Laurence showed some OCD symptoms. If he wanted something, he fixated on getting it. The pain didn't matter to him. Zoey realized that she was no match for his stubbornness. The air in the cab was thick with tension. Despite repeating herself multiple times, Zoey couldn't seem to get through to Laurence. "I told you. Even if I divorce Michael, I want nothing to do with you." "I know." Laurence clutched Zoey's chin to make her face him. His dark eyes were deep and serene. "I told you I don't care about the future." Zoey felt like she couldn’t breathe under his intense stare. Her chin hurt from his tight grip. She finally saw Laurence's point. She could not be with anyone else if she were not with him. If he didn’t have a companion, she was expected to be alone like him. Laurence had endless ways to annoy Zoey, and she was at his mercy.Her lashes fluttered and covered her tear-filled eyes. A tear fell onto the back of the man's hand. Laurence’s heart ached. He pursed his lips.
Laurence read the room. He knew he was pushing it, so he gave it a rest. After a brief silence, he gave in and said, "It's okay if you don't have any new slippers."Zoey gave him a new pair of slippers. She didn't want to mix them up with other pairs, as everyone in the house had their own. While handing Laurence the slippers, she couldn't hold her tongue. "If you didn't want to wear someone else's slippers, you could have just left." Laurence put on the slippers and replied, "I can put up with it for a while." He was glad he couldn't see many traces of another man's presence in Zoey's home. Teddy sat on the living room sofa, playing a game on his tablet after completing his homework. Unlike other children, Teddy didn’t really like games. Even though a guest was in the apartment, Teddy quickly made himself comfortable. Since Laurence was an enemy, Teddy eyed him warily. As Laurence used Teddy as an excuse to get close to Zoey, he had to keep up the act. It was difficult for Laur
Zoey felt a burning sensation when Laurence touched her skin. She pulled back her arm, but he had a firm hold on her. She took a deep breath and said, "It doesn't hurt anymore."Laurence did not let go. He asked, "Do you have antiseptic cream at home?" Zoey could not recall whether she had antiseptic cream in her first aid kit. She shook her head. "I don't know." Now that Laurence had learned a great deal about the situation at home, he asked, "Where is your first aid kit?"As Laurence clutched her fingers, Zoey could feel his burning touch. It felt like he was setting her ablaze, and a wave of emotions swept over her.She replied, "It's in the drawer under the TV." Laurence released her hand and walked to the living room. He bent over and searched the drawer for the first aid kit. It had not been used for some time. He opened the kit and found the antiseptic cream. After checking the expiration date, he realized the cream expired a long time ago.He put the first aid kit bac
Doubt was a powerful thing. It could easily ruin a marriage. Even the strongest relationships could become fragile with a little suspicion.Before leaving, Laurence had to upset Zoey one more time. "I guess he's not coming home tonight." Zoey did not comment. She slammed the door with a bang. …The next day was a weekday. Zoey arrived at the office half an hour late. The camera and lighting set up in the workspace were not unfamiliar to her.Not long after she entered her office, Zoey received an email about her suspension. The email stated that she had been reported for taking bribes. She would be reinstated to her position once she had been cleared of the charges following an investigation.Zoey glared at the email angrily. She was infuriated by the false claims. The workplace was cutthroat. The higher she climbed the corporate ladder, the tougher the competition became. She had been reported before. Although it was a hassle, the problem was solved very quickly. Zoey sat in
Zoey took Michael's advice to heart because she was like a sister to him. He had been looking out for her for the past few days, and she was grateful. She didn't want Michael to worry about her."Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. I won't get hurt again." "He's hard to read. I can't figure out what he's thinking. He's a dangerous man. Even if we put our heads together, I don't think we can outsmart him." Michael added, "We're talking about someone who can withhold your passport."Michael sighed and said, "I shouldn't have let you come back here. We were so happy and relaxed in Novarvia." At least in Novarvia, they could do whatever they wanted. The only issue was Shawn, who mostly stayed on the sidelines. Shawn wasn't a fan of Michael. "Zoey, did you know that Shawn is coming back to Northwell?" Zoey was surprised. She wouldn't have known Shawn was returning if Michael hadn't told her. Shawn hadn't mentioned it. Although they had kept in touch, the frequency was low. Zoey wa
Zoey wasn't surprised to see Laurence there. She had been on edge since her arrival, and she now felt relieved. Perhaps it had happened too many times, so the annoyance had become normal. Even the annoyance was tiring.Zoey stared at him without saying a word. Laurence broke the silence. "Are you having dinner?" Instead of looking out of place, he carried himself with ease. "Fancy running into you here. Let me buy you dinner." The wind was chilly. Zoey wanted to smirk at his lies, but she couldn't even smile. After everything she had been through, she sounded drained. "Don't you feel bad saying things like that?"As the breeze fluttered the man's loose t-shirt, he slipped his hands into his pockets and stood casually. He paused, then asked flatly, "Do you think I can deceive you with my lies?"Before Zoey could say anything, Laurence nodded and admitted he had lied. He was honest for once. "Yeah, I followed you here." His claim that the encounter was a coincidence was hard t
Zoey thought she wouldn't be able to eat, but she had a good appetite. She dug into her food while Laurence didn't touch his. This wasn't strange. Laurence rarely had a good appetite. There was nothing in the world he liked to eat.Zoey helped herself to the complimentary alcohol from the owner and poured herself a glass. Laurence watched her quietly. He wanted to stop her but bit his tongue. He knew Zoey wouldn't take his advice, so he was better off not saying anything.Zoey took a tiny sip of the alcohol. The taste was refreshing, like a fruity wine, and it did not burn her throat. So, she took a couple more sips. Laurence watched as she downed one drink after another. After a brief silence, he said, "The alcohol is strong." Zoey's head was clear, but she felt slightly dizzy. She believed Laurence was trying to annoy her. Even though she was frustrated, Zoey did not show it on her face and simply stopped talking to him."You're not paying for it. Who are you to stop me from d
Laurence grabbed a clean towel from the bathroom. He wet the towel to wipe Zoey's face. Zoey wasn't asleep yet. She was still mumbling incoherently. She suddenly opened her eyes and fixed them on the man.Laurence held his breath, and his heart skipped a beat when she looked at him. He quickly composed himself and said in a raspy voice, "What's the matter?"He wondered why she looked at him that way. Zoey reached out to touch his face. He froze as she ran her hand along his face. Her palm was warm, and her fingers were soft. She was silent, and he was quiet. Time passed. Zoey blinked. She felt like she was in a dream. Everything was blurry, and she was caught between memory and reality. She saw the young man she once loved looking into her eyes. He told her that he loved her. She felt like the world around her wasn’t real, and she couldn’t tell the difference between her dreams and reality. Zoey looked at Laurence. "Do you love me?" She had no idea who she was asking because i
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