Wolf shook Zoe's shoulders, finally seeing her eyes focus again, but only for a moment."What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Wolf asked.Zoe shook her head and sighed, trying to calm herself. But the crying sound persisted. Zoe covered her ears and shook her head."Zoe? What do you hear?" Wolf tried to pull her hand down. It was because the crying sound stopped as soon as Clay got up. A few seconds after he ascended, the crying stopped. Zoe shouldn't hear anything other than Wolf's questions. But Zoe still heard it. The sound was still in her head.Stumbling, Zoe took steps to find the way out. She wanted to distance herself from that sound."Where are you going?" Wolf reached out, but his hand was too slow. Zoe ran, not choosing the front door. The first thing Zoe saw was the side door, so she rushed towards the light."ZOE!" Wolf chased after her, relieved to see that Zoe didn't run far. But the situation wasn't good. Zoe now stood by the pool, crouching and covering her ears.She still he
"Wow!"Wolf muttered as he observed how Zoe cursed without a pause. He was accustomed to swearing, but mostly in his mind. What he was witnessing now was truly remarkable. Zoe continued to curse loudly for about a minute. Being a singer, her vocal strength and breath endurance were impressive.Wolf was relieved they weren't in a densely populated area. Otherwise, neighbors might have called the police complaining about the noise. Zoe's curses echoed around the open pool area."HEY! ARE YOU NUTS?! Why are you screaming here?!"Wolf heard a shout and looked up. A head with an angry face peeked out from a window. Clearly, Zoe's yelling disturbed someone. Wolf initially thought it was Clay, but then realized Clay couldn't have turned young again. It was Dustin, Clay's eldest son."Sorry."Wolf waved at him, and Dustin sneered before slamming the window shut. Zoe had screamed right under his bedroom window, so he must have heard every curse.Wolf looked back at Zoe, who was now standing st
"Mmm... I'm sorry about earlier... He's studying for an exam," Clay awkwardly sought understanding. Meanwhile, Dustin scoffed from above.Although Zoe was at fault here for shouting and crying aimlessly in someone else's house, Clay still wanted to apologize because his son's reprimand could be considered quite rude."No. I'm sorry. I should apologize, Clay. I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll apologize to him later." Zoe quickly shook her head, her face turning red in embarrassment."No need. Dustin is always like that; he doesn't...""It's not his fault. Really. I'm a guest... Oh? I'm talking..." Zoe turned to look at Wolf, who was still smiling. He watched and felt satisfied to see Zoe speak smoothly to Clay."Yes, you're talking. A lot and fluently," Wolf nodded."Oh, my God! Wait..." Zoe wanted to cheer but held back her emotions, not wanting to be too disappointed if she couldn't speak anymore."Sing for me," Wolf requested.Zoe swallowed hard, her hands sweating. Afraid that the
"What are you doing to her?!" Sara snapped as soon as she heard the report from Wolf about Zoe fainting. Accusing without hesitation."Focus on the positive, Sara! I got her to talk! Zoe can talk and sing now. That should be your focus. Now explain to me what made her faint." Wolf demanded back."Do you think I have some superpower that allows me to see Zoe's condition from thousands of miles away? You took her to the hospital, didn't you? Ask the doctor there, not me!" Sara retorted, sounding irritated because Wolf was entirely unreasonable.Wolf sighed. He was well aware that the question was absurd. But his mind could only produce such absurd thoughts at the moment. It was too chaotic."Now tell me what happened, and don't leave anything out. Everything!" Sara hissed threateningly."Mmm... Upon hearing a baby crying, Zoe became disturbed and covered her ears, even though we were outside. I asked her to calm down, and suddenly she screamed about what Max did, using harsh and long cu
"Wolf explained to Zoe, who had just opened her eyes, 'The doctor said you're just tired and can go home after this.'Zoe tried to gather her thoughts, realizing that what Wolf said wasn't important. There were other things they needed to discuss, not just when she would be leaving the hospital.After this, there will be many plans waiting. I will be your trainer and your vocal coach. And I have another good plan. I know the right way to quickly get your exposure, but the pressure on you will be greater.'Wolf explained all the plans once again that Zoe didn't want to hear."Whether you want to hear it or not?" Wolf asked, pulling his chair closer to the bed.Zoe looked at him and snorted. 'You're such a coward,' she muttered."You... What did you call me?!"Wolf was initially relieved to hear Zoe speak again, not withdrawing like Sara. But hearing the term 'coward,' Wolf was infuriated."I called you a coward. But we don't need to discuss it. You can talk about your plans." Zoe no lo
"Do you want to choose a color? Red? Black? Brunette? Or maybe a brighter blonde? I actually like your current hair color. It's a shame you want to cover it up."Albert pointed to the array of wigs beside him, asking Zoe to choose. His salon had perfectly accommodated Zoe's request. Zoe could freely choose from about thirty different hair styles in various colors."Hmm... red is too bright," Zoe murmured. She didn't want Iris to remember the incident with the gym friend who spilled a drink on her shoulder."Okay, eliminate that." Albert removed all the red colors, leaving around twenty options."Your hair is beautiful and healthy; do we really have to do this?" Albert asked. It was the umpteenth time he had said it. He still didn't want to cover it up.But Zoe couldn't appear with blonde hair, as blonde hair was what made her look like Zoe Anderson. Zoe didn't want to wear heavy makeup and risk going unrecognized, like when she disguised herself as Iris's gym friend. She still wanted
"This is for you." Wolf said, handing over a brown envelope.They were back home, discussing the next steps Zoe would take the day after tomorrow. It would be the first time Zoe would appear in public."What's this?" Zoe opened the long brown envelope and found her new identity—an ID card, driver's license, passport, and credit cards—all under the name Loria Moreau. Zoe's new name.Zoe looked at the photos on all the identification cards and felt satisfied. After choosing a wig with Albert, Zoe took the pictures and was pleased with how realistic her hair looked.The face in those photos was still Zoe but, at the same time, different. It still carried the essence of Zoe, as she desired."Is this all?" Zoe asked, putting all her new documents back into the envelope."Yes, is there anything else needed?" Wolf asked, pulling an ashtray from the table to hold the cigarette ash in his hand."Our divorce papers. Shouldn't I sign them now? I'll be leaving this house tomorrow."Zoe said it ca
"You look like shit! Are you a vampire or something?"Clay honestly assessed Wolf's appearance as he approached. Despite being in the middle of a golf course, basking in the sunlight, Wolf stood out in his all-black attire—a black jacket, black pants, black shoes, and black sunglasses. His face looked pale, adding a vampiric touch to his ensemble."When was the last time you took a shower?" Clay asked, examining Wolf once again. It turned out that Wolf looked disheveled beyond imagination.Wolf just shrugged, then sat on the golf cart Clay was driving, leaning against one of its posts."Are you hungover or something?" Clay inquired.Wolf groaned. His head was indeed pounding from excessive drinking, but he was coherent enough to understand what Clay was saying. He had managed to drag his own body this far onto the golf course, so physically, Wolf wasn't weak. His disheveled appearance was more of a psychological issue."You said you wanted to meet, and now you show up like this?" Clay