The room was once again silent, since Cordy's words left John dumbstruck.They stared each other down for a while until John smiled wistfully. "Is it that hard to work with me, Cordy?"Cordy's chest actually stung. John had always been harsh, but those words carried such heartbreak and helplessness.Even so, she said, "I've already made things very clear to you after the announcement of your engagement with Jessica Stuart. We aren't that close that I have to suffer everything for your sake. In fact, the Stuarts want to take me down right now because of you, and I don't have what it takes to fight back. Why should I suffer for whatever it is going on between you and Jessica? Do you think it's fair?!"Cordy remained staunch as ever to the point that John actually felt like he would never have her.All his perseverance now had been futile, even incurring her disgust and bringing her more harm.In fact, he wondered if he should compromise himself as she suggested, stay jaded and ac
John eventually asked, "Do you mind if I take a copy?""No," Cordy replied. "Thank you." Cordy pursed her lips—he was thanking her even though he was helping her with her case."I'm going now. I'll call you right away if there are any developments on my end," he said and left without a delay."I only have two weeks," Cordy reminded him."I know."With that, she watched as he left.He had looked composed and showed no nerves when he read the file, but he left in such a hurry.So, was it going to be difficult for him too?-Zoe returned soon after John left, but she and Quinn probably did not leave, and Zoe returned once she saw John leave. "Quinn said that she has other stuff to do," Zoe told her. "She said that she'll inform you immediately once she has something on the case and that you should contact her as well if you get something. Her phone is on 24/7.""Alright," Cordy replied. As she continued to read through her case files again, Zoe was staring at her for a l
Cordy bit her lip and refused to answer at all. "I wouldn't know.""Well, I never could get him to tell me," Zoe said nonchalantly, before adding, "By the way, I have one final scene to film tonight, and it has been put off for a while since I had other projects. Once I'm done, I'll ask my manager to clear my schedule for some time so I can keep you company until after your case is over.""It's fine, I don't want to put off your work…" Cordy began."I'm doing it on my own will. Don't turn me down now," Zoe told her, not giving her a chance to argue. "My assistant will take me to the studio soon, and I'll be done around 2 or 3 AM. Just stay home and wait for me."Cordy did not want to blow off Zoe's eagerness and remained on the couch after Zoe left, staring blankly into thin air.There was no way Cordy could calm down—she was not that dauntless with the criminal charges against her.Her fingers were twitching, but she eventually picked up her phone and called a number. "John.""
As Zoe headed to the film set, Penny quickly followed. Her stunt double already had her wire harness on, while Jay stood beside her and explained his directions.The stunt double looked almost the same age as Zoe and was quite the docile creature. Zoe herself had heard more than a few others in the film crew praising her.With her good looks and willingness to suffer, she would be able to rise to stardom once she got lucky.As Zoe stood and watched her stunt double being raised into the air, she started to feel fear and her body trembled just from looking.Feeling a little guilty, she thought about treating her stunt double to a nice dinner and giving her a present. But even as the thought crossed her mind, there was a loud snapping sound overhead, and the stunt double hovering up in the air was suddenly wobbling before the wire severed completely.Everyone screamed in shock, while Zoe was left petrified and watched as the stunt double fell dozens of feet down, landing squar
The nurse said urgently, "The patient's liver is ruptured and she needs type AB blood right now, but we just received word from the blood bank that they don't have the amount she needs. Her family members would be a viable donor or you can try contacting anyone with type AB blood to come forward as a donor. We've already contacted our superiors to liaise with various major hospitals for logistics."Still, she added, "However, the patient is currently in critical condition, so the faster, the better."Nancy was almost left senseless from shock.If the worst happened to Zoe… "Let's call for donors right now," Ivan said, working hard to stay calm while whipping out his phone with a shaking hand. "I'll call Johnny. He can send everyone in the company with type AB blood over. Jay stood nearby, his whole body stiff and shaking from restraint. His blood type was AB, but he could not donate to Zoe.On the other hand, after Ivan called John, he turned to Nancy. "John made the arrangem
The doors to the operation room opened just then, and a pale-faced woman was wheeled out, looking utterly enfeebled.Still, her injury was not at all serious.However, as everyone including Nancy turned toward Cora Gooding, she felt as if she was punched in the gut, her breath leaving her lungs right then.Clara had been a maid in Levine Manor when both Nancy and Clara got pregnant around the same time. After Clara delivered her baby, she insisted on returning to her hometown with her daughter and left the Levines' service…'No! That's impossible!'Nancy's face turned pale. She could not believe something so ridiculous would happen to her! She could not believe that the daughter she had raised over twenty years was not actually hers!And yet, Zoe's blood type…Nancy rushed to a doctor nearby and asked, "What is this patient's blood type?""A," he replied.Nancy felt another punch in the gut right then.And that face which looked almost just like Zoe's… Nancy could not thi
The nurse called out again, "Are the type AB blood donors here? The patient is in critical condition…"There was a crowd right outside the operation room, but none of them were coming for some reason."Aunt Nancy, this can wait. Let's help Zoe for now," John urged. "Don't you dare help her!" Nancy bellowed bluntly.Never had she been deceived so thoroughly in her entire life!It turned out that she had raised someone else's daughter for over twenty years, and to add insult to injury, it was her own husband's mistress! All while her own daughter had to live somewhere out there, suffering! The thought that Zoe enjoyed all the nice things in life and how Nancy herself cared for her every need… She felt utterly disgusted."Please, Ms. Levine." Clara suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Nancy, sobbing. "Please, you have to save Zoe. It's all my fault—take it out on me if you want! I was just bewitched back then, and my stubbornness led to this… Zoe is innocent. She has nothing
They had to save Zoe.John turned right then and saw Jay quickly and quietly approaching the nurse.Come to think of it, he was of type AB blood.Meanwhile, Clara was crying hysterically on the floor. "Please, Ms. Levine, I'm begging you… Please save Zoe! Whatever it is, just take it out on me, okay? Please…"She never thought that one moment of impulse would hurt her daughter to such an extent. And if Zoe really died… No, she refused to think about that!But even as she cried and begged, Nancy simply ignored her and walked up to Cora, who was still too feeble to speak."Send her to the best ward you have," she told the medical staff present icily. "No one is allowed to visit her without my permission." They knew who she was and therefore agreed to it immediately.Nancy then turned to tell John, "I'm your real family, Johnny—we have ties that bind. I'm sure you wouldn't betray me or do anything that would hurt me."John certainly knew what she was insinuating: he must not