Chapter 588 - Sixth Commandment

[Kwan Mansion: Master's Bedroom of Mrs. and Mr Kwan]

Zachery was biting his thumb nail, pacing back and forth anxiously. He ground his teeth; the snap of his tongue resonated every once in a while.

"You should calm down, dear." Sarah, who was sitting in front of the vanity mirror taking off her earrings, glanced through the mirror where she could see her anxious husband.

Her gentle and loving demeanor was gone. She sounded oddly calm and cold. Upon hearing her, Zachery paused as he glared at his wife through the mirror.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Zachery scoffed, his gaze scrutinized his wife's cold demeanor which made him chuckle.

"Pretending to be the loving and caring mother while I take all the blame and hate. Now, even my son starts rebelling."

"Well, it's because you can't keep yourself together." Sarah shrugged as she placed her pair of earrings inside her drawer. 

"Hah!" In disbelief, Zachery scoffed heavily as he shook his head sideways. 

"If only you know how to behave yourself and be a good husband you should be…" As Sarah removed her bun and her hair fell down gracefully, she raised her gaze.

"... your bastard wouldn't be born. If only you thought of your actions more, you wouldn't have such a problem."

She coldly added. Sarah placed her palms on the surface of the vanity mirror, assisting herself up and turned around to face her husband.

"But, no. You made a mistake of fooling around behind my back and now, karma is hunting you." Without a trace of sympathy, Sarah uttered coldly as she raised her chin as if looking down on him.

"You think your karma wouldn't serve you, then?" Zachery scorned as he peered at her from head to toe. "Never question why I cheated in the first place. Your facade disgusts me."

"That's what makes us two. Aren't we perfect together, my dear?" Sarah chuckled as Zachery's insults didn't affect her even a tiny bit.

"Anyway, I need to freshen up. I feel disgusted hugging your bastard and being the mother she looks up to." 

Without a care in the world, Sarah gracefully walked towards the bathroom. Zachery just scoffed as he watched his wife leave.

"If I tell Zoey that it was you who attempted to kill her back then, I wonder if you can still keep your facade. I bet, even Zion will cut ties with you." 

Zachery uttered just when Sarah was in front of the bathroom's door. She stopped, slowly turning around with a smirk on her lips.

"That is, if anyone believes you," Sarah chuckled. "You should have loved your bastad just like how you cherished her mother."

Gradually, Sarah's expression changed as the smile on her face vanished. Her sharp jaw tightened as she sported a strong expression of hate.

"She's not mine!" Zachery shouted as he was tired of hearing that Zoey was his bastard when in fact, she's not.

"But she's still her child. I will never forgive you and that woman. Whether she's yours or not, I will hold my grudge even towards her children. As long as I am alive, and even death will not quench my wrath." 

"You're crazy." Zachery took a step back as he was rendered speechless. 

At this point, he figured there was really no chance for Sarah. She had gone mad. However, her facade was too believable that only Zachery knew the real Sarah behind her beautiful shell.

"You'll pay for this."

"I will, but until then, enjoy this torment living with the child of your beloved mistress's from another man." Sarah scorned as she walked away, humming a lovely tune until Zachery could not hear her anymore as soon as the door of the bathroom shut close.

When he was left alone, Zachery's knees gave in as he plopped down on the edge of the bed. His entire body trembled as sweats broke out.

***

[2 Decades ago...]

In the past, Zachery was just a normal doctor; a young heir of the Kwan Family. He was basically just like Zion, pursuing his dreams despite having a powerful backup of his family.

To continue pursuing his dreams, Zachery agreed to an arranged marriage with the first daughter of the Zheng Family. After all, Zachery didn't care about anything else aside from his ambition.

And so, Zachery and Sarah got married. It was a loveless, political marriage between two families that benefited both parties.

At first, Zachery thought Sarah was a kind girl who would give him freedom to do what he wanted. He was satisfied to have a wife like Sarah who never meddled with him and he was the same with her.

Zachery thought that what he got in this marriage was not a wife but a friend. He merely saw her as a good friend whom he needed to spend his entire life with. Well, not a bad deal, right?

That was until Zachery met a beautiful young lady: Betty. She resembled Zoey during her prime. Before Zachery could realize it, he fell in love with the woman; a sin of a married man that shouldn't be committed despite being in a loveless marriage.

Little did the two know, this affair would be the root of the messy life of the innocent life that was yet to be born. It continued with Zachery proposing divorce even at the cost of losing his inheritance just to be with Betty.

However, it wasn't as simple as that. Although the matter remained private between the two families, the old generation of the Kwans wouldn't forget this infidelity.

"I'm sorry, Sarah. I know you've been nothing but good to me, but I…"

"You love her?" asked Sarah, staring at the beautiful roses dancing along the midday breeze in the Kwan's vast garden.

Zachery, who was on the adjacent marble chair, let out a deep sigh and nodded. He glanced at Sarah's side profile, feeling sorry for her about his selfishness. But, he couldn't take that back.

He loved Betty so much that he could only feel sorry for his legal wife. "How about me, Zach?"

"Sarah, you're beautiful and kind. I would fall in love with you if --"

"If not for her, right?" Slowly, Sarah turned her head and faced Zachery. His expression immediately gave the answer she already figured.

"Sarah…"

"It's okay, Zach." Sarah smiled gently, nodding her head in understanding. "I won't squeeze myself into someone who didn't want me in their lives. I wish you a happy life with her, Zach."

"Sarah…" As if a thorn was plucked out from his throat, Zachery's eyes softened because he truly believed that it was foolish of him to let go of such a woman like Sarah. However, he just couldn't force himself.

He was madly and deeply in love with Betty. He wanted her to be his wife, the mother of his children, and live together through thick and thin.

Sarah reached to him, patting his hand with a subtle smile. Zachery failed to notice the painful glint that flickered across her eyes as she did so.

"Thank you, Sarah." Zachery held her hand, squeezing it lightly.. Unbeknownst to him, things would go south before he could get a grasp of himself.