"Are you kidding? Like... Oh, Shit! Are you serious?" Clay certainly remembered how Wolf had once discussed slaves with him.Clay then rubbed his face. "I think you're crazy! You shouldn't have accepted that offer just like that!" Clay is scolding him again."Why not? She's pretty enough, and her body is good. I like the way she holds...""No need to tell me the details! Do you think I want to hear?" Clay snapped, looking disgustedly at Wolf's hands, which vividly demonstrated how Zoe slept with him."I just want to say, look at her beyond just her body. She's desperate. Don't you realize that? She's surrendering her freedom; that's a huge gamble. There's something she wants, and whatever it is, it's significant."Wolf fell silent. He had never thought about Zoe's desires that deeply. He only knew about stalking. But was the habit of stalking worth exchanging for freedom? It seemed not to.Zoe's stalking might be extremely severe—evidenced by a restraining order against her—but becomi
[What are you listening to?] Zoe extended the question."Try listening." Wolf was sitting on the bed, wearing earphones. He now took them off, asking Zoe to hear what he was listening to.Zoe accepted and put the earphones in both of her ears. But this wasn't Zoe's intention. She asked out of curiosity. Zoe wanted to know what was happening with Iris. Assuming that Wolf might be listening to an apology video from Iris, like yesterday after she had problems with the photographer.Zoe expected the apology to come sooner, but Wolf was just listening to a song. But it turned out that Wolf was just listening to a song."Do you think this song is more suitable for a cheerful mood or a dark one?" Wolf asked, playing the song on his phone.Since then, he has been playing the song repeatedly to get the right mood with the lyrics. The song was still very raw. It only contained simple music—piano, without any additions, and vocals that were also part of the demo.Zoe closed her eyes, listening t
"No. I was just asking." Wolf didn't even look at Becca's chest and just took the document she had placed on the table.Wolf wasn't interested in other women's breasts. He only wanted one. But he wasn't sure if that would make Zoe comfortable or not. That's why Wolf hoped Zoe would be the one to tease him. But it seemed unlikely, given her attitude yesterday.And Wolf asked earlier out of curiosity. He wanted to know how long it had been since he spent a sleepless night with anyone—except Zoe.He wanted to test if he was faithful enough, as Clay claimed. As far as Wolf could remember, he only slept with one—or three—women since marrying Zoe. And that was because he was drunk. He attended a party invitation from his friend, got drunk, and it always ended up that way.It is not too clear how, but more or less, Wolf would sleep with anyone nearby when he was drunk. But when he sobered up, he only slept with Zoe."I'm still faithful, apparently," Wolf mumbled. Satisfied with his self-asses
"Are you not tired of always ordering the same thing at the coffee shop? There are many other things you can order, not just Americano," Sara said, while urging Zoe to stand up.It was time for them to go to the cafe again, as usual. Sara was just doing a physical check to see if Zoe was unwell, after which she invited her out.According to Sara, she preferred dealing with patients whose physical health was in excellent condition, even though the physical check might not be related to mental illness. So, she always conducted a physical check—at least measuring body temperature and heart rate—every time Zoe came.[I like Americano] Zoe wrote her response.Sara squeezed Zoe's response and threw it into the trash bin next to the table, rolling her eyes. "What's so good about that bitter drink?" Sara couldn't understand why Zoe liked it.Similarly, Zoe didn't understand how Sara could give her body so much sugar almost every day and still look normal."Come on, hurry up. They have a new m
Zoe's tears flowed uncontrollably. She continued to touch her mouth and throat, as if wanting to make sure that the sound came from her."Agh...Aghh!" Zoe tried again. But again, no words came out."AGHH!" Zoe screamed, but again, it was not words that came out. And, of course, the scream turned into a howl of tears afterward. She couldn't say anything anymore."Zoe... Zoe, please calm down first. Breathe. Calm down. Don't cry..." Sara approached and hugged Zoe. But Zoe continued to cry and groan in her effort to speak.The disappointment multiplied. Zoe didn't expect anything, but she had heard it earlier. Zoe wanted to speak again, but the voice from earlier seemed not to be hers."Yes... yes... I know. It hurts, right? It's okay; we'll try again later." Sara continued to gently persuade, but her eyes glared fiercely at Wolf, who was approaching Zoe. Sara chased Wolf with a glance towards the door, also pointing her finger without words. Sara couldn't allow Wolf to get close to Zoe
Sara screamed as loudly as possible. Wolf could hear it very clearly, even without putting the phone in his ear."Who?" Wolf sat up and listened."ZOE! She's gone! When I woke up, she was already gone!"Wolf opened his eyes, stood up—startled, but regretted it as his head still hadn't improved. He almost stumbled from the pain."What do you mean? Where is she?" Wolf asked."Yesterday, she stayed at my place! I brought her home because she wouldn't stop crying. She cried herself to sleep, but this morning she's gone. I wanted to wake her up, but she's gone!" Sara's voice was genuinely panicked."I'll find her," said Wolf. He didn't know how, but he promised to make Sara stop talking. Her screams made Wolf's headache worse."BUT DON'T MAKE HER CRY AGAIN! Because of your stupidity...""I made her talk!" Wolf defended himself."That's not talking! You pushed her to the brink of desperation! It was an uncontrollable emotion, and I'm afraid it will be even harder for her to talk after this.
Wolf moved to another place—one that had more sticky notes—in the studio next to his workspace. He touched each note on his desk, containing Zoe's more normal ramblings. She had asked him in detail about sound editing and some new vocal techniques he wasn't familiar with.They talked about many things, all grounded in reality. Wolf had forgotten some memories, but now they all came flooding back. Wolf's gaze fell on a slightly separate sticky note. Zoe had handed him that note in the recording room, and Wolf took it out to stick it somewhere else. Wolf placed it in a different location than the others.[Thank you].It was Zoe's first thank-you.Wolf took off the note, throwing himself onto the chair. He rubbed his face, recalling that moment. He had only offered her a drink and a cloth to wipe away her tears—something so simple. Yet Zoe expressed genuine gratitude with a smile, even though she was crying.It meant Zoe hadn't received much kindness in the past few years. She had suffer
"He's gone."Tiana informed Zoe, who was curled up near the window. Zoe nodded, a gesture of gratitude. The nod caused the suppressed tears to fall."I..."Tiana wanted to say, 'I told you so,' when she saw Zoe in such a pitiful state.But Tiana couldn't bring herself to be so heartless. Despite the warnings, Zoe had made her choice. It was too late; she couldn't undo the emotions that now made her cry.Tiana sat in front of her and examined Zoe's wrists, bruised from Wolf's grip yesterday. "He didn't ask you to do anything strange, did he?"Tiana suspected Wolf might have done something irrational, as Zoe hadn't shared anything about what had happened.Zoe shook her head but didn't elaborate further. She didn't want to move her hands to write or type. She had come seeking a hiding place, and for Tiana, that was enough. She would protect her."Wolf said he heard your voice. Is that true?" Tiana asked.Zoe's tears flowed again. She wiped them away, but they kept falling. The disappoint
"LORIA MOREAU!"Zoe froze. She heard her name, but couldn't believe it was hers."Wake up, baby. And smile. It’s yours."Wolf's whisper finally stirred emotions in Zoe. She blushed with emotion, only able to stand when Wolf helped her. Unfortunately, Wolf couldn't escort her to the stage.Luckily, Syanne's hand was there to assist her, followed by Jacob, who was closest to the stage, helping her navigate the stairs to reach the top.Zoe expressed her gratitude several times to the person presenting her award before finally standing in front of the microphone to deliver her speech.Zoe took a few deep breaths, wiping away tears, before finally being able to address the camera and the patiently waiting audience."This is something I never dreamed of, standing here and receiving this." Zoe glanced down at the trophy in her hands once more and smiled."I... I once buried this dream. I no longer hoped to sing, let alone receive this. Not long
Zoe did something that Wolf would not like. She wouldn't lie, but she would inform him later, once the task was complete. Zoe wants to handle this herself without anyone else's interference.Of course, it's not easy. She walks with an anxious heart. Zoe adjusts her sunglasses several times on her nose, while her other hand carries a beautiful pink flower and gift box.Zoe feels anxious, knowing that people will recognize her when she enters later. But she's resigned. It's not possible to hide her identity now, considering the person she's going to meet.Approaching the counter after filling out a form with the prisoner's name and number, Zoe submits it."Please wait over there. We'll call you," says the prison guard behind the counter.He stares at Zoe several times as another guard checks Zoe's belongings—making sure no contraband is smuggled, glancing to confirm—even reading her name on the form but doesn't comment.Relieved—because
"Here." Wolf handed the cup to Zoe.Zoe wanted to take it, but her hands were still busy responding to messages on her phone."Cliff really doesn't have a girlfriend, does he?" Zoe asked."Hm? Why are you asking?" Wolf asked suspiciously."For Sara. She wanted to confirm this because she doesn't believe someone like Cliff is still single.Zoe sighed, showing the message Sara sent to her. Showing that she wasn't lying. She was indeed asking for Sara, not for herself."Not yet. According to Clay, he used to have one—a journalist or an MC, if I'm not mistaken. But they broke up when Cliff was about to move here. Either he moved and then they broke up, or they broke up and then he moved."Wolf just repeated Clay's words, of course. And now Zoe repeated them in the form of a message to Sara and sent it to reassure her."How do you know these details?" After sending the message and taking her cup, Zoe asked in amazement. The knowle
"Should have been in jail..."Max denied reality once again. For him, Loria still couldn't possibly be Zoe because she should have been in jail."You're endlessly foolish!" Billy slammed the table and went berserk.He grabbed Max by the collar with his handcuffs. Of course, chaos ensued immediately, and shouts erupted as the police guarding the area rushed in to subdue Billy, pinning him to the ground.But evidently, Billy was truly furious with Max, as he continued to resist and curse at Max even while being held down."YOUR STUPIDITY KNOWS NO BOUNDS!""SILENCE!"The judge's thundering voice overshadowed Billy's outburst. Not only Billy fell silent, but also the journalists and spectators who were making noise."Once again, if anyone disturbs me, I will reschedule this trial! UNDERSTOOD?!"The silence in the room signified that they all understood."Take him out. Mr. Dacosta, I'll make sure your charges include this incident. Assaul
The prosecutor began with standard questions, asking about Sara's background—education, how long she had been a psychiatrist, and so on. Only after that did she mention Zoe."Since when has Ms. Zoe Anderson been your patient?" the prosecutor asked."For over a year," Sara replied clearly. Gone was the cheerful demeanor she usually wore when facing patients."Can you explain Ms. Anderson's condition at that time?""Zoe came with a desire to heal because she suffered severe trauma that was very visible and prevented her from leading a normal life.""Could you please explain more about that trauma?"Sara nodded calmly because everything matched the expectations given by Cliff."Zoe came in a state where she couldn't speak, but medical examinations showed that Zoe didn't have any physical injuries anymore. The absence of any disturbances in her nerves confirmed that her inability to speak was a result of PTSD. Severe trauma due to a bad incident
"That's... Strange. You must be kidding!" Iris shook her head vigorously while staring at Zoe from head to toe, trying to recognize her as the same person she saw before with Max."Have I ever joked when talking to you?" Wolf replied flatly, pulling a chair for Zoe. The chair is furthest from Iris. She was still at a loss for words and kept staring at Zoe."Are you really Zoe Anderson?" Iris continued to stare at Zoe."Yes, before I changed my name to Loria Moreau, that was also my name." Zoe replied calmly. The apprehension that had plagued her earlier had vanished.The meeting with Iris might have been unexpected and almost annoying, but Zoe felt empowered, knowing that she was currently in control.Seeing Iris's surprise, Zoe felt satisfaction. A victory for successfully showing her new self to Iris. Zoe was no longer the disheveled individual she had encountered, who garnered disdain due to her perceived inferiority."That's impossible! You don't lo
Zoe smoothed her cream-colored skirt and blazer. Darcy's choice, so Zoe wouldn't appear intimidating or grim.She felt nervous, as she could see from a distance how journalists were crowding in front of the courthouse. They were undoubtedly waiting for the enigmatic figure of Zoe Anderson. There were no images of Zoe in the news because there was no documentation of Zoe's case.Due to her prior injuries and hospitalization, Zoe did not attend the trial as a suspect. No one recorded her face or bothered to find out at the hospital because the case clearly made her a suspect.Zoe also ran her fingers through her hair, which was back to being blonde. She wasn't wearing a wig today. It was the first time she would appear without her black hair, and honestly, it made Zoe even more nervous. It felt like she was removing the mask that had protected her. Zoe would be Zoe in front of everyone, no longer Loria.Wolf, who had been observing Zoe's nervousness, said, "Your be
"He's trying to save himself! So cunning!" Wolf hissed irritably.It was clear from Iris's statement that she only wanted to save herself by blaming Max and Billy."She made them look like she was under pressure to hide the truth about Zoe. Iris then used that pressure as an excuse to justify all her strange actions. She hid from her mistakes by using mental health as an excuse." Sara shook her head, looking annoyed. She was obviously upset when someone used mental health as a lie."She managed to escape using a lifeboat before her ship really sank." Cliff looked at Iris, who continued to sob and cry amidst her words."It doesn't matter. Let it be," Zoe said, folding her arms and staring at the television without blinking."What do you mean, let it be? She's lying again!" Wolf also pointed to the television with a disapproving face."At least she has been honest, especially about me. Whatever she said makes things right; just let it be," Zoe repeated.
"Why so fast?" Zoe stared at the summons she had received in panic.When Benson mentioned that she would receive a summons to attend court, Zoe assumed the trial would take place maybe around one or two months later, but it turned out to be only three days later and effective in two days."I think Benson waited until his file was complete before calling you. That's why now he just has to submit it to the court, and the schedule comes down immediately," Cliff explained. He took the letter from her hand to examine it."I only have to come once, right?"Zoe asked to confirm, as she really didn't want to attend the trial multiple times."Yes, that's why I asked to meet with the psychiatrist who treated you. I need to ask them to answer questions about your condition well. They have to give the right answers for the judge to grant the request," Cliff explained today's plan."I think they'll be here soon. She said they still had a patient earlier,