Zoey murmured, "I'll take you home now." She was gentle with the child and spoke with a reassuring tone. It was hard to stay mad at her tenderness.Teddy burrowed into his mother's arms and gritted his teeth. If he had known this would happen today, he would have stopped his mother from leaving the house. He clenched his fists as he sulkily planned to bite the annoying man if he continued to pester his mother. Teddy wanted the man to feel pain and stay away from them. His mother was polite and wouldn't say anything too hurtful, but Teddy could.Zoey hurried out of the mall with the child in her arms, and Laurence followed her without a word. The pair stood in a stalemate at the entrance of the mall, neither one of them moving. Zoey did not look back and ignored Laurence’s glare. She waited a long time for a cab. As she entered the vehicle, Laurence grabbed her arm. She froze and felt her temper rising. Anyone would be annoyed by this constant pestering. She closed her eyes, waiting

People in the event hall turned their attention to Zoey and Laurence. Zoey didn’t care about being embarrassed in public. She was determined to leave. Laurence clutched her wrist and pulled her into his arms. As Zoey was wearing heels, the force made her stagger and she slammed into his chest. He grabbed her arm and didn’t show signs of letting go. The others fell silent and pretended they saw nothing. There was a private conference room outside the event hall that could give them some privacy. Stern and unfriendly bodyguards in black stood watch outside the door.Zoey was dragged into the private conference room. She said nothing as she broke free from Laurence’s grasp. She stumbled and hit her back on the edge of a table. Laurence stayed still. Zoey’s presence felt like a dream. When he woke up, she would be gone. Zoey folded her arms and kept her guard up. Her eyes were wary. Laurence didn't dare to face her. He needed time to process that Zoey was now a stranger in his life.

Zoey had never underestimated Laurence's efficiency. She knew it was highly probable that he had already managed to find out everything he could about her husband when she told him she was married. Since they weren't an actual couple, she wasn't bothered that her husband had other lovers. She had met his partner while she was in Novravia and found him very likable. However, she was annoyed that Laurence was intruding on her privacy. It seemed to have developed into a habit."Yeah, I know."These few words carried a lot of weight. The car fell silent, and they remained so for quite a while. Perhaps Laurence hadn't expected her to be so casual about this. Zoey’s indifference threw him off guard.Laurence lowered his eyelids, and his lashes cast a shadow on his cheeks. He asked, "Why?"Why didn't she care?"I don't mind." Zoey smiled. "As long as he's willing to come back to me. That's all I ask."Laurence wanted to imply that her marriage was far from perfect. She didn't believe

"I know what you want to say," he continued calmly before she could speak. "I admit. I am a despicable, shameless man."He stood at the window and gazed at the horizon in the distance. Even through the phone, he could picture the expression on her face. She must be furious. Knowing she would be pissed wouldn't have stopped him from doing it. He wanted to keep her nearby, even if it necessitated dishonorable means.Zoey shut her eyes and focused on her breathing. After regaining composure, she asked in the iciest tone, "And the deadline?"The cold breeze attacked his face like rain that froze his skin. Laurence gripped the railing with one hand, his pupils as dark as black ink. "I don't know." A spiteful hint of sarcasm flashed across his eyes. He added, "You can ask your husband to meet you here."He spoke as though he had considered every aspect of her migration.Zoey hadn't been this angry in a long time. She’d had enough. She asked, "Is it true that you still love me?""That's

"Think about all the trouble you've caused. Haven't I always protected you no matter what? I gave you many second chances and cleaned up your mess." Laurence remembered the past. All those problems Sarah had caused were not smart. Yet, every single time, he had stood by her side.Suddenly, Laurence grabbed her throat. His lips tugged into a cold sneer. "Do you really think I'm such a fool?"Pain shot through Sarah’s body from her throat. She had little strength to resist. She knew he would never believe a word she said ever again. She had used a lot of his good grace. Probably a little too much.Laurence was tired of her. His impression of her as an unattainable lover transformed into poisonous arrows that struck his heart. The pain in his chest was genuine. She disgusted him. He didn’t even want her answer.She was so selfish and cruel. Her hypocrisy was far beyond his imagination. Her true self appalled him more and more every minute. He wanted to throw away the feelings he once