pregnancy. Let’s have a daughter,” Kelly whispered, her voice cracking with emotion as her hand slid gently over his back, soothing him as best as she could.
She wanted to distract him, share in his pain, carry some of the weight for him.
Zev’s lips lifted into a weak smile, his eyes flickering with a rare light. “Okay… I like the idea of a daughter. She’ll be our little cuddle bug…
He allowed himself to dream, just for a moment, of a future where the pain didn’t exist, where the chaos was behind them.
They would have that life. They would.
“Zev, right now, we can’t trust anyone except each other,” Kelly murmured as she kissed his forehead, the tears she fought to hold back still brimming in her eyes.
Her heart shattered for him. Wade was gone. And now, Zey was surrounded by nothing but empty promises.
His uncles… she didn’t know which of them, if any, could be trusted.
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Chapter 406 The Divorce
“Okay…” Zev’s voice rasped, barely audible but filled with resolve.
“We have to trust each other, absolutely,” Kelly said again.
“Yeah.” Zev replied, his grip tightening around her.
“Then, Zev… we need to keep this secret. We’ll quietly get a divorce,” Kelly whispered the final part, her voice low, sharp with tension. “To protect the assets and shares… we have to stay ahead of everyone. Protect ourselves from them.”
She could already feel the web closing in. The people who had turned their sights on Zev were preparing to strike.
They had to be ready. Fast.
Zev stiffened, his body locking in discomfort as he pressed his forehead into Kelly’s chest. Sweat dripped. down.
Kelly sighed. She grabbed a towel, gently wiping his face. Her fingers brushed over his forehead, and she let out a quiet breath of relief as she felt the temperature finally begin to drop.
“Zev, do you trust me?” Kelly asked again, her voice soft but insistent.
Zev’s lips thinned, a deep frown pulling at his features. “This isn’t about trust. I don’t want a divorce…”
His voice held a stubborn edge, but it wasn’t directed at her.
It was his pride, his resistance to losing everything.
“If we don’t get a divorce, when the company falters … when they turn on you, when they target Lockhart Group, there’ll be no way out. No safety net.”
Zev fell silent, his eyes distant. The weight of her words hung in the air, unspoken but clear.
“I’ll think about it … ” he muttered, his voice thick with uncertainty.
Kelly sighed, the patience in her voice fraying. Time’s running out.”
Zev’s gaze darkened as the truth settled in. Wade was gone, and without him, the vultures were already circling.
Ken had left, so had Stuart.
The rest of the old guard wouldn’t be far behind.
Once they turned their backs on him, it would be too late.
“We need to stage something…” Kelly whispered, her voice barely audible against the chaos of their situation.
Zev’s eyelashes fluttered in hesitation. He nodded slowly, his expression resigned but understanding. He didn’t have a choice.
The following morning, Zey called in sick, leaving Quentin to manage the ever–growing storm at the
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Chapter 406 The Divorce
company.
Quentin took the opportunity to suggest Zev rest, and a full month’s leave was granted.
An Finished
Kelly also took time off. Together, they quietly handled the divorce and property transfer. Once that was done, Hanson booked their tickets to Armend Island, a place they could retreat to, far from the turmoil.
Zev’s departure wasn’t just a break; it was a shield. Rumors spread like wildfire that he was useless—an invalid, incapable of holding the company together.
But Kelly and Zev both knew the truth: someone had orchestrated this, using Wade’s departure to push Zev into hiding.
It was the same trick used with Shawn before him.
“Stay out of sight for now,” Kelly told him as they arrived on Armend Island, her voice low but resolute. “Don’t make a public appearance. I’ll handle things here in Seaville.”
Sidney’s video call buzzed through, and Zev lowered his head, his voice thick with gratitude. “Please, man.”
“I’ll help you. I’ll manage your dad’s company, not out of pity or guilt, but because you’re like a brother to me.” Sidney paused. “Zev, your dad’s kidnappers … the old fart and Tom … they were involved. I’ve been digging into it for years, but no one’s talking. Whoever’s behind it is good at covering their tracks. You need to watch your back.”
Zev’s hands clenched into tight fists, the muscles in his arms taut with unspoken rage. He didn’t respond. His body told the story: the tension, the control he exerted to keep his emotions in check.
“I don’t have all the answers yet,” Sidney continued, his voice low and grim. “But one thing’s for sure- whoever’s behind it all is still out there. And they’re dangerous. Be careful.”
Zev nodded once, the movement sharp and decisive. The truth was clear.
The time would come when the people behind it all would show their faces, when they’d push him so far into a corner that escape wouldn’t be possible.
Alliances would fracture, and the true enemy would be revealed once the spoils started to split unevenly. And then, the fight would begin.
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