He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 757

Zachary's tone was incredibly calm and gentle, but the raw heartache in his eyes was impossible to miss.

He knew quite a bit about the hell she had been through over the years, especially her disastrous marriage with Yardley, thanks to updates from Julian and Stellan.

She had spent her childhood constantly moving with their mother, and now she was navigating a messy divorce as a single mom. He could only imagine the endless despair and helplessness she had faced alone.

The thought of her suffering in silence at the Flynn estate for six years, only finding the courage to break free after having her daughter, made his chest ache terribly.

"I'm here now. Nobody is ever going to bully you again. I swear it."

Scarlett managed a weak smile. "I know."

Zachary changed the subject. "How is Mom doing since the surgery?"

"Much better. It's under control, no further spread. She's doing fine, she just really misses you."

Remembering the suitcase full of food her mother had packed, she hurried to the closet and rolled her luggage out in front of him.

Zachary looked confused as she unzipped it.

Inside was an entire suitcase packed to the brim with vacuum-sealed homemade treats. It was everything he used to dream about—his favorite childhood snacks and pastries made by their mother's own hands. Flavors he thought he'd never get to taste again.

His eyes grew misty. He swallowed hard, forcing a casual tone. "Why did you bring so much? Did she make all of this?"

"Yeah. She spent a whole week prepping everything so I could bring it to you. She said to put it in the freezer so it lasts."

"There's homemade pastries, beef jerky, cheese rice cakes, pies, sweet buns, cake... Mom said it's all your childhood favorites."

A flicker of emotion flashed across his face. He quickly looked out the window, taking a few seconds to compose himself before turning back. When he did, his eyes held a strange, complicated glint.

"After we left, how did Mom treat you? Was she good to you?"

He stared at her, confirming she genuinely had no idea. "Not that. I'm talking about Dad's relationship with Franklin Flynn and Silas Stetson."

He looked baffled. "You seriously don't know?"

She was completely thrown. In the six years she was married into the Flynn family, she had never heard a single whisper that her biological father knew Franklin or Silas. Not even her mother had mentioned it.

She shook her head. "No. How did they know each other?"

Seeing that she truly was in the dark, his expression softened slightly. He let out a dry laugh. "Franklin, Silas, and Dad grew up on the same street. They were best friends when they were kids."

"And then what?" Scarlett was entirely hooked now.

Zachary pressed his lips together, hesitating on whether to drop such a heavy, dark history on her the very moment they reunited.