Zoey turned her head away and avoided the man's intense gaze. His deep, dark eyes seemed to pierce through her, making her shiver with discomfort and fear."I haven't noticed any changes.""Okay." Laurence seemed unfazed by her reluctance to acknowledge his change. "I'll make sure you notice next time."He planned to make it more obvious next time. He really seemed different from before. People changed for better or worse.Zoey remained silent. She lifted the glass of her specially crafted cocktail and gently sipped on it. The drink tasted more like juice with a hint of alcohol. It wasn't strong. The alcohol content wasn't high. It wouldn't get her drunk, but it was enjoyable.Laurence was not one to follow medical advice. He had left the hospital against his doctor's recommendations. Now, he was indulging in food and alcohol without restraint. He held up his glass and took a few sips.Zoey couldn't keep her silence any longer. She blurted, "Don't you care about your life?" Her
Those insensitive to emotions tended to realize their feelings late. People with a keen sense of emotions were less likely to be oblivious to their feelings. Laurence pushed his loved ones away with his arrogance and prejudice.His sharp eyes turned a shade colder after he spoke. He had no interest in sharing his past with outsiders and didn't intend to say more.Seeing that he was about to leave, Claire grinned and offered her help, "We're going to visit the lake tomorrow. Would you like to join us?"Zoey began to feel unwell after returning to her room because of the alcohol. It wasn't like she had consumed much. She wasn't drunk and was still quite clear-headed. Yet she felt a discomfort that she couldn't pinpoint. She couldn't express where exactly it was coming from. She felt as if an overwhelming sadness was about to consume her. It suffocated her.She opened the French windows to let in the cold breeze, hoping it would alleviate her unease. She calmed down slightly.After
Zoey choked. Her expression was difficult to read.She was stunned and didn't know how to respond. She felt like she had lost her ability to retort or respond coldly after falling asleep on Laurence. Zoey hung her head and felt disheartened. She was frustrated. Laurence found her demeanor endearing.The vehicle had to stop by the side of the grassland. There was still a considerable distance away from the lake. Due to the high altitude and low oxygen levels, the trek was physically demanding. Zoey wasn't in the best shape. She'd hardly had the opportunity to exercise in recent years. She was fragile and prone to illness. After walking for a while, she struggled to keep up with the rest of the group. She didn't want to be a burden. So, despite her heavy breathing, she worked hard to keep up.Laurence strolled beside her calmly. With his tall frame and long legs, he looked more at ease when climbing. He paid attention to his physical fitness, so this mountain path was not challe
"How is that romantic?" Zoey asked with a soft voice. Her gaze drifted into the distance. Her dark eyes seemed to hold a deep pool of water. It reflected nothing but endless emptiness.Cold sweat formed on her back. Ultimately, she was afraid of this man. She feared his unpredictable behavior. There were times when Laurence seemed capable of anything. It was as if he could go mad and do things beyond the bounds of an ordinary person.If he truly wanted to commit suicide with her ...Zoey had no doubt that he would push her into the lake, drag her into its depths, and let her drown in the water. He would let her suffocate and take her to die with him.However, she didn't want to die. She had just gained hope. Her life had finally started to improve. Why would she choose to die?Zoey silently clenched her fists. Her knuckles turned pale, and her throat felt dry. Her voice was hoarse but not as stiff as before."Humans have nothing left once they die. What's gone in this life is
The conversation ended on a stiff note. Fortunately, Laurence said nothing more. He chose to keep his mouth shut. Zoey enjoyed a brief moment of silence. There weren't many people by the lake. The lake was a translucent deep blue. At a closer look, fish were visible underwater. Zoey sat by the lake, letting her mind go blank. It was pleasant to enjoy the gentle breeze.Claire led a few college students to snap photos by the lake. The young people were full of life and vigor. Their energy was as bright as the sun.Zoey watched them without feeling envy. She felt they were living life to the fullest. Unbeknownst to her, Laurence stood in a corner under the sun and took candid photos of her. He didn't take photos often, so there wasn't much to say about his photography skills. The photos he took were unsaturated and blurry. One photo captured half of Zoey's profile, looking serene and beautiful. The radiant sunlight glowed on the tip of her rosy nose, and her skin appeared trans
It was the weekend, so the kindergarten was closed when Zoey got home. She put her suitcase down as Teddy ran toward her. The child often got shy quickly in front of his mother. He hardly ever said he missed her over the phone because he was too embarrassed to say sweet words. In truth, Teddy missed Zoey a lot. Teddy clung to his mother's leg and looked up at her. "Mom." His purrs melted her heart. Zoey stroked his head and bent over to pick him up. The boy wrapped his arms around his mother's neck. He was aloof in public, but he always clung close to his mother to feel safe. She smiled. "Did you miss me?" Teddy buried his head. "A little." The boy's blushing ears betrayed his innermost thoughts. He felt the two weeks were too long. Even though her grandmother was good to him and the teachers in school loved him, his mother was his favorite person in the world. Teddy couldn't trust his mother to take care of herself. She wasn't foolish, but she was naive. People with kind
Zoey believed she might hurt Laurence's pride, but she wasn't intentionally insulting him with money. It was simply a way to keep their relationship transactional."If you find the hourly rate too low, I can add another twenty. I can't go any higher, though." Zoey thought Laurence would walk away, but the man remained unfazed. A moment later, he replied, "I don't need money." She kept things professional. "That won't do." Laurence looked at her with a pretentious smile. His eyes were deep and unreadable. He kept his cool better than she thought he would. He said unconcernedly, "I'll do it for free. I insist." "Oh," Zoey responded. She was surprised that he was swallowing his pride. Laurence went into the kitchen. The part-time helper had replenished the fridge with groceries. He hadn't lost his touch in the kitchen. His skills were sharp, and it didn't seem like he hadn't been in the kitchen for a while. Zoey still had to unpack her suitcase, so she left him to it. Not
Laurence felt a stinging pain. The five long years of pleading had ground away his bitter resentment. The once faithless man was now on his knees, praying for the safety of his beloved. The days were unbearable when his desperate pleas went unanswered. Sometimes, Laurence felt like his soul had been stripped away, and he was left staring at his empty vessel. He fell silent for a moment. He didn't want to argue and fight with Zoey during times like these. The sarcasm and backtalk couldn't make things better. In fact, they only fueled his jealousy. Slipping his hands into his pockets, Laurence seemed unbothered. "I forgot." Zoey had no words. Laurence loved playing innocent as if he wasn't lying. He acted like he had been through some sort of trauma and had selective amnesia. He was unfazed when he met her gaze. "I really don't remember." Zoey nearly rolled her eyes. She held herself together and stayed on topic. "Take the money and leave now." Laurence was reluctant to a