After Zoey's birthday, her life, which had finally returned to a moment of peace, was disrupted by the show's broadcast.Zoey didn't have much screen time on the reality workplace show. But her brief appearance had everyone talking. She wasn't used to being in the public eye. Her full name was plastered all over the internet, which made her feel less secure.Zoey was traumatized by the negative media attention she received the last few times. It was not a positive experience for her.Her colleague made fun of her. "You're a hit on the internet." Zoey smiled, not taking the remark to heart. She didn't read the online gossip. She feared coming across hate comments that could make her feel like hiding and crying. After all, what was out of sight was out of mind. The TV ratings for the program's second season were higher than the first season. The director had an idea that he knew he shouldn't act on. He suggested to the cameraman to increase Zoey's screen time but to keep her
Lydia couldn't let it go. She believed that she was no less than Zoey. Yet, Zoey always acted like she was better than everyone else."Really?" Lydia smirked and smiled in the direction Zoey left. "I'll be the judge of that." The feud at the workplace could be cruel. Lydia knew she would never have a chance for a promotion if her superior didn't leave. No one enjoyed working at the bottom. Lydia was no exception. She had her sights set on Zoey's position.Not long after Zoey left the restroom, she gave an excuse to leave the welcoming party early. Lydia didn't want to let her off so easily. "Why are you leaving early? Do you have a date?" She clearly had no good intentions. Her words could easily give others the wrong idea. Zoey replied indifferently, "I don't have a date. I'm just tired." "I won't insist you stay then. Go home and get some rest." Lydia smiled and tried to mislead others. "I thought you were going out on a date." She assumed it was with someone important.
Mrs. Scott was stunned. It then occurred to her that she had heard that Zoey had remarried.Her husband was Novarvian. He was good-looking, and his family seemed to be well-off. For some reason, Mrs. Scott could tell that her son was being sarcastic. Laurence must be upset to be speaking that way.Laurence wasn't there to be a driver for his mother. The family chauffeur was behind the wheel. Laurence got a grip on himself and told the chauffeur, "Take my mother home." The chauffeur obeyed Laurence's order without hesitation. He drove the car away.Zoey caught a whiff of the smell of faint tobacco on the man. It wasn't a heavy stench. Still, she turned her face away and tried to keep her distance from him. Laurence ignored her avoidance and asked, "When is your husband coming?" Zoey's mind went blank. She didn't ask Michael to pick her up tonight. Faced with her silence, Laurence said, "Can I get a ride when he arrives?" Zoey couldn't stand the man. "What's wrong with you
Laurence showed some OCD symptoms. If he wanted something, he fixated on getting it. The pain didn't matter to him. Zoey realized that she was no match for his stubbornness. The air in the cab was thick with tension. Despite repeating herself multiple times, Zoey couldn't seem to get through to Laurence. "I told you. Even if I divorce Michael, I want nothing to do with you." "I know." Laurence clutched Zoey's chin to make her face him. His dark eyes were deep and serene. "I told you I don't care about the future." Zoey felt like she couldn’t breathe under his intense stare. Her chin hurt from his tight grip. She finally saw Laurence's point. She could not be with anyone else if she were not with him. If he didn’t have a companion, she was expected to be alone like him. Laurence had endless ways to annoy Zoey, and she was at his mercy.Her lashes fluttered and covered her tear-filled eyes. A tear fell onto the back of the man's hand. Laurence’s heart ached. He pursed his lips.
Laurence read the room. He knew he was pushing it, so he gave it a rest. After a brief silence, he gave in and said, "It's okay if you don't have any new slippers."Zoey gave him a new pair of slippers. She didn't want to mix them up with other pairs, as everyone in the house had their own. While handing Laurence the slippers, she couldn't hold her tongue. "If you didn't want to wear someone else's slippers, you could have just left." Laurence put on the slippers and replied, "I can put up with it for a while." He was glad he couldn't see many traces of another man's presence in Zoey's home. Teddy sat on the living room sofa, playing a game on his tablet after completing his homework. Unlike other children, Teddy didn’t really like games. Even though a guest was in the apartment, Teddy quickly made himself comfortable. Since Laurence was an enemy, Teddy eyed him warily. As Laurence used Teddy as an excuse to get close to Zoey, he had to keep up the act. It was difficult for Laur
Zoey felt a burning sensation when Laurence touched her skin. She pulled back her arm, but he had a firm hold on her. She took a deep breath and said, "It doesn't hurt anymore."Laurence did not let go. He asked, "Do you have antiseptic cream at home?" Zoey could not recall whether she had antiseptic cream in her first aid kit. She shook her head. "I don't know." Now that Laurence had learned a great deal about the situation at home, he asked, "Where is your first aid kit?"As Laurence clutched her fingers, Zoey could feel his burning touch. It felt like he was setting her ablaze, and a wave of emotions swept over her.She replied, "It's in the drawer under the TV." Laurence released her hand and walked to the living room. He bent over and searched the drawer for the first aid kit. It had not been used for some time. He opened the kit and found the antiseptic cream. After checking the expiration date, he realized the cream expired a long time ago.He put the first aid kit bac
Doubt was a powerful thing. It could easily ruin a marriage. Even the strongest relationships could become fragile with a little suspicion.Before leaving, Laurence had to upset Zoey one more time. "I guess he's not coming home tonight." Zoey did not comment. She slammed the door with a bang. …The next day was a weekday. Zoey arrived at the office half an hour late. The camera and lighting set up in the workspace were not unfamiliar to her.Not long after she entered her office, Zoey received an email about her suspension. The email stated that she had been reported for taking bribes. She would be reinstated to her position once she had been cleared of the charges following an investigation.Zoey glared at the email angrily. She was infuriated by the false claims. The workplace was cutthroat. The higher she climbed the corporate ladder, the tougher the competition became. She had been reported before. Although it was a hassle, the problem was solved very quickly. Zoey sat in
Zoey took Michael's advice to heart because she was like a sister to him. He had been looking out for her for the past few days, and she was grateful. She didn't want Michael to worry about her."Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. I won't get hurt again." "He's hard to read. I can't figure out what he's thinking. He's a dangerous man. Even if we put our heads together, I don't think we can outsmart him." Michael added, "We're talking about someone who can withhold your passport."Michael sighed and said, "I shouldn't have let you come back here. We were so happy and relaxed in Novarvia." At least in Novarvia, they could do whatever they wanted. The only issue was Shawn, who mostly stayed on the sidelines. Shawn wasn't a fan of Michael. "Zoey, did you know that Shawn is coming back to Northwell?" Zoey was surprised. She wouldn't have known Shawn was returning if Michael hadn't told her. Shawn hadn't mentioned it. Although they had kept in touch, the frequency was low. Zoey wa