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
Or did he enter the wrong apartment?That could not be.Zoe could not possibly…But that man was Jay. He knew what Zoe used to feel for Jay and the sorrow she felt from unrequited love.She liked Jay for so many years, so, so many years…He was nothing compared to Jay!His vision blurred, but he did not leave. He did not question them loudly, nor did he even interrupt them.He simply looked on as Zoe took the initiative to kiss Jay, and he just stood there, feeling his heart break into many tiny pieces.From the corner of her eye, Zoe saw Bob standing still at the door.She could imagine how broken he felt at that moment, and she desperately wished that he would push them apart and slap her, but he did not do a single thing.He simply stood there in his pain.Zoe's eyelids trembled. She shut her eyes as tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes, and she then deepened her kiss on Jay's lips.The kiss that felt like a mere peck became hotter and more fervent, and Jay's heartbea
"But I can't lie to myself and to you," Zoe said firmly."Lie to yourself and me…" Bob laughed out loud.It was a laughter tinged with self-derision."So, all along, you've been lying to yourself and me by being with me? All the smiles on your face were feigned? Did you lie to me each time you said you loved me?" Bob asked.Tears fell with each question he posed, and his heart ached so badly.The pain felt worse compared to when he witnessed Zoe leaning close to Jay.It turned out that the pain of losing something after having it was enough to break a person."I'm sorry." Zoe did not answer him.Bob laughed.He laughed so hard that he could not stop his tears from flowing.He had thought that the heavens finally showed pity on him.He even felt thankful that the incident happened to Zoe such that he had a chance to be with her.He was too wicked indeed, and that was probably why the heavens could no longer tolerate them being together."Has Jay agreed to be with you?" Bob
Zoe didn't know how much time had passed. When she looked up at the living room clock, she found it was already past noon.It was already the next day.She turned to look at Jay, watching as he sat beside her without a word. He was simply there.The bruise on his face from the two punches Bob had thrown at him had become darker and had started to swell. It looked hideous."Do you want to go to the hospital?" Zoe asked.Jay froze momentarily. It took him a while to understand that Zoe was referring to the wound on his face. "No need. It'll go away in a few days.""Thank you," Zoe then said.She was expressing her gratitude again.Jay pursed his lips and was about to speak when Zoe continued quietly, "I don't know what I can do to repay you.""There's no need for that.""But your friendship with Bob has been affected because of me.""That's fine."Everything that happened had been due to anger.Jay's friendship with Bob wasn't that fragile."That's true," Zoe muttered t