I couldn’t help but smirk. “I just hope you can prove that I’m wrong about you,” I said, tucking my phone away and turning


    to leave.


    Disgusted as I was by Thea’s behavior, it didn’t ruin my appetite. I had arge te of pasta and then headed back to the


    office.


    As soon as I arrived, my phone rang-it was a call from Michelle.


    I hadn’t been home in two days, so it was perfectly normal for her to call. “Michelle.”


    “Zoe, stop staying at your friend’s ce all the time. Come home today. I made pizza,” Michelle said, and I couldn’t help but smile. It seemed Alvin had already made up an excuse for why I hadn’te home.


    I had decided to move back into my parents’ house, but I still needed to go to the Dolton family to collect my things. I didn’t say much else. “Michelle, I’lle back tonight.”


    As the workday was winding down, Myra came over. “Zoe, are you okay?”


    “What’s going on?” I asked, puzzled.


    “People at the office love to gossip. Don’t pay attention to them. Anyway, Alvin dotes on you so much-I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” Myra said, as I started reaching for her phone.


    She knew exactly what I wanted and hid her phone behind her back. My expression darkened. “Give it to me.”


    Under my stare, she reluctantly handed over her phone, revealing the private gossip group. The messages were mostly about the usual office gossip, but there were some old stories about Thea and Alvin.


    They were college ssmates, and Thea’ste husband, Benjamin, had been involved in a love triangle with them back in school. I didn’t know any of this. Although it was gossip, there had to be some truth to it.


    I handed the phone back to Myra and left the office. But instead of going to the Dolton family, I drove to see Oscar.


    He owned a nightclub, and when I arrived, he was ying pool. As soon as he saw me, he grinned and asked, “Want to y a couple of rounds?”


    I’d been here before with Alvin. He had taught me how to y pool.


    I took off my jacket, grabbed a cue stick, and joined Oscar for a game.


    ‘Not bad. Guess you learned from a good teacher,” he said. I knew he was referring to Alvin.


    ‘Oscar, did you go to college with Alvin?” I asked, lining up my shot.


    “Yeah, why?” Oscar asked, his eyes sharp. “Don’t tell me you’re digging up some old college gossip?”


    “Did anything happen between him and Thea back in school?” I asked, getting straight to the point.


    Oscar paused mid-shot and looked at me. I smiled faintly. “I know you won’t lie to me.”


    “No, nothing happened,” he said, making his shot, the ball sinking smoothly into the pocket. “I promise.”


    He nced at me. “Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”


    “Just curious,” I replied, tapping the ball in front of me.


    “You two are getting your marriage license tomorrow, right? If you’ve decided to be together, you need to trust each other. Oscar said, offering his blessing. ‘Congrats in advance on your wedding.”


    “We broke up,” I said, watching his hand freeze mid-motion.


    After a moment, he nodded. “I guess it’s better to break up now than after getting married.”


    I could see he was just being his straightforward self. Thinking back to his earlier advice, I said, “Thanks, Oscar


    “What?” he said, a little confused.


    I didn’t say anything else and left. I drove back to Dolton family, and when I walked in, I saw Alvin’s car parked in the driveway.


    As I entered, I heard Peter’s booming voice. “Zoe is your fiancée! You’re hugging another woman at work? Alvin, you may not care about your own face, but at least have some respect for Zoe!”


    It seemed the office gossip had already made its way to the Dolton family, and now I understood why they’d called me home.


    “Alvin, if you can’t get your marriage license with Zoe tomorrow, don’t bothering back into this house!” Peter yelled again.