Chapter 278 Who Hurt Her
Chapter 278 Who Hurt Her
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Zachary carefully lifted Lenora into the car, settling her gently into the back seat, then took a close look at
her.
Her forehead was slightly red with a couple of hastily applied bandages, her left cheek was swollen with at clear five–finger imprint, and her right foot…
He lifted her right foot, intending to take off her boot. Lenora tried to pull her leg back, but he held her calf firmly.
When the boot came off, he could see her ankle swollen significantly even through the sock.
In short, she looked entirely disheveled.
Zachary’s eyes darkened as he asked in a steady tone. “What’s going on? How did you get all these injuries? Who hit you?”
Lenora was silent for a few seconds. “Just don’t get involved.”
Faced with his pressing gaze, Lenora simply turned her head away, closing her eyes.
Zachary fell silent.
He felt both helpless and angry.
Does she really think I won’t find out if she doesn’t say anything? Who on earth had hurt her like this and still had her covering up for them?
Zachary had abstained from drinking at his business event tonight. His secretary, who’d been taking his place in drinking rounds, had already gone home. He drove Lenora straight to the hospital and headed to orthopedics, explaining the situation to the doctor as he set her down on a chair.
The doctor lifted Lenora’s right foot, gently pressing the swollen area to assess it. “Does it hurt when 1 press here?”
Lenora replied. “A little.”
“And here?”
“A bit, but doctor, you’re pressing quite gently. It might hurt more if you pressed harder.”
“Oh, in that case, I’ll try pressing harder,” the doctor said with a smile.
Thinking he was joking, Lenora didn’t pay much attention. Then, out of the blue, he firmly fixed her ankle. and applied sudden, intense pressure on it.
“Ow!”
Unprepared, Lenora let out a cry of pain, her eyes welling up with tears.
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Chapter 278 Who Hurt Her
Zachary quickly supported her, taking her hand. “It hurts a lot!”
Tears welled up in Lenora’s eyes. “Yes.”
It was too painful.
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Seeing her red–rimmed eyes and the look of grievance on her face, Zachary couldn’t help but smile.
Lenora pulled her hand back from his.
How can he smile at a moment like this?
The doctor released her ankle. “Try standing and walking around. See if it still hurts.”
Lenora cautiously placed her right foot on the floor, holding onto a table for balance. She limped a few steps, gradually shifting her weight from her left foot to her right, making her way slowly to the door and back
A smile spread across her face. “It really doesn’t hurt much anymore. Thank you, doctor!”
“You’re welcome. It’s good that the pain’s gone.”
The doctor then treated the wound on her forehead, covering it with a square bandage and prescribing some medication.
Back in the car, Zachary buckled his seatbelt and asked, “Should I take you home?”
“Actually, could you drop me at the restaurant? My car’s still there…”
“Give me the keys. I’ll have someone drive it back for you tomorrow.
“Sure, let’s go pick up Hattie at the Fuller residence first
Zachary changed course toward the Fuller residence.
Lenora took out her phone, browsing the group chat for her photography course.
There happened to be a class tonight, so she sent a message to the teaching assistant to excuse herself.
The chat was relatively quiet, likely because everyone was still focused on the class.
When they arrived at the Fuller residence, the two of them went inside, spoke briefly with Allison, and picked up Harrietta.
As they approached Lenora’s complex, she said, “You can just drop me at the east gate.”
There, stopping was allowed briefly by the roadside, but no long–term parking
Zachary saw right through her intentions. She was clearly treating him as a driver and planned to send him off as soon as they arrived..
He replied, “No, that’s too far from your building. It’s too cold outside. We’ll park in the underground. garage instead.”
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Chapter 278 Who Hurt Her
“Actually, it’s not far.
Without a word, Zachary drove directly into the underground parking.
Lenora pouted but let it go, deciding to let him come upstairs for once since he’d been so helpful tonight.
After parking. Zachary got out and followed Lenora and Harrietta into the elevator.
In her loft, Lenora kicked off her boots, picked up her phone, hung her down jacket on a hook, and headed straight for the kitchen.
She pulled out some frozen ravioli from the freezer, intending to make some for herself.
Zachary, standing at the kitchen door, watched her movements. “I didn’t eat much at the event tonight. Make a few extra ravioli for me too.”
Lenora turned and shot him a glare.
He grinned, turned, and walked back to the living room.
Suddenly, her phone on the table buzzed.
Zachary glanced at the screen. It was a message from someone named Zeke
The message preview only showed the contact name due to the locked screen.
Harrietta had mentioned Zeke was Lenora’s photography instructor, and she’d planned to go on a cultural excursion with him.
Since Fiona and Harrietta would also join them. Zachary hadn’t thought much of it and assumed Lenoral was genuinely interested in learning photography.
“Come get the bowls!”
Lenora’s voice called from the kitchen.
Zachary walked over, carrying two bowls out to the table.
Lenora followed with forks and some gravy.
Sitting on the couch, the two ate their ravioli. Harrietta, watching them, seemed increasingly tempted. Finally, Zachary fetched a clean bowl, setting a few dumplings in it for her as well.
After dinner, Zachary lingered, though he had no reason to stay, and finally left reluctantly.
Before going, he reminded her, “Remember to apply the medication on your forehead.”
Lenora didn’t reply, simply shutting the door behind him.
With a soft “click,” the door closed in Zachary’s face. He rubbed his nose and called the elevator down to the parking garage. Once inside his car, he didn’t start it immediately but instead sent a message to Miles, asking him to investigate what had happened at the restaurant earlier that evening.
After cleaning up the dishes, Lenora curled up comfortably on the sofa and unlocked her phone, seeing
Chapter 278 Who Hurt Her
message from Zeke: Why didn’t you come to class tonight?
She replied: Sorry, I had some things to handle tonight, but ll catch up with the recordings.
Zeke: Sure, the courseware is in the group chat. Feel free to ask if you need help.
Lenora: Thank you.
After a moment’s thought, she added: Almighty Zeke, have you set a date for that cultural excursion you mentioned?
Zeke replied: Didn’t I tell you to call me Ezekiel?
Lenora: Ezekiel
Zeke: We haven’t set a date yet. Why, are you busy?
Lenora: Yeah, I have commitments for the next month, so I’m only free the next few days.
Lenora glanced at Harrietta beside her, hoping that Zeke could fit the trip into these three days. Otherwise, they’d have to wait a whole month, and the little girl wasn’t that patient.
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Harrietta had a conflict with Tamara and decided to stay for so many days here just for the cultural excursion. She didn’t want to disappoint Harrie
Zeke: Okay, I’ve got some things to handle tomorrow morning. How about we head out after lunch and stay in Newcove for two days?
Lenora: Sounds perfect! Thanks, Ezekiel!
Lenora turned to Harrietta excitedly. “Hattie, we’re going on our cultural excursion tomorrow!”
Harrietta looked up from her cartoon and pumped a fist in the air. “Yay!”
Lenora then informed Sophia and Fiona about the plan.
On the morning of the eighth, she packed a small bag for the trip.
Fiona arrived with her own bags. After lunch, the threeadults, plus Harrietta, set off, heading toward the highway entrance.
There was already a black car waiting by the roadside. A young man stood next to it, clad in a dark plaid overcoat and a scarf around his neck.
Seeing him from afar, Sophia exclaimed, “Whoa, is that Zeke? He’s so handsome!”
Lenora glanced at him, confirming the license plate. “That’s the car. Pull up there.”
Sophia parked behind the black car.
Lenora got out, shut the door, and greeted him. “Ze… Ezekiel?”
She remembered thinking, after seeing photos of Ezekiel in the group chat, that he bore some resemblance to Zachary. No, actually, Ezekiel was older, so it was Zachary who looked like him.
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Chapter 278 Who Hurt Her
As she met him in person, the likeness struck her even more. Their eyes, especially, were nearly identical.
Ezekiel walked over, smiling warmly at Lenora’s familiar face. “Nora.”
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Chapter 279 An Old Acquaintance
Chapter 279 An Old Acquaintance
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No worries, we just got here.” Ezekiel looked Lenora up and down. “What happened to your forehead? Is it serious?”
“It’s nothing. I just slipped. After all these years, you’re still as gorgeous as you were back in university
“Not really,” Lenora laughed shyly. “Ezekiel, let me introduce you to my friends. This is Sophia, and this is Fiona She’s a photographer too. My niece stayed back in the car.
Sophia grinned. “Hi, Handsome. I’m Sophia Tortell.”
Sophia would never let s
linger. She was always able to process her emotions quickly, bouncing back
to her usual cheerful self in no time.
Fiona nodded at Ezekiel. “Hello, I’m Fiona Rouge.”
Ezekiel’s gaze lingered on Sophia momentarily before turning to Fiona. He nodded courteously, smiling. “Hello. I’m Ezekiel Hoffman, Lenora’s teacher. Once we get to Newcove, maybe we can exchange some ideas.”
The last part was directed at Fiona, who responded with a smile. “I’d be delighted.”
Another man had just stepped out of Ezekiel’s car. He introduced himself to the women, “Hello, ladies! I’m Mr. Hoffman’s assistant. You can call me Jerry”
Lenora raised an eyebrow. “You’re the teaching assistant”
“That’s me.”
“It’s getting late. Let’s get on the road,” Ezekiel suggested.
“Sounds good,”
They all returned to their vehicles and headed toward Newcove.
Newcove, located south of Jacaster in the neighboring state, enjoys a warm climate, offering beautiful, spring–like weather year–round. It was a perfect spot for creative exploration and scenic photography
During the drive, Harrietta glanced over from the passenger seat, looking at Lenora in the back. “Lenora, did you notice their car?”
“What about it? Lenora asked, puzzled.
“I thought I saw another person in their car who didn’t get out.”
“Really?” At the wheel, Sophia kept her eyes on the road. “I didn’t notice.”
“That’s because you were too busy checking out the handsome guy!” Fiona teased.
Lenora shook her head. “I didn’t notice anyone either.
