"Answer it for me." his voice was muffled as he spoke. He then drew a deep breath, breathing heavily. His annoyance at the phone call was evident.Upon seeing it was from Julia, Joey fell silent for a moment. "... It's Julia calling."Zachary immediately opened his eyes and reached out to grab the phone. He answered, asking, "What's wrong?""It's raining, Zac. I'm scared ..." Julia sounded as if she was crying. Her voice sounded pitiful.Joey glanced at Zachary."I'm not at the hotel," Zachary answered in a deep voice. The previous annoyance in his voice was now gone.Joey thought that if Zachary were at the hotel, he would surely go and accompany her.She grew slightly infuriated and deliberately kicked Zachary on his shin.Zachary winced in pain and looked at Joey with resentment.Joey blinked her eyes innocently."You have left the hotel?" Julia sounded surprised.Julia knew Joey had taken leave to visit her grandmother, but she wasn't sure when Joey would return.How could it be s
Joey felt useless.Monica was happy to see them getting along so well. She smiled delightedly."You two are not young anymore. I know you are busy, but when will you two start a family?" Monica suddenly asked during dinner.Joey knew Zachary disliked being pressured by relatives about having children and feared that he would take it wrongly. She quickly explained, "We're considering it. I might have some health issues, so I haven't been able to conceive. We're trying our best."Zachary didn't say anything and quietly ate his breakfast. His face looked tense.Monica nodded gently. "It's not good for a woman to give birth after the age of 28, and it's even more dangerous after 30. I'll find a holistic doctor for you. You should take some medicine and start taking care of your health."Zachary's grandma had already tried all that.Whenever Zachary received the medicine, he would throw it away without even passing it to Joey.Joey casually agreed with Monica to satisfy her, but s
Zachary couldn't hold the pot filled with water with only one hand. The pot tilted as the water, clams, and vegetables spilled onto the gas stove and put out the fire.Oil and water splashed all over Zachary's clothes and shoes.The clams and vegetables rolled off the countertop and made a loud sound as they hit the ground.Holding the basin, Joey took a step back. She looked at Zachary with an innocent and slightly fearful expression.Zachary wished he could just knock her head with the pot.He looked at Joey and asked, "Are you intentionally seeking revenge?"Joey quickly shook her head. "If I did it on purpose, I will be damned!""Joey Linton, you better be innocent!" Zachary rarely got angry, but his face tensed up as the veins on his neck were almost visible."What happened?" Agatha and Monica ran into the kitchen.Joey quickly said, "There was a little accident. It's nothing. I'll clean it up."Zachary put down the pot and said in a deep voice, "I'll order delivery."H
Joey blushed as her ears turned red. Pretending to be nonchalant, she said, "You can go out naked if you want."Zachary reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward him.She plunged into his arms, caught off guard. In a moment of panic, her hands touched places she shouldn't have touched.Feeling her whole body warm up, Joey struggled to escape him and cried, "Put on some clothes! What are you thinking?!""You remember my size quite well." Zachary looked down at Joey.He had been in a terrible mood but felt better knowing that Joey had clothes prepared for him at her place.He felt like he had a place in Joey's home.Joey assumed he was talking about something else, causing her to blush even more. She wished a hole would open up and swallow her whole.Joey looked at Zachary with her blushing face and asked, "Are you going to put it on or not?""I will allow you to touch me a bit more so that you remember it well. And so you can buy me more clothes in the future," Za
After taking Joey's pulse, Dr. Fisher smiled as he said to Rose, "It seems like there's no major problem with her health. Has she been to the hospital for a check-up?"Rose nodded and gestured for Joey to speak for herself.Lost in her thoughts, Joey only answered when Rose bumped her arm. "I've done the check-up. I've also had injections, but they all didn't work.""Let's try acupuncture. I will also give you some medicine to regulate your body," said Dr. Fisher calmly."That's it?" Rose was also starting to feel that he was a bit unreliable.Dr. Fisher replied, "I've reviewed the medical records you gave me, and there shouldn't be any major issues with her health. How about having your grandson come for a check-up as well?"Upon hearing this, Rose's face changed instantly. With an upset look, she exclaimed, "There's absolutely nothing wrong with my grandson! "He has been going for regular check-ups since he was young, and the results were perfect. How could there be any p
Rose then reluctantly said, "Alright, alright. I only know that his last name is Fisher. His contact details should be on the medicine packaging that Joey brought back. Go take a look.""You took her to get acupuncture without even knowing the doctor's name?" Zachary was infuriated as he hung up the phone.He returned to the hotel room and tried to look for the medicine in Joey's bag.Aside from a tablet, identity card, and keys, there was no medicine to be found in the bag.Zachary's expression was unusually frightening.He sat down beside Joey and called Rose again.After Rose answered, he calmly asked, "What is the clinic's name?""It's called Lifecare Clinic. How is Joey now? It's just acupuncture. Why is she acting immaturely?" Rose muttered, expressing dissatisfaction with Joey.Zachary then hung up the phone.He held Joey's hand and found that her palms were cold.The doctor had started to examine her. Fortunately, there was a holistic doctor in the Program Department
The two of them stood facing each other in silence. Zachary looked at the teeth marks on his wrist and frowned. Joey felt a deep grievance, but she had no one to turn to, and she couldn't blame anyone. She had never considered her marriage would turn out like this.This was a relationship without excitement for the future. There were hardships that only she felt.Several minutes later, Zachary saw that Joey hadn't moved. He tried to hug her, but she kicked him again. He turned his back to Joey angrily, saying, "Don't get on my bed ever again!" "Who would want to get on your bed? I'm not interested at all," Joey replied coldly. She wanted to return to her room. From now on, she would no longer engage in intimate activities with Zachary. That way, he wouldn't always assume she had ulterior motives.Zachary only realized that Joey also had a temper from their more frequent interactions. As it was getting late, Joey couldn't hold on any longer and closed her eyes from ex
When the call connected, Rose immediately started reprimanding Joey. "What's the matter with you? I finally found a holistic doctor for you, and you went and did such a heinous thing. Zachary blamed everything on me!" Rose was full of anger. Joey said, "Grandma, Zachary saw what happened yesterday. If you think I was faking it, you can ask him to call the doctor to explain it." "Don't talk to me about these things. I kindly found a doctor to help with your infertility, and you went behind my back to do these things! "If you can't tolerate it, just tell Zachary you want to get a divorce!" Rose exclaimed and hung up.Joey put down the phone and took a deep breath. Selena was infuriated by what Rose said. She said with a reddened face, "What does she mean? She blames you for not being able to get pregnant! "Who does she think Zachary is? If anyone wants to get pregnant for him, they can try. Why is she scolding you?!" "Why are you angry? Even I'm not angry," Joey calmly com
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