Zachary took a sip and uttered wistfully, "You're telling me that Joey cherishes the love story between Cyrus and his fiancée?"Kent nodded. "You hurt her. You ruined whatever ideal she had for love. Therefore, she no longer trusts it."Yet, there's a pair couple in this world who are fighting against all odds to be together. She's moved by this genuine connection."The grip on Zachary's glass tightened.Kent added, "I mean, all girls want to preserve something genuine, don't they?""I should stand by her, then," said Zachary."You can. But she cherishes their love story, not you. You need to know that," said Kent seriously.Zachary fell silent. He knew what reality awaited him, but he couldn't accept it.Joey still longed for a genuine love story. Zachary could not give up on their relationship just like that.Moments later, Zachary guzzled down the content of his glass and left."Hey! You're leaving already? We haven't had enough fun yet," Kent raised his glass and proteste
Joey and they should go their separate ways, so why pester Joey now?"Hanson, you saved Joey's grandmother before. Can you help make Yvonne's dream come true? Yes or no?" Emily scowled.Hanson looked at his mother, displeased. "No. Joey has the right to choose her client. I shouldn't blackmail her emotionally into designing a dress for Yvonne.""I know Joey resents our family because of what Brook did. Just bring Yvonne with you to Eldeville and clear things up with Joey. You know how much Yvonne loves Joey's design."Besides, this is a misunderstanding. Maybe Yvonne and Joey can be good friends after they talk it through," continued Emily.Hansom frowned, not rebutting what Emily said. He would indeed be overjoyed if Joey and Yvonne could mend their relationship."You can call Joey and ask. We'll hear what she has to say." Emily's tone softened."Alright," agreed Hanson. He was persuaded—his mother would most definitely offer an enticing price, which might interest Joey.With
The next morning, Joey went to her office to organize her schedule. She planned on heading to her workshop to continue working on the clothes."Someone wants to see you, Ms. Linton," said Stacy after she entered the office.Joey lifted her head and saw Yvonne standing by the entrance. She wore an expensive full-body dress. With her straight hair draped lazily on her shoulder, it made her look like a porcelain doll.Joey had never met her before, but her hunch told her that the woman before her was Yvonne. The smile on her face was simply unnerving."Ms. Chloe, I am Yvonne, Hanson's sister." Yvonne walked in and greeted Joey in a friendly tone.Joey stood up and replied coldly, "Hi, are you here to place an order?"After Yvonne entered the office, the first thing she did was check out the surroundings. Then, her gaze returned to Joey."I'm here to apologize to you. I am just a victim, but I feel that I owe you an apology, too."Yvonne's open provocation irked Joey greatly.She
Yvonne looked at Zachary and bit her lips. She suppressed the joy she felt and pretended to panic.Hanson shielded Yvonne behind him and addressed Zachary, "My mom encouraged Yvonne to come here. Yvonne too wants to apologize badly, so she came uninvited.""Henry!" Not one to waste any time bickering with Hanson, Zachary summoned his assistant.Henry walked in, his hands clenched into tight fists. He popped his knuckles while approaching Hanson and Yvonne menacingly."Zachary, surely you know how bad this will reflect on Joey if you attack us now," uttered Hanson plainly. He wasn't afraid of Zachary.Zachary glanced at Hanson impassively, "I will protect Joey. Don't worry."I did warn you in Imperia that something bad would happen if you came to see Joey again, didn't I?""Zachary, I came to apologize to Joey. I know she doesn't like me, but I love her work. I really do," pleaded Yvonne desperately while looking like a vulnerable victim.Joey frowned at how dramatic Yvonne's ac
Yvonne wasn't willing to go home so soon. Asking Joey to make her a dress was just a pretext to approach Zachary."I won't ask Joey to make my dress, but can I befriend her at least?" probed Yvonne gingerly.Hanson mulled for a while before asking, "Why?""You care a lot about her, don't you? Your friendship with Joey turned sour because of me. I can try to slowly clear things up with her."Don't worry. I promise not to do anything that pisses her off again," begged Yvonne.For a reason yet unknown to Hanson, he cared a lot about Joey. What she had said earlier pained him."No, don't do that now. I know Joey well enough. Once she decides to dislike someone, she won't change her mind."Hanson feared that Yvonne might inadvertently harm the already shaky friendship between Joey and him. Zachary was a living cautionary tale."But Hanson, I really want to befriend her. She is so kind, and that's why you care a lot about her. I don't want to be hated by her," said Yvonne hurtfully.
Once Joey began working in her workshop, she turned away all visitors. Hanson came to her many times and wasn't able to see her.After a week of fruitless endeavor, Hanson finally ran into Joey when the latter was leaving work."Joey, can I buy you a meal?" asked Hanson."My grandma already made dinner for me," declined Joey impassively."Joey, can't we be friends anymore?" uttered Hanson, crestfallen."The Hanson I know would go home after we had that argument the other day."Why are you still in Eldeville? Because Yvonne doesn't want to leave. You came to make up to me at your sister's behest."Sooner or later, she'll be the reason why we can never be friends anymore," answered Joey coldly.Hanson couldn't find a way to rebut Joey."Don't waste our time now. Yvonne and I can never be friends. I don't care what her wish is."I'm not a saint. I wasn't born to make others' wishes come true." Joey then quickly moved past Hanson.Hanson wanted to chase after Joey, but Henry, wh
"Everything is ready on my end. The trial takes place in three days. We need to make Joey agree to settle out of court before that."Malice flashed in Julia's eyes. She mumbled, "Don't worry about that. Tell me once everything is set up. I'll keep you updated from inside."After the call ended, Julia let out a snigger before she jogged toward Rose."You've been receiving a lot of calls lately," asked Rose."You asked me to keep an eye out on Zachary, Rose. I was told that Zac might marry Joey again," said Julia as she clung to Rose's arm.Rose took the news badly. She exclaimed, "What? What happened?"Julia immediately soothed Rose's chest. "Zac has visited Joey's office many times. He even gave Henry to her. They get along very well."Joey's grandmother even invited Zac to a dinner. Who knows what Joey and her grandmother are scheming this time?""I can't believe Zac did this. I told him not to see Joey again because I don't want them to get back together."Rose then turned a
Joey held her phone. She felt dejected. She did not know why she felt that way.Could it be because Zachary and Julia's rosy past made her uncomfortable?She scratched her head and figured that it would have been better if Zachary had not called her. At first, she only had to worry about one matter. Now, she had to worry about two.There was another matter that she should not worry about, but she couldn't help but worry anyway.Time trickled by, but she was still wide awake. She grabbed her phone and sent Henry a text message."Come over," the text read.Henry was stunned upon receiving the message."What… Why?" he texted back.He then looked at the time. It was already 3:00 am. Why would she call him over at such a late hour?"Come over to my place. I'd like to speak to you." Her message appeared on his phone immediately.He forwarded the message to Zachary and then put on his shirt in a daze. He did not know why she was seeking him out at such an hour.Joey was in the midd
Joey shot him a cold glance. "You and he are both the same, so neither of you should be laughing at the other."Zachary nodded. "You're right, but I've turned over a new leaf now.""Let's go. Enough about him," Joey said. She was annoyed whenever Henry was brought up.He had a great girl willing to be with him, yet he was still unhappy. Any other man would have been grinning from ear to ear.They arrived at the restaurant, and while Joey ordered the food, Zachary sent a message to Henry."You should think about this. Joey and Grandma just want you to have someone by your side in the future, which is why they're saying these things."Don't give up on her just because of what her parents said. Having someone who genuinely likes you is rare."From Zachary's perspective, Henry had a pretty good start. Tessa didn't mind his circumstances, so what was he dissatisfied with?Henry quickly replied, "I know. I'll think about it carefully."In truth, Henry found it all a bit troublesome.
Henry was immediately startled and started stammering, "O-Okay."As soon as Joey hung up the phone, she turned to see Tessa, who was crying pitifully, and handed her a tissue.Tessa took the tissue and sobbed without saying a word.Monica had prepared some desserts for her and looked at her with compassion. "Henry has never been in love before. Plus, he's straightforward and doesn't know how to talk properly. There's no need to cry."Joey thought that Henry just didn't love Tessa enough. Otherwise, how could he say such things?Tessa's eyes were swollen and red. Her tears continuously streamed down. "I know he doesn't like me. Maybe he just agreed to the relationship because I pursued him."Joey patted her shoulder. "In love, if one person is too proactive, the other will seem passive. The fact that you dared to love already makes you braver than many.""What's the point? He doesn't care about me at all." Tessa sniffled."Here, eat something," Monica said. "Feelings like love d
No one tried to persuade Henry further, but Zachary continued to say to him, "Come with me to choose a location for the security company. It's worth doing."Henry was a bit speechless. "I'm not even pursuing the relationship anymore. Why should I still think about the security company?"Zachary responded, "Do you plan to cling to Joey's coattails your whole life? Once the business is set up, you can have apprentices teach others, and you can become a hands-off boss in a year or two."With that, Zachary headed out.After they left, Monica sighed in disappointment. "And I here I thought Henry had found someone good for him.""I think it's quite normal. Finding a good woman isn't easy," Joey said.Henry was indeed a good person, but with one eye missing and his job as a bodyguard, it was inevitable that Tessa's parents would worry."How disappointing," Monica murmured repeatedly.Joey didn't know what else to say and could only comfort her. "There's still a chance. What if Tessa d
Joey snorted. "You looked down on me and thought I had no opinions back then."Zachary pulled her into his arms. "Joey, do you like the person you are now or the person you were before?""What about you?" Joey asked him."I liked you from the beginning. Do you think I would have pursued you for so long if I didn't? I never thought you were serious about the divorce. At first, I was angry, but now I just think I was too slow to react."Joey was genuinely angry back then, but he had thought she was playing hard to get.The two of them sat close and watched the movie together.Selena hadn't returned yet, so Joey guessed that she wouldn't be coming back."Selena probably won't return. Hanson is cunning by taking her away with just a movie," Joey said.Zachary turned off the projector and was still savoring the moment as Joey left his arms."They're in love. Otherwise, Selena wouldn't go with him so easily," Zachary remarked.Selena must really like Hanson. Otherwise, she wouldn't
Zachary squeezed her hand tightly. "You're just like an exquisite and beautiful flower."Joey couldn't help but laugh. She pulled her hand back with a little force. "Even though we just had a heartfelt conversation, I haven't thought about being your girlfriend.""I get it. You're Chloe, and countless people are lining up to pursue you," Zachary said in a voice tinged with jealousy.If she wasn't so focused on her work, she probably would have found a new boyfriend by now. For example, Kenneth was an excellent person. If Joey had accepted him back then, Zachary thought he wouldn't stand a chance now.When they got back to Emmen, Joey freshened up and got back to work.Zachary couldn't help but say, "Can't you take a break?""I've gotten used to this over the past year. When I can't sleep at night, I'll work. I find it hard to relax now," Joey said while reading a document intently.Without her dedication and hard work, Emmen wouldn't have grown so quickly.Zachary beckoned her
Zachary felt a heavy weight on his chest as he looked at Joey.She continued, "Even if I accept you again, and we try to rebuild a family, I know things can never go back to the way they were. I gave you my best years, and I don't feel like I owe you anything."During those three years, you ignored my true feelings and neglected me. Do you think it's possible to go back to the past now?"Zachary said, "I'm truly sorry.""I want to fully accept you, but I can't. You all think that the many hurts inflicted on me are something I can just get over, let go of, and move forward from. But I can't."I realize now that people are complicated and hold grudges. I constantly revisit every wrong done to me. If I didn't care, it would mean I don't care about any of you at all."Joey rarely opened up to Zachary like this, but she felt it necessary to make this clear.Zachary watched her silently and felt as though it was his first time knowing what she actually thought."It's like how I don't
Selena readily agreed, "Alright. It's not fair for you to handle everything alone."Her relationship with Hanson was intense and passionate at the beginning, but now that the initial fire had burned out, Selena felt less attached to Hanson. But after dinner, she was still dragged by Hanson to watch a new movie.Joey was exhausted from work and didn't want to move, so she sat at the dining table with Zachary to enjoy the peace."Shall we head back soon?" Zachary asked after a long while.Joey hummed, exhausted. "Let's sit a bit longer.""If you don't want to walk, I can carry you," Zachary said with a smile.Joey snorted. "Do you want Grandma to scold me? Have you even recovered?""Probably not. These wounds don't heal so easily," Zachary admitted honestly. He wanted to please Joey but had forgotten that his health was no longer as robust as before."Let's sit for another half an hour," Joey said as she leaned back in her chair and replied to messages on her phone."You're work
Selena felt that what Joey said made sense and immediately nodded in agreement. "Then I won't consider marriage."Zachary glanced at them and thought that Selena was a bad influence on Joey. Even if they were married, couldn't they still have fun? What was the difference?Around noon, Hanson and Tessa arrived at Emmen together.As soon as Tessa saw Henry, she ran to him and grabbed his arm. "I got out of class early to see you. You're not mad, are you?"Henry was taken aback, but seeing Tessa clinging to him so sweetly filled his heart with joy."Not at all. Why didn't you tell me? I could have picked you up," Henry said.Tessa held his hand. "Why do you have to pick me up? I know where you work, so I can come to find you."Henry nodded dumbly."Tessa, have you eaten?" Monica stepped forward with a gentle smile."No, but my parents want to invite him to dinner tonight. I've already arranged it with them," Tessa said with a smile.Joey thought this wasn't just a regular dinner
Henry had a smile on his face, looking quite pleased with himself. "Of course, she fell in love with me at first sight."Selena laughed. "Impressive! But your cosplay style probably appeals to most young girls, right?"Henry may have only one eye, but he was still very handsome. He was like a cosplayer you'd see on the street.He simply smiled and picked up his phone to check in with Tessa.After chatting, Henry grinned like a fool. "She asked me out to lunch. She said she doesn't have classes this afternoon and wants to take me to her place."Joey felt a bit envious. "You're incredibly lucky. You need to cherish this."Henry nodded as Monica looked at Henry with a smile."What is your girlfriend studying in grad school?" Selena asked curiously."Something related to Eldelish language studies I think," Henry replied, unsure.Joey nodded. "That sounds good."After finishing his meal, Henry sat nearby, playing on his phone.Selena couldn't help but tell Joey, "Is he just going