Only then could he ease the burning pain in his heart that had pained him for so long.Zoey was already trying very hard to control herself in front of Shawn, and she couldn't take it any longer. “You weren't like this before,” she said.He was such a psycho. He deserved being ostracized in his teenage days. Shawn's gaze deepened. He snorted and said, “Ms. Jenner, you speak as if we're very close.”Were they close? Zoey guessed they’d been close once; people could even call them young lovebirds. However, she couldn't expect him to remember their little bond. He’d long forgotten about it, including who she was. Zoey didn't know how to answer him. Shawn absolutely hated it when people tried to act familiar with him and bring up the past. Everything that had happened before he was 17 was blurry in his memory. Not only that, it brought him misery. He refused to recall it and couldn’t even if he tried. Rage burned in him, and he gripped her throat viciously.“So you like the old me, Ms. J
Zoey spoke softly and mildly for fear that she would displease him. Laurence cocked an eyebrow as he contemplated it. “I think not,” he said. Zoey didn’t let even an ounce of disappointment or displeasure show on her face. Although her heart fell, she kept her chin up. “Oh,” she said. After recovering from the disappointment, she added, “No problem.” The special dance was the staff's idea anyway, so nobody dared to say anything, even if the president refused. He was the higher-up who called the shots.Zoey gripped the strip of paper with her number on it while thinking she wasn't very interested in going to Wormot anyway. Her life was a mess, and she wasn't in the mood to travel. She looked at Laurence and asked, “Mr. Scott, how do I redeem this trip in cash?”She cared more about the money. The way Laurence looked at her was indifferent, and it was hard to tell if he was disappointed in her. Perhaps he’d never met any woman who loved money as much as she did. “You can ask the admini
Zoey's chest hurt from anger, and she stomped on his foot savagely with her high heels. “Who do you think you are?”Shawn's pain tolerance was way higher than any ordinary person's. Hs expression showed no change despite that vicious stomp, and he said in a normal voice, “You're so desperate for Laurence, but has he ever looked at you?”Zoey said, “It's none of your business.” She didn't want to admit it to others. “I don't love him.” Soon, she’d manage to make it a reality. Her feelings for him would slowly dwindle until there was none left. She knew that day would come.Their intimacy soon attracted attention. Moreover, Shawn was good-looking, and was the scion of the Zuckman family. How could the young ladies not be drawn to him? They’d most likely not approached him only because he looked so intimidating.When Shawn heard her say that she didn't love Laurence, his annoyance strangely faded into calm. Gazing at her face, he kept finding her familiar, but he couldn't recall where he’
The company went on an extended break after the annual banquet with three extra days off. Work only started on the tenth day of the new year.Zoey packed a simple suitcase. She’d already bought plane tickets back to Southgrove earlier on. It was more difficult to buy plane tickets during the new year was more difficult, and it was more expensive as well.Before she left, Zoey went to the hospital. She’d visit her mother in the ward every weekend, hold her hand and talk to her, although she still showed no response.Sometimes, she’d stare at the heart rate monitor and wonder if she should really be keeping her mother here. She kept feeling that her mother would wake up someday. That day could be years away, but she could wait. She really couldn't bring herself to give up, selfishly holding on to a ray of hope.Zoey went to consult the doctor, and he said in the gentlest way possible, “There is hope, but it's not very likely.”Whether her mother would wake up from her coma was up to god
She swiped out of Whatsapp after sending the text as if she was certain she wouldn't get a reply. If at all, she’d get one after a long time. Before leaving the house that day, Zoey had put on her wedding ring as if in a trace. It was a plain silver ring without any diamonds or engravings. It looked like any ordinary ring. People who didn't know would think that it was merely an accessory.Zoey raised her hand and stared at the wedding ring around her finger for a long time. She’d only seen Laurence wear his wedding ring once—the first time he’d brought her back to his parents’ house for a meal.At that time, it hadn't been long since he’d secretly gotten engaged to her without his parents’ knowledge. His fingers were good-looking, slender, and fair. Every joint was defined, making his hands look soft and gentle. His veins showed beneath his skin, and when he wore the wedding ring, it gave off the sexy vibe of the ideal husband.However, Zoey had never seen him wear it again after that
Zoey knew he wouldn’t reply to her message anymore.She put down her phone and sat up from the bed. Since she couldn’t sleep, she went to the balcony to enjoy the breeze. The neighbor who lived opposite her had already put on some festive lights and decorations to welcome the new year. Seeing that, Zoey decided to go out the next day to buy some groceries and decorations in anticipation of New Year’s Day.She didn’t fall asleep until it was almost dawn. However, she rose early despite sleeping late.It was rare for Zoey to have free time, so she went to the nearby farmers’ market to buy some ingredients for cooking. Next, she went to the supermarket to buy some decorative items and her favorite chocolate truffles. Her home looked more cheerful and festive after she put up some New Year’s garlands and balloons. She didn't want to look too miserable even if she was celebrating New Year’s Eve alone.After doing all that, she took a taxi to the cemetery. Her grandparents were buried in a s
Laurence’s father was busy on weekdays. As he held an important position, he was always missing. Even on New Year’s Eve, there was still work to do, and he only arrived home when it was almost eight at night.The Scott family residence was lively on New Year’s Eve. The members of the main branch of the Scott family, especially the younger ones, made it a point to go back every year. They dared not disobey their elders’ wishes and would visit for the new year's holiday no matter what.Decorations had been put up for the festive occasion, and children started lighting firecrackers in the backyard after dinner.Rowan Scott hadn’t seen his son for a long time, so he called Laurence to his study for a private chat.“Your uncle told me you were ruthless and left no room for bargaining.”“What else did he say?”“He asked me to persuade you not to burn all bridges.”Laurence knew his elders had always done things that way—they’d show mercy and leave those who opposed them one last foothold ins
Before that, he’d never thought about the gender of that child. It didn’t matter because he would never accept that child regardless of their gender.The kind of bond men felt toward their children was completely different from how women felt. They didn’t experience carrying the child for nine long months, nor were they physically connected to the child through blood and flesh. Being less sentimental in nature, they could decide not to have the child more easily.Laurence looked into his niece’s eyes, which reminded him of Zoey’s. There was always a look of naivety in Zoey’s eyes.Then, he answered his niece. “No.”He patted her head gently and urged, “Go set off some firecrackers with the others.”…The kids in Laurence’s family weren’t able to play to their heart’s content with him around, as they feared and revered him. Luckily for them, Laurence drove out at night and went to the mansion on Springfell Street.Tristan and the others had been waiting for a long time. Sarah arrived la