These questions lingered inside Yolanda's mind. She felt as if Zach was hiding something from her.Zach was indeed hiding something from her. Actually, he had been testing Yolanda to gauge her feelings toward him.Summer had told him that Yolanda had feelings for him. Although he didn't believe what Summer said, her words had sparked his curiosity. He also wanted to know if Yolanda truly had feelings for him. Therefore, he pretended to be drunk in the bar and attracted the attention of some women. That night's test results had exceeded Zach's expectations. He hadn't anticipated that Yolanda would get herself injured just to get him out of the bar and protect him.As doubts grew, Zach honestly explained the entire situation, from the fact that he was pretending to be drunk to the entire test scenario. After the explanation, he asked seriously, "Yola, do you like me?"This question felt like a tolling bell, deafening Yolanda. She stood frozen on the spot, unsure what to say. He
After listening to what Zach said, Yolanda was heartbroken. She had finally mustered up the courage to confess her feelings, only to receive such a response in the end. She felt as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water at a blazing fire, extinguishing it.However, the kind Yolanda still concealed the sadness deep in her heart. She didn't want Zach to see her upset. She thought that if she appeared sad, he would also feel the same way. So, she forced a smile and said, "Zach, it's okay. As you said earlier, love is freedom, and everyone has the right to love. If you don't like me, I won't force you.""Okay." Zach nodded in response. He discreetly glanced back at Yolanda at this moment and noticed the sorrow in her expression. Even when she was clearly forcing a smile, he could still see the deep sadness in her eyes.He knew he had truly hurt her. He quickly walked over to her and hugged her. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry…""Zach, why are you apologizing?" Yolanda asked."I hurt
Yolanda's emotions were like tangled yarn, impossible to unravel. They would only become messier if she tried to unravel them. She didn't even know what to do. On one hand, she loved Zach. On the other hand, she was puzzled because Zach only wanted to be with her out of pity.The two stood frozen, like two immovable stones. Neither could take the first step toward the other.The light from the moon grew dimmer. The stars were also obscured by dark clouds. Finally, Yolanda spoke up. "Zach, I think we need to calm down. I think we are both too anxious now.""Yola, are you suggesting—""Let's discuss it again in a few days," Yolanda muttered. With that said, she left decisively. She believed that their relationship had reached a turning point at that moment. There were two paths. Either they became lovers or strangers. Given their current awkwardness, it seemed impossible to remain friends as before.Facing such a decision, Yolanda felt that she should carefully consider it first
After she finished cleaning, Summer finally felt relieved. It was 2:00 pm. Usually, she would have eaten lunch by this time, but she still hadn't had lunch until now.Just as she thought she could finally eat and then rest, Luca suddenly urged her, saying, "It's two o'clock now. According to Madam Caroline's instructions, you have class to attend now, Madam Summer.""What? I haven't had lunch yet."As if he hadn't heard what she had said, Luca repeated, "Madam Caroline said that you need to attend class. Please do what you're instructed to, Madam Summer."According to him, it meant that Caroline wouldn't even allow Summer to eat and only wanted her to work. It was horrendous news to hear. Even slaves could eat before continuing their work. Summer had just finished her chores and hadn't even eaten anything. Wasn't she being treated worse than a slave?Summer immediately became angry. She said, "Luca, you've seen me clean the bathroom and the balcony since morning. I haven't eaten
Sitting on the ground, Summer laid out everything honestly. She was now taking a risk, gambling that Holly would offer her support instead of reporting her. Fortunately, her gamble paid off as Holly nodded in understanding. "So, you were hungry. But why did you come to class without eating?" Holly inquired. "It's a long story, but basically, Mom didn't allow me to eat any food," Summer responded. "Because you haven't gotten pregnant yet?" Holly guessed, hitting the nail on the head. "How did you know?" Summer asked. "It's simple. Madam Caroline had me emphasize core strength in your yoga classes. Sufficient abdominal training is known to be beneficial for childbirth. Therefore, I assumed she must be hoping for you to get pregnant soon." Holly was a perceptive woman, and her deduction was spot-on. Indeed, it was because Summer wasn't pregnant. In fact, everyone in the Quigley family was aware of Caroline's strong desire for Summer to have a child soon. It was evident how
Summer's acting was exceptional. When she spoke, her words dripped with sincerity, and combined with her weak voice, it conveyed a genuine sense of exhaustion. Holly, who was slightly younger than Summer, nodded immediately and said, "Mrs. Quigley, I'm willing to help you." "Thank you very much," Summer replied gratefully. When it came to yoga classes, Caroline wouldn't typically assess Summer. This was mainly because Caroline wasn't particularly adept at yoga herself. Hence, whenever there was an assessment, Holly would step in to provide feedback on the completion of the class. With Holly's willingness to assist, Summer could now relax and take it easy during future yoga classes. In social relationships, there's a phenomenon known as "in-group bias," where people tend to favor and help those they consider part of their group. Summer was now eager to bring Holly into her circle. "Ms. Lowry, I realized I don't even know your real name. Up until now, I've been calling
Lexi suggested, "Mrs. Quigley, do you think we should talk to Mr. Quigley about this?" Summer replied, "Forget it. What's the point? James will just end up arguing with his mother." Understanding the point, Lexi nodded in silence. She continued, "Mrs. Quigley, you clearly care about Mr. Quigley. If you didn't, you wouldn't be concerned about his relationship with his mother." Summer scoffed dismissively. "I wouldn't say I like him. I just believe that even if he intervenes, it won't change anything." She wanted to make it clear on this point. She didn't want Lexi to think she was considering it so much because she liked James. She wanted to emphasize that even if James did offer assistance, Caroline's resolve to punish her would remain unchanged. Rather than considering relying on James for help, Summer believed it would be wiser to focus on finding a way to move out of the Quigley residence as soon as possible. She was resolute in her decision. As long as she remained at
"Are you Ms. Charter?" the security guard inquired as he approached Summer. "Mr. Myers has been waiting for quite some time. Please allow me to escort you." It was apparent that Zach had made thorough preparations, even arranging for a security guard to receive her. Summer followed the security guard, but Lexi was unable to accompany her. According to the security guard, Zach only wanted to see Summer alone, and everyone else was to remain outside. However, it didn't matter much to Summer. She was certain Zach wouldn't harm her, so it made no difference whether Lexi joined them or not. Entering Zach's office, Summer found herself enveloped in complete darkness, with no lights illuminating the room. As she moved forward, the security guard locked the door behind her. Summer felt a sense of isolation in this silent world. The atmosphere was eerily quiet, as though she were in a terrifying abyss. Puzzled, she called out into the empty office, her voice trembling, "What