Zoe quickly left Jay's bedroom, but she must’ve walked around the apartment twice before finding the laundry room. She threw all her clothes inside and pressed the buttons…only to find that it would take almost two hours for her clothes to dry.She suddenly remembered Jay taking Bob to his house three years ago, and how Bob vomited all over him. Jay waited for two hours at the time, too. The circle of life, indeed.As Zoe stayed in the laundry room, Jay never came to check on her—he probably fell asleep right after taking his shower, since anyone would easily doze off with alcohol.It was especially true for her, since she was already feeling drowsy without getting drunk.Still, it was understandable since it was already past midnight.She yawned endlessly, and checked the time to see that it was already one in the morning. She hesitated for a while before heading to the vast living room, out of the laundry room.The view outside the glass wall was indescribably beautiful
How did Jay get up so early?He really was operating like an elderly person would…"Sorry, I fell asleep without noticing," Zoe apologized. In a sense, she was also saying she didn’t want to stay there."I know," Jay replied. "Your clothes have been cleaned, and I’ve already taken them out. It's on the couch beside you.""I'll get changed right away," Zoe said. She promptly picked up her clothes and headed into the main bathroom, where she found even her underwear stacked neatly on her clothes…She decided to ignore it, and started to leave after changing.Their group was on break today—they all got drunk last night, and after a hellish week of rehearsals, they would all be sleeping in and resting to get themselves sorted on their break. Zoe was planning to go home and sleep the entire day too, but Jay called out to her just as she stepped out of the bathroom."Zoe…""Is there something else?'"Yeah. Have some breakfast before you go.""I'll pass.""It's ready…""I don’t
Cora said, "Mom’s asking everyone to eat at the manor. You didn't answer our calls, so she told me and Bob to swing by while we're heading over.""Oh, okay," Jay replied. "Will Cordy be bringing Dicky?""They're at the capital. They won't make it."Jay asked no further questions, and said, "Come on in.""Okay," Cora said, and headed inside with Bob."I'll go now," Zoe said, prepared to put on her shoes and leave right there and then."You can leave after breakfast," Jay said, stopping her."I'll pass.""It's fine—it's still early, and we're not going to Levine Manor straight away," Bob suddenly said.Zoe glanced at him, and nodded.Jay pursed his lips, staying impassive. Cora didn’t know that Bob used to date Zoe, and didn’t care much either since she believed that they were just good friends.Still, Zoe felt very much on edge, given the complicated relationship between all four of them who were now sitting in the same room.It was Cora who broke the awkward silence. "What'
Jay quickly offered, "I'll take you home."Zoe immediately declined. "It's alright. I can just take a cab.""That'd be inconvenient. You're quite famous now.""I just need a disguise.""Just wait a moment. I'll get changed," Jay insisted, not giving her a chance to refuse. "You're a cripple and you can't drive. How are you going to take me anywhere?" Zoe said bluntly, and Cora was stunned by her insulting outburst.How could she say cripple on a whim? No one around Jay ever said it for years!"I can go back on my own," Zoe added determinedly, not caring about the looks others were giving her."I can give you a ride," Bob suddenly said. "I happened to bring my car."Cora was slightly irked, since it was her boyfriend who would be getting in a car with another woman.However, Bob simply continued, "Cora, wait for me here. I'll be back to take you and Jay once I've sent Zoe home."Then, turning towards Zoe without waiting for anyone's approval, he told her, "Come on."With th
Bob suddenly asked, "Please don't tell me you're rejecting Jay because he's a cripple.""He's actually a cripple?" Zoe exclaimed in surprise."What, you didn't know? You even called him a cripple just now!" Bob was left dumbfounded. "I thought…it's just a fracture, and it'd heal soon," Zoe was even more dumbfounded than him.Bob shot her a look before stopping his car by the curb, which left Zoe perplexed. He had seemingly done it for no reason.Once he stopped the car, he asked solemnly, "You really didn't know?" "What?""That Jay was caught in a car crash," Bob said, still surprised. Zoe gasped in shock. "Was it serious?"Bob rolled his eyes. "Are we doing a comedy routine right now?"Zoe was speechless, but she definitely had no idea—she had kept herself isolated from everything the year she left North City, pregnant.Bob actually seemed a little disappointed about that. "Jay never announced it, but most of the people in the business knew—either immediately or eventual
Bob said, "That depends on you. You're the public figure—we just have to find a date that’s most convenient for you.""You're that reluctant to marry me, huh?" Cora asked.Bob's fingers clenched on his steering wheel, but his tone remained exceedingly relaxed. "I mean, we could just get our marriage registered right now."Cora laughed in amusement. "I mean, it's just that… You respect me too much every time. I know you're doing it for my sake, but I have this nagging feeling you're not proactive enough.""I'm not worried about the hassle. Let me put it this way—I can hold a grand wedding and make babies for you here and now, so what say you?""Bob!" Cora blushed from his teasing. "My uncle's here.""Just pretend I'm not here," Jay said. "I'll get off if you want to start making babies right then.""You too?!" Cora pouted.The atmosphere in the car returned to normal soon enough, though Bob and Jay traded discreet glances.Words were not needed when it came to a great many thin
Cora was surprised by the question posed by her mother to her uncle.What relationship was she talking about? It didn’t sound like Nancy was referring to their past familial bond… Cora did a double take at the thought. No way! Was Jay in love with Zoe?! "That's my personal life. You need not meddle," Jay retorted coolly."I'm your sister, Jay!" Nancy was livid. "Everyone else in the family is gone, and there’s just a few of us left. If we don't stick with each other, we’ll scatter.""Sticking together isn't dependent on meddling with each other's lives. Caring is plenty enough.""So you're saying that I'm prying?" Nancy growled. "Do you think I'd care about you if my father didn't tell me to take care of you before he died? You know how upstanding I am, and how hard it was to convince myself to accept you! It was hard for me to set aside a portion of the family fortune for you!""But I don't need a cent of the family fortune," Jay replied determinedly. "I won't show up eve
Bob quickly rose from the couch and hurried after Jay. "I'll talk to him."Cora tried to speak, but ultimately chose to stay silent.For some reason, she had this nagging feeling that Bob was more concerned about those around her than her.-Bob gave Jay a ride home, and the journey was quiet until Bob broke the silence. "Zoe said neither of you made up when I took her home.""Yeah," Jay replied."If that's so, why did you argue with Nancy like that?" Bob asked, finding Jay behavior unlike him since he never bares his emotions like this."Do you think she's been fair to Zoe?" Jay asked Bob."Not at all.""And I've been holding back for a while.""But from Nancy's perspective…" Bob trailed off, and chuckled slyly. "Fine, that felt good. I've been holding back for a while, too. Sure, she was a victim, but isn't Zoe a victim too? But she had to slam all her pain on Zoe—I would’ve turned against her if she wasn't an elder!”"Yeah," Jay replied flatly, staring outside the window