Laurence had no words to say.He couldn't possibly tell her that he feared for her, that she might do stupid things without thinking them through when he was away, and that having someone by her side, looking over her, would make him feel more at ease.Although Laurence didn't know much about depression, it wasn't as if he had absolutely no idea either. A few years ago, his aunt had jumped off a building to her death due to a depressive disorder that followed her divorce. The mere thought of something happening to Zoey made Laurence feel extremely uneasy.Zoey didn't want to argue and create more tension between them so early in the morning. Neither of them spoke a word as they both went downstairs with silence hanging over their heads. One sandwich later, Zoey felt full enough to leave. She headed for the door with a bottle of milk in her hands. Laurence had hardly touched the coffee before him, but as soon as she stood up, he too rose to his feet. He grabbed his coat and said, "
There was no telling whether Robert was trying to convince himself or was simply stating the reality. Robert had panicked at first. He'd been careful to wire the money to the driver, moving the funds between various accounts, and paid the man through the bank account of a distant relative. It never occurred to him that the police would manage to trace the money. It was hard to reopen an old case. Robert wasn't wrong to say that the dead man told no tales. He'd suffered from bouts of anxiety, barely able to eat or get a good night's sleep. His former parents-in-law had haunted him in his sleep. It had taken a few days for him to regain his composure. Money could make his problems go away. Besides, Jasmine would hire the best attorney for him to avoid litigation. What if the voice recording was handed over to the police? There was a possibility that it wasn't admissible as evidence. Robert put all his hope in his family and... Laurence. The Scotts, with their vast resources and
Zoey understood what Laurence was trying to say. It was his personal property, so she had no right to use their marriage against his decision. It wasn't up to her to decide who got to stay on the property, nor did she have the right to interfere with his decision. Zoey silently drew a deep breath and steadied her breathing to compose herself. She needed to be collected to talk rationally with him instead of giving the impression that she was acting on her emotions. She pursed her discolored lips. “Are you going to see her?” Zoey was determined not to let the precious opportunity slip right out of her hands. She finally saw a glimmer of hope. It was like the dawn before the sunrise. At the very least, she wanted a fair trial. Zoey was uncertain whether Laurence would offer Sarah another helping hand if the latter asked.Although Zoey didn't learn much about Laurence’s family, she'd heard of his father’s name on TV despite not keeping up with the current events. It was a piece of
Zoey’s face was drained of any color. Laurence saw through her, divulging the innermost thoughts she tried so hard to hide. Zoey believed Sarah wasn't completely innocent either. Nevertheless, Sarah played no part in the murder for hire. She'd only been about Zoey’s age at the time.Even though Sarah enjoyed the assets her father stole from Zoey’s family, it was true that she had no blood on her hands. “Yes, I hate her. It’s not new information to you. Is it weird that I want her to get what she deserves? Are you expecting me to be nice to the love child of my father's affair with another woman?” Snapping out of her thoughts, Zoey spoke with a straight face. Laurence wasn't trying to find excuses for Sarah. He stared at Zoey, and like her, he spoke in a flat tone, “Does she have a choice? Could she choose her birth parents?” A while later, Zoey grinned, but the smile looked awkward. “You win. I’ve got nothing.” Despite gaining the upper hand, Laurence showed no joy. In fact,
Zoey fell asleep. She didn’t hear what Laurence said.“Maybe I really am going mad,” he thought. He never used to care about spending time with her, but now time together seemed so precious. Deep inside, he knew that Zoey was waiting for the contract to end so that she could leave him.If they had a child together, their bond would never be completely severed. After all, blood was thicker than water. Laurence did not want to have a child with Zoey just to save their marriage. Nonetheless, he couldn’t help but think that perhaps she wouldn’t be in such a hurry to leave him if they had a child. Maybe she would hesitate because of the child. He felt he didn’t hate kids anymore, even though they were noisy. He could even stand the sound of babies crying now.Laurence thought about a lot of things. Suddenly, he felt Ryan had made a smart choice when he got married and had kids right after graduation. Now, he had a happy family. He came back to his senses and caressed Zoey’s ears. She was
After the sweet moment, peace returned to the restaurant. Zoey got up and went to the bathroom, bumping into Yvette on the way. She was wiping at the corner of her mouth in frustration, as if she had something stuck there. As Zoey debated over saying hello, Yvette had already spotted her. "Zoey, what a coincidence.""Yeah. Long time no see, Miss Sullivan."Since Yvette had spotted her, it was no surprise that she had also seen the man beside Zoey. "Honestly, I knew you and Laurence were married long ago, but I couldn't really believe it. Back then, you did help him get rid of his admirers, but you didn't look like his wife." Yvette remembered Zoey as a kind and helpful secretary who could handle any mess. She didn't care about the women who threw themselves at Laurence.Zoey had almost forgotten her old self and replied, "Work is work. Life is life." After being with Laurence for so long, she had even started speaking like him. Yvette snorted and still thought that Zoey was
Robert wasn't young anymore. He looked like his soul had been sucked out of his body, making him look old and weak. The lawyer's words were the final blow to any hope he had left. His whole life had been a smooth journey, and he had never suffered any hardships except when he married Janet Fulton. Besides the disapproval and scorn he got from her relatives, he had never endured any other struggles. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that he had lived like a king.Robert lost control of his emotions and said viciously, "I paid so much money. You must find a way. I don't care. I'm not going to jail! They have no evidence. They're just talking nonsense!" He was panting from exerting himself too much. The lawyer was much calmer. "Mr. Jenner, as far as the evidence the prosecution currently holds, the future is not looking too bright for you. I suggest you ask for understanding from the victims' family in favor of the judge's consideration before the sentencing."Robert flew into a grea
The spaghetti in the pot was slightly burnt. Zoey spooned it out in a daze and threw it away after a while. It wouldn't taste good even if it wasn't burnt or cold. After dinner, she grabbed a soft drink and a half-eaten piece of cake from the fridge and sat on the couch. However, the sweet treats didn't make her mood any better. Even if Laurence hadn't said where he was going, she could guess. She forced herself not to think about it, feel disappointed, or let it affect her mood. She ate bite after bite of cake, feeling desolate.Laurence spent more than half an hour driving and called Sarah many times on the way, but she did not answer a single call. He couldn't help but speed up and run to the front door as he continued dialling the number, but he was met with the automated voice message every time. He had hardly stayed at that apartment over the last two years, and when he arrived downstairs, he realized that he had forgotten his access card. Fortunately, the security guard rec