"I don't care what you say. I've already agreed with Mrs. Levine on your engagement.""You're making a huge mistake.""So what if I am? You don't even have a girlfriend at this age…""But I do!" Bob declared aloud."What?" Yulia was shocked to hear that."I'll tell you the truth. I spent the night at my girlfriend's house." "Who is she?""Things aren't stable between us yet. I'll bring her back home to see you once things are more settled," Bob knew clearly that now was not a good time.If his mom were to find out that he rejected Cora because of Zoe, she would probably burst out in anger."Don't you dare pull my leg on this.""I can handle my personal affairs. Leave me alone," Bob said with a tinge of frustration in his voice. "You can handle your own affairs? Ever since you were young…""What's more, Cora isn't interested in me either. Feel free to call Mrs. Levine to verify if you don't believe me." Bob did not want to say any further. "I'm hanging up."With that, he
The two of them stared at each other for a while.Yulia was the first to open her mouth. "It's you, Zoe York."She surveyed Zoe from head to toe.It felt as if she noticed a difference from when she last saw her."Are you looking for me?" Zoe remained calm and asked her."Who else, if not you? Or should I be looking for Bob?" Yulia said sarcastically.The fact that Yulia appeared here meant that she knew about her relationship with Bob."Come in," Zoe said, inviting Yulia in. "No need to take off your shoes. I don't have extra slippers."Yulia entered her apartment and looked around. It was neither huge nor luxurious, but it was very warm and inviting.She sat on the couch as Zoe poured her a glass of water.She did not expect Zoe to be in an even better shape after what happened to her family.Was it because of Bob?!Yulia said imperturbably, "Did Bob buy this apartment?"She was glad that Bob was the one who bought it. Otherwise, she would not have known that he had a gi
She knew very clearly how obsessed people of high society were about appropriate marriages. "If the incident didn't happen to you, I would have been glad to approve of you and Bob together. I used to like you from the bottom of my heart, not just because of your family background back then, but because of your personality which I really appreciated. I'll be honest with you—Nancy Levine has been trying to matchmake Cora with my son. I've seen Cora before and truly, she's no match for you in every sense of the word."Zoe's eyes flickered.She was shocked to know that Nancy would bother matchmaking Cora and Bob.In fact, Bob was not too bad himself.He might seem like he usually played around too much, but his family background was impressive.Nancy probably thought that since Cora had just come, it would be better for Cora to have someone else aside from her own mother watching over and protecting her.Nancy was indeed thoughtful and considerate in all things for Cora's sake.Zo
Zoe looked at Yulia.She had heard from Nancy that Yulia was a strong-headed woman. Yulia looked gentle and magnanimous, but when she was forced to a corner, she was the kind that would hack people into pieces in retaliation."Zoe, I don't know how receptive you are to the many things I've said, but I hope you can think about it. Is it worth it for Bob to lose everything, even at my expense, for the sake of your so-called love?" "Why, why must you force my hand like this?" Zoe's eyes turned red. She looked at Yulia and questioned her, "Have you ever loved anyone in your life?""I have, but so what?" Yulia smiled, but tears glimmered in her eyes as she said, "He could always betray me and be with another woman. Tell me, how long can a romance stay fresh and exciting? When I first started dating Charles back then, he could stay up for three days and three nights straight just to prepare a surprise for me. Even such fervent love was unable to withstand the test of time. Of course,
Tears fell uncontrollably from Zoe's eyes as she stared at the credit card.She recalled how expectantly Bob looked this morning when he left her place.Who would have thought that the hasty goodbye they bade to each other would be for forever? Her phone screen lit up.Zoe glanced at it and saw a message from Bob. [I'll reach the latest by 8 PM tonight. I'll wash my chubby self squeaky clean and make sure I smell nice before going over.]Tears blurred her vision so badly that she could hardly make out what Bob texted her.She could only think about how excited and expectant Bob was when typing out this message… and how hurt he would be when he knew what she was about to do!Zoe wiped her tears away, picked up her phone, and ignored all of Bob's messages.Her fingers moved across the screen.She found the contact she was looking for and typed her message with trembling fingers.She typed out a long, long message.Even after a long while, she found herself unable to tap on th
Jay was stunned.He looked at Zoe, wondering if he had heard her wrongly.Things were going so well for them. Why did she suddenly want a break up?"Did…something happen?" Jay forced himself to remain calm as he asked her.But in fact, his voice was trembling ever so slightly.Zoe was not able to pick up on it, though.She was not even paying him much attention."Bob's mom came looking for me." Zoe never thought of hiding the truth from Jay.Since she decided to ask him for help, she had to be honest.Realization dawned upon Jay.He knew it. It was impossible for their relationship to have soured over such a short period.He could sense that they loved each other very much.But the moment it involved the elders of the family, things were bound to become tricky.Given the situation right now with the Davis household bent on having a marriage alliance with the Levines, Zoe was nothing but a stumbling block that the Davis family would never tolerate."Did you tell Bob?" Jay
Jay was lost in his thoughts."Are you unwilling to help me?" Zoe asked in a slight mocking tone.She had expected that he might not be willing to.After all, if he were to agree to help her, it would certainly cause a dent in his friendship with Bob.To Jay, his self-benefit has always been his priority."I just feel like things need not be brought to such an extreme. Yulia doesn't want you to be with Bob simply because she's worried that Bob will anger Charles, and Charles would cut off Bob's inheritance of the family business. But if Bob starts taking the business seriously and works hard, thus gaining Charles' recognition of his abilities, there's no need for Charles to force Bob into a marriage alliance.""Having been with the Levines for so many years, do you really think this is about inheriting the family business? A proper match in family backgrounds is the foundation of every high-society marriage. What right do I have to marry into the Davis family, given my status now
Jay's throat felt dry, and he clenched his trembling fists.He saw the hopelessness reflected in Zoe's eyes, the hopelessness she felt toward him.He felt as if thousands of swords were piercing right through his heart at that moment, making him unable to say a word."If I could find someone else to help me, I wouldn't even consider troubling you," Zoe said softly. "But right now, you're the only one who can make Bob believe that I don't love him. I find it miserable indeed, to have only loved two men in all the twenty-five years I've lived. How good it would be if I had another option to go to."Jay tried so hard to compose himself that his whole body shook.He said through gritted teeth, "I'll help you."Zoe looked at him, unmoved.What was there for her to be moved by?He simply had no choice after hearing what she said."Thank you," she whispered brokenly.She still had to thank him.Thank him for agreeing to it, despite being put in a difficult spot.At night, before 8