However, when Zoe was drunk, her personality would spiral out of control. "What is it? Something upset you today?" Cordy asked."Nope. I just wanted someone to talk to. I just napped a little after getting drunk, so I can't sleep."Cordy did not expose her right then and simply asked, "Who were you drinking with?""Quinn.""Just her?" Cordy was obviously skeptical."… I ran into Bob and the others, so we joined them.""Bob and the others… So that includes Jay." Cordy cut straight to the heart of the matter right then.Zoe really felt exposed whenever she chatted with Cordy—the woman really saw through everything, which explained how her career was progressing so smoothly.Regrettably, her love life was still a little bumpy."There's nothing between me and Jay." Zoe denied it straightaway."I never said anything. I was just asking." Cordy giggled, leaving Zoe feeling like she indirectly admitted to it anyway. "By the way, I watched a variety show of yours." Cordy changed t
When Zoe finally coaxed Yelena to sleep, she could not help leaning in and giving her daughter a peck on her pudgy cheeks.Thank goodness she did not take after Jay, or she was never going to explain herself.Eventually, she dozed off… Until she woke up with a start from her ringing phone.She still had her eyes closed as she reached for it, when she suddenly felt her phone being passed in her hand.She opened her eyes and saw that it was Yelena, and she felt warmth in her heart.Giving her a peck on the cheek, she then answered the call. "Why did you call me so early, Quinn?""Early?! It's 11 AM! Time for lunch."What?!Zoe sprang up from bed in disbelief. She had been sleeping for that long?!Zoe then turned to look at Yelena and saw that her daughter had already changed into fresh clothes, clearly having gotten out of bed for a while and only returning to bed to pass her her phone."Why did you call me so late last night?" Quinn asked."Did I?" Zoe asked, before remembe
Everything Zoe did, Jay would know all too well…Zoe froze just then.By the way, why did he not stop her?"Actually, Jay has been good to you. If you're still into him, you should—""Hold it," Zoe stopped Quinn right then. "Absolutely impossible. Not on my life.""You're really petty," Quinn said, speechless."Revenge is a dish best served hot.""It's 'revenge is a dish best served cold', girly.""It's the same," Zoe replied nonchalantly. "Anyway, I'm hanging up. I need to get some rest.""It's actually fine. Who knows, Jay might be enjoying it…"Zoe hung up right then.Quinn was such a pervert—she had really changed after three years!Zoe put away her phone, noticing then that Yelena was still beside her.Yelena always made a ruckus, but she was now so silent Zoe completely forgot about her.So… she said a lot of child unfriendly stuff, did she not?"Mommy, are you done with your call?" Yelena asked."Yeah.""Can I use your phone?" Yelena's eyes were wide with expect
Clara was even more surprised just then. "Why do you want to call Mr. Parker?"Did Yelena know Jay?"I want to call him," Yelena said, blinking her wide, innocent eyes at Clara. "Can't you help me, Grandma?"Clara certainly could not refuse her adorable granddaughter and did not ask further since she presumed it to be a child's whim.She scrolled through Zoe's contacts and soon found it, then asked Yelena, "Do you want to call him now?""Not now. I'll write down the number for now," Yelena said."Okay," Clara simply thought that the little girl was having fun, as she always did—adults could never understand the games children played anyway.Clara wrote down the number for Yelena on a piece of paper. Yelena happily took it and said, "Thank you, Grandma."Clara patted Yelena's little head, while Yelena slipped the number in her pocket and took Zoe's phone back to Zoe's room. Zoe was still in bed, unable to fall asleep. She saw Yelena gingerly entering, worried about waking her
Clara kept her distance from Yelena, watching as Yelena arrived at the gates of the kindergarten, only turning to leave after seeing Yelena greet the kindergarten teachers.She had left chicken soup simmering on the stove and was not worried since Yelena was with the teachers now. However, she did not stop to check if Yelena actually went inside the kindergarten before going.And Yelena was certainly sharp—once she saw that her grandmother was gone, she quickly told the teachers, "Teacher, I need to tell Grandma something.""Okay, Yelena. Make sure to come back once you're done," the teacher told her mildly.There were many other children arriving just then as well, so she stopped paying attention to Yelena soon.Yelena used the opening to head straight to the main road, hailing a cab—that was what her mommy and grandma always did when they went shopping.One soon stopped beside her, and it took her all her strength to open the door and jump into the car with her little feet be
After hanging up, Yelena's tearful face was quickly replaced by a broad grin.The cabbie could not help smiling when he saw her reaction—children never could hide their delight.At the same time, he could not help wondering whose adorable daughter she was… Any daddy would definitely love to have her.Meanwhile, at the studio, Jay was a little distracted after receiving the call in the middle of rehearsals.He used to be able to stay immune from everything while he directed various projects, but he was spacing out a few times."Mr. Parker?" His assistant prodded him just then.Jay quickly came to his senses and was left staring at Zoe.Zoe frowned—why was he looking at her? She was not messing up.Nonetheless, Jay said, "Keep rehearsing. I'm stepping away for a moment for a little errand—I'll review your performances later."And with that, he left, his cane thudding in his wake.However, the actors were in an uproar after he was gone."What's gotten into the director?" Candic
Yelena's wounded look tenderized Jay's heart, and he asked, "Your name is Yelena?""Yes, Daddy." Yelena quickly nodded."Are you Zoe York's daughter?" Jay's heart was pounding hard even as he asked it.He certainly saw Yelena the other night, recognizing that she was the same girl at that restaurant who kept calling him daddy.Though he appeared nonchalant to see her then, there may well be a maelstrom in his heart.Zoe had a daughter? If so, who was the father?!The thought that he might be left Jay almost overwhelmed, and there were times when he wanted to call Zoe and ask, but he did not know what to say.In fact, the issue had left him troubled the whole of yesterday, only for Yelena to come looking for him.In reality, he more or less had the answer in his mind, but was still nervous about it nonetheless."Yes, Zoe is my mommy." Yelena nodded and noticed the terrible look on his face then. "What's wrong, Daddy?"Jay's heart had started pounding without control, and he
Jay quickly took Clara's number from Yelena's bag and called it. "Hello? I'm Jay Parker.""Mr. Parker?!" Clara was obviously surprised, unsure why he would call her and most importantly, how he had her number."Yelena is with me—""What?!" Clara cried out in agitation before Jay could finish."Please calm down. She's safe with me.""I'm fine, Grandma. I'm with Daddy," Yelena chimed in."Daddy? What daddy?" Clara was even more perplexed."Anyway, Yelena came looking for me, and I agreed to play with her," Jay said. "Don't worry—I'll take good care of her.""O-Okay. Thank you," Clara did not ask further questions, since there would only be more confusion talking through the phone.She would just have to ask Yelena when she returned. "By the way, please don't tell Zoe since she might be busy with rehearsals. I'll bring Yelena home later," Jay added."Okay.""See you," he said and hung up politely. "Are you really spending the day with me, Daddy?" Yelena asked nervously, b