"It's about time. Are you ready? I'll help you."
Zayn arrived after returning from the doctor's room and talked about Zoe's stable return. However, just as Zayn was about to push the wheelchair his sister was sitting in, Zoe suddenly turned her head back to look at her brother as if to say something.
Zayn, who caught his sister's hesitation, stopped his steps. "What's wrong? Did I leave something behind?"
"Nothing. I'm just not sure if this is for the best. What about my job here?"
Zayn looked at his sister intently, then walked over and knelt down in front of Zoe. He smiled and grasped Zoe's hand tightly in an attempt to reassure her.
"I've taken care of it. You still can't believe that your brother can do everything? I can even pay for your children's lives," Zayn said.
Zoe squinted as if she didn't quite believe it, but before she could speak, Zayn snapped back.
"Never mind, we don't have much time. You'll know everything later."
Without waiting any longer, Zayn got up and pushed the wheelchair out of the hospital building. They were greeted by Barra, who was already standing by the car.
Zoe just obeyed and kept quiet as she was helped into the car, even though her heart was still feeling uneasy about her decision. However, she had no choice but to follow her brother out of that place, the city where she had spent her life. It was also a city that had a lot of memories with Dave.
Along the way, Zoe was silent as she stared out the window, observing every place she passed. Because she might not see or even set foot in the city again.
"Yes, please prepare everything and don't miss anything."
Vaguely, Zoe could hear some of her brother's conversations with someone over the phone network. Zoe was quite surprised when Zayn easily ordered all his wishes to someone on the other side. Even when Zayn asked for a special gynecologist to be found for her, Zoe began to glare with a look of disbelief.
Zayn, who was still focused on talking, realized Zoe's attitude as she stared intently at him.
"I'll call you later, but everything should be ready when I get back."
Zayn hung up the phone and turned to his sister, who was still staring at him in astonishment.
"What's wrong? Do you need anything?" he asked.
Zoe was silent, her eyebrows knitted together as if she was busy thinking about something. It made Zayn confused and anxious.
"Tell me, is there a problem?"
Zoe blinked and tried to control herself. She shook her head and started to say. "No, I just feel weird about you."
"Me?" Zayn raised his eyebrows, "What's wrong with me?"
"Actually, what do you do? Why don't you ever tell me?"
The look on Zayn's face turned sour, surprised that Zoe would ask that again after so long. As it was known, Zoe was always curious whenever they exchanged news over the phone network, but Zoe chose not to discuss it because even good news from Zayn was enough for her.
However, this time Zoe was even more curious, especially since Zayn could easily access anything as if the world was his.
"Are you involved in illicit business?" Zoe asked slowly.
Zayn gasped again, but the next second the man laughed at his sister's conjecture. So did Barra, who was focused behind the wheel.
"Oh my god, Zoe. You seem to be watching too much drama." Zayn tried to hold back his laughter. While Zoe was still holding on with a questioning look on her face.
"Never mind, I said. You'll find out later; now sit quietly. I don't want anything to happen to my niece-to-be because of your wandering mind," Zayn said.
They spent the journey in silence, although Zoe was still curious about her brother's identity; she decided to remain silent and keep all the questions that filled her mind until she herself saw and understood what really happened.
When they arrived at the airstrip, Barra stopped the car near a jet aircraft that was already ready with several well-dressed people standing guard around it.
"Come on, Zoe. They're waiting," Zayn invited, leading his sister out of the car and towards the jet.
Zoe was silent and obedient, as the men, all of them, bowed to Zayn. Even when Zayn was busy fixing Zoe's seat, she was silent and took in all the attention.
"If there is anything, just tell Barra; she will prepare it for you," Zayn said.
Zoe then frowned. "What about you? You're not coming?"
"I'll catch up after my business here is done."
"Seriously, Zayn! I can't go without you, especially in a strange place." Zoe then got up from her seat as if reluctant to leave on the jet without her brother.
Zayn then smiled, understanding his sister's fear.
"It's okay, you'll be safe with Barra. Trust me," he said.
Zoe paused, looked at Barra, who was busy talking to the pilot who would operate the aircraft, then back at Zayn, who was still smiling warmly, trying to reassure her.
"Alright, I'll go. But please don't stay long. I don't like having strangers around me," Zoe said.
Zayn then nodded. "Yes, I promise."
After saying goodbye, Zayn then left the plane after ordering a few things from the pilot.
Zayn also didn't stop smiling and waving at his sister, who was watching through the window, until the moment the plane took off.
Behind his black glasses, Zayn stared sadly at the plane carrying his sister as it got further away and disappeared; Zayn's face turned cold, and his smile faded as he felt footsteps walking towards him.
"Everything is ready, sir. We can leave now."
"What happened to me? Let go!"However, no one answered him. The place was so quiet that Dave couldn't even see anything because his head was covered with a black cloth.Dave kept struggling to break free when he realised that he was suddenly in a strange place with his hands tied. Even the influence of alcohol that had been controlling his consciousness was slowly wearing off."What a noise! We haven't done anything yet," said Jack, one of the black-clad gang members.Dave, who heard the chatter, was furious. "I'll get back at you if anything happens to me! Who's your boss? Bring them here and face me!"The gang didn't respond back, but instead laughed at Dave's seemingly powerful demeanour.Dave was even more furious that his ramblings were not responded to and instead humiliated, he struggled even more and continued to shout at the gang until the chair kept shifting until it fell over with Dave tied to it."You're so hard to tell, what a nuisance!" said Jack, just as he was about t
That morning, Zoe woke up feeling confused. She blinked a few times, trying to gather her senses as she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above her. It took her a moment before she finally realized something."Ah! I forgot that I'm at Zayn's house now," she murmured.She sat up, but within seconds, a wave of nausea surged through her."Ugh!"Wincing, she hurried toward the bathroom, one hand covering her mouth while the other clutched her stomach.She had no idea how long she had been in the bathroom, but the discomfort in her stomach refused to subside. Eventually, weakness and dizziness overtook her. She didn't even notice the repeated knocks on the door."Oh God, I feel so sick... What should I do?" she muttered, gripping the walls for support as she stepped out of the bathroom, her balance unsteady.The moment she emerged, Barra was standing right in front of her, his face filled with concern."Miss, are you alright?"Zoe merely shook her head without answering, struggling to stay
"Do you know when Zayn will be back?" Zoe asked.Barra fell silent for a moment, staring at the woman who was still lying weakly, her face pale after regaining consciousness. He took a deep breath before shaking his head."I'm not sure, but he will return as soon as he’s done with his business."Zoe scoffed. "What kind of business takes this long? Is it more important than me!?""I believe... you are the most important person in Zayn's life," Barra admitted.Zoe glared sharply at Barra, her brows furrowed, before turning her face away toward the window."Annoying."For a moment, silence filled the room. Zoe felt incredibly weak, her head was still spinning, and the unease in her stomach had yet to subside.She gazed blankly out the window, her thoughts drifting back to the recent events that had troubled her, especially the reality of being pregnant and having to give birth without her husband by her side.She remained lost in her thoughts for quite a while until, suddenly, her eyes b
"Why doesn’t he want to talk to me?" Zoe asked in confusion.Barra remained silent for a moment before responding. He was just as puzzled by Zayn’s sudden refusal to speak with Zoe, especially since he knew how much Zayn was worried about his sister right now.Barra racked his brain, trying to find an explanation that would put Zoe at ease and keep her from feeling too hurt by Zayn’s decision.Letting out a deep sigh, Barra finally said, "It’s not that he doesn’t want to. Maybe your brother is just busy and in a hurry. Once he’s done with his business, he’ll definitely reach out to you or come straight home."Zoe narrowed her eyes, still lying down with her back against the bed. "Busy? Busy with what? What could be so important that he’s ignoring me?" she demanded."I don’t know for sure. That’s all he told me," Barra explained.Zoe scoffed in frustration, unsatisfied with his answer. She was also irritated by her brother’s sudden indifference toward her."Ugh! Annoying!"She turned h
"I have to hurry! Dave has to know about this."Zoe walked with a pounding heart towards Dave's apartment. Her hand tightly gripped the strap of the bag slung over her shoulder with the pregnancy test results and the envelope containing the doctor's examination results. The two red lines on the device made her chest overflow with happiness and nervousness all at once. Today she was going to tell Dave the good news, that they were going to be parents."Dave? Are you in?"The woman rang the doorbell of Dave's apartment several times as she called out to her lover, but there was no answer. She glanced at her watch, which still showed 7 am."He must not have left for the office yet," she whispered.When the door felt unlocked, Zoe snorted softly. "Habit! What if someone comes in?"Without thinking, she decided to go in. Dave often forgot little things like locking the door, so Zoe didn't think it was strange. When the door opened, the warmth of the apartment greeted her, but the quiet atm
"Hurry up and tell me." What's wrong with you?" Zayn continued to ask how his sister was.However, instead of getting an answer, Zoe's cries grew louder. At that point Zayn began to panic, his eyebrows knitted together, trying to guess what had happened to his sister."Shit!" Zayn finally grumbled but still tried to control himself.Until finally the man let out a long breath and said again. "Alright, calm yourself down, Zoe. I'll be there soon. So, wait for me!""Alright, I... I'll wait for you." Even though she was still sobbing, Zoe still answered with a trembling voice.Zayn then disconnected the phone line with his anxiety mounting. How could he not? Zayn had originally intended to call Zoe to find out how his sister was doing and hopefully ease his longing a little. However, instead of feeling better, he got the opposite. Even that longing turned into great concern."What happened to her? I don't usually see my Zoe crying like that," he whispered.While Zayn was deep in thought,
"Family of patient Zoe Anderson?"Zayn, who was sitting down, got up. "Me, Doctor! I'm her brother."Zayn immediately approached a doctor who had just come out of the emergency room, where his sister was being treated."What about my brother, Doctor? What happened to him?" Zayn asked impatiently."We'll talk in my room." The doctor answered calmly.Zayn nodded, then said to Barra, who was still with him, "You wait here; if anything happens, let me know.""Alright." Barra nodded in understanding before Zayn and the doctor finally left.Inside the room, Zayn immediately sat on a chair and again asked about Zoe's condition and what happened to her. Zayn really could not hide his concern for his sister, the only family he had.Then, with a long sigh, the doctor began to explain Zoe's condition."Her condition has stabilized; your sister is dehydrated and malnourished.""Oh! But she's fine, Doctor?"The doctor nodded. "She just needs to rest and watch her diet.""Thank goodness ...." Zayn
"Why doesn’t he want to talk to me?" Zoe asked in confusion.Barra remained silent for a moment before responding. He was just as puzzled by Zayn’s sudden refusal to speak with Zoe, especially since he knew how much Zayn was worried about his sister right now.Barra racked his brain, trying to find an explanation that would put Zoe at ease and keep her from feeling too hurt by Zayn’s decision.Letting out a deep sigh, Barra finally said, "It’s not that he doesn’t want to. Maybe your brother is just busy and in a hurry. Once he’s done with his business, he’ll definitely reach out to you or come straight home."Zoe narrowed her eyes, still lying down with her back against the bed. "Busy? Busy with what? What could be so important that he’s ignoring me?" she demanded."I don’t know for sure. That’s all he told me," Barra explained.Zoe scoffed in frustration, unsatisfied with his answer. She was also irritated by her brother’s sudden indifference toward her."Ugh! Annoying!"She turned h
"Do you know when Zayn will be back?" Zoe asked.Barra fell silent for a moment, staring at the woman who was still lying weakly, her face pale after regaining consciousness. He took a deep breath before shaking his head."I'm not sure, but he will return as soon as he’s done with his business."Zoe scoffed. "What kind of business takes this long? Is it more important than me!?""I believe... you are the most important person in Zayn's life," Barra admitted.Zoe glared sharply at Barra, her brows furrowed, before turning her face away toward the window."Annoying."For a moment, silence filled the room. Zoe felt incredibly weak, her head was still spinning, and the unease in her stomach had yet to subside.She gazed blankly out the window, her thoughts drifting back to the recent events that had troubled her, especially the reality of being pregnant and having to give birth without her husband by her side.She remained lost in her thoughts for quite a while until, suddenly, her eyes b
That morning, Zoe woke up feeling confused. She blinked a few times, trying to gather her senses as she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above her. It took her a moment before she finally realized something."Ah! I forgot that I'm at Zayn's house now," she murmured.She sat up, but within seconds, a wave of nausea surged through her."Ugh!"Wincing, she hurried toward the bathroom, one hand covering her mouth while the other clutched her stomach.She had no idea how long she had been in the bathroom, but the discomfort in her stomach refused to subside. Eventually, weakness and dizziness overtook her. She didn't even notice the repeated knocks on the door."Oh God, I feel so sick... What should I do?" she muttered, gripping the walls for support as she stepped out of the bathroom, her balance unsteady.The moment she emerged, Barra was standing right in front of her, his face filled with concern."Miss, are you alright?"Zoe merely shook her head without answering, struggling to stay
"What happened to me? Let go!"However, no one answered him. The place was so quiet that Dave couldn't even see anything because his head was covered with a black cloth.Dave kept struggling to break free when he realised that he was suddenly in a strange place with his hands tied. Even the influence of alcohol that had been controlling his consciousness was slowly wearing off."What a noise! We haven't done anything yet," said Jack, one of the black-clad gang members.Dave, who heard the chatter, was furious. "I'll get back at you if anything happens to me! Who's your boss? Bring them here and face me!"The gang didn't respond back, but instead laughed at Dave's seemingly powerful demeanour.Dave was even more furious that his ramblings were not responded to and instead humiliated, he struggled even more and continued to shout at the gang until the chair kept shifting until it fell over with Dave tied to it."You're so hard to tell, what a nuisance!" said Jack, just as he was about t
"It's about time. Are you ready? I'll help you." Zayn arrived after returning from the doctor's room and talked about Zoe's stable return. However, just as Zayn was about to push the wheelchair his sister was sitting in, Zoe suddenly turned her head back to look at her brother as if to say something.Zayn, who caught his sister's hesitation, stopped his steps. "What's wrong? Did I leave something behind?""Nothing. I'm just not sure if this is for the best. What about my job here?"Zayn looked at his sister intently, then walked over and knelt down in front of Zoe. He smiled and grasped Zoe's hand tightly in an attempt to reassure her."I've taken care of it. You still can't believe that your brother can do everything? I can even pay for your children's lives," Zayn said.Zoe squinted as if she didn't quite believe it, but before she could speak, Zayn snapped back."Never mind, we don't have much time. You'll know everything later."Without waiting any longer, Zayn got up and pushed
"Family of patient Zoe Anderson?"Zayn, who was sitting down, got up. "Me, Doctor! I'm her brother."Zayn immediately approached a doctor who had just come out of the emergency room, where his sister was being treated."What about my brother, Doctor? What happened to him?" Zayn asked impatiently."We'll talk in my room." The doctor answered calmly.Zayn nodded, then said to Barra, who was still with him, "You wait here; if anything happens, let me know.""Alright." Barra nodded in understanding before Zayn and the doctor finally left.Inside the room, Zayn immediately sat on a chair and again asked about Zoe's condition and what happened to her. Zayn really could not hide his concern for his sister, the only family he had.Then, with a long sigh, the doctor began to explain Zoe's condition."Her condition has stabilized; your sister is dehydrated and malnourished.""Oh! But she's fine, Doctor?"The doctor nodded. "She just needs to rest and watch her diet.""Thank goodness ...." Zayn
"Hurry up and tell me." What's wrong with you?" Zayn continued to ask how his sister was.However, instead of getting an answer, Zoe's cries grew louder. At that point Zayn began to panic, his eyebrows knitted together, trying to guess what had happened to his sister."Shit!" Zayn finally grumbled but still tried to control himself.Until finally the man let out a long breath and said again. "Alright, calm yourself down, Zoe. I'll be there soon. So, wait for me!""Alright, I... I'll wait for you." Even though she was still sobbing, Zoe still answered with a trembling voice.Zayn then disconnected the phone line with his anxiety mounting. How could he not? Zayn had originally intended to call Zoe to find out how his sister was doing and hopefully ease his longing a little. However, instead of feeling better, he got the opposite. Even that longing turned into great concern."What happened to her? I don't usually see my Zoe crying like that," he whispered.While Zayn was deep in thought,
"I have to hurry! Dave has to know about this."Zoe walked with a pounding heart towards Dave's apartment. Her hand tightly gripped the strap of the bag slung over her shoulder with the pregnancy test results and the envelope containing the doctor's examination results. The two red lines on the device made her chest overflow with happiness and nervousness all at once. Today she was going to tell Dave the good news, that they were going to be parents."Dave? Are you in?"The woman rang the doorbell of Dave's apartment several times as she called out to her lover, but there was no answer. She glanced at her watch, which still showed 7 am."He must not have left for the office yet," she whispered.When the door felt unlocked, Zoe snorted softly. "Habit! What if someone comes in?"Without thinking, she decided to go in. Dave often forgot little things like locking the door, so Zoe didn't think it was strange. When the door opened, the warmth of the apartment greeted her, but the quiet atm