His eyes reddened almost instantly. He grabbed my hand. "I know you've been wronged. I know you're angry."
"But Gertie really did lose the competition because of you. It's understandable that she snapped."
"She just turned eighteen. Do you really want to destroy her entire future before you're satisfied?"
I laughed out of sheer disbelief.
Back then, he was the one who'd complained to me. He said Gertrude Shepherd was always monopolizing his time after class, pressuring him into extra tutoring sessions.
He was sick of it.
So when Gertie called to arrange yet another weekend tutoring session with Zachery, I stepped in and declined for him.
Politely. "Miss Shepherd, professors need their rest too. He can't keep sacrificing his personal time for students."
I still remembered how Zachery had hugged me tight afterward, thanking me over and over.
"Ellie, you're the only person who truly cares about me. Marrying you was the best thing that ever happened to me."
But now he'd pinned everything on me.
As if getting run down by Gertrude's car was something I'd brought on myself.
I pulled my hand free. My voice dropped colder. "Zachery, do you honestly think this is my fault?"