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
She was used to having Sean receive her at the airport, but she was a little disappointed that she did not see Patrick. "Where's Patrick?" she asked in the car.Richard had returned to North City for a while now, and she did not bring him along this time. He had his classes too, and she did not want to make him skip too many classes even if prodigies like him did not care much about normal schooling knowledge."He's home, but he hasn't fully recovered. I didn't let him come along since it would be taxing, especially since he has to travel early tomorrow," Sean explained."You've really taken good care of him for me, haven't you?" Cordy joked.Sean was suddenly nervous as he explained, "W-Well, that's because he's your boyfriend, y'know?"Cordy did a double take. She was just making an offhand joke, so why was Sean suddenly so nervous as if she had read his mind?However, Sean soon recovered despite Cordy's stare. "And he saved my life, didn't he?""I guess." Cordy smiled poi
Patrick's smile became even more apparent, and he carefully took out the ring and put it on Cordy's finger. It illuminated her perfect cheeks dazzlingly, painting her with breathtaking beauty.Patrick got off the floor, and just as he did, there was a huge gust that kicked the petals on the floor into the air before it started to rain down on them.It was certainly a romantic sight as they were completely engulfed in the petals.Cordy took it all in and was so emotional her eyes welled with tears. "Can I kiss you?" Patrick asked.Cordy smiled—he was such a doofus. She wrapped her arms around Patrick's neck and kissed him.Patrick was taken aback and clearly nervous—so much so that his whole body was shuddering.He was afraid to respond, and their lips stayed locked just like that.Sean was standing nearby as he watched them kiss and embrace each other. The breeze was picking up in strength, ruffling his hair and kicking the petals into the air.It was a beautiful sight
Zoe flinched. "But I'm scared…""Then you don't get to be suspicious.""But I can't…"Cordy smiled exasperatedly. "Then be brave and follow him. If you didn't run away, it wouldn't happen." Zoe bit her lip, feeling that Cordy was right.Cordy remembered something else just then. "Oh, by the way…" "Yeah?""Patrick proposed.""Really?" Zoe was a little excited. "He did it when you went to the capital?""Yeah.""Good job, Patrick!" Zoe exclaimed cheerfully. "So, when's the wedding?""In a few months, I'd say. I'm meeting his parents in Rocktown, and then there's the wedding photos and arranging the wedding luncheon. That'd be two or three months.""I volunteer as a bridesmaid," Zoe said eagerly, though she soon remembered. "Wait, curses… I'm already married and have a child. That disqualifies me.""I don't care about that. You and Quinn will be my bridesmaids when the time comes.""Really?""My wedding, my call.""What about Patrick?""I don't mind," Patrick quickly rep
Jay actually did not see Zoe at that instant, nor did Zoe get a good look at him when she saw a large group of doctors in lab coats rushing into a ward.Moments after, a man was wheeled out on a stretcher so quickly that Zoe did not have a good look who it was.All she saw was Jay wheeling himself so quickly to follow them that he almost flipped his wheelchair.Zoe gritted her teeth and followed.While the medical staff hurried into the emergency room, Jay waited outside worriedly, and the hallway soon became silent again."Jay." Zoe could not help calling out to him just then, and he seemed to jump.He was too focused to notice anything else, and the suddenness registered in his reaction.He turned to find Zoe standing there and appeared even more surprised, not knowing why Zoe showed up there.As for Zoe, she could tell immediately from his reaction that he never noticed her from the start.Who on earth could he be so worried about?And judging from the figure, it was defin
Jay then asked, "Well, can I visit him?""I wouldn't encourage it—he should avoid unnecessary contact for the time being. Moreover, we will move him directly to the clean room," the doctor said. "Alright. How long would he be staying in the clean room?""Around three to five days. He can leave once his surgical wounds heal enough.""Is this going to be the last surgery?""In terms of major ones, yes. Now, it depends on the patient's acceptance of his new face, though that requires delicacy," the doctor explained."Thank you doctor." Jay was awash with gratitude."It's our responsibility," the doctor said before sending them off.Zoe reluctantly followed Jay. It took her so much to muster her courage to come all the way here, but she never found out who Jay came to visit every day!She was still sulking in the car from frustration, utterly upset.Jay began, "Zoe…" "Don't talk to me!" she snapped.Jay pursed his lips but tried to assure her nonetheless. "You'd be surprise
John was calm, a stark contrast to Zoe's agitation. "I am both Lucas Lynch and John Levine."Zoe took a long while to reflect on those worse until she finally understood. She sprang up from Jay's lap in excitement, clapping her hands as she cried, "I knew you were you, but Cordy doubted me! I mean, after living with you for years, I'd recognize you even if all that's left of you were bones!"John was speechless—Zoe never learned how to hold her tongue even after years."By the way, what's it with you? Why did you fake your death? What are you doing here at the hospital? And what's with that emergency surgery? Was it something serious?" Zoe rambled on, asking a ton of questions.Still, John answered every question she had, and Zoe felt patience from him for the very first time.It was as if his temperament had changed after his 'death'…After he was done, Zoe muttered to herself and recounted everything. "So, you're saying that you survived the explosion after Jessica Stuart ble