How could Joey have done such a thing? It seemed Zachary hadn't asked her to kiss him but rather to confess whether she had feelings for him. How could this have happened?Joey lowered her head and ran her fingers through her hair. She decided that whenever she saw Zachary, she would hide in a corner. She would also keep her distance until he forgot about what she did.After the host's announcement, Joey excused herself to get some fresh air. Then, she left the hotel and left Selena behind. Joey sought solace in the cool breeze to soothe her racing heart and to cool down. She also gave herself a gentle slap on the face to restore her usual aloof demeanor before returning to the hotel.She convinced herself that what happened meant nothing. Perhaps she could admit that she was drunk. After all, she was ready to divorce Zachary and wasn't going to entertain any foolish thoughts.When she exited the elevator, she saw him waiting for her outside her hotel room. He stood by the door,
Joey hid in the garden, drafting her design. She quietly snuck back into her room when dusk fell. During this time, she had speculated a lot. However, she couldn't be sure if Zachary had switched out her design draft. Next was the final draft. Once the final draft was complete, it was time for the clothing manufacturing process. The tea party that was held every three days had started once again. Joey had just emerged from the effects of the last tea party. Surprisingly, the theme had changed this time. A group of people were dining at Sunshine Hall on the topmost level of the hotel. The tea party was about the art of drinking tea, and desserts. Joey and Selena had entered early. When they sat down, she whispered, "Zachary doesn't like desserts, so I don't think he'll be here." Right as she said that, Zachary and Kent appeared. As Kent entered, he greeted everyone with a smile. "Enjoy yourselves today. Do enjoy. Please help yourselves." Zachary walked to Joey's side a
As Kent introduced the art of tea brewing, he also mentioned their sponsor's name.When it was time to make desserts, he stood by Joey's side. He told the camera, "Back in the olden days, these desserts were called 'little cakes'. Isn't that interesting?" He was good-looking. Plus, when he smiled with his sharp eyes, it was especially alluring. The viewers instantly complimented him in the comments section. Kent looked at Joey and said, "Ms. Linton, over to you to make these cookies. Please show everyone how it's made."Joey guessed that it was a task instructed by their sponsor, so she nodded in agreement. "Sure." Initially, Kent had planned to give Joey a hand. But Zachary had come by their side unexpectedly, without him noticing. He stared at Kent for three seconds. Kent nodded and then stepped aside. "Alright, you'll assist her." Selena was on the other side. She gasped sharply as she wondered what was wrong with Zachary. He seemed to have become her Siamese twin. H
Was Julia still being arrogant after learning she was the mistress? Did she really think Joey was a weakling who could be pushed over easily? Upon hearing Joey's words, the corner of Selena's lip curved upward slightly. She said in a sarcastic tone, "Not to worry. I have plans for this." Previously, it hadn't been a good time for her to say anything to the media since things weren't going their way. This time, if Julia still didn't apologize publicly, she would not let her off the hook so easily! The three-hour tea party and dessert-making session was over. Joey tidied up her belongings and returned to her room. Just when she sat down to rest, there was a knock on the door. She thought it could be Selena coming to have a discussion about the draft, so she didn't think too much about it. Joey got up and opened the door. Zachary barged into the room without waiting for her to say a word. Joey scanned the area outside the door. Once she confirmed that no cameramen were taili
Zachary loosened his grip on Joey's chin. He stood to the side and looked down at her."Contact me when the time comes. I'll bring you the draft. I'll see you tonight." He walked to the door, opened it, and walked out. The atmosphere between them had been toasty. However, one phone call from Julia had turned the air in the room chilly.Joey sat by herself for a little longer, then got up to take a shower. After her shower, she went to look for Selena to tell her about Zachary's request. Selena was so enraged that she threw her phone on the couch. "I thought he was treating you nicely on the program. I thought that maybe there was some improvement in the relationship between the both of you. Who knew … Give him an inch, and he'll really take a mile!" "He still treats Julia differently," Joey answered softly. Selena walked to the tea table. She knelt down to pour herself a glass of water. She took two big gulps before replying, "I thought we could teach Julia a good lesso
Joey leaned against the wall of the grotto. She couldn't put her injured foot flat on the ground. She inhaled through her mouth. It was dark, and Zachary couldn't see clearly. He took out his phone and turned on the flashlight. He knelt in front of Joey. "How's your foot?" Joey's stance was unstable, so she reached out reflexively and put her hand on his shoulder. She tried to move her left ankle slightly. "It's a little painful, but I'm not sure if it's a sprain." Zachary felt her leaning on him. So, he extended his hand and held her left ankle. Joey shuddered, and her grip on Zachary's shoulder tightened involuntarily. "I'm fine … You don't have to …" she said in a shaky voice. Zachary looked up at her. He smirked, "I'm just touching your ankle. You're getting self-conscious?"Joey's face flushed bright red. She bit her lip, and her eyes welled up with tears. "I'm just afraid of the pain." She turned away to look elsewhere. The light from Zachary's phone shined thr
Joey could've really been hurt. She couldn't believe Zachary had left her there. How could she have had that slither of hope when she saw Julia's name on his phone?She wondered if there would ever be a time when he decided to stay by her side because she was hurt. Could he care and worry about her just once? As usual, Joey was disappointed by the end result. She opened the drawing and looked at it momentarily before folding it again.She got back up, holding the wall for support, and slowly walked out of the grotto. She thought of asking Selena for help, but it was late, and she felt bad about bothering her friend. Joey arrived at the rose garden. She stopped in her tracks abruptly. In front of her, a man had just hung up on a call. He also realized she was there. Under the dim garden lights, she noticed that he had a pair of long legs. His build was slender. His hair was combed back tidily and tied into a man bun. "Ms. Linton?" he asked, recognizing her instantly. He
The elevator chimed. It stopped on the floor where Joey and Zachary stayed. Uriah intended to support Joey out of the elevator. However, Zachary suddenly interrupted. "I'm staying in the room next to hers. I'll take over from here. You can take the elevator back down." Joey gave Zachary a look. Uriah assessed Zachary’s cold expression. He thought about his previous interactions with Joey and how it stirred up loads of gossip on the internet. With a sudden realization, he immediately loosened his grip on Joey's wrist. "I'll be on my way then," Uriah said to Zachary in a polite manner. Zachary moved forward and helped to support Joey.He murmured an acknowledgement to Uriah, then walked out of the elevator with Joey. Her expression was frigid. Joey planned to push him away once they got out of the elevator. However, he held her wrist tightly in his grip with an ice cold gaze on his face. "What is it? Are you mad that I ruined your moment with that hunk? Is that it?"
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