Those insignificant people wanted to cause trouble? Well, they could just wait! She was a celebrity, and she was making a personal appearance today—not only to support Chloe but also to draw more media attention. Weren't there always people who loved to stir up drama? Why settle for just a few spectators when you could have everyone join in the excitement? "Chloe, you look absolutely stunning today. I'm totally captivated," Oralia said, leaning affectionately against Chloe. Chloe was wearing that exquisite gown, and her enchanting figure was displayed to perfection. Every movement she made was utterly mesmerizing. Hearing this, Melinda, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, turned around and let out a playful whistle. "Chloe, you're so gorgeous it's unfair. I'm seriously considering going for gender-affirming surgery—maybe then I could spend the rest of my life with you." Zachary, who was driving, suddenly jerked the steering wheel. The car swerved sharply. Melinda, caught off guard, bumped her head against the windshield. "Hey, Zachary, your driving skills need work! What was that about?" "Uh... sorry, my hand slipped," Zachary replied with an embarrassed smile. "It's just that your mention of gender-affirming surgery took me by surprise." "What's wrong with that? Is there a problem?" Melinda asked innocently, feigning seriousness. "Nothing wrong, exactly. It's just that I think it's a bit late for that kind of procedure. You wouldn't stand a chance anyway," Zachary said matter-of-factly. "Even if Chloe agreed, there's someone who definitely wouldn't allow it." The reference to "someone" immediately caught Melinda's attention. After a moment's thought, she knew exactly who he meant and sighed in resignation. "Alright, you've got a point. Even if I went through with it, I still couldn't compete with that person. I guess I'll drop the idea," Melinda said, leaning forward and shooting Zachary a teasing look. "You know, you always seem so proper, but you're pretty good at gossiping. Come on, who else have you been talking about?" "Who would I have time to gossip about? I'm buried in case files," Zachary replied with a faint smile, gripping the steering wheel more attentively. "Well, you can gossip about me then. I'm incredibly charming—how many girls have fallen for me, or how many guys have I swept off their feet?" Melinda boasted without a hint of modesty, clearly intending to tease him.Before Zachary could respond, a sudden shout broke the moment. "Watch out!" The next second, a loud crash echoed as their vehicle was violently struck from the side. Before Melinda could process what was happening, Zachary pulled her toward him, shielding her with his own body from the impact. In the chaos of the collision, their car spun and slammed into the guardrail, the metal twisting from the force. Had it not been for that barrier, the car would have plunged into the river below—a fate that would have been fatal for everyone inside. Melinda was dazed for a moment, struggling to orient herself. As her senses returned, she heard Chloe's urgent voice. "Are you okay? Zachary? Zachary!" Why did Chloe sound so panicked? Melinda tried to move but found it difficult. When she finally managed to sit up, the severity of the situation dawned on her—they had been in a major accident. Their car had been T-boned by another vehicle. Melinda took a deep breath, her heart still racing from the shock. Wait—Zachary! She turned to look at him and froze. In those critical seconds, Zachary had reacted instantly. Being closest to her, he had wrapped himself around her, taking the brunt of the shattered glass. Now, he was covered in cuts, and the blood staining her clothes was his. "Zachary... you..." Melinda stammered, completely stunned. "Is everyone alright?" Chloe called out again. Melinda glanced toward the back seat and felt a wave of relief. When the crash happened, Chloe had shielded Robert and Oralia, who in turn had reached out to protect each other. The three of them were huddled together and appeared to have escaped serious injury. Melinda forced the car door open and stepped out. The scene outside left her even more shaken. They had been hit by a truck with no license plates. How could something like this happen on a regular road? Had the driver even had a valid license? The driver... Who was he? Melinda looked toward the truck's cabin and immediately saw the lifeless body behind the wheel. The front of the truck was completely crushed, and the driver had died on impact—a grim testament to the violence of the collision.