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
The next day, Zoe stirred from her sleep slowly. She turned around groggily and rolled over to find no one beside her.Opening her eyes, she felt the spot beside her to find it cold.Smiling bitterly, Zoe thought about how she had already anticipated this happening. She forced herself to get up, and the covers slipped off her body. Looking down at herself, she saw that her skin was littered with bruises and marks.Without these, she would have thought that everything last night had been a dream. She would have thought that Jay, who had acted entirely differently last night compared to usual, had been a figment of her imagination.She lifted the covers to pick up the discarded clothes around the place and placed them neatly to one side before heading straight for the shower.Her whole body was sore. Zoe thought feeling sore after such activity was just an exaggeration of fiction and movies. After she showered, she dried her hair and changed into a pair of clean pajamas. When she
Soon, another nurse emerged from the delivery room with a small bundle. "Is the mother's family here?""Yes!" John exclaimed loudly."The delivery was successful," the nurse said. "The baby weighs eight pounds—""How is she?" John asked in agitation, not caring about the child."She's fine. The doctor is just helping her clean up and she'll be out soon," the nurse replied.As John breathed a sigh of relief, the nurse reminded him, "Aren't you the father? Here's your child."John took the baby off her arms, staring at her for a moment as the others flocked around him. "Oh, she's so fair!" Zoe could not help exclaiming. "That's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen.""Are you saying that your son's ugly?" Bob teased."To be honest, yeah," Zoe replied without thinking.Jay cleared his throat—even if it was a subjective opinion, it still hurt to have his own baby called ugly."Let me carry her," Zoe volunteered just then, and John did not hesitate to hand her his baby.As Zoe
"What?!" Zoe exclaimed in shock.Beside them, John's face fell despite being usually stoic.Still, even before anyone could react, he scooped Cordy up in his arms and left.Zoe did not hesitate to follow, but Jay reminded her, "We're the hosts, Zoe.""Don't care." Zoe was completely unconcerned. "Ask my mom and your sister to handle the guests. I'm going with Cordy!"Jay hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow since there was no reasoning with Zoe.Sam and Quinn also realized that something was out of place.As they pulled away reluctantly, Bob shouted from below, "If you're done kissing, we're going to the hospital! Cordy's going into labor!"Quinn hurried after them as soon as she hurt, but Sam caught her. "Slow down. We can catch up."In fact, most of the guests were leaving as well—it was as if the banquet for Zoe's son was actually intended for everyone else.The poor boy was certainly unlucky to have such unreliable parents!-As everyone rushed to the hospit
"I'm swelling from my pregnancy," Quinn explained. "It's not your fault."Sam was left staring at her for a while before asking, "So, what should I do?""I'll put it on when I slim down.""Oh." Sam was a little disappointed, since he had always dreamed of having her put on the ring he had custom made.But this was fine—they had all the time they needed, and the most important thing for him is that Quinn was marrying him!He rose to his feet just then, and everyone was cheering as soon as he did. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"Quinn blushed right then, and Sam could see that she was embarrassed.He did not want to make things awkward for her, even if he was quite eager at the moment.Heaven knows how much he missed that night's drunken fumble they had. In fact, during the times he remembered it in dreams, he had to wash his pants when he woke up.Still, just as he took Quinn's hand and started to leave, he felt a softness on his lips—Quinn was kissing him! Sam's heart pounded thunderous
Everyone waited patiently for the final outcome.Quinn's eyes were welling up with tears, threatening to gush if she so much as blinked.She did her best to hold back her tears—to be strong!Sam pursed his lips in turn, his Adam's apple bobbing.A long while passed, and it felt like a century for Quinn when she finally heard him say, "Yes."Quinn's tears started falling in happiness as Sam declared loudly, "I'll marry you, Quinn—it's what I've always wanted to do! I won't let you go even if you regret it eventually! You only get to be with me, and I'll never let any other man claim you! I'll become very overbearing… eventually!""I won't regret it," Quinn said, determined.She certainly would not regret marrying him!Zoe walked up to them with perfect timing just then, and Sam did a double take.He finally remembered that Zoe was the host of this luncheon and was going to leave with Quinn when Zoe whipped out a small red velvet box."You know what's in here, don't you?" Zoe a
However, Sam had already pushed Quinn away before she could tell him. But even if he did not love her or did not want to be with her, she would never stay with Ryan.She had been disappointed in Sam, wondering why he would give up so easily.Was she that unimportant to him?Therefore, if it were not for Zoe and Cordy showing her that video or telling her so much, she would never have known that he loved her for years…Sam's heart ached even as he looked into Quinn's tearful eyes.He reached out a hand, but soon withdrew it—would he not burden her?Even so, it hurt to restrain himself as he watched her, and he was actually getting the feeling that Quinn loved him…But she already had Ryan's child…Well, he was fine with that, as long as the child was Quinn's.But would she not mind?"I will marry you, Sam," Quinn said slowly and clearly then. "Not because you're a good man, not because you prepared so much for me, and not because of how much you prepared for me, but because I
Everyone in the hall was staring at Sam and Quinn, while Quinn took center stage, staring fixedly at Sam.He stood in the middle of the crowd, watching her silently.She in turn felt fear that he would turn and leave, just as she did not know if she had the courage to stand before him again and to declare her feelings for him in front of so many others.Nonetheless, amid the deafening silence, Sam suddenly walked toward the stage.His pace was slow as if his feet were made of lead, but he was also unusually determined.Quinn's heart raced uncontrollably right then!Everyone else was watching them nervously, especially Cordy and Zoe, with the latter being especially concerned that the cowardly Sam would bail.Fortunately, he was a man who showed responsibility. He would not leave Quinn alone and embarrassed.Hence, as everyone looked on, Sam stood before Quinn, his gaze flickering as their eyes met.He gulped ever so slightly, his emotions clearly ruffled even as he did his bes
The guests were encouraging, loudly asking, "Why?!""Because of a woman," Sam's recording replied."Who is it?""Quinn Summer," the Sam on the screen said slowly and clearly, leaving the Sam who was in the hall stunned.What the hell?! That was the proposal video he prepared before! Why did it show up here? Did Zoe make a mistake?!He knew it—leave anything to Zoe, and she would mess it up!He started striding toward the stage, intent on stopping the recording, when John and Bob intercepted him with a look of utter guilt while the recording continued. "Quinn is my wife, and we've been married for years, but I've never really loved her—not because I don't, but because I'm afraid to. I feel too insignificant in comparison to the one she loves, so I'd always hurt her… painfully and childishly. I regret that so much now, Quinn. How could I have abandoned you for so long because of my own jealousy? I'd rather hold you in my sleep every night, but my damned pride denied me that for y
At the banquet hall, Jay and Zoe were thanking their guests with their children in their arms.Then, Zoe announced excitedly, "Please give my best friend, who is also my son's godmother, a warm applause as she comes on stage!"Sam stood at a corner of the hall, watching as Quinn walked up the stage, only realizing just then that her belly was clearly swelling despite her baggy clothes.Time flies—he had not left that long ago, but she and Ryan already had a child.She was not worried about giving him a stroke, was she?He watched as Quinn took the mic and looked around below searching, seemingly searching.After a while, he thought she was looking at him, but by the time he looked up, she had already turned away.Maybe she was looking for Ryan before remembering that Ryan was not there?Nonetheless, Quinn spoke into the mic, saying, "I'm honored to be chosen as the godmother to Zoe's son, and she's been saying he'd be engaged to my child if it's a girl. I already love my godson
As their eyes met, Sam turned frantic and averted his. "Of course.""Really?" Quinn asked."Would I lie to you?" Sam asked a little grumpily."And you didn't bring her back?" Quinn asked."I'm on a schedule, and it'd be taxing for her if I bought her along," Sam said, making things up as he went along. "I'll bring her along when things are less busy.""Is she pretty?" Quinn pressed."What, have I ever picked an ugly one?" Sam snorted smugly. "You know I prefer curvaceous types, and there are plenty of those abroad.""Do you have a photo?"Sam was silent for a while and eventually said, "Yeah.""Can I see it?""What, does she have to pass your assessment?""Just curious about the girl who can tempt you to settle down," Quinn replied. "You'd be humbled." Sam hastily came up with an excuse."I won't," Quinn said, determined."You'll see her when I bring her home." Sam refused nonetheless."I would like to see a photo now.""No, she's not that photogenic. It'd be slander a