It wasn’t important, so Zoey did not have to listen to what Laurence was saying. She didn’t think he had anything nice to say to her anyway. He had always been mean. His words made her uncomfortable even when he spoke calmly.They were both silent for a long time, as if they were in a standoff.Zoey waited patiently. Laurence stood still as if he had no intention of leaving. He was blocking the way.“We’re going out to eat,” she hinted politely.Rose was right in saying that Zoey was soft. She never liked causing a scene. She always tried to compromise with others, so most people often thought she was a pushover.Laurence acted as if he hadn’t heard her. He stared at her with frosty eyes and asked, “If it’s not my child, then who’s the father?”Zoey was prepared to answer this question but remembered how Uncle Jason had called her bluff on the first day. She didn’t think things through. Jared was too young and childish. It wouldn’t seem convincing if she said he was the father.
Laurence stayed in Southgrove for a few days. He watched as Jared entered and exited Zoey’s house. He would leave for work in the morning and get off punctually in the evening. Then, he would shop for groceries before heading back to Zoey’s place. Zoey had made the right choice and picked a man that seemed to be devoted to her. He seemed more like her nanny than a boyfriend.Laurence did not want to believe she was pregnant with another man’s child. He remembered how opposed she had been to the idea of them having a child. She had rejected him so adamantly. He had always caught her buying birth control. He never thought of fooling her. When he brought her to the hospital, he had also bought her birth control. He never thought of deceiving her. Laurence asked his subordinates to check with the hospital where Zoey got her health checkups. Soon, he received her medical reports in his email inbox. They included a few maternity reports. He stared at the reports stating she was four month
Mrs. Scott fell silent. She never expected this would happen, but it made sense. Now that they were divorced, they were both free to do whatever they wanted. She was at a loss for words. Were Laurence and Zoey really not meant to be?Laurence swallowed and said dejectedly, “It’s too late, Mom.”He finally understood what his heart wanted, but it was too late. He was finally willing to confess his love for someone he had looked down on in the past, but it was too late. He only understood now why he said so many hurtful things to her. He had done it all in an attempt to get her attention. In those short moments he had hurt her, he was the only one on her mind. And so, he hurt her over and over again. It was sick, but that was how he treated someone he loved but couldn’t have. He was hurting them both at the same time. Mrs. Scott couldn’t bear lecturing Laurence as she watched his red and teary eyes. “You reap what you sow,” she said curtly. There was nothing she could do. She and her
Jared had moved into Zoey's house in Southgrove.Zoey couldn't turn him away. He claimed the other interns at work were ostracizing him and that he was being bullied in the staff dormitory. He had nowhere else to go, so he turned to Zoey for shelter. His sincere eyes told Zoey he was not a deceitful person.Trying to appeal to her emotions and persuade with reason, Jared explained, "Your ex-husband seems like a problematic devil. What if he comes looking for you again when I'm not by your side? Will you be able to handle him? Can you deal with him on your own? Our lie might not seem very convincing if we stay apart. It's rather unusual for an engaged couple to live separately."However, Jared also realized how impulsive his proposal had been. He raised his palm and swore, "I promise to be well-behaved and not cause you any trouble. You can stay on the first floor while I stay on the second. I'll bring you tea and draw your bath. What do you say? Just out a poor soul. I can pay rent.
Zoey was trimming the branches of the plant on the windowsill when her scissors froze mid-air. A moment later, she nodded as if nothing had happened. She asked Jared casually, "Are you talking about Laurence?"Jared watched the change in her expression and hummed a muffled reply.Zoey set the scissors down. "Maybe..."Maybe he had come looking for her. Maybe not. But did it matter?Laurence began showing up more often. Every night, Zoey would stroll along the alley, from her doorstep to the entrance of the alley. A short walk not only helped her meet her weekly activity requirements, it was also beneficial in preparation for the birth.Jared showed up each night to keep her company on her walk, in case she tripped or fell. This Friday, however, he had a company dinner to attend. He informed her he would be late. Zoey made her way to the alley on her own. As she passed by a patisserie, she noticed Laurence's car parked outside it. This seemed like a personal matter—none of his bo
This love did not need any reason. It was all senseless. It was unconditional. It was different from the love he had for Sarah. It was not what he felt for her when they had to depend on each other. When it came to Zoey, it was only fondness. Nothing else was mixed within, though he had probably discovered it a little too late. It sounded ridiculous saying it out loud after having hurt her so miserably. However, it was undeniable—love that came late was still love.Hearing him say those words, Zoey was momentarily stunned. Laurence Scott just said he had feelings for her. A sour drizzle started pouring in her heart, the torrential rain dousing her once fervent love for him. Even after hearing the one thing she had longed for the most, she felt nothing. Instead, she couldn’t help but question his motives.What else did he have up his sleeve? She was no longer of any use to him, was she? And even if he did want to exploit her again or force her to do something against her will, he
It was far too easy to differentiate enmity from kindness. The look in Laurence's eyes was charged with hostility. He most likely viewed Zoey's unborn child as a pain in the neck, so she was even more unlikely to tell him who the child's father was. He was already forcing her to return. If he were to find out the truth, there was a chance he would use the child as a bargaining chip. She had no doubt Laurence would have no qualms about taking advantage of the baby.Maybe spooked by his frosty gaze on her, Zoey felt her tummy ache. She reflexively supported herself on a wall nearby, fists clenched. Her face, flushed from being in the sun, began to blanch from the sharp pangs that washed over her like tidal waves. Because Laurence was there, she made no sound despite the excrutiating pain.Noticing how Zoey had paled, Laurence grabbed her arm, his brows furrowed. "What's wrong?"Zoey recovered from the sharp pain and brushed his hand away. She strained, "Stay away from me."Laurence
Zoey saw Laurence every day. According to him, he'd be in Southgrove for some time. As time passed, Zoey's neighbors started recognizing his car and knew who he was there for. He had visited Southgrove twice the previous year, and they had seen him around the area several times. Back then, he had told them he and Zoey were a married couple. But now, another man had moved into Zoey's house, so it was clear to her neighbors they had faced marital issues and were likely divorced.Zoey felt it didn't look good that Laurence came over to her house every day. But he was stubborn and behaved as though he did not understand her. He did not feel like a disruption in her life, not in the slightest, and would appear at her house like it was the most natural thing to do. The only thing he took care never to do was bring up Robert. Zoey had felt uneasy when he brought up the case, so she didn’t believe he would forget about it so easily. Laurence was used to Zoey ignoring his presence and felt
Ryan had a reason for barging into the room. He thought he had seen something he shouldn't have.He had witnessed Zoey's relationship with his brother over the past few years. He hadn't thought so many things would happen between them when they got married.In the end, Laurence fell for her.The high and mighty guy had willingly become the loser for that woman.Zoey could tell from Ryan's reaction that he had misunderstood. Without bothering to explain, she walked straight out of the office.Laurence ignored Ryan, too. He treated Ryan as if he didn't exist and strode out the door after Zoey. Ryan was left alone in the office, dumbfounded.Laurence's assistant greeted him politely. "Are you here for ..."Ryan was still in a daze. He snapped to his senses and said, "I'm here to see my brother!""Mr. Scott just left.""I saw that.""Then, is there anything else I can do for you?"Ryan turned around to leave but returned halfway. He put his arm around the assistant's shoulder as
Zoey could feel the gazes on her as she stepped into the office. There were hardly any familiar faces left in the office.She secretly sighed in relief. She would have felt awkward and at a loss if she had to face the inquisitive gazes of acquaintances.Laurence held Zoey's hand, and she had no choice but to let him do as he pleased. She couldn't resist him.They entered Laurence's office. His office looked cold and plain, just like he was.Zoey noticed he was still grabbing her wrist. She took a deep breath and asked, "Where should I sit?"Perhaps surprised by her sudden cooperative attitude, Laurence raised an eyebrow. After a pause, he kindly reminded her, "The door is locked."Without a key, the door couldn't be opened from the inside.Zoey tried to pull her wrist away. "Got it."Laurence watched her sit on the sofa, and he relaxed slightly. He asked politely, "Would you like something to drink?"Zoey was momentarily lost in thought. She replied, "Warm water will do"Laur
Zoey was composed. She didn't seem worried about Laurence investigating her past in Novarvia. But deep down, she wasn't confident.Laurence had long lost any moral boundaries. Despite knowing she was married, he showed no concern about interfering in her marriage. He would likely become even more audacious and unrestrained if he discovered that her marriage was fake.Just the thought of it gave Zoey a headache. She never thought getting rid of someone would be so difficult, even if they held a certain position of power. Shaking him off became increasingly challenging.Lost in her contemplation, Zoey failed to notice the driver had changed direction. When she finally realized, the car was parked at the entrance of the Scott Group.Zoey pondered briefly. She thought the driver was sending Laurence off. She waited patiently and remained seated in the car.The man beside her calmly looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you getting out?"Zoey furrowed her brows. "Why should I?"
Sarah always seemed like she was thriving. Looking radiant, she hooked arms with the man beside her. She no longer looked as worn as she had a few months ago.Laurence was acquainted with the man beside her. His gaze was indifferent, showing neither surprise nor much emotion. Firmly grabbing Zoey's hands, Laurence wouldn't let her leave his side.Laurence had no intention of greeting Sarah or engaging with William. He held Zoey's hand, seemingly aware she didn't want to deal with them either. He turned his face to her and said, "Let's go."Zoey didn't refuse. They left quietly.This time, Sarah didn't stop Zoey. She usually tried provoking her.Once they were far away, Zoey immediately shook off Laurence's hand. He saw her furrowed brows and the undisguised disgust in her eyes. She must have hated Sarah a lot. She didn't even want to see her.Laurence explained, "I didn't know she would be here today."Zoey ignored him and walked ahead. The man behind her suddenly circled he
Zoey had no idea whether she was acting out of spite or being stubborn, but she arrived at the restaurant as promised. The restaurant had a private courtyard that offered great privacy. She didn't want to cause the person she was meeting any trouble. Neil's wife was once Zoey's client. Both parties were pleased with the business transaction. Zoey didn't like socializing, but she was out of alternatives. She forced herself to befriend Neil's wife. She had something to ask of Neil because her passport application had been dragging on without any progress. Zoey didn't want to lose control of her emotions again. She could still keep her cool if she stayed away from Laurence. To her surprise, Laurence had found out what she had been secretly up to. It was like he had installed a bug on her. She was horrified. "I've heard a lot of good things about you, Ms. Jenner." "You're too kind, Mr. Jackson." Neil was nicer than she expected. He didn't act superior or avoid the topic. Inst
Zoey ended the phone call. Without having to ask, Zoey knew what was going on when she saw Laurence. Needless to say, Laurence had taken the liberty to take the morning off for her. She couldn't be bothered to be angry. Instead, she felt numb as it had happened too many times before. Zoey looked down at her changed pajamas and turned to the man by the bed. She asked, "Where are my clothes?" Laurence met her gaze. He didn't feel embarrassed at all. "They were in the wash. They are in the dryer now." Zoey lifted the bed covers and stepped onto the carpet. She made a beeline for the walk-in closet, which was filled with many clothes she hadn't taken with her when she'd left years ago. She picked an outfit and put it on. Laurence was still in the bedroom when she walked out of the walk-in closet. He put on his tie and looked over at her. She glanced at him and said, "You should've woken me up last night." Laurence approached her. He was tall and looked sharp in his suit, with
Zoey was fast asleep. She thought she was dreaming when someone lifted her up. Her body clock over the last few days had been regular. She was going to bed early. Now, she couldn't keep her eyes open. Maybe she went back to sleep because she didn't sense any danger.Laurence hooked his arm behind Zoey's knees in a cradle and pulled her arm over his neck to secure her from falling. She mumbled in her sleep. He guessed that she was dreaming.Laurence couldn't hear what she was saying. He leaned in with his ear near her lips, but her mumbling stopped.The chauffeur, dedicated to his job, was on standby outside. Seeing his employer in the distance, he opened the door respectfully.Laurence carried Zoey into the car. The chauffeur closed the car door and glanced again at the woman in his employer's arms from the rear-view mirror. She looked familiar, but he didn't want to make any assumptions. "Where to, sir?" The chauffeur couldn't read his employer's mind, so he was careful not to
The bar wasn't too far from the restaurant. It was less than a ten-minute drive away. Laurence refused to let go of Zoey's wrist. He was bold to show off their closeness even though it was inappropriate. The others could hardly take their eyes off the couple. It was drama in the flesh. If they remembered correctly, Zoey had denied their relationship online two days before. She had even announced her marriage to someone else to set the record straight. What was going on? They had a hunch about the situation, judging by the resistance on Zoey's face. Maybe her ex-husband wouldn't leave her alone. The man seemed relentless in his pursuit. Nevertheless, it was not their business to get involved. At the end of the day, it was between Zoey and Laurence. Everybody quieted down and sobered up. The group caught a cab to the destination. Laurence shamelessly invited himself to join the group, and no one objected, not even politely. They weren't fools. They wouldn't offend the man for
Zoey felt a tingling sensation along her ear. It felt as if she had been electrocuted. Laurence's tone was half-joking, but there was seriousness behind it. He was ready to tell on her to her husband the moment she nodded. Zoey had lost her patience with him a long time ago. She couldn't help but snap back every time. She looked up. Her face was small. She was about to tell him to get lost when the man took the chance to deepen the kiss. He squeezed her chin, forcing her to part her lips to let him in. Zoey was pinned against the wall. His scorching breath took hers away. She was trapped like prey in a snare. The more she struggled, the tighter his grip became.Laurence didn't stop with a brief kiss. He didn't give Zoey room to breathe, and she could feel her limbs going weak. Her tongue was going numb. The woman opened her mouth, gasping for air. She hung onto his collar to stop herself from going limp. The man was always greedy. He could never get enough of her. Zoey had