Nancy was still not reacting at all.She stood before Zoe, looming over her as she said icily, "Don't call me that ever again. You're not my daughter."Zoe was taken aback.Even as a kid, no matter what mischief or shenanigans she was up to—no matter how disobedient or what mistakes she made—her mother had never been this harsh to her.Could she really have upset Nancy this time? She reached out to Nancy like a spoiled child, trying to be cute… only for Nancy to shift her hand away, evading her.There was also undisguised contempt in Nancy's eyes.Zoe's heart skipped a bed, feeling that something was out of place right then.No matter what happened, her mother would never be this cold to her.Even if Nancy was really upset that Zoe had been in danger, Nancy should be weeping happy tears and hugging Zoe because she cheated death.But this cold reaction… Zoe somehow felt like she was not Nancy's daughter. "Mom, what's wrong?" Zoe asked gingerly."I'll say it again, Zoe York
Zoe had always believed herself to be fortunate.Aside from a small plight in her love life, everything else was smooth sailing for her.Never could she have expected her world to fall apart like this.How did a legitimate heiress like her turn into a mistress' daughter?!"We have nothing to do with each other now, Zoe York."Nancy was being frighteningly cold.Seeing Zoe being so miserable did make her feel just a tinge of remorse, but the thought that her own daughter had suffered so much because of Zoe only made her feel even more disgusted.She hated Zoe to the core now for taking everything that was her biological daughter's!"Mom…" Zoe called out to her nonetheless."Don't call me that!" Nancy shrieked with visible disgust."I'm sorry," Zoe apologized—because she had stolen someone else's happiness. "I don't need your apologies," Nancy said icily. "Just stay out of my sight forever, and that would be the best repayment for all the kindness I've wasted on you!"And wi
So this was what it felt like to fall from heaven to hell… And Zoe thought that this stuff only happened in TV dramas. But for some bizarre reason, it happened to her."Zoe…" Jay said. "Leave," she said, finally turning toward him then and finding him looking so worried."The Levines would be upset if you stayed here. My mom…" Zoe paused for a moment then to correct herself, "I mean, Ms. Levine is an individual who makes her feelings very clear. If she hates someone, she couldn't care less about anything and would destroy anything and everyone around them. Stay with me and you'll become an eyesore." "Even if John will inherit the family estate, their favoritism isn't that obvious. You should also know that since Alan Levine spoiled her ever since she was a child, he would never allow her to be given grief."Zoe was already changing the way she addressed the same people as she worked hard to stay strong and accept everything in the present.Jay watched her silently. She was
The atmosphere in the silent ward was suffocating. Jay and Zoe simply stared at each other, with Zoe's gaze cold to the bone.Her loathing and distaste for him was just too obvious.She really loathed him—it was as if he could cause every type of tragedy!If he did not get her a stunt double and did not allow that accident to happen on his film set, she would never have been exposed and she would still be a Levine!Jay must be her jinx! She never had it easy ever since she met him!"Rest well," Jay said calmly then, trying to offer her comfort as if the gash on her forehead did not hurt.Even so, Zoe really did not need his sudden goodwill. No, she could accept anyone's goodwill, but not his.-After Jay left Zoe's ward, he started to teeter backward soon, and John quickly caught him. "Are you alright?"Jay's head was spinning, and it took a long while for him to recover. "I'm fine.""How much blood did you give?" John asked."Not much," Jay replied.John did not press
Seeing that Jay's cut on the forehead had been bandaged then, John said, "I'm going now. There's still plenty to do for Cordy's trial, so I can't divide that much attention here. Either way, I'll respect whatever your decision may be.""Johnny," Jay said somberly, "Thank you."John clapped him on the shoulder. "We're family, no?"Jay felt touched—John never said much, but he knew everything and would even offer comfort.Those who did not know him well would never be able to tell that he offered warmth despite his might.As John left the hospital in his car, he stared out the window and heaved a heavy sigh.He suddenly remembered how Zoe would always follow him around when they were children, calling his name. And that same brat grew to become an adult…His phone suddenly started to ring, and he answered it."Mr. Levine? We've found multiple outbound transfers from the personal account of Helen Zalenski.""Send it to me.""Yes, sir."John's eyes narrowed.In the end, his p
John was not stingy with his praise. "That's very smart."Cordy blushed for some reason, feeling as if John was treating her like a kid just then, and she was not used to talking to him like this.Changing the subject, she said, "You told me over the phone you'd tell me about Zoe. So?" John scowled slightly, but said, "I didn't want to tell you because you can't even protect yourself right now, but I'd never dare hide it from you."Cordy bit her lip, a little speechless from the way he used 'never dare'. He really was petty."Anyway, Zoe had an accident at the film set last night, and she's at the hospital right now…""What?!""Don't worry. She's safe although it was a little serious, just a little liver rupture causing massive bleeding. She has since regained consciousness, and she'll be discharged in a week.""Why didn't you tell me?" Cordy exclaimed a little angrily just then. "I could keep her company at the hospital."She certainly remembered that Zoe had always been a
Cordy was stubborn. "That's my own business.""Yes, but Zoe might not want to see you right now either," John told her. "She just turned from a swan to an ugly duckling—do you think she'd be able to stay composed and face you or anyone else? She might want some quiet time to herself, so let's just give her some space…"Cordy scowled. "John—""The point is, Jay will be taking care of her," John said, cutting her short.Cordy was taken aback and was soon snapping, "Are we really pinning our hopes on Jay now?! He didn't care about her at all when she was still Levine! Do you think he'd take the bullet after what happened to her?! Moreover, your aunt is denying Zoe help. What can Jay do when he's just adopted? Get chased out of the family like Zoe? Would he really go that far for her?!""Like I said before," John said. "Jay was right in rejecting Zoe." Cordy did not respond to that, refusing to listen to any of his explanations although she did not know what he was going to say.Bu
Suddenly it started to drizzle, with tiny droplets quickly pelting Zoe's body. When she was discharged, the doctor told her that she was still physically weak—she must take care of her body and not expose herself to the cold or get involved with any strenuous activities. In fact, the best option was to stay home for a month before resuming work.She ignored all that, feeling right then that her life was pointless, let alone anything else.She trudged along the streets, and for some miraculous reason, no one recognized a top star like her even as she walked along the streets without a disguise. In fact, any eyes that lingered on her would think she was some sort of nutjob. Who else would walk so slowly under the rain, not running for cover and not caring at all that she was getting drenched to the bone?She eventually stopped before a billboard, where workers were taking down her poster.It was raining, but they were working as if they could not afford to wait.She watched as