Patrick snorted. "How is that the same?""We'll be losing our own money if we mess up," Cordy said.Before Patrick could argue, Cordy said sternly, "It's our money now. There used to be little losses on our respective accounts, but losing together would mean losing big."Patrick was almost convinced, and Cordy added, "We shouldn't bankrupt ourselves just because we're in a relationship.""Then… promise me to video call me every day?""I promise." Cordy nodded."When are you leaving?""Right now.""Cordy." Patrick huffed—could she not keep him company a little longer? How could she leave when he just got discharged today?"I need to take part in this meeting at my company. There are details that I can't elaborate precisely through a video conference.""You at least have to eat, right?"Cordy gave in. "Fine. I'll leave after lunch."-After lunch, Cordy left in a hurry since she could not afford any delays.Sean took her to the airport, and she said gratefully, "I'm count
Cordy coolly replied, "There are some things to attend to."She was wondering just then if she should ask Sean to send Richard home, worried that her son would be uncomfortable being alone at the capital.Still, she soon remembered that she would be going back once she settled matters in North City anyway. She was relieved, since she did not want Richard to keep running back and forth."Should I get Dicky—""No." Cordy cut John short before he could finish.John pursed his lips in turn—he could actually feel how distant she was toward him.Still, he stayed silent and reclined against his huge, comfortable seat with his back toward her, staying away from her and pretending to sleep.Cordy ignored him and calmly read her magazine.The flight was a quiet one, and John kept sleeping without moving an inch or responding when the flight attendant arrived to ask for their orders.Cordy thought he really was sound asleep then, if it was not for the airplane suddenly lurching.Cries o
John never told Cordy and kept holding on to her hand in silence.He gulped, his heart pounding erratically as he wished the flight would last so much longer.It was after a long while when the plane finally started its descent, and the woman nearby started to bawl in an instant, though it was tears of joy this time. "I'm never boarding a plane anymore! Hngh…"Cordy breathed a quiet sigh of relief in turn.She was not as hysterical as the other woman, but everyone feared death regardless.She had to inhale deeply several times to only calm herself slightly, and that was when she noticed that she had been squeezing John's hand.Her heart skipped a beat, and she relaxed her fingers to release him, only to realize that John had been holding firmly to her hand, too.Nonetheless, John sharply noticed her movement and quickly released her.The air between them turned awkward, but luckily, the plane had touched down and stopped soon enough, and everyone could get off.Cordy did so
Cordy said nothing, since Jay would understand everything once he met John.She started to leave, while Jay asked in surprise, "Aren't you going to wait, Cordy?"Cordy frowned, so he quickly said, "It's just waiting to see if it's Johnny. I know there's a huge chance that it's a con, but—""No," Cordy said flatly and left without so much as a look behind.Jay found Cordy's reaction peculiar somehow. Was she really doubtful, or…Nonetheless, his heart was racing. He had been restless ever since John called him, and he was actually afraid to tell Zoe in fear that she would get more agitated than him.Hence, he stayed in his wheelchair and watched as the crowd moved around, never catching a glimpse of John.However, just as he was going to presume that he had been tricked, he suddenly glimpsed a familiar figure.It was just one glimpse, and his very blood was excited.Was that really John? That presence was remarkably familiar, even with that face mask and cap…However, Jay re
Jay decided against saying anything since John already knew—the man always knew what he was doing.He took John to a seven-star hotel, joining him in the presidential suite instead of leaving immediately.His face fell the instant John took off his cap and mask in front of him, stunned that he was disfigured to such an extent and almost overwhelmed.John, however, remained calm. "Did I scare you?""No," Jay promptly said. "What happened?""Just some unsavory encounter," John said flatly. "But I've spoken to a doctor, and there's a good chance of recovery.""Yeah," Jay replied, unsure what to say just then and only felt pain inside.He even wondered if John wanted to hide from Cordy because of that unsightly face.Still, John asked, "I think I'm fine alone, but I'd like you to stay with me while I'm in surgery, since I'd be sedated or might encounter a medical decision that could trouble the doctors. Are you busy lately?""No. I can go with you." Jay agreed without hesitation.
Zoe kept staring fixedly even as Jay stepped out of the shower, convinced that something was weird with him.Jay felt the creeps from her stare, but there was no question that he was bad at lying, and it would have been better if he had stayed quiet. To stop Zoe interrogating him,he quickly said, "I ran into Cordy yesterday. She just returned to town.""What?!" Zoe exclaimed in surprise, distracted in an instant."Didn't she contact you?" Jay exclaimed in surprise.At the same time, he prayed that Cordy would not skin him for this since he had no other choice."That woman!" Zoe was fuming in turn. Cordy rarely returned, but she never said a word or contacted Zoe!Was she not Cordy's best friend?!Huffing, she whipped out her phone and called Cordy, while Jay heaved a deep sigh of relief from the close shave.-"I just heard from Jay that you came back?" Zoe asked the instant Cordy answered.Cordy happened to be in her own office, working overtime. She had stayed at the capi
Quinn asked, "Are you sure you're not being paranoid?""Do I look like a paranoid person?" Zoe retorted. Quint thought about it, but had to agree. If Zoe was convinced that Jay was being weird, there was definitely an issue with Jay.And yet, it was so obvious that he pampered Zoe and tiptoed around her…"Didn't Jay tell you anything?" Cordy asked casually."Tell me what?" Zoe was even more perplexed.Cordy frowned—reasonably speaking, Jay would have recognized John as soon as he saw him, and John must have decided to reunite with family now that he returned to North City.There was no reason to keep Zoe out of the loop, was there? Especially with the bond between her and John which stood for years…"What's weighing on your mind?" Zoe was staring at Cordy, perplexed and feeling that Cordy was being weird too.It almost felt like she was the weird one there…"Maybe he's preparing a surprise for you." Cordy hastily came up with an excuse.While Zoe appeared taken aback, Quinn
Cordy ended up staying in North City for over a month—there was too much for her to do to return to the capital for good, and she could only stay in touch with Patrick over the phone.He was complaining about that every day, and she had no choice but to make time and return on short trips.Patrick was more or less fully recovered and could walk slowly off the wheelchair.He was making a fuss about returning to Rocktown since Cordy was not around the capital.Not wanting to make things difficult for Patrick and make him wait for her at the capital, Cordy decided to go with him to Rocktown and meet his parents as well.After all, Patrick had always been hovering around her, and she never actually did anything for him.However, on the way to the airport, she received a call for Zoe, who was on the verge of tears. "Cordy, Jay doesn't love me anymore, does he?! It's rare for both of us to be jobless, but he's always been leaving early and coming home late recently, and he keeps sighin
Soon, another nurse emerged from the delivery room with a small bundle. "Is the mother's family here?""Yes!" John exclaimed loudly."The delivery was successful," the nurse said. "The baby weighs eight pounds—""How is she?" John asked in agitation, not caring about the child."She's fine. The doctor is just helping her clean up and she'll be out soon," the nurse replied.As John breathed a sigh of relief, the nurse reminded him, "Aren't you the father? Here's your child."John took the baby off her arms, staring at her for a moment as the others flocked around him. "Oh, she's so fair!" Zoe could not help exclaiming. "That's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen.""Are you saying that your son's ugly?" Bob teased."To be honest, yeah," Zoe replied without thinking.Jay cleared his throat—even if it was a subjective opinion, it still hurt to have his own baby called ugly."Let me carry her," Zoe volunteered just then, and John did not hesitate to hand her his baby.As Zoe
"What?!" Zoe exclaimed in shock.Beside them, John's face fell despite being usually stoic.Still, even before anyone could react, he scooped Cordy up in his arms and left.Zoe did not hesitate to follow, but Jay reminded her, "We're the hosts, Zoe.""Don't care." Zoe was completely unconcerned. "Ask my mom and your sister to handle the guests. I'm going with Cordy!"Jay hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow since there was no reasoning with Zoe.Sam and Quinn also realized that something was out of place.As they pulled away reluctantly, Bob shouted from below, "If you're done kissing, we're going to the hospital! Cordy's going into labor!"Quinn hurried after them as soon as she hurt, but Sam caught her. "Slow down. We can catch up."In fact, most of the guests were leaving as well—it was as if the banquet for Zoe's son was actually intended for everyone else.The poor boy was certainly unlucky to have such unreliable parents!-As everyone rushed to the hospit
"I'm swelling from my pregnancy," Quinn explained. "It's not your fault."Sam was left staring at her for a while before asking, "So, what should I do?""I'll put it on when I slim down.""Oh." Sam was a little disappointed, since he had always dreamed of having her put on the ring he had custom made.But this was fine—they had all the time they needed, and the most important thing for him is that Quinn was marrying him!He rose to his feet just then, and everyone was cheering as soon as he did. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"Quinn blushed right then, and Sam could see that she was embarrassed.He did not want to make things awkward for her, even if he was quite eager at the moment.Heaven knows how much he missed that night's drunken fumble they had. In fact, during the times he remembered it in dreams, he had to wash his pants when he woke up.Still, just as he took Quinn's hand and started to leave, he felt a softness on his lips—Quinn was kissing him! Sam's heart pounded thunderous
Everyone waited patiently for the final outcome.Quinn's eyes were welling up with tears, threatening to gush if she so much as blinked.She did her best to hold back her tears—to be strong!Sam pursed his lips in turn, his Adam's apple bobbing.A long while passed, and it felt like a century for Quinn when she finally heard him say, "Yes."Quinn's tears started falling in happiness as Sam declared loudly, "I'll marry you, Quinn—it's what I've always wanted to do! I won't let you go even if you regret it eventually! You only get to be with me, and I'll never let any other man claim you! I'll become very overbearing… eventually!""I won't regret it," Quinn said, determined.She certainly would not regret marrying him!Zoe walked up to them with perfect timing just then, and Sam did a double take.He finally remembered that Zoe was the host of this luncheon and was going to leave with Quinn when Zoe whipped out a small red velvet box."You know what's in here, don't you?" Zoe a
However, Sam had already pushed Quinn away before she could tell him. But even if he did not love her or did not want to be with her, she would never stay with Ryan.She had been disappointed in Sam, wondering why he would give up so easily.Was she that unimportant to him?Therefore, if it were not for Zoe and Cordy showing her that video or telling her so much, she would never have known that he loved her for years…Sam's heart ached even as he looked into Quinn's tearful eyes.He reached out a hand, but soon withdrew it—would he not burden her?Even so, it hurt to restrain himself as he watched her, and he was actually getting the feeling that Quinn loved him…But she already had Ryan's child…Well, he was fine with that, as long as the child was Quinn's.But would she not mind?"I will marry you, Sam," Quinn said slowly and clearly then. "Not because you're a good man, not because you prepared so much for me, and not because of how much you prepared for me, but because I
Everyone in the hall was staring at Sam and Quinn, while Quinn took center stage, staring fixedly at Sam.He stood in the middle of the crowd, watching her silently.She in turn felt fear that he would turn and leave, just as she did not know if she had the courage to stand before him again and to declare her feelings for him in front of so many others.Nonetheless, amid the deafening silence, Sam suddenly walked toward the stage.His pace was slow as if his feet were made of lead, but he was also unusually determined.Quinn's heart raced uncontrollably right then!Everyone else was watching them nervously, especially Cordy and Zoe, with the latter being especially concerned that the cowardly Sam would bail.Fortunately, he was a man who showed responsibility. He would not leave Quinn alone and embarrassed.Hence, as everyone looked on, Sam stood before Quinn, his gaze flickering as their eyes met.He gulped ever so slightly, his emotions clearly ruffled even as he did his bes
The guests were encouraging, loudly asking, "Why?!""Because of a woman," Sam's recording replied."Who is it?""Quinn Summer," the Sam on the screen said slowly and clearly, leaving the Sam who was in the hall stunned.What the hell?! That was the proposal video he prepared before! Why did it show up here? Did Zoe make a mistake?!He knew it—leave anything to Zoe, and she would mess it up!He started striding toward the stage, intent on stopping the recording, when John and Bob intercepted him with a look of utter guilt while the recording continued. "Quinn is my wife, and we've been married for years, but I've never really loved her—not because I don't, but because I'm afraid to. I feel too insignificant in comparison to the one she loves, so I'd always hurt her… painfully and childishly. I regret that so much now, Quinn. How could I have abandoned you for so long because of my own jealousy? I'd rather hold you in my sleep every night, but my damned pride denied me that for y
At the banquet hall, Jay and Zoe were thanking their guests with their children in their arms.Then, Zoe announced excitedly, "Please give my best friend, who is also my son's godmother, a warm applause as she comes on stage!"Sam stood at a corner of the hall, watching as Quinn walked up the stage, only realizing just then that her belly was clearly swelling despite her baggy clothes.Time flies—he had not left that long ago, but she and Ryan already had a child.She was not worried about giving him a stroke, was she?He watched as Quinn took the mic and looked around below searching, seemingly searching.After a while, he thought she was looking at him, but by the time he looked up, she had already turned away.Maybe she was looking for Ryan before remembering that Ryan was not there?Nonetheless, Quinn spoke into the mic, saying, "I'm honored to be chosen as the godmother to Zoe's son, and she's been saying he'd be engaged to my child if it's a girl. I already love my godson
As their eyes met, Sam turned frantic and averted his. "Of course.""Really?" Quinn asked."Would I lie to you?" Sam asked a little grumpily."And you didn't bring her back?" Quinn asked."I'm on a schedule, and it'd be taxing for her if I bought her along," Sam said, making things up as he went along. "I'll bring her along when things are less busy.""Is she pretty?" Quinn pressed."What, have I ever picked an ugly one?" Sam snorted smugly. "You know I prefer curvaceous types, and there are plenty of those abroad.""Do you have a photo?"Sam was silent for a while and eventually said, "Yeah.""Can I see it?""What, does she have to pass your assessment?""Just curious about the girl who can tempt you to settle down," Quinn replied. "You'd be humbled." Sam hastily came up with an excuse."I won't," Quinn said, determined."You'll see her when I bring her home." Sam refused nonetheless."I would like to see a photo now.""No, she's not that photogenic. It'd be slander a