Irene remained composed in spite of Zachary's sharp glare and suddenly smiled."Look, I was just trying to convince you not to bother Lulu.""So what was the point of all that?!" Zachary snapped. "What do you think?" Irene asked him in return."I think it's pointless," he replied.Irene heaved a long sigh and said, "Me too. I mean, if a person likes you, that's basically love, right? Can a person love you without liking you? That's ridiculous."That was why she remained so composed when Zachary told her that Isaac only 'liked' her—from her perspective, that was good enough, since there was not much difference between liking and loving!Zachary pouted. "Then why did you bother giving that crap?""I'm not," she said, but Zachary pushed her out of her room before she could explain. "Fine, I get it. You don't want me looking for Lulu, right? I won't go.""As long as you understand." Irene smiled.Zachary rolled his eyes after closing the door behind her.Why should he listen to
Lulu's phone was on silent mode since the last time it rang, it woke Jean right after she put her to sleep.Jean was crying a long while afterward too, so Lulu always put her phone on silent to avoid that from happening again—at least it meant peace for her baby. Earlier, she left it on the couch while washing the dirty laundry, and she was now in the bedroom to feed Jean.Lulu did not see or hear her phone vibrating repeatedly.And after she fed Jean, she folded the laundry and put them in the closet. Once she was done with housework, she lay in bed and took a nap with Jean in her arms.She did not sleep well, after all—in fact, she had not gotten a good night's sleep after she and Martin consummated their marriage.He would come on to her every night and for hours! She therefore needed her nap to recharge during daytime.Martin returned just then, putting some fish he brought in the kitchen. He was planning to make soup for Lulu since she has not been lactating much, and Je
"Of course I know you trust Lulu." Irene smiled begrudgingly. "But I don't trust Zachary…"His move this time definitely left her flabbergasted!"I'll talk to him," Martin said.Irene thought then that Martin was an upstanding person and that he loved Lulu to bits. There probably would not be conflict and he would protect Lulu, right? It was not as if she thought badly of Zachary.In fact, she would save Zachary instead of Martin if she had to choose, since she knew Zachary longer and was closer to him. She was only human, and she was not noble enough to abandon people she was attached with.If anything, she was only nice to Martin because he was Lulu's husband, which was an undeniable fact.She would like Martin to protect Lulu because she was concerned that Zachary would harass Lulu for custody of Jean.She had tried to reason with Zachary endlessly, but it could not be denied that Jean was Zachary's.He therefore had the right.But now, things were fine between Lulu a
Lulu looked up at Martin and said, "You're a married man. What's wrong with that?"Martin appeared to pause for a moment as he watched her, but his lips soon curled up in a grin. "You're right."Before she had a chance to speak, he gathered her fiercely in his arms and kissed her fervently! And with that, they eagerly jumped in bed for yet another round of passionate lovemaking.They had been married for a while now, but it had just been a few days since they consummated. For them, this was their real honeymoon!When they were done, Lulu leaned her head against Martin's shoulder and asked, "Your break is almost over, right?"Martin nodded and turned toward her. "You don't want me to work?""No," Lulu said, staring at his face. "I'm just worried."After all, his work was dangerous, and she was worried that he would run into trouble again.She caressed the surgical scar on his chest and murmured, "I hope I'll grow old with you.""We will," Martin replied, taking her in his arm
Zachary felt a little awkward—to be precise, he felt too embarrassed to start.After all, he was well aware that coming unannounced would cause trouble for both Martin and Lulu, and that he would be imposing.Still, it takes one man to know another, and Martin turned toward Zachary just then. "You want to see the baby, don't you?"While Zachary appeared taken aback, Martin said, "I understand that you're no stalker and that you wouldn't have wished us well in Cloud City if you really wanted to cause trouble for us."Pausing for a moment, Martin then continued, "I understand how you feel, but I also hope you understand—Jean may be your baby, but most of all, she's Lulu's. I won't allow you to take Jean away from Lulu… Unless Lulu gives her to you willingly."Martin knew very well that Lulu would refuse after carrying Jean around in her belly for ten months.There was a blood tie that bound mother and daughter now, and there was no way it could be severed at the drop of a hand.Ev
Lulu stared at Martin. "Are you trying to test me?"Martin tousled her hair. "Don't think of it like that. You can be friends even if you're not into him now. There's no need to treat him like the enemy since you made his acquaintance, refusing to meet him at all. I don't mind it either—I trust you."Lulu pouted. "I know you do, but I don't trust myself. Who knows, I might go with him if he starts to tempt me with sweet words…"Martin suddenly wrapped his arms around her and kissed her ferociously.He knew she was joking, but he was still very much afraid that she would leave him.He held her so tightly as if to make them fuse together. After a long while, Lulu said, "You should take Jean downstairs."She believed it impossible that people could stay friends after break-ups, since she disliked confronting the past.Caressing Martin's firm cheeks just then, she said, "I only need you in my life now." "You don't want Jean?" Martin asked.Lulu paused just then. "He wants Jean?
"Yes, she is," Martin said.He was watching Jean too, and he was certain she would grow up to be like Lulu—a woman of loyalty and sentiment. Once she was willing to help a person, she would even be willing to put her life on the line.How could someone like that not be loved?"Well, I guess you're just luckier than I am." Zachary sighed as he handed Jean back to Martin then, since he could not carry Jean off no matter how much he wanted. Martin did not deny it. After some thought, Zachary whipped out a debit card—financial support was about the only thing he could do for her now. "Here. It's for the little one."Martin did not reject it since it was for Jean and he had no right to decide for her.He would keep it and give it to her when she was older, telling her that she had the freedom to choose.Likewise, she had the right to know her real father, as well as the right to choose her life!Zachary was actually impressed by Martin's composure and generosity, and he decided
Zachary's voice was quiet but there was no hiding that quiver in it. "If you don't, I can't promise I won't get physical."Martin actually understood where Zachary was coming from, but there was no way he would surrender Lulu.Heaving a long sigh, he chugged both shots, while Zachary poured himself another and chugged it too.He slammed the shot glass down heavily, smacking his lips and saying, "Wow, this burns."In fact, the taste of the alcohol was so hot it burned him in the lungs!Martin poured him another. "It does pack a punch."Zachary looked up at him, frowning. "And you're still drinking?" Martin poured himself another as he said, "You have fine tastes. Very sweet, even.""Are you talking about the drink?" Zachary stared at him meaningfully then."Was that what you're asking?" Martin asked in return, smiling.There was no telling what either of them meant, but they chuckled as their eyes met.Picking up a shot glass and clinking it with Martin's, Zachary said, "I g