ã€ŠFrom Your Backup to His Belovedã€‹


 Be Honest 1

    ¡°Come on, be honest-have you ever made love with Zoe?¡± Oscar Hond¡¯s deep voice drifted through the crack in the door, freezing me in my tracks just as I was about to step inside.

    Peering through the gap, I saw Alvin Dolton sitting up high, his lips slightly pursed. ¡°She made the first move, but I wasn¡¯t interested.

    ¡°Alvin, don¡¯t talk like that. Zoe is considered one of the most beautiful women in our circle. There are plenty of guys who¡¯d love to be with her.¡± The one speaking was Oscar, Alvin¡¯s longtime friend, who had witnessed our ten-year rtionship.

    ¡°It¡¯s too familiar, you know?¡± Alvin frowned deeply.

    When I was fourteen, I was sent to the Dolton family and met Alvin for the first time. Back then, everyone told me I would marry him one day. Since then, we¡¯d lived together, and ten years had passed.

    ¡°Yeah, I get it. You two work in the samepany, heads down all day, barely looking up. At night, you sit at the same table for dinner.

    ¡°You probably know when the other person¡¯s about to take a dump or fart without even having to ask,¡± Oscar said.

    Oscar teased him, then clicked his tongue. ¡°It¡¯s not like the old days, when time and feelings were enough to make a rtionship work.

    ¡°Now, between men and women, it¡¯s all about mystery. It¡¯s the chase, the not-quite-getting-it that makes it exciting.¡±

    Alvin stayed silent, neither confirming nor denying what Oscar said.

    ¡°So, are you going to marry her or not?¡± Oscar asked, his tone more serious now.

    Alvin¡¯s parents had been pushing us to get our marriage license. He hadn¡¯t said yes or no, and I hadn¡¯t dared to ask. But now, Oscar was asking for me.

    Alvin didn¡¯t answer.

    Oscarughed. ¡°Don¡¯t want to marry her?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t say that.¡±

    ¡°Then you do want to, but you¡¯re just not ready tomit, right?¡± Oscar had known Alvin since childhood, so he could read him like an open book.

    ¡°Oscar, have you ever heard that saying?¡± Alvin gave a faint smile.

    ¡°What saying?¡±

    ¡°Something that¡¯s tasteless-throw it away, but it¡¯s a shame to waste it.¡± Alvin lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around his face, obscuring the one I had adored for ten years.

    My heart tightened. I thought, ¡®So, to him, I am already something he can discard without a second thought.¡¯

    ¡°So, are you going to marry her or not?¡± Oscar pressed.

    Alvin nced up, his eyes cold. ¡°You¡¯re so eager to know. What¡¯s your deal? You got feelings for her too? Should I send her over to you?¡±

    I was a living, breathing person, but in his eyes, I was no more than an object he could casually give away.

    Even his pets-his dogs and cats-would have built up some attachment over ten years. But to him, I was nothing. Yet, he had been my light for the past ten years. He was my everything.

    His words hit me like a punch. A bitter, salty feeling surged in my throat¡­ I lowered my head, biting my lip hard as I stared at the ID card with trembling fingers.

    Oscar sneered. ¡°What are you saying? A friend¡¯s wife is off-limits. I¡¯m not some desperate guy, you know.¡±

    Alvin stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and stood up from the couch. ¡°Get out. You¡¯re just giving me a headache.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not me who¡¯s causing trouble, it¡¯s Zoe. If you really have no feelings for her, why not end things cleanly?

    ¡°That way, you won¡¯t be wasting the girl¡¯s time while she looks for someone better,¡± Oscar said, grabbing his coat and heading toward the door.

    When the door swung open, Oscar froze when he saw me standing there. He awkwardly rubbed the tip of his nose, realizing I¡¯d overheard their conversation.

    He gave a sheepish smile. ¡°Looking for Alvin? He¡¯s right here.¡±

 Be Honest 2

    Alvin looked up when he heard the sound, his gazending on my face. I didn¡¯t even need to see my face to know how bad I must have looked.

    ¡°Are you not feeling well?¡± He frowned slightly.

    I walked silently to his desk, the bitterness in my throat growing. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to marry me, I¡¯ll go back and tell

    Michelle.¡±

    The crease in his forehead deepened. He knew I¡¯d overheard his conversation with Oscar.

    My throat tightened with that familiar sourness. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d end up being¡­ so insignificant. Alvin¡­¡±

    ¡°In everyone¡¯s eyes, we¡¯re already married,¡± he interrupted, his voice sharp.

    I thought, ¡®So? Is he saying he will marry me just to please everyone? What I want is for him to marry me because he loves me, because he wants to spend his life with me.¡¯

    With a quiet click, he snapped his pen shut, his gaze shifting to the ID card in my hand. ¡°We¡¯ll go get the license next Wednesday.¡±

    Those were the words I¡¯d been waiting for, but now, they only made me feel miserable. So, so miserable.

    I lowered my head and shook it lightly. ¡°Alvin, you don¡¯t need to force yourself. I don¡¯t need your pity.¡±

    ¡°Zoe!¡± He called my name sharply.

    I flinched, then met his impatient eyes as he reached out his hand toward me. I tightened my grip on the ID card.

    His jaw tensed as he said, ¡°Give it to me.¡±

    I didn¡¯t move. The air between us grew tense.

    A few secondster, he stood up and walked over, his tall frame looming in front of me. He let out a heavy sigh, frustrationcing his voice. ¡°I was just messing around with Oscar. Did you really take that seriously?¡±

    I thought, ¡®Just messing around?¡¯

    ¡°You know how men are about their pride.¡± His hand closed around my arm, then slid down to take my hand. He gently pulled the card from my grasp.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to rumors,¡± he said, turning to put the card in the drawer. He grabbed his coat from the couch. ¡°I need to go out for a while.¡±

    Lately, he was always leaving, and for long stretches of time.

    ¡°Alvin, I called, my voice a little unsteady. ¡°Do you like me?¡±

    He was already walking past me, but at the sound of my voice, he stopped. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and after a beat, he smiled, dimples appearing on his left cheek.

    Alvin¡¯s smile was beautiful-warm. I remembered when I first came to the Dolton family, and he smiled at me as he called me ¡°little girl.¡±

    It was probably that smile that warmed me, and after that, I couldn¡¯t pull myself away. Even now, I still loved his smile.

    ???????

    But now, my heart sank as hisrge hand ruffled my hair. ¡°Of course I like you Why else would I go halfway across the city to buy you pineapple!

    ¡°Why would I get you your favorite roses every birthday? Why would I stay up to watch shooting stars with you? And¡­ why would I want to marry you?¡±

    Every time I was on the edge of wavering, Alvin¡¯s smile and a few sweet words would always get me to surrender.

    I felt like a kite, the string tightly held in his hands. He controlled my emotions, my happiness and sadness, whenever he wanted.

    But what I had overheard earlier had definitely affected me. This time, I didn¡¯t fall for his easy words. I looked into his eyes and asked, ¡°You like me in the way a man would like a woman?¡±

    As soon as I finished speaking. I felt Alvin¡¯srge hand, which had been gently rubbing my hair, freeze. His smile faded as

    well.

    His hand moved from my head to my cheek, giving it a soft squeeze. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink things. We¡¯ll go home together after work. You like fish, right? I had someone bring over some fresh salmon. I¡¯ll cook it for you tonight.¡±

    And with that, he left-just like so many times before, avoiding my words without a second thought.

    The scent of his hand cream lingered on my skin, and his warmth was still on my cheek, but my heart felt ice cold.

    He was kind to me, spoiled me, and liked me-but that affection felt more like the love between family, not the love a man had for a woman. And for me, there was only him. Id adored him for ten years

    I thought, ¡®So what should I do? Marry him and live a life so familiar that even being intimate with him feels like nothing special? Or leave him, and let him find someone who makes his heart race?

 Be Honest 3

    As soon as I finished speaking, I felt Alvin¡¯srge hand, which had been gently rubbing my hair, freeze. His smile faded as well.

    His hand moved from my head to my cheek, giving it a soft squeeze. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink things. We¡¯ll go home together after work. You like fish, right? I had someone bring over some fresh salmon. I¡¯ll cook it for you tonight.¡±

    And with that, he left-just like so many times before, avoiding my words without a second thought.

    The scent of his hand cream lingered on my skin, and his warmth was still on my cheek, but my heart felt ice cold.

    He was kind to me, spoiled me, and liked me-but that affection felt more like the love between family, not the love a man had for a woman. And for me, there was only him. I¡¯d adored him for ten years.

    I thought, ¡®So what should I do? Marry him and live a life so familiar that even being intimate with him feels like nothing special? Or leave him, and let him find someone who makes his heart race?¡¯

    I spent the entire day wrestling with this question, and even when he came to pick me up in the afternoon, I still had no answer. But I followed him anyway.

    Habit was a powerful thing. After ten years, I had grown used to him, and used to going back to the Dolton family every evening after work.

    ¡°Why are you so quiet?¡± On the way back, Alvin must¡¯ve sensed something was off and asked.

    I stayed silent for a moment. ¡°Alvin, what if we¡ª¡±

    Before I could finish, his phone rang. The caller ID showed an unknown number, and I noticed his grip on the steering wheel tighten. He was nervous-rare for him.

    I instinctively looked at his face, and he quickly switched the car¡¯s system off, answering the call on Bluetooth instead. ¡°Hello? Okay, I¡¯lle right over.¡±

    The call was brief. After hanging up, he turned to me. ¡°Zoe, I¡¯ve got something urgent to take care of. I can¡¯t take you home.¡±

    Actually, I¡¯d already known he would leave me before he even spoke. This wasn¡¯t the first time. But before he said anything, I had still hoped he¡¯d offer to drop me off first.

    A sharp pang of hurt hit my chest. I tried to hold it together. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s jaw tightened. He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he stared out the window. ¡°You can get out here. Take a cab home.¡±

    He wouldn¡¯t exin anything, and it was clear he had already made his arrangements. I wondered, ¡®What can I say? If I press him, it will only make things more awkward.

    ¡°Text me when you get home,¡± he added as he pulled the car over and parked on the side of the road.

    I clenched my bag tighter and got out of the car.

    It wasn¡¯t just my imagination. From the moment he reacted to the iing call, to the way he didn¡¯t want me overhearing the conversation, I could sense something wasn¡¯t right.

    But I didn¡¯t ask. I didn¡¯t say anything. Some things were like thin ss-just enough to fool ourselves into thinking everything was fine.

    ¡°Be careful,¡± he said, rushing to leave, but before I could answer, he sped off.

    I stood there, watching him drive away, my eyes stinging with tears until I couldn¡¯t look anymore. I focused on my feet

    instead.

    My phone buzzed in my pocket, and it was my best friend, Jasmine Glisson, calling. ¡°Zoe, where are you? Want to grab

    dinner?¡±

    Jasmine, a gynecologist, wasn¡¯t even 30 yet and still single, but she was already a respected expert in her field.

    ¡°Sure,¡± I said, agreeing without hesitation.

    She immediately responded. ¡°Whoa, you usually ask Alvin for permission when I ask to eat. Why are you agreeing so easily today?¡±

    I felt a lump in my throat. For the past ten years, I¡¯d made myself into an essory to Alvin. Even when I wanted to grab dinner or go shopping, I¡¯d have to clear it with him first, afraid he wouldn¡¯t find me.

    But today, Alvin¡¯s words had made it clear: I had be a burden to him. He was tired of me.

    ¡°Are you at the hospital or home?¡± I didn¡¯t answer her. Instead, I asked her a question.

    Jasmine quickly sent me an address and told me toe over.

    ¡°Did you and Mr. Dolton have a fight?¡± she asked.

    She must have noticed something was off the second she saw me. She was one of the few people I could call a true friend, and I didn¡¯t hide anything from her.

    After hearing my story, Jasmine cursed. ¡°Men are all the same. When they lose interest, they¡¯re just cold. ¡®A waste¡¯? That¡¯s rich, sounds like he¡¯s had you in bed a hundred times!¡±

    Her words didn¡¯tfort me. In fact, they made me feel worse. Alvin and I had been together for so long, yet we had never

    been intimate.

    There had been moments of closeness¡ªonce, I had gotten drunk and tried to make a move on him, but he¡¯d just gently pushed me back to my room.

    Back then, I thought Alvin respected me, that he didn¡¯t want to take advantage of me while I was drunk. Now I realized it was because he simply wasn¡¯t interested.

    I thought, ¡®Don¡¯t they say that if a man truly loves a woman, he will want to sleep with her? But with Alvin, there is no desire at all.¡¯

    ¡°Jasmine, I think I¡¯m ready to let go,¡± I said.

    After a whole day of uncertainty, everything suddenly became clear.

    ¡°Good, I¡¯m here for you,¡± Jasmine said, clinking her ss with mine. ¡°There are always plenty of men. With your looks, you could have anyone.¡±

    She was right. At 18, I won a beauty pageant. If it weren¡¯t for Alvin, I probably would¡¯ve already been pursuing a career in

    entertainment.

    With my looks, I¡¯d received countless confessions and proposals over the years, but none of them ever made my heart race. The only person I had ever wanted was Alvin.

    ?

    pier o

    That thought made my throat tighten. I didn¡¯t want Jasmine to see how I felt, so I hurried to the bathroom.

    But just as I rushed out, I collided with someoneing the other way. Maybe I was in too much of a hurry, or he was walking too slowly, but I ended up knocking him over andnding on top of him.

    Before I could apologize, the person screamed and shouted, ¡°Hey! This is harassment! Someone¡¯s being a creep!¡±

 Be Honest 4

    I never thought I¡¯d end up in a police station, used of sexual harassment.

    The person I bumped into was a teenager, only 17, still a minor. He insisted I had bad intentions, and even when I denied it. he stubbornly imed that I touched him.

    ¡°Where did she touch you?¡± the officer asked, clearly trying to get all the details.

    The boy, Jed Perkins, pointed to his chest, then down to his waist. ¡°Here, and here¡­ she touched me here.¡±

    I thought, ¡°What a load of crap!¡¯ I almost yelled out. ¡®I haven¡¯t even touched a guy as handsome as Alvin, so why would I touch this kid, who hasn¡¯t even hit puberty yet?¡¯

    The officer turned to me, but before he could speak, I quickly denied it. ¡°I didn¡¯t touch him. I just bumped into him by ident.¡±

    ¡°Had you been drinking?¡± The officer¡¯s gaze was sharp, full of meaning.

    In this society, it was fine for men to get drunk and make mistakes, but if a woman had even a little too much to drink, people thought she was being improper.

    I nodded. ¡°Yes, I had a drink.¡±

    ¡°How much?¡± the officer asked, though I wasn¡¯t sure what that had to do with anything.

    Still, I answered honestly. ¡°One bottle of beer.¡±

    The officer gave me a doubtful look, so I thought about asking my friend Jasmine to back me up.

    But of course, the timing was terrible-while I was struggling with this little brat, Jasmine had texted me to say she was being called back to the hospital for an emergency.

    I understood what the officer was implying, so I quickly added, ¡°I wasn¡¯t drunk, and I didn¡¯t take advantage of him or anything like that.¡±

    The officer jotted down my statement, then turned back to Jed. ¡°Are you sure she touched you? Lying or making false usations could have serious consequences.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure!¡± Jed was relentless, and I was about to lose it and beat him senseless.

    But before I could act on that impulse, his eyes suddenly lit up. ¡°Thea, you¡¯re here?¡±

    Since he was a minor, his family had to be called. I turned to exin, but before I could even speak, I froze when I saw who had arrived.

    It was a man and a woman. The woman had long, straight ck hair and wore a white dress that looked like it belonged in a dream-pure and wless, almost like something out of a fairytale.

    Her name was Thea Mills, and I knew her. But what shocked me even more was the man standing next to her-none other than Alvin.

    ¡°Jed, what¡¯s going on?¡± Thea asked Jed, looking really worried.

    Jed didn¡¯t answer her, but instead, he pouted and looked at Alvin. ¡°Thea, is this your new husband?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s face stiffened, and his gaze went from surprise to cold as he looked at me. ¡°Zoe, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Alvin, do you know this woman? Let me tell you, she¡¯s a thug! She touched me here, and here¡­¡± Jed was still bbering on, acting out the whole thing for dramatic effect.

    By now, I couldn¡¯t even bring myself to exin. I just stared at Alvin. We had only been apart for a few hours, and now he was someone else¡¯s husband.

    And the reason he rushed off earlier? The answer was right in front of me.

    Thea turned to me with a gentle smile. ¡°Zoe, I¡¯m Thea, Jed¡¯s older sister.¡±

    I was a little surprised that she knew me. But then again, I was like an essory to Alvin-everyone who knew him probably

    knew me, too.

    Still, I had never interacted with Thea directly. I only knew of her because, not long ago, her husband, Benjamin Mills, had passed away in a car ident, and Alvin, who was a close friend of Benjamin¡¯s, had been helping her family for days without

    rest.

    I swallowed the bitterness in my throat. ¡°I just identally bumped into your brother, fell on top of him. I didn¡¯t do any of the things he¡¯s iming.¡±

    Thea smiled apologetically. ¡°I know. He¡¯s always getting into trouble.¡±

    With that, she walked over and pped Jed twice on the head, then exined the situation to the officer. The officer checked the security footage and confirmed I was telling the truth.

    ¡°You two seem to know each other, so why don¡¯t you try to work this out?¡± the officer suggested. ¡°Otherwise, this kid might face consequences for making false usations.¡±

    Thea subtly tugged on Alvin¡¯s arm. It was a small gesture, but it felt strangely intimate.

    Alvin, who usually had an unapproachable air and didn¡¯t let anyone close, didn¡¯t seem ufortable with her touch. Clearly, this wasn¡¯t the first time.

 Be Honest 5

    There were some things I¡¯d rather not think too deeply about. As for the idea of reconciliation, I was just about to speak when Alvin cut me off, his voice firm. ¡°It¡¯s all a misunderstanding. Let¡¯s just forget about it.¡±

    Before I could even process what was happening, my hand was gripped tightly, and Alvin was pulling me toward the door.

    His grip hurt, and it was clear he was upset. I thought, ¡®Is he jealous?¡¯

    The thought barely crossed my mind when he let go of my hand, his gaze icy. ¡°Zoe, are you really going to take your frustration out on me just because of one sentence?¡±

    I froze, not expecting him to think that way.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t-¡± I started to exin, but he interrupted me.

    ¡°Did you touch him? Did you touch him there?¡± His jaw was clenched, and there was a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

    Now I understood. He was definitely jealous. The rush of relief that washed over me surprised me.

    It seemed he still cared about me. If he only saw me as a sister or a friend, he wouldn¡¯t have reacted like this. He wouldn¡¯t have minded if I touched another man.

    ¡°No,¡± I said firmly.

    At that moment, Jed came out, whistling as he approached. ¡°You subus, are you trying to hit on Alvin again?¡±

    Looking at Jed¡¯s smug grin, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder which past life had cursed me with a connection to him.

    As the siblings approached, I couldn¡¯t help but notice Thea, her moonlit beauty shining through. It reminded me of the moment she touched Alvin. I instinctively slipped my arm through his, but I could feel his muscles tense under my touch.

    ¡°You¡¯re still spouting nonsense,¡± Thea said, pinching Jed¡¯s ear to silence him.

    She stood in front of me and Alvin, her face soft with apology. ¡°Alvin, Zoe, I¡¯m really sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Alvin replied, then turned to Jed. ¡°If you cause any more trouble, no one¡¯s going to bail you out next

    time.¡±

    Jed shot him an angry look. ¡°Who do you think you are? If you¡¯re willing to be Thea¡¯s husband, maybe I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±

    ¡°Jed!¡± Thea scolded him again, hitting him for good measure.

    Jed dodged the blow and muttered, ¡°Thea, he¡¯s obviously into you. Why else would he spend all his time looking after you?¡±

    My hand tightened around Alvin¡¯s arm. I thought, ¡®So, all thosete nights when he was missing from work, disappearing for hours at a time¡­ was he really with her?¡¯

    It made sense. She was his friend¡¯s widow, and after her husband¡¯s ident, of course he¡¯d want to help her.

    I thought, ¡®But does it really have to be every day? Spending so much time together, to the point where others might think it is more than just caring for her?¡¯

    ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± Thea¡¯s face flushed red. She pped Jed again, this time harder.

    The seventeen-year-old rebel raised his hand to defend himself, but in doing so, identally pushed Thea off bnce,

    causing her to stumble.

    Before I could even react, I felt a shove from behind and almost lost my footing.

    By the time I steadied myself, Alvin had already sprinted to Thea¡¯s side, dropping to one knee in front of her. ¡°Thea, are you okay? Where does it hurt?¡±

    *I¡­ I¡¯m feeling pain in my stomach, Alvin.¡± Thea¡¯s voice was weak, her hand clutching his arm for support.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital. Just hang on.¡± Alvin¡¯s voice wavered with panic.

    I stood there, frozen, watching them. I¡¯d seen Alvin in countless situations, but this was the first time I¡¯d seen him so frantic¡­ and it was all for another woman.

    Alvin gently helped Thea into the car, then shouted back to me, ¡°Zoe, drive.¡±

    I was still standing there, motionless.

    ¡°Come on, hurry up! If anything happens to my sister, you¡¯ll be the one to pay!¡± Jed stormed over, grabbing my arm in

    anger.

    Something inside me snapped. Without thinking, I pped him across the face, hard. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±

    The sound of the p echoed, leaving five bright red finger marks on his pale face. Both Thea and Alvin froze in shock, and Jed just stared, stunned.

    He probably didn¡¯t expect me to p him, but it only took a second for him to lose his temper. He raised his hand to strike me, shouting, ¡°You bitch¡­¡±

    ¡°Jed!¡± Alvin¡¯s voice was ice-cold. ¡°If youy a finger on her, I¡¯ll have you locked up again.¡±

    The threat worked. Jed hesitated, then shot us both a re before storming off.

    ¡°Jed!¡± Thea called after him, but then she winced in pain, clutching her stomach. ¡°It hurts so much, Alvin. Please, take me to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Zoe!¡± Alvin called again.

    Seeing Thea in so much pain, I pushed all my feelings aside. I quickly got in the car and sped toward the hospital.

    At the hospital, Alvin rushed Thea inside, urgently telling the doctor, ¡°She¡¯s pregnant, and she fell earlier. Her stomach hurts badly.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Pregnant?¡¯ My legs felt like they were made of lead, and my heart dropped to my stomach.

    ¡®Benjamin has just passed away-how could she possibly be pregnant?¡¯ My eyesnded on Alvin¡¯s face, full of panic. ¡®He is so anxious¡­ could it be¡­?¡¯

    Thea was rushed into the emergency room, and Alvin and I waited outside. I didn¡¯t know Thea very well, and I wasn¡¯t particrly close to her, so I wasn¡¯t sure why I felt so uneasy.

    But Alvin was clearly distraught. I watched him for a while, but he didn¡¯t even seem to notice me. His attention was fixed entirely on the emergency room door, as if I didn¡¯t exist at all.

    Bitterness rose in my chest. I swallowed hard before finally asking, ¡°The baby¡­ is it yours?¡±

 Be Honest 6

    I didn¡¯t want to jump to conclusions, so I decided to ask directly.

    Alvin turned to look at me, his eyes briefly showing a sh of shock before they darkened. ¡°What are you talking about? Of course, it¡¯s not mine. It¡¯s Benjamin¡¯s child.¡±

    1 quietly exhaled in relief.

    Benjamin was Thea¡¯ste husband, and also Alvin¡¯s close friend for many years. About a month ago, Benjamin had died in a car ident-his car waspletely wrecked, and he didn¡¯t survive.

    ¡°I¡¯m taking care of Thea because it was Benjamin¡¯s request,¡± Alvin added, as though exining further.

    I thought back to when Alvin had returned home after dealing with Benjamin¡¯s funeral. His hair was messy, and he had a rough, unshaven look, almost like someone who had just stumbled out of the wilderness.

    The bond between them as brothers ran deep. Now that one of them was gone, it only made sense that Alvin would take care of Thea.

    For a moment, I felt guilty about my earlier thoughts.

    I reached out and lightly grabbed Alvin¡¯s arm. ¡°I didn¡¯t touch that kid. He was just trying to drag my name through the mud.¡±

    Alvin looked at me, his lips parting as if to speak, but after a brief pause, he pinched my cheek. ¡°No more drinking, okay?¡±.

    I was about to exin that I¡¯d only had a little, but before I could, the emergency room door opened.

    A doctor came out, heading straight for Alvin. ¡°Family member of the pregnant patient, please sign here.¡±

    Alvin nced at me before taking the pen. But just before signing, he asked, ¡°Doctor, what¡¯s the situation?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s showing signs of a threatened miscarriage,¡± the doctor exined. ¡°She needs to be monitored closely, but there¡¯s a chance it might not seed. We need your signature.¡±

    ¡°Doctor, please make sure the baby¡¯s okay,¡± Alvin said, his voice tight with urgency.

    ¡°Of course. Just sign here quickly.¡±

    The doctor urged him, and Alvin signed his name on Thea¡¯s medical chart without hesitation.

    I knew that signing a form didn¡¯t mean much, but I hadn¡¯t expected Alvin to be listed as someone else¡¯s family member.

    Thea was stable now, and the baby was fine. She was moved back to her room. Her face looked pale, her eyes swollen and red, and with her pale, moonlitplexion, she appeared fragile and pitiful.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. The baby¡¯s fine,¡± Alvin reassured her, his voice soft but firm.

    ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m so scared,¡± Thea sobbed.

    Alvin handed her a tissue, and Thea took it, grasping his hand tightly. Her tear-streaked face buried itself in his hand as she

    cried.

    I understood that she was scared, but that didn¡¯t give her the right to treat someone else¡¯s fianc¨¦ as her own.

    I walked over. ¡°Thea, the doctor said emotional distress can be harmful to the baby. You¡¯ve already managed to keep the

    child safe, so if you keep crying like this, you might cause more harm.¡±

    As I spoke, I gently helped her up, silently pulling her away from Alvin.

    But when I looked at the wetness on his hand, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something of mine had been tainted. I had a cleanliness thing not only in life but also in rtionship.

    Thea seemed surprised when I called her. Her expression froze for a split second, but she quicklyposed herself.

    ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m sorry. I¡­ look at me,¡± she said, reaching for the tissue to wipe his hand.

    I stopped her. ¡°Thea, you shouldn¡¯t be moving around too much right now.¡±

    Thea¡¯s face tightened, and her tear-filled eyes turned toward Alvin. The look in her eyes was unmistakably filled with affection.

    ¡°Thea likes you?¡± I asked Alvin directly once we were outside the room.

    ¡°No!¡± Alvin quickly denied.

    ¡°Then what about you? Do you like her?¡±

    If I was going to ask, I wanted to get everything clear once and for all. I didn¡¯t want to be left hanging.

    Alvin¡¯s expression froze for a moment, and after a few seconds, he muttered, ¡°We¡¯re just friends¡­¡±

    I thought, ¡®Just friends?¡¯

    ¡°Benjamin¡¯s gone. Before he died, he grabbed my hand and asked me to take care of her¡­¡± His voice trembled, and even his hand, hanging at his side, shook slightly.

    It seemed like every time Benjamin¡¯s death came up, Alvin couldn¡¯t keep his emotions in check. This wasn¡¯t the first time.

    My heart tightened seeing him like this. ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything by it¡­ I just think Thea relies on you way too much.¡±

    ¡°She¡­ she¡¯s probably just feeling insecure because of the pregnancy,¡± Alvin said, trying to exin. His dark eyes fell on my face. ¡°Zoe, I¡¯ll be more careful from now on.¡±

    I thought, ¡®What more can I say when he puts it that way?¡¯ But I still felt the need to remind him. ¡°Even if you¡¯re looking out for her because of Benjamin, there still need to be boundaries between men and women.¡±

    I didn¡¯t want to see something like what just happened again. I just couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°Yeah, I know¡­¡± He sighed.

    Before he could say anything else, we suddenly heard the sharp sound of gurney wheels rushing toward us.

    I turned to look and saw a team pushing an emergency cart our way, moving quickly.

    I was about to step aside when I heard Alvin¡¯s low voice, ¡°Watch out,¡± and felt him pull me to the side. The gurney sped past us, just missing us.

    I ended up pressed against his chest, my heart pounding so loudly I could feel it in my ears.

    That sound brought back a memory from not long after I first arrived at the Dolton family. I had been at a school event and identally fell from a height.

    Alvin rushed over, scooped me up, and reassured me, telling me not to be scared. He carried me straight to the infirmary.

    That was the first time I heard his heartbeat-so fast, so frantic. It was in that moment I realized I had feelings for him. And now, his heart was still racing, still because of me.

    I shut my eyes, trying to clear my mind. I pressed my face into Alvin¡¯s chest. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. I¡¯m tired.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go say goodbye to Thea,¡± he said, loosening his grip and nting a kiss on my forehead.

    I stayed outside the room while Alvin spoke with Thea. I didn¡¯t catch their conversation, but when he came out, I could hear Thea quietly sobbing.

    When we returned to the Dolton family, Michelle greeted us with a bright smile.

    Maybe it was just my imagination, but that smile seemed a little off. I didn¡¯t dwell on it too much, though.

    I headed upstairs, but as I opened the door to our room, I froze for a second and turned to look at Alvin.

    He was standing in the doorway, ncing back at me.

    Before we could go back downstairs, Michelle had alreadye up. ¡°Zoe, I almost forgot to tell you-Alvin¡¯s room needs to be cleared out for your wedding room. For now, he¡¯ll stay in your room.¡±

    ¡°Mom, we¡¯re nning to live somewhere else after we get married. Why do we need a wedding room here?¡± Alvin replied, sounding a little exasperated.

    ¡°Living somewhere else doesn¡¯t mean you won¡¯t be here sometimes. Holidays, or if it getste, you¡¯ll still end up staying here,¡± Michelle shot back, giving him a yful re.

    She grabbed his arm and led him to my room. ¡°You two are about to get your marriage license, so it¡¯s not a big deal if you live together.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re okay with this, right?¡± she asked, looking at me again.

    At that moment, I suddenly remembered something Alvin had said to Oscar earlier, and I wasn¡¯t sure how to respond.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± Alvin answered for me before I could say anything.

    I looked up at him, and before I knew it, his arm was around my shoulder, pulling me inside the room.

    ¡°Mom, goodnight!¡± Alvin called out, closing the door behind us.

    Once inside, an awkward silence hung between us, but it was also a little charged. Especially with the red bedding on the big bed-it almost felt like our wedding night.

    My face flushed. ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯m going to change that¡­¡±

    I tried to pull away from him, but Alvin caught me, and when I looked into his deep, intense eyes, my heart started to race, my breathing quicker.

    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he took a step forward. My body tensed instinctively.

    He came closer, his hand, which had been holding my arm, slid up to rest on my shoulder, then my neck. His face leaned

    down toward mine.

    I nervously grabbed onto his arm. ¡°Alvin¡­¡±

    Before I could say another word, his lips silenced me. The kiss was fierce and burning-different from any kiss we¡¯d shared before.

    We¡¯d kissed over the years, of course, but each time it was quick and light. His tongue never tried to part my lips. But tonight, it was different. His kiss was passionate, hungry.

    I trembled, feeling my body respond, but I couldn¡¯t quite rx enough to let him in.

    Alvin didn¡¯t push further. Instead, he whispered against my car, ¡°Rx a little.¡±

    With that, I felt my body lift as he picked me up and ced me on the bed. His fingers moved to unbutton my shirt, and I curled my toes in nervousness.

    I saw his forehead muscles tense, his throat bobbing with each breath.

    I hadn¡¯t experienced anything like this before. I could tell we were both nervous, both on edge.

    Maybe he said he wasn¡¯t interested because he hadn¡¯t tried. There was a saying ¡°You never know the vor until you taste

    it.¡±

    I closed my eyes, bracing myself for what wasing next, for the intimacy that was about to unfold between us.

    Just as his lips brushed my neck, his phone suddenly rang.

    I froze, instinctively clutching his arm. ¡°Alvin¡­¡±

 Be Honest 7

    Although I wasn¡¯t exactly ovee with emotion, if he answered the phone or walked out now, it would feel like an insult.

    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he grabbed his phone, hung up, and kissed my neck, then my corbone¡­

    But just a secondter, the phone rang again. I knew if he didn¡¯t pick up, neither of us would get any peace.

    I turned my face away. ¡°You should take it.¡±

    A sh of unease crossed Alvin¡¯s face. He covered me with the nket and walked over to the balcony, phone in hand.

    Even though he closed the sliding door behind him, his low voice still reached me.

    ¡°I can¡¯te right now, just have the caregiver help you instead,¡± he said. ¡°I never said I didn¡¯t want you toe¡­ I know it¡¯s my fault. Alright, stop crying. I¡¯lle now, I¡¯m on my way¡­¡±

    After that, I didn¡¯t hear anything more, just the faint click of a lighter flicking open. Alvin was smoking. For the first time, in our home.

    He didn¡¯t return for almost ten minutes, and when he did, the air smelled faintly of smoke.

    His eyes looked anxious as he nced at me. ¡°I need to step out for a while. It¡¯s Thea¡­ She¡¯s at the hospital and has no one with her¡­¡± He didn¡¯t lie or hide anything this time.

    A coldness spread inside me, under the nket. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit¡­ inappropriate for you, a man, to be taking care of her?¡±

    ¡°I- I¡¯m just going to find a caregiver for her,¡± he stammered, adjusting his shirt that I¡¯d messed up earlier.

    I knew I couldn¡¯t keep him. The embarrassment, the sadness, surged inside me. I had to say something. ¡°Alvin¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± He looked up at me, unease in his eyes. He probably thought I might try to stop him.

    Alvin was a giant in Ashford¡¯s business world. I thought, ¡®When has he ever been afraid? Yet here he is, nervous and unsure, right in front of me.¡¯

    At that moment, the words stuck in my throat. I managed a bitter smile. ¡°Drive safely.¡± With that, I pulled myself deeper intc the nket and closed my eyes.

    A few momentster, I heard his footsteps approach. His breath was close, and my forehead heated up as his lips brushed against it.

    Before he left, he whispered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±

    He knew his actions would hurt me, but he still went ahead with them. I thought, ¡®Maybe he thinks because I have always been understanding, a little pain here and there won¡¯t matter?¡¯

    Alvin left, but the fire he¡¯d sparked inside me still hadn¡¯t died. I threw myself into the bathtub to cool off.

    As Iy there, staring nkly, my phone rang, pulling me out of my fog.

    ¡°What¡¯s Alvin doing at our OB/GYN? And who is that woman, Thea, to him?¡± Jasmine asked.

    I wasn¡¯t surprised that Jasmine knew. I didn¡¯t hide anything-I told her everything.

    Jasmine was immediately furious. ¡°What is wrong with him? A man going to take care of a widow? Does he have a death

    wish? Doesn¡¯t he know how much trouble that can cause? Why would he get involved?¡±

    If Jasmine thought it was inappropriate, I knew I had to admit it too, even if it made me ufortable. ¡°What if I told you he¡­ just got off me? How would you feel about that?¡±

    There was a brief pause, and Jasmine was silent for a few seconds before she responded, clearly shocked, ¡°You two¡­ actually

    did it?¡±

    ¡°No, we didn¡¯t. We only got as far as taking our clothes off,¡± I said, and as soon as the words left my mouth, I felt like a fool.

    ¡°Damn!¡± Jasmine, who usually carried herself with such grace andposure as a top medical expert, swore. ¡°Alvin could stop mid-way with his pants off. If it¡¯s not because¡­ well, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s either he¡¯s impotent, or¡ª¡±

    She trailed off, but I knew exactly what she was implying. She was suggesting that Alvin didn¡¯t love me enough.

    If he truly loved me, he wouldn¡¯t have left me in that situation. If he loved me, he wouldn¡¯t have gone off in the middle of the night to be with another woman.

    I got it. Thea was pitiful, and sure, he was right to care for her. But at some point, he crossed a line.

    ¡°You said you were going to give up on him, right? Well, get on with it. Say goodbye and move on-there¡¯s always someone better out there,¡± Jasmine said, trying to be encouraging.

    I didn¡¯t answer. Giving up on Alvin wasn¡¯t that simple. I thought, ¡®What about the Dolton family?¡¯ Right now, the Dolton family was my family. Peter and Michelle treated me like their own daughter.

    They raised me all these years-especially Michelle. She was like a real mother to me. She was the one who taught me how to handle my first period and washed my dirty clothes when I was too embarrassed to do it myself.

    Jasmine understood my silence. ¡°Zoe, maybe we¡¯re just overthinking this. Think about all the years Alvin has spent taking care of you. He¡¯s always talking about you as his wife.

    ¡°And now, taking care of a widow? Maybe he¡¯s just being sentimental. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything romantic going on between them.

    ¡°He¡¯s not the kind of guy who¡¯d go after a pregnant widow, right? I mean, he¡¯s not about to be some kind of father figure for her kid.¡±

    I thought about how Thea looked at Alvin. ¡°But what if it¡¯s a case of unrequited love on his part, and mutual affection on

    hers?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Jasmine was quiet for a moment before she sighed. ¡°Well, that¡¯s possible. Alvin is the ideal husband for thousands of women-let alone a widow.¡±

    ¡°The more this goes on, the more he should be keeping his distance from her. When a woman¡¯s vulnerable, even a small act of kindness can feel like a lifeline.

    ¡°She¡¯ll cling to it as if it¡¯s the only thing holding her together,¡± Jasmine added, pausing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep an eye on things tonight. Nothing will happen.¡±

    Then it hit me-Jasmine was just working overtime tonight. ¡°No, you go ahead and rest after your shift. You can¡¯t keep an eye on this forever. And if something is going on between them, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡±

    I hesitated, the thought of Alvin¡¯s strange behavior over the past few days lingering. I finished my sentence. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s already happened.¡±

    Jasmine snorted. ¡°True. But Zoe, don¡¯t get too hung up on it. If Alvin really betrays you, then cut him loose. Move on. You

    haven¡¯t lost anything-you¡¯re still a young, beautiful woman. There are plenty of good-looking guys out there for you.¡±

    I chuckled bitterly. I thought, ¡®If it were really like that, should I be relieved that my rtionship with Alvin has always stayed within limits? Never crossing any lines?¡¯

    I yawned deliberately and ended the call with Jasmine. I knew I wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep tonight. By the time dawn broke,

    Alvin still hadn¡¯te back.

    I had an off-site meeting today, so I got up early. I left before Peter and Michelle were awake. I didn¡¯t want them to ask too many questions.

    Yes, Alvin¡¯s room was being renovated, but I knew the real reason behind it. Michelle wanted to find a way to push me and Alvin into living together and ¡°making it official¡± sooner. But their ns had fallen through, and that was awkward for me.

    It was a pretty disheartening feeling when you realized you couldn¡¯t even get a man to undress you properly. Sometimes, that was what failure felt like.

    By the time I arrived at the partner¡¯s office around 8, Alvin¡¯s call came through. I saw his name on the screen and paused for a few seconds before deciding not to answer.

 Be Honest 8

    ¡°Zoe, Mr. Dolton¡¯s looking for you.¡± Myra Oliver, who hade along with me, held up the phone.

    I¡¯d really underestimated Alvin¡¯s persistence. Given the situation, I had no choice but to take the call. I answered formally, ¡°Mr. Dolton, how can I help you?¡±

    ¡°Zoe.¡± Alvin¡¯s voice was low and rough, tinged with obvious regret. ¡°Why did you leave so early today? I came home, but you

    weren¡¯t there.¡±

    I could tell he wasn¡¯t calling about work, so I stepped away a bit. ¡°I went out for breakfast.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, st night¡­ I couldn¡¯t get away, so I didn¡¯te back.¡±

    A cold chill ran through me, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. ¡°Couldn¡¯t get away? Why¡¯s that?¡±

    Alvin fell silent.

    I held my breath, giving him an easy out. ¡°Was it because you couldn¡¯t find a caregiver?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    I didn¡¯t say anything more. Alvin spoke again, ¡°Zoe, when are you done? I¡¯lle pick you up. We can have lunch together.¡±

    It had been a while since we ate together. ording to Jedst night, he¡¯d been with Thea. I thought, ¡®Is this lunch invitation an attempt to make up for the abrupt way he leftst night, or is he having a sudden change of heart?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t know, and I wasn¡¯t interested in wasting energy overanalyzing it. I replied indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m not sure when I¡¯ll be done. It might be around noon¡­ but even then, I might not be finished. Plus, don¡¯t you have things to handle every noon?¡±

    ¡°Zoe¡­¡± Alvin seemed to catch my sarcasm. He said my name in a heavier tone, then paused for a couple of seconds. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it.¡±

    I thought, ¡®After he could just walk away from my bedroomst night without a second thought, what is there to overthink?¡¯

    It was work time, and I didn¡¯t want to get into personal stuff with him. ¡°I¡¯m busy right now. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going to hang up.¡±

    He didn¡¯t say anything further, so I hung up.

    Today¡¯s fieldwork involved both partner discussions and an on-site inspection. The meeting wrapped up by 10 a.m., and then Myra and I headed to the construction site.

    This was a theme park project I was overseeing, and I was in charge of tracking all the progress. The construction was about 80%plete, so I needed to check if everything aligned with the design ns.

    Since the partners had stuck to the blueprints, the likelihood of major issues was low. But I still needed to go through the motions. By the time we finished the rounds, my feet were swollen and my toes were aching.

    I found a spot to sit and rest, and Myra immediately noticed something was wrong. ¡°Zoe, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, my feet hurt,¡± I didn¡¯t hide it. If I weren¡¯t at the site, I would¡¯ve kicked off my shoes to give my feet a break.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Myra said, looking at my face. ¡°Zoe, it¡¯s not just your feet, is it? You¡¯re feeling sick, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    I froze for a moment. Myra pointed at my face, asking, ¡°You look kind of pale.¡±

    I hadn¡¯t gotten much sleepst night, so of course, I looked exhausted. Plus, when a woman was in a bad mood, no amount of makeup could hide it.

    ¡°Probably just about to start my period.¡± I made up an excuse and pulled out my phone, pretending to check messages.

    Myra was a talker, and I knew if I didn¡¯t shut her down, she¡¯d keep asking. I¡¯d never be able to keep up with the lies.

    Just then, a shadow fell over me. At first, I thought it was Myra, so I didn¡¯t pay much attention. But when I felt warmth on my ankle, I looked up to see arge, familiar hand.

    Alvin took off my shoes and ced my feet on hisp, gently massaging them. ¡°Are your shoes ufortable?¡±

    I didn¡¯t answer, my throat tight with emotion. He looked up at me, his voice soft. ¡°Still upset?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I said, pulling my feet back a little.

    But Alvin didn¡¯t let go. He kept massaging them. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    Today, he was wearing a deep blue suit with a white shirt underneath. His custom cufflinks glinted in the sunlight, sparkling just like he did.

    He massaged my left foot, then my right,pletely unfazed by the people walking past us.

    I noticed some young women ncing at us enviously, whispering about how handsome and affectionate he was-like they¡¯d finally seen the perfect boyfriend in real life.

    I¡¯d admit, I was touched, too. Any lingering difort I had fromst night seemed to melt away as he worked his hands over my feet.

    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re so lucky!¡± Myra mouthed at me from a distance.

    With Alvin doing this, if I kept holding ontost night¡¯s grudge, it would just make me look petty, like I was clinging to something that didn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°What do you want for lunch?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Anything,¡± I replied, not really hungry, though I was feeling a bit better.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to have grilled fish. They also do grilled foie gras, and it¡¯s amazing,¡± he said as he helped me into the car.

    Just as I reached for my seatbelt, he leaned over, his scent of soap brushing against my skin, making my breath catch.

    Noticing my reaction, he smiled, pulled my seatbelt across me, and then, as he straightened up, leaned down and kissed my cheek. ¡°Zoe, you look so shy, just like when you were little.¡±

    I froze. The kiss, though quick, made my heart flutter. I really was hopeless. Just a small gesture from him, and I was over the moon.

    Thinking of Thea, I asked, ¡°How is Thea now?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s fine. She¡¯s been discharged.¡±

    I didn¡¯t say anything else. Alvin nced at me. ¡°Why are you so quiet?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± I admitted.

    But as soon as the words left my mouth, his earlierment, ¡°We¡¯re too familiar,¡± shed in my mind.

    Yeah, we were too familiar. Familiar enough that we knew everything about each other, enough that there wasn¡¯t much left to talk about.

    Alvin took me to a restaurant, and the server led us to a window-side table, where a bouquet of white roses-my favorite- was already waiting for me. I realized he¡¯d made the reservation in advance.

    The grilled fish and foie gras were brought out, along with my favorite dessert. It was clear he¡¯d put a lot of thought into this

    meal.

    I snapped a photo and posted it on social media-delicious food, beautiful flowers, and Alvin¡¯s long, elegant hands.

    My coworkers immediately liked the post, and Myra sent a message. [You didn¡¯t bring me.]

    When we first arrived, Alvin had told her to handle things on her own and promised to reimburse herter.

    Jasmine also saw the post. She didn¡¯t like it, but she sent me a private message.

    Jasmine: [Look at this, he¡¯s trying to make up for it. Not bad. Also, I checked with the nurse on dutyst night. He stayed in the room the whole time. Nothing happened.]

    I didn¡¯t reply.

    ¡°Stop looking at your phone and eat,¡± Alvin said, cutting up the foie gras and cing it in front of me.

    Just as I was about to take a bite, a familiar figure appeared in my line of sight, walking toward us with a bright smile.

    ¡°Miss Kemp,¡± Thea said, approaching us.

    She then turned to Alvin. ¡°Alvin, you¡¯re here too?¡±

    I thought, ¡®If he weren¡¯t here, then who would it be? It wouldn¡¯t be quite right for anyone else to be.¡¯

    ¡°What a coincidence, Miss Mills. What brings you here?¡± I asked, not mincing words.

    ¡°I was at Benjamin¡¯s grave and happened to pass by. When I smelled the foie gras, I couldn¡¯t resist,¡± Thea said, her voice soft and smooth, her skin pale and delicate.

    ¡°By yourself?¡± Alvin asked.

    ¡°Yeah, so if you don¡¯t mind, could I join you?¡± Thea asked, already slipping her coat onto the chair next to Alvin.

 Be Honest 9

    ¡°Let¡¯s eat together!¡± Alvin said without waiting for my opinion.

    Thea sat down and looked at the dishes in front of her, clearly craving them. ¡°Grilled fish? I¡¯ve been craving thistely.¡±

    ¡°Want me to order you some more foie gras?¡± Alvin asked, his tone casual and effortless.

    ¡°Let¡¯s add a dessert-yogurt ice cream with strawberry sauce. And I¡¯ll have orange juice, Thea said, then turned to me. ¡°Zoe, would you like some orange juice as well?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll just have water,¡± I replied, picking up a piece of foie gras and popping it into my mouth. It was creamy and rich.

    ¡°Alvin, was the foie gras you brought mest time from this ce too?¡± Thea¡¯s question made me freeze mid-bite.

    I nced at Alvin, who seemed a little ufortable. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    No wonder he knew the foie gras here was so good. He¡¯d been buying it for Thea for a while, while this was my first time. And this meal was part of his way of making up for something.

    Suddenly, the foie gras in my mouth tasted off, and I couldn¡¯t bring myself to swallow it.

    ¡°No wonder, when I passed by earlier and smelled the foie gras, it seemed so familiar.¡± Thea said, looking at Alvin with a soft

    smile.

    Her eyes held such a gentle warmth that it felt like a trap closing around me. I suddenly felt a lump in my throat, as if I couldn¡¯t breathe.

    She turned back to me. ¡°Zoc, Alvin must bring you here a lot, right? That¡¯s how he knows the foie gras is so good, and he brought it to me.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t enough that she¡¯d already jabbed me-now she was twisting the knife. I felt every bit of that sting, and I knew it all too well.

    I turned to Alvin. ¡°No, this is the first time. I don¡¯t have the luck you do.¡±

    For a moment, Thea¡¯s smile faltered, and her eyes dropped. Then her voice trembled as she spoke, barely above a whisper, ¡°Benjamin left me¡­ and the baby. So where¡¯s the luck in that?¡±

    As she spoke, tears started falling. I froze, thinking, ¡°How does one sentence make her cry?¡±

    ¡°Zoe!¡± Alvin¡¯s voice was sharp as he called my name. He quickly grabbed a napkin and handed it to Thea. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. You can¡¯t cry now-it¡¯s not good for the baby.¡±

    ¡°If Benjamin were still here, I wouldn¡¯t be eating alone.¡± Thea said, wiping her eyes with the napkin Alvin gave her. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m pregnant, and my emotions are all over the ce. I¡¯ve ruined your mood. I¡¯ll just leave¡­

    She stood up, but Alvin immediately reached out and stopped her. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. I¡¯ve already ordered everything. Just try the grilled fish. It¡¯s really good here.¡±

    He let go of her, picked up a piece of fish, and ced it on her te. I couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and spoke up, ¡°Alvin, you can¡¯t serve her with your own fork. Use another one.¡±

    His hand froze mid-air, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward.

    Thea nced at Alvin, then spoke softly, ¡°Alvin, you don¡¯t need to serve me. I can do it myself.¡±

    Alvin ced the fish back on his te but then took my te and picked up another piece, carefully removing the bones before cing it on my te.

    After I once got a fishbone stuck in my throat, whenever Alvin was around, he¡¯d always remove the bones for me before I ate. He always did things like that-carrot after stick.

    ¡°Zoe, Alvin is really good to you,¡± Thea said with a sigh.

    ¡°If he¡¯s not good to me, then who?¡± I picked up a piece of fish and put it in my mouth, taking a small sip of water before continuing, ¡°If he¡¯s this kind to others, though, that wouldn¡¯t be right, would it?¡±

 Be Honest 10

    Thea nced at Alvin, her voice soft and almost fragile. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    With the way she looked at Alvin, I could tell there must be something between them.

    ¡°Thea, how many months along are you?¡± I changed the subject.

    But before she could respond, Alvin called my name. ¡°Zoe, if you don¡¯t eat your foie gras soon, it¡¯ll get cold and the texture will be off.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t dumb. I could tell he was trying to stop me from asking Thea about her pregnancy. But I thought, ¡®He¡¯s already said the baby isn¡¯t his-so why can¡¯t I ask?¡¯

    If there was some secret about the baby, that was one thing. But if he was just being overly protective of her, then that was something else. After all, I was his fianc¨¦e.

    ¡°The texture¡¯s not fine even now.¡± After hearing him bring Thea foie gras, I suddenly had no appetite.

    Alvin could tell I wasn¡¯t happy and nced over at me. I met his gaze, and for a few seconds, we silently stared each other. down.

    The warmth that had filled the room earlier waspletely gone. It was clear: there was no room for a third person in a couple¡¯s world.

    Just then, the foie gras dessert and juice Thea had ordered arrived. The waiter set everything down and politely asked, ¡°Would you like me to cut the foie gras for you?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± Thea said, then turned to Alvin. ¡°Alvin, you used to always cut it for me. You always made sure the portions were just right.¡±

    ¡°Thea,¡± I spoke up again, ¡°The restaurant offers a cutting service. No need to trouble Alvin. After all, he still has to remove fish bones for me-he¡¯s already got his hands full.¡±

    Thea bit her lip, looking apologetic. ¡°Sorry, Zoe. I wasn¡¯t thinking. I¡¯ll cut it myself.¡±

    ¡°Zoe!¡± Alvin called my name firmly. This was the third time.

    ¡°Thea doesn¡¯t feelfortable eating food that¡¯s been handled by someone else. She¡¯s pregnant, so she has to be careful,¡± he exined.

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Oh? So, which part of the food in front of her hasn¡¯t been touched by someone else?¡±

    Alvin fell silent, caught off guard.

    Thea¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment and a hint of panic. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. Alvin, don¡¯t be angry Zoe. If it¡¯s causing problems, I¡¯ll leave¡­¡±

    with

    She started to get up, but Alvin quickly grabbed her arm and stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t pay her any mind. She¡¯s on her period and not in the best mood. She¡¯s always like this when she talks.¡±

    Alvin really had no filter today. As soon as he spoke, I felt an ufortable warmth flood my body.

    I looked at him, dryly adding, ¡°You¡¯re right. I am on my period. But I didn¡¯t bring any pads with me. Can you go buy me

    some?¡±

    Alvin frowned slightly. ¡°You knew your period wasing, so why didn¡¯t you bring any?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it your job to remember these things for me? Like my period?¡± I smiled, but the expression didn¡¯t reach my eyes.

    Alvin looked frustrated but still stood up. ¡°You two eat. I¡¯ll be back in a minute.¡±

    Now it was just me and Thea at the table. Neither of us touched our food, and the silence hung between us.

    I thought, At least you are aware of it. I didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I hate you, but you do make me ufortable.¡±

    I thought. At least you are aware of it.¡¯ I didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I hate you, but you do make me

    ufortable.¡±

    I pursed my lips, taking in her pitiful look. ¡°Alvin is my fianc¨¦. We¡¯re about to get our marriage license.

    ¡°You¡¯re always seeking him out, calling him away at all hours. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit much? If you were in my shoes, would you be okay with it?¡±

 Be Honest 11

    Thea¡¯s face visibly paled, her already fairplexion turning even whiter. Her hand trembled as she held the juice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±

    She looked so fragile and pitiful, as if I had said something I shouldn¡¯t have, like I had hurt her in some way.

    But I didn¡¯t stop. If I had said it, I would see it through. ¡°Maybe you didn¡¯t mean it, but it¡¯s still affecting us. Thea, if it wasn¡¯t intentional, just be mindful in the future. No need to apologize.¡±

    ¡°If Benjamin were still here, I would never bother Alvin like this,¡± Thea said, and tears began to fall from her eyes again.

    The saying that women were made of water couldn¡¯t have been truer in her case. The way she spoke, so delicate and fragile, made it hard to respond.

    ¡°Zoe.¡± Thea looked at me, her eyes shimmering. ¡°I go to Alvin because it was Benjamin¡¯s dying wish, and Alvin promised to help.¡±

    She traced her finger absently around the rim of her ss. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for that, I wouldn¡¯t bother Alvin.¡±

    She was trying to justify herself while subtly throwing shade my way. We were all adults, after all-everyone had their tricks.

    ¡°Thea,¡± I said, ¡°Alvin promised to look after you, but there are boundaries. After all, you¡¯re on your own now. If people see you two together all the time, they¡¯ll start talking.¡±

    I paused, making sure she heard me. ¡°Thea, it doesn¡¯t matter what others say about Alvin, but you¡¯re a woman. If people start gossiping about you, and it gets back to your child, that could cause trouble, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    She could keep ying the delicate little flower, and I was happy to y the role of the saint.

    Thea¡¯s expression darkened further. ¡°Zoe, are you saying you don¡¯t trust Alvin? Or is it that you don¡¯t trust yourself?¡± Her sharp retortpletely shattered her innocent persona.

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh bitterly. I thought, ¡°The little white rabbit finally shows its teeth. Stop pretending, huh?¡¯

    Before I could respond, Thea suddenly burst into tears. ¡°Zoe, I¡¯m sorry. If you¡¯re still upset, you can hit me or yell at me, but please don¡¯t bring up my child.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± I thought, ¡®Did I say anything about her child?¡¯

    Thea stood up, one hand ced on her belly, her pregnancy obvious, as she made to leave.

    Alvin took a long stride forward, grabbing her arm. This was the third time tonight he¡¯d stopped her from leaving.

    He red at me, his eyes full of anger. ¡°Zoe, what are you doing?¡±

    It was then that I realized why Thea had suddenly brought up the baby. That tired, overused drama tactic-she was still relying on it.

    ¡°What am I doing?¡± I met his cold gaze, a chill running through me.

    He didn¡¯t ask me what happened-he just immediately assumed I was in the wrong. Ten years together, and I still couldn¡¯tpete with Thea¡¯s little act.

    ¡°Alvin, don¡¯t argue with her,¡± Thea cut in, her voice sweet and apologetic. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I know I¡¯ve been bothering you, taking up your time. I shouldn¡¯t have¡­¡±

    This wasn¡¯t genuine regret or peace-making-it was more like she was pouring fuel on the fire.

    ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m sorry for disturbing you,¡± Thea said, pulling her arm from his grasp and heading for the door.

    ¡°Thea!¡± Alvin called, about to chase after her.

    ¡°Alvin.¡± I stopped him, my voice calm but firm. ¡°My clothes are dirty.¡±

    He nced down, seeming to finally remember that I was on my period.

    The next moment, he ced the sanitary pads he had bought for me on the table and quickly removed his jacket. ¡°Zoe, Thea¡¯s pregnant. Her emotions are unstable. She can¡¯t afford to be upset.¡±

    With that, he tossed the jacket at me and was about to leave.

    ¡°Alvin, if you go after her, we¡¯re breaking up.¡± My words froze him in his tracks.

 Be Honest 12

    Turning around, Alvin looked at me, his deep eyes filled with surprise, which quickly shifted to frustrated anger. ¡°Zoe, you can be reckless at times, but with Thea¡­ she-

    ¡°I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e,¡± I cut him off. Saying those words made me feel so small.

    I used to watch scenes like this on TV and thought the female lead was pathetic for wasting her breath on a man like that. Now, in my own shoes, I finally understood the feeling.

    ¡°Thea is pregnant. She can¡¯t afford to be in danger!¡± Alvin said, stepping back.

    A few stepster, he turned and rushed outside. In the end, he chose her over me.

    Sitting there, I watched him catch up to Thea, saw him pull her close, and then watched her grab onto his shirt and bury her face in his chest.

    I couldn¡¯t watch any longer. Whether or not something had happened between them didn¡¯t matter-his choice that day gave my heart, which had been wavering, a final answer. I barely touched my meal and ended up paying 1000 dors for it.

    I didn¡¯t go back to the Dolton family. Instead, I went to Jasmine¡¯s ce.

    ¡°Are you really going to break up with him?¡± Jasmine, a gynecologist who was an expert in acupressure, helped ease my cramps, but she couldn¡¯t fix what was broken in my heart.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Iy on her bed, my eyes red at the corners, where she couldn¡¯t see.

    ¡°You and him¡­ breaking up might not be as simple as you think.¡± Jasmine paused before adding, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re still working for Alvin.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll quit,¡± I said firmly. I¡¯d already thought this through on the way over.

    Jasmine nodded. ¡°Okay, fine. But even if you quit working for Alvin, what about the Dolton family? They¡¯ve supported you all these years. You can¡¯t just cut ties with them because of a breakup.

    ¡°As long as you¡¯re still tied to the Dolton family, you¡¯ll never fully cut ties with him.¡±

    Her words hit home. I did owe the Dolton family a lot-ten years of support, to be exact.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. I¡¯ll talk to Michelle. I can still be like a goddaughter to her,¡± I said, my mind made up.

    Jasmine didn¡¯t push me further. She just said, ¡°Whatever you decide, I¡¯m here for you.¡±

    That night, I turned off my phone and fell asleep, not dwelling on the past. When I woke up, Jasmine had already made

    breakfast.

    ¡°Eat some cereal. It¡¯s good for your energy,¡± Jasmine said, ncing at my face. ¡°Drink up.¡±

    I didn¡¯t want to let her down, so I drank two bowls and even had two eggs.

    Jasmine had an early shift, and I had to go to work too. So we went downstairs together. But just as we reached the lobby, we saw Alvin leaning against his car, holding a bouquet of white roses.

    ¡°Looks like the apology is here.¡± Jasmine nudged me and walked ahead.

    As we passed him, she added, ¡°Be careful, Mr. Dolton. Women can suffer from heavy bleeding during their period. Do you

    know that?¡±

    Jasmine didn¡¯t wait for his response, and Alvin started walking toward me.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry aboutst night,¡± he said, handing me the flowers.

    I didn¡¯t take them. ¡°Alvin, we¡¯re breaking up.¡±

    Since I¡¯d said it the night before, I wasn¡¯t going to take it back just because of one gesture.

    His face stiffened slightly. ¡°In the situationst night, I was worried about her. You know that Benjamin is his parents¡¯ only child. The baby in Thea¡¯s belly is the Mills family¡¯s only hope. If anything happened¡­¡±

    He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but I understood.

    ¡°So, from now on, everything to do with her will always be your priority, right?¡± I asked coldly.

    Alvin paused for a moment, then answered, ¡°Once the baby is born, things will calm down.¡±

    I gave a bitter smile. As I turned, the rising sun hit my eyes, stinging with its brightness.

    I looked at him. ¡°Alvin, even after the baby¡¯s born, there will still be problems. The baby might get sick, there might be idents.

    ¡°As long as you keep using that baby as an excuse, you and Thea will always be tied together, and I¡¯ll always be the one you leave behind.¡±

    Alvin went quiet.

    I made my stance clear. ¡°Alvin, if we get married, I don¡¯t want my husband spending all his time taking care of another

    woman.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, just give me some time. I¡¯ll sort this out,¡± Alvin said, his eyes showing signs of conflict.

    ¡°Sort it out?¡± I scoffed. ¡°She¡¯s someone else¡¯s wife. Even if you want to take care of her, it shouldn¡¯t be like this¡­ And¡­¡± I hesitated. ¡°Benjamin had other brothers, right? Oscar, and a few others. Why is it only you who¡¯s so invested?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s expression shifted, his voice suddenly firm. ¡°Because I¡¯m the only one left by Benjamin¡¯s side after his ident.¡±

    Hearing the pain in his voice, thinking about the guilt and self-me he must feel over Benjamin¡¯s death, I asked softly, ¡°Alvin, did you do something to wrong Benjamin?¡±

    ¡°Zoe,¡± he called my name sharply, his tone icy. ¡°Do you really want to dig into this?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± I said without hesitation. ¡°Because it¡¯s affecting me now.¡±

    I pressed my lips together. ¡°Alvin, if you care so much about brotherhood and want to look after your brother¡¯s widow, then let¡¯s break up.

    ¡°That way, you won¡¯t have to choose between me and Thea anymore. Besides¡­ you¡¯re clearly not interested in me. So why keep forcing this?¡±

    As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized just how deeply his words had hurt me that day.

    ¡°Zoe!¡± Alvin¡¯s anger broke through. After a moment, he coldly asked, ¡°Break up? Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure,¡± I said firmly.

    (

 Be Honest 13

    ¡°Fine. Don¡¯te running backter,¡± he said, before turning around and tossing the white roses into the trash.

    He walked away, and I stood there, staring at the discarded roses, feeling a sharp ache in my chest.

    ¡°Don¡¯te running backter.¡± Those words revealed what he truly thought-he probably believed I could never really walk away from him. Maybe that was why he¡¯d been so willing to hurt me again and again.

    Even though things were over between Alvin and me, I was still his assistant, so I had to keep working. But now, my job had an extra responsibility: closure and handover.

    I didn¡¯t quit immediately because I wanted to finish the projects I was working on, especially the amusement park project. It was something I had suggested, and it held a lot of personal meaning for me.

    Before my parents passed away, I had been a very happy girl. They spoiled me, and every year, they would take me to amusement parks all over the country.

    My dad Elisco Kemp had even promised that one day he would build an amusement park just for me. Unfortunately, after they died in a car ident, I was left an orphan.

    A year ago, Alvin acquired a new plot ofnd. When we discussed its potential use, I suggested building an amusement park.

    To my surprise, he actually agreed and gave me full control over the project. I was truly grateful to him for that¡ªhe helped me fulfill Elisco¡¯s wish.

    I even thought that when the amusement park waspleted. I¡¯d ride the Ferris wheel with Alvin and tell my parents not to worry about me anymore-that I was doing well, that I was loved, and cared for.

    Now, though, it looked like that dream would nevere true. But with the amusement park almost finished, I didn¡¯t want to leave just yet.

    Around noon, as I was going through my work. Myra came rushing over, looking mysterious. ¡°Zoe, did you get your periodst night?¡±

    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± she said, shaking her head rapidly, ¡°I just wondered why Mr. Dolton has been in such a bad mood today. Seems he¡¯s not getting¡­ satisfied.¡±

    I paused, then realized what she meant. I tapped her lightly on the head with my pen. ¡°It¡¯s work time, focus on work. Stop thinking about others.¡±

    Myra grinned and handed me the report we¡¯d reviewed together yesterday. ¡°I¡¯m not thinking. It¡¯s just that everyone¡¯s scared of Mr. Dolton now. Anyone who went into his office today came out looking like they¡¯d been hit by a truck.¡±

    I thought back to this morning, when Alvin had angrily thrown the roses in the trash. I wasn¡¯t sure if his bad mood was because I didn¡¯t let him charm me like usual, or because I had brought up breaking up.

    ¡°Zoe, you didn¡¯t have a fight with Mr. Dolton, did you?¡± Myra asked, full of curiosity.

    I snapped back to the present. ¡°Get back to work. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll be the next one crying.¡±

    1 shooed her away and sat there for a moment, lost in thought, before getting back to work. After reviewing and revising Myra¡¯s report, I sent it off to Alvin. He didn¡¯t reply, and I didn¡¯t press him.

    At 3 p.m., I went to the break room to get some water and ran into Alvin. His face, just like Myra said, was clouded with anger, and when he saw me, his expression darkened even more.

    Still, I greeted him. ¡°Mr. Dolton, I sent you the report. If you¡¯ve had a chance to look it over and everything¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll go ahead and get back to the partners.¡±

    He didn¡¯t respond and just walked away.

    I didn¡¯t take it personally. Just as I was heading back to my office, my phone rang. The number was unfamiliar. ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Zoe, it¡¯s me.¡± Thea¡¯s voice came through the phone.

    I had no idea why she was calling, but before I could ask, she said, ¡°I¡¯m downstairs at the caf¨¦ in your building. Can we

    meet?¡±

    I thought, ¡®Didn¡¯t we just see each otherst night?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m at work right now. If it¡¯s something important, we can talk over the phone,¡± I declined.

    ¡°Well, then I¡¯ll wait until you¡¯re off work,¡± she said, determined.

    I had clearly underestimated her persistence. But I knew this was just another one of her tricks to force me to meet her, so I didn¡¯t give in. ¡°Fine, you wait. I¡¯ll be there when I¡¯m done.¡±

    I stuck to my word and got back to work.

    When the office finally emptied out at the end of the day, I headed to the caf¨¦, and sure enough, Thea was still there, waiting.

    I walked in, but hadn¡¯t taken more than a few steps when I heard familiar footsteps behind me. Turning around, I saw Alvin stride past me, heading straight for Thea.

    ¡°Alvin!¡± Thea¡¯s voice trembled, a mix of excitement and panic.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Alvin¡¯s face was a thundercloud.

    I had reached them by this point, so I couldn¡¯t just turn around and leave. ¡°She¡¯s here to see me,¡± I said, not missing a beat.

    Alvin¡¯s face darkened further. Thea quickly added, ¡°Alvin, don¡¯t misunderstand. I just want to exin things to Zoe. I don¡¯t want any misunderstandings between you two because of me.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but smirk inwardly. Thea¡¯s moves were so transparent. Yesterday, she¡¯d deliberately walked away to ruin my date with Alvin, and today, she was trying to y the peacemaker.

    ¡°We don¡¯t need you to interfere,¡± Alvin snapped, his voice ice-cold. ¡°If you really don¡¯t want there to be any issues between me and her then stay at home and stop running around ¡±

 Be Honest 14

    Thea¡¯s face immediately turned pale, her eyes brimming with tears that seemed ready to spill, making her look utterly

    vulnerable.

    ¡°Alvin, you¡¯re finally fed up with me, aren¡¯t you?¡± As soon as the words left her mouth, a tear fell.

    Alvin didn¡¯t respond, his entire presence giving off a suffocating silence.

    ¡°But if Benjamin weren¡¯t in trouble, I wouldn¡¯t bother you¡­¡± Thea¡¯s voice was shaky, but there was an underlying weight to

    her words.

    ¡°You can bother me all you want, just don¡¯t bother her.¡± Alvin¡¯s ¡°her¡± was clearly referring to me.

    It looked like they were about to start arguing, and for a moment, I wasn¡¯t sure if I should stay or leave.

    ¡°I get it. I won¡¯t bother you again, and I won¡¯t interfere with you two,¡± Thea said, turning and walking quickly toward the door.

    This time, Alvin didn¡¯t chase after her. Instead, he looked at me. I lowered my head slightly and walked toward the exit.

    Alvin followed closely behind. As we stepped out of the caf¨¦, a loud screech of tires pierced the air.

    Both of us looked up at the same time, and saw Thea knocked to the ground by a car pulling out of the parking garage.

    ¡°Thea!¡± Alvin called out, running toward her inrge strides.

    I froze for a second, then quickly followed.

    ¡°Alvin, the baby¡­¡± Thea¡¯s face had gone ashen, one hand clutching her stomach, the other gripping Alvin¡¯s arm.

    I thought, ¡®Hasn¡¯t she just said she wouldn¡¯t bother him? Now, seeing him, it is as if he is her only hope. Thea¡­ she really could¡¯ve had a career in acting.¡±

    The driver, clearly shaken, started to exin repeatedly, ¡°Mr. Dolton, she ran right in front of me¡­¡±

    Funny enough, the driver turned out to be an employee from thepany.

    ¡°Get out of here!¡± Alvin snapped angrily, scooping Thea up and rushing toward his car.

    It was just around the time everyone was getting off work, and employees wereing and going. The scene had drawn a crowd, and whispers started to spread.

    ¡°Mr. Dolton seems really concerned about that woman. Who is she?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the point. The real question is¡­ she said something about a baby¡­

    ¡°Oh my god, could Mr. Dolton have gotten some woman pregnant on the side?¡±

    ¡°Shh! Keep it down, don¡¯t let the ¡®official wife¡¯ hear.¡±

    As they finished talking, I walked over. The gossiping girls, seeing me¡ªthe ¡°official wife¡±-quickly stuck out their tongues

    and scurried off.

    I wasn¡¯t bothered. After all, I thought, Who isn¡¯t talked about behind their back? Alvin is the boss, so people gossip about him all the time.¡¯

    I walked up to the driver, who still had his intern badge hanging around his neck. ¡°What happened?¡±

    The intern, clearly rattled, turned pale and nervously exined, ¡°Ms. Kemp, she ran right in front of the car¡­¡±

    (

    I had seen Thea¡¯s emotional outburst just moments earlier, so I wasn¡¯t about to me him. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. There are cameras around, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡±

    Everyone at thepany knew I was Alvin¡¯s assistant and fianc¨¦e, so my words seemed to put the intern at ease.

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Kemp!¡± he said.

    ¡°You can go now. Whatever needs to be dealt with can wait until tomorrow,¡± I said, offering him some reassurance before

    walking away.

    I called Jasmine to update her on Thea¡¯s situation, ending the call with, ¡°Let me know what¡¯s going on with herter.¡±

    ¡°Why do you care so much about her? It¡¯s not like you hit her,¡± Jasmine asked, confused.

    I paused for a moment. ¡°The person who hit her was an employee from thepany. I don¡¯t want him getting dragged into this.¡±

    Jasmine immediately caught on that I wasn¡¯t telling the whole truth but didn¡¯t press further. Instead, she said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let you know if there¡¯s any news.

    ¡°By the way, where are you going today? If you don¡¯t want to go back to the Dolton family¡¯s ce, you cane to mine.¡±

 Be Honest 15

    Since Jasmine was on the night shift, staying with her made the most sense. I really didn¡¯t want to go back to the Dolton family, especially now that Alvin and I were forced to share a room.

    But staying at Jasmine¡¯s ce for too long wasn¡¯t ideal either. While she hadn¡¯t found a boyfriend yet, she was still entitled to her own space, just like anyone else.

    ¡°Okay,¡± I said, not refusing. At least staying with her for now was better than staying in a hotel.

    Though I had a ce to sleep for the night, I didn¡¯t head straight there. Instead, I drove out to the suburbs. It was an older part of the city, but still pretty lively, with a lot of renters due to the affordable rent.

    I came here because this was home. Before my parents passed away, our little family of three lived here.

    Back then, it wasn¡¯t part of the ¡°old city¡± yet; the economy was booming, and transportation was convenient. But ten years.ter, everything had changed. The area had lost its former energy.

    Most of the homes in ourplex had been rented out, but ours was still intact. We kept it just as it was, with my parents¡¯ clothes, shoes, and belongings left untouched.

    Whenever I missed them, I¡¯de by, though in recent years, I hade less and less. Slowly, they faded from my day-to- day life.

    It took me about half an hour to get here. I grabbed the keys from the glovepartment and went upstairs to unlock the door.

    The moment I stepped inside, the musty smell of dust hit me. The furniture was covered in ayer of grime, and the electricity was off, since no one had been living here.

    Thankfully, I had the utility bill number, so I topped up the electricity. Soon, the lights flickered on.

    I walked through the house, checking every room. When I reached my old bedroom and saw the pink bedsheets still on the bed, I made a decision. I didn¡¯t need to go anywhere else-I¡¯d stay here.

    It was only half an hour away, and on a normal workday, mymute from the Dolton family to the office took about the

    same time.

    Once I made up my mind, I started cleaning. I didn¡¯t stop until 10 PM, when the house was finally spotless.

    But my phone didn¡¯t ring. The only message I received was from Jasmine. [The woman and the baby are fine.]

    That was a relief-it meant the intern wouldn¡¯t be fired.

    That night, I slept in my parents¡¯ home, and surprisingly, I didn¡¯t feel scared at all. In fact, I slept better than I expected.

    The next morning, I didn¡¯t go to the office. Instead, I went to the amusement park. While reviewing a report yesterday, I noticed a small discrepancy with the original design, so I wanted to check it out in person.

    Sure enough, after taking a look, I found the discrepancy. I called over the person in charge to discuss making some adjustments. By the time we wrapped up, it was almost noon.

    I remembered there were a few things I needed for the house, so I stopped by the mall. While I was picking out some bedding, I ran into Thea. It seemed like her baby was fine, but her panic from yesterday had been pretty terrifying.

    Now, it made sense-her whole act had been for Alvin¡¯s benefit, to get him to worry. And it had worked.

    Alvin had denied any romantic involvement with her, and I believed him. But looking back, his behavior toward Thea was way too unusual.

    Thea was talking to a sales associate, exining her preferences. ¡°Nothing too shy. I want something mature, understated -preferably with a bit of allure.¡±

    ¡°Is this for your boyfriend?¡± the associate asked.

    Thea just smiled and didn¡¯t answer.

    I thought, ¡®Boyfriend?¡¯ I was a little confused but didn¡¯t think much of it. I just moved to another section to pick out my own bedding.

    But of course, fate had other ns. As I was paying at the counter, Thea came up behind me to pay as well. When she handed over her card, I froze. It was Alvin¡¯s supplementary card.

 Be Honest 16

    ¡°Zoe, don¡¯t misunderstand me.¡± Thea said.

    Thea¡¯s words almost made meugh. Thinking back to what she said while picking out bedding, I realized she had been indicating Alvin was her boyfriend.

    ¡°Is this for Alvin?¡± I asked, eyeing the blue-gray bedding. It was definitely a color he used to like, but that was in the past. Now, thanks to my influence, his tastes had brightened up considerably.

    Thea bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. ¡°No, don¡¯t get the wrong idea. It¡¯s for my brother.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her over such a trivial matter. Instead, I cut to the chase. ¡°So, is Alvin moving in with you?¡±

    I thought, ¡®Isn¡¯t he the one who said Thea¡¯s child can¡¯t be put in harm¡¯s way? Keeping watch 24/7 seems like the most sensible thing to do.¡¯

    ¡°Zoe, how can you say something like that?¡± Thea¡¯s voice grew defensive, her expression shifting from surprise to irritation.

    ¡°You¡¯re buying him bedding, so why can¡¯t I ask?¡± I shot back with a hint of sarcasm.

    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re just too jealous. If you keep talking like this, Alvin will start to resent you,¡± Thea said, her face turning a shade of red.

    That made meugh.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± she asked, her eyes innocent yet wary.

    I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and replied, ¡°No matter how much Alvin likes me, he¡¯s not immune to temptation.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, don¡¯t speak so harshly,¡± Thea snapped, clearly getting upset. Her face was flushed with anger now.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it the truth? Miss Mills, yesterday you showed up at the office pretending to want to exin things to me, but really, you just wanted to see Alvin, didn¡¯t you?¡± I said, my words sharp.

    I had slept soundly the night before, but when I woke up, I understood everything.

    Thea¡¯s appearance at the office yesterday, the way she deliberately got hit by a car just so Alvin would panic and rush to her in front of everyone-that was all part of her scheme.

    Thea widened her eyes in disbelief. ¡°How can you think that of me?¡±

    ¡°Then exin why Alvin was at the caf¨¦ yesterday,¡± I challenged her.

    Thea went silent, her face flushing with embarrassment as I hit the nail on the head.

    ¡°Thea, if you want to be with Alvin, do it on your own merit. Don¡¯t try to climb over me,¡± I said, pausing before adding, ¡°And by the way, I¡¯ve already broken up with him.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Thea gasped in surprise.

    I gave her onest jab. ¡°Thanks to you.¡±

    ¡°By the way, I paid for the foie gras that night, so if we¡¯re splitting the bill, you owe me a third. Or you can just pay for Alvin¡¯s share,¡± I said, holding out my phone.

    Thea¡¯s face went pale. ¡°I don¡¯t have any money on my phone.¡±

    I didn¡¯t believe her, and I was a little taken aback.

    ¡°Zoe, ever since Benjamin¡¯s ident, no one¡¯s been giving me money. If I had any, I wouldn¡¯t be using Alvin¡¯s card,¡± Thea said, sounding almost pitiful.

    Whether that was true or not, I wasn¡¯t going to press her on it. If I insisted on making her pay, I¡¯d juste across as

    heartless.

    ¡°Alright, forget it,¡± I said, tucking my phone back into my bag.

    But then Thea stopped me. ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll add you on WhatsApp, and transfer the money to youter.¡±

    ¡°No need.¡± I said firmly.

    ¡°Please,¡± she insisted, pulling out her phone and opening the QR code scanner.

    Seeing how determined she was, I realized something, so I opened my phone and let her scan it.

    After she sent the friend request, I raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Thea, you¡¯re adding me on WhatsApp so you can post something to annoy me, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Thea¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment before they dulled again. ¡°Zoe, don¡¯t think the worst of me.¡±

 Be Honest 17

    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 fianc¨¦e! 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.

 Be Honest 18

    My heart stirred with emotion. Even though I wasn¡¯t their daughter, Peter and Michelle treated me with the same care and love as if I were their own daughter.

    They had truly epted me as family. I still remembered Alvin¡¯s older brother, Philip Dolton, joking that ever since I moved in, both he and Alvin had lost their parents¡¯ favor.

    Jasmine was right-it was easy to break up with Alvin, but cutting ties with the Dolton family was another story entirely.

    I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

    All eyes turned to me as I stepped inside. Michelle immediately got up and came over. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re back. We¡¯ve been waiting for you to eat.¡±

    ¡°Michelle, Peter,¡± I greeted them, and Alvin, who had been nudged by Peter, got up and walked over.

    He took my bag from me. ¡°Why are you sote?¡±

    ¡°I was ying pool for a bit,¡± I said. I knew Oscar would probably tell him about our meeting, so I didn¡¯t see any point in hiding it.

    Alvin frowned. ¡°Next time, call me if you¡¯re going. I don¡¯t like you doing things like that without me.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t a fan of me having fun without him, especially if it meant hanging out with his brothers behind his back.

    Yet, he had no problem getting cozy with Thea and even gave her the supplementary card he had never given me.

    I didn¡¯t reply, just walked toward the bathroom. Alvin followed me. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m fine,¡± I said, washing my hands, shing him a smile in the mirror.

    ¡°Zoe, I¡¯ve already exined. Don¡¯t make a big deal out of this,¡± he said, and I lowered my gaze.

    I scrubbed my fingers. My left middle finger had a small dent in it, a scar from four years ago when Alvin had gotten drunk and gotten into a fight. I tried to pull him away, and in the process, I got scratched.

    A chunk of flesh had been torn off at the time, and though the wound healed, the spot still had a noticeable indentation.

    Alvin had promised he would fill it with the biggest diamond, but here I was, still waiting for that diamond-and still waiting for him.

    ¡°Today, I saw Thea. She paid using your supplementary card,¡± I said, my voice cutting through the sound of running water.

    Alvin stiffened. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s because her inws med her for Benjamin¡¯s death and cut off all her cards. She had no choice but to use mine.¡±

    I turned off the faucet and faced him. ¡°Alvin, do you owe Thea or Benjamin something?¡±

    His eyes flickered, and I saw his veins bulge on his forehead. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°If not, I pressed, ¡°then why are you treating Thea so differently? Or¡­¡± I thought about the gossip on Myra¡¯s phone, ¡°did something happen between you two back in college?¡±

    ¡°Zoe!¡± Alvin snapped, his voice cold with anger. ¡°Are you investigating me?¡±

    Seeing his fury, I gave a faint smile. ¡°You do know the video of you hugging her at the office is all over the ce, right?

    ¡°Even your parents know about it. You really think the gossip at work doesn¡¯t matter? With the inte today, it¡¯s easy to dig up dirt.¡±

    Alvin fell silent. I could tell from his expression that there really was something between him and Thea.

    ¡°There was nothing between us back then,¡± he quickly denied.

    I listened carefully, sensing the hesitation in his words. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is¡­ there¡¯s something now?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s eyes betrayed a clear sense of panic. He grabbed my still-wet hand tightly. ¡°Zoe, please don¡¯t jump to conclusions, alright? I told you, once she has the baby, I swear I won¡¯t have anything to do with her anymore.¡±

 Be Honest 19

    I stayed silent. He sighed and added, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange a caregiver and a maternity nurse for her. I won¡¯t meet with her alone anymore. If anythinges up, she can contact Davy. Is that okay?¡±

    Davy Lipsy was his secretary.

    I didn¡¯t respond. He lowered his gaze. ¡°Zoe, what do you want me to do? Just tell me, okay?¡±

    His voice was weak, helpless, almost defeated. This side of him was rare.

    ¡°Alvin, we¡¯re broken up. You don¡¯t have to make things so difficult for yourself. You can take care of her however you want,¡± I said, finally voicing my thoughts.

    He shook his head, then stepped closer, cornering me between the sink and his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. We¡¯re getting our marriage license tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Alvin, do you really want to marry me?¡± I asked.

    His conversation with Oscar that day reyed in my mind, and I couldn¡¯t help but say it outright, ¡°We¡¯re too familiar with each other. So familiar that you¡¯ve lost interest in even being with me in bed, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Zoe,¡± Alvin started, but I cut him off. I really didn¡¯t want to bring up that night.

    ¡°That night is a shadow I¡¯ll never shake off for the rest of my life. Do you understand?¡± I said, my voice low.

    His pupils dted, and his gaze flickered with confusion. He hesitated, then asked, a little lost, ¡°What do you want me to do for you to forgive me and stop talking about breaking up?¡±

    I¡¯d already said everything I needed to, but he kept asking. I was exhausted by the repetition.

    I pushed him away. ¡°Let me go. I¡¯m hungry. I need to eat.¡±

    ¡®Alright, I¡¯ll stop contacting Thea,¡± he said, pulling out his phone and blocking her on WhatsApp and in his contacts. ¡°Is that good enough now?¡±

    Hearing the frustration in his voice, I gave a bitter smile. ¡°Alvin, are you worried I¡¯ll tell your parents about the breakup? That they¡¯ll scold you? I won¡¯t say anything for now.¡±

    ¡®Zoe, that¡¯s not it,¡± Alvin quickly exined. ¡°I really want to marry you.¡±

    He paused, then added, ¡°Even though we¡¯re not officially married, haven¡¯t had a wedding, and haven¡¯t even been¡­ that intimate, in my heart, you¡¯ve already been my wife. The one I¡¯ve chosen for this life.¡±

    My heart skipped a beat at the word ¡°wife.¡± When my parents were alive, they never referred to each other as ¡°husband¡± and ¡°wife¡± in front of others.

    Eliseo said the word ¡°wife¡± was the highest and most formal acknowledgment-far beyond terms like ¡°girlfriend.¡±

    Alvin saying that I was already his wife, that he truly saw me as such, made a crack in the cold shell I had built around my

    heart.

    ¡°Zoe, we all know about what happened at thepany yesterday. We¡¯ve had a word with Alvin, and he knows he was wrong, Michelle said at the dinner table.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Michelle. I¡¯m not upset,¡± I replied. Though I considered them as my own parents, I still couldn¡¯t act like a spoiled

    daughter in front of them. My dissatisfaction was there, but I couldn¡¯t fully express it.

    ¡°Zoe is a sensible girl. She and Alvin have been together for so many years. They both understand each other¡¯s feelings,¡±

    Peter chimed in

    ¡°So such a wonderful girl like Zoe, I¡¯m really worried someone might steal her away. Alvin, you need to hurry up and marry her!¡± Michelle skillfully steered the conversation back to tomorrow¡¯s marriage license.

    Alvin nced at me, his eyes betraying some unease.

    I turned to face him. ¡°Alvin, in front of your parents, confirm your feelings again. Do you really want to marry me?¡±

    ¡°Alvin, hurry up and say something!¡± Michelle interjected.

    Alvin kept looking at me, his gaze deep and full of emotions I couldn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Zoe, I want you to be my wife. Don¡¯t refuse, okay?¡±

    As his words settled in, everyone at the table turned their attention to me, waiting for my response.

 Be Honest 20

    Under the expectant gazes of Peter and Michelle. I finally nodded. But in my heart, I silently promised myself. ¡®If Alvin ever gets involved with Thea again-even in the smallest way-no matter what, even after we¡¯re married, I¡¯ll leave him.¡±

    When I agreed, everyone at the table let out a sigh of relief. The mood immediately lightened and became more rxed and warm.

    After dinner, of course, I couldn¡¯t leave. Once we were back in the bedroom, there was an awkwardness between Alvin and me, even more thanst time.

    ¡°You go take a shower.¡± Alvin spoke first.

    Just then, my phone rang. It was Jasmine. I nced at Alvin and said, ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll take this call.¡±

    Once Alvin stepped into the bathroom, I answered the call. Jasmine¡¯s voice came through sharply. ¡°Zoe, you didn¡¯te. back to minest night, and you¡¯re not here today. Please tell me you haven¡¯t gone back to the Dolton family?¡±

    I looked at the big bed in the middle of the room and softly murmured, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here.¡±

    ¡®Are you and Alvin back together?¡± Jasmine sounded genuinely surprised.

    I bit my lip. ¡°We¡¯re getting our marriage license tomorrow.¡±

    There was a long pause on the other end. Finally, Jasmine asked, ¡°Are you sure about this?¡±

    walked to the window and stared at the half moon hanging in the sky. ¡°The moon waxes and wanes, and people are no lifferent. He blocked Thea¡¯s contact and promised to stopmunicating with her. I want to give him one chance.¡±

    paused, then added, ¡°Thest chance.¡±

    asmine knew me well. Once I¡¯d made up my mind, there was nothing more to say. After a beat of silence, she finally spoke, Zoe, just remember that when you choose a man, you¡¯re choosing safety and happiness.¡±

    Yeah,¡± I said quietly, ending the call. I stood there for a moment, lost in thought. My mind felt strangely empty, and I wasn¡¯t ure what to feel-neither sad nor happy.

    A sudden chill at my back made me turn. Alvin hade up behind me.

    He was shirtless, wearing only pajama pants, and his wet skin left droplets of water on my arm as he wrapped his arms round me. It was raw but undeniably sexy.

    His lips brushed my neck, his teeth lightly grazing my skin. A shiver ran through me, my body tightening in response.

    knew exactly what he wanted, but I gently ced my hand over his. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until tomorrow.¡±

    Tomorrow, we¡¯d get our marriage license. It wasn¡¯t worth rushing tonight.

    Alvin froze for a moment, his grip tightening around me. But he didn¡¯t push further. Instead, he kissed my cheek. ¡°Go take a shower, get some rest. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll go first thing to get our marriage license. Let¡¯s try to be the first.¡±

    His words made it sound like he was in a rush.

    Iughed softly. ¡°Is there a prize for being first?¡±

    He hesitated, then answered, ¡°Yes.¡±

    His energy shifted, as if he was ready to press on, but I didn¡¯t go along with it. At this point, stepping away was

    smartest move.

    probably the

    I went into the bathroom, staying there for almost an hour. I waited until I figured he was almost asleep before I came out.

    To avoid any awkwardness, Alvin was already asleep when I emerged. His phone rested silently on the nightstand, and the

    room was still.

    Even though nothing would happen between us tonight, the lingering shadows of the past made me uneasy. I couldn¡¯t shake the worry that his phone might ring at any moment.

    That night, I didn¡¯t sleep soundly. I kept having strange dreams-dreams where Alvin was driving to a riverbank, where he was drinking in a cave.

    His car door was open, and a snake kept slithering in and out. Eventually, the snake morphed into a monkey, jumping around wildly.

    When I woke up, it was still dark outside. Alvin was sound asleep beside me.

    I gently turned and looked at him. His nose was straight and well-defined, his long, curledshes framing eyes that looked like they¡¯d been meticulously drawn.

    The bags under his eyes were more pronounced than any artist¡¯s sketch. His lips weren¡¯t thin but fuller-apparently, men with lips like his were supposed to be lucky and emotionally generous.

    I was so caught up in studying him that I didn¡¯t notice when his eyes suddenly fluttered open. My unintentional spying was caught off guard.

    Despite being so familiar with him, my heart still skipped a beat, and my cheeks flushed. ¡°Good morning.¡±

    ¡°Morning.¡± Alvin¡¯s voice was husky from just waking up. ¡°Mrs. Dolton.¡±

 Be Honest 21

    I froze, and the heat in my cheeks deepened. I shifted back slightly, quickly hopped off the bed, and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

    By the time I came out, Alvin had already left the room. I pulled out a white shirt dress from the closet, paired it with a soft yellow coat, and felt like a burst of sunshine as I looked at myself in the

    mirror.

    I tried to make myself smile, reminding myself that today was the day I¡¯d smile, be happy, and look forward to a future of happiness.

    When I reached downstairs, Peter and Michelle were already setting the breakfast table. They¡¯d swapped the usual dishes for festive ones.

    ¡°Zoe, once you two get your marriage license,e back here. We¡¯ll have a big celebration and talk about the wedding details.¡± Michelle seemed even more excited than I was.

    ¡°Okay!¡± I said, smiling.

    Michelle nced at me and nodded approvingly. ¡°You look great today, but you¡¯d look even better

    in red.¡±

    ¡°Red¡¯s too bold,¡± I exined.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her,¡± Peter quickly interjected, clearly trying to avoid the topic. ¡°Things are different now. No one wears those bright, over-the-top colors anymore. Zoe, wear whatever you like, don¡¯t worry about Michelle¡¯s opinion.¡±

    I smiled warmly at his support.

    Michelle pulled me over to the table, where there was the usual hearty breakfast, but this time there were two eggs and a grilled sausage, arranged so suggestively I felt a little embarrassed.

    Before I could say anything, Michelle leaned in close and whispered in my ear, ¡°This is a recipe passed down from your grandmother.

    ¡°It¡¯s meant to bring good luck for having children. It¡¯s just a little charm to wish for a baby soon.¡±

    My face burned with embarrassment. I looked at the eggs and sausage but couldn¡¯t bring myself to

    eat them.

    ¡°Just take a small bite, it¡¯s symbolic,¡± Michelle insisted as she peeled the egg for me and handed it

    over.

    This was her hope for me, and I couldn¡¯t refuse. Blushing, I took a small bite and quickly buried my face in my oatmeal.

    It wasn¡¯t until I was almost finished that I noticed Alvin was still missing. ¡°Michelle, where¡¯s Alvin?¡±

    17:24 Mon, 18 Aug

    ¡°He hasn¡¯te down yet,¡± Michelle said just as footsteps echoed from the stairs. Alvin appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

    Something felt off. His expression was unusually serious.

    My heart dropped, and I watched as he walked toward me. ¡°Zoe, I consulted Hubert about the timing, and he said it¡¯s best if we get our marriage license at 10:58 a.m. tomorrow, so we don¡¯t have to go so early.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± I replied, with a quiet sigh. That brief excitement inside me seemed to fade away.

    I knew Hubert nd-he was a priest at the church.

    Michelle and Peter quickly nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll follow Hubert¡¯s advice.¡±

    Alvin sat down and ate his breakfast quickly, though he didn¡¯t exactly devour it. He just seemed to cat faster than usual.

    Michelle took the leftover eggs and sausage I hadn¡¯t eaten and gave them to him. He didn¡¯t ask any questions and just ate them without a second thought.

    ¡°Zoe, stay here and wait for me. I need to prepare something,¡± he said, sounding mysterious.

    Michelle shot me a wink and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s a gift for you.¡±

    I immediately thought of what he saidst night about being first. His behavior now made it clear that whatever he was preparing was rted to that. I watched him leave, and then went upstairs.

    Just as I was about to take off my coat, my phone rang. It was Davy. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Dolton.¡±

    It seemed Davy knew about our ns to get the marriage license. I smiled lightly. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Lipsy. Is something wrong?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Kemp, I¡¯m sending you an address. Pleasee here now. I¡¯m waiting for you. Mr. Dolton has a gift for you,¡± Davy said, sounding mysterious.

    ¡°Okay!¡± I agreed and hung up.

    He sent me the address-it was for a ce called Saltwater Spring.

    When I arrived, Davy was already waiting for me. Without saying anything, he handed me a set of keys.

    That was when I understood-Alvin¡¯s gift was a house. He knew me well. No matter how good life at the Dolton family was, I still wanted my own space.

    A strange, sweet feeling wrapped itself around my heart. I felt a mixture of warmth and excitement, like I¡¯d been lightly touched by a delicate sting.

    Smiling, I held the keys and opened the door. The bright, open room inside instantly lifted my spirits.

    As I stepped inside, a familiar figure emerged from the bedroom. I froze when I saw Thea, wearing pajamas.

 Be Honest 22

    ¡°Miss Mills, how-how are you here?¡± Davy, just as surprised as I was, asked Thea.

    Thea adjusted her nightgown and replied, ¡°I live here.¡± Her eyesnded on the key in ¡°Don¡¯t you knock when you enter someone else¡¯s house?¡±

    my

    hand.

    Davy stepped forward, flustered. ¡°No¡­ this ce was prepared for Ms. Kemp by Mr. Dolton.¡±

    As he spoke, he fumbled with his phone and dialed Alvin, but in his panic, he identally hit the speakerphone button. ¡°Mr. Dolton, the house in Saltwater Spring¡­¡±

    Before Davy could finish, Alvin cut him off. ¡°That house was given to Thea.¡±

    A smile slowly spread across Thea¡¯s face, almost as if it were growing right before my eyes¡­

    ¡°What about Ms. Kemp¡­¡± Davy asked, but again, before he could finish, Alvin interrupted, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange something else for Zoe. And¡­ don¡¯t let Zoe know about this.¡±

    Davy, looking embarrassed and a little red in the face, nced at me. It was as if he thought the person who owed me an exnation wasn¡¯t Alvin, but him.

    He didn¡¯t dare to say more. He probably realized he¡¯d acted impulsively-he should¡¯ve checked with Alvin before bringing me here. But now, it was toote to do anything about it.

    I didn¡¯t call attention to the situation. If I did, Davy¡¯s job would definitely be on the line.

    Times were tough with the economy, and manypanies wereying off staff. Finding a good- paying job wasn¡¯t easy.

    Plus, Davy had only just started dating a girlst month-if he got fired now, that rtionship would probably end before it even had a chance.

    In moments like this, I wasn¡¯t angry or upset. Honestly, I almost admired myself for staying so

    calm.

    Davy awkwardly ended the call and looked at me with guilt written all over his face. ¡°Ms. Kemp¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± I said, pausing for a moment before adding, ¡°Davy, why don¡¯t you sit down and have some coffee while I talk to Miss Mills?¡±

    I didn¡¯t ask Davy to leave because I didn¡¯t want Thea to try pulling some act, like fainting or pretending to be sick. I needed to handle this on my own.

    Once Davy was out of the way, I casually nced at Thea. She was watching me with a mix of wariness, suspicion, and a clear determination to confront me.

    But I didn¡¯t y into her game. Instead, I looked around the apartment.

    It was probably over 200 square yards-spacious but simply decorated, with attention to the little

    details. The floor-to-ceiling windows were especially striking, with a cozy sofa and a small coffee table in front, just like the one in a painting I¡¯d once done.

    The morning sunlight filteredzily through the ss, casting a warm, rxed glow that immediately made everything feel slower and calmer.

    This apartment was in the best part of Seastone, in a prime location. To the left, I could see the CBDmercial district and the Dolton Building.

    To the right, the vast ocean stretched out, the waves rolling gently, with flocks of seagulls soaring freely in the sky. This was my dream home.

    Davy had said this house was a gift from Alvin. It seemed he had put some thought into it after all. But now, it seemed like that good intention had backfired.

    I looked around the living room and then moved on to the other rooms-the bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen-all open-n, exactly how I liked it. Theyout was practically identical to the painting I¡¯d once created.

    I didn¡¯t say anything. I just kept observing, which made the two people in the room increasingly ufortable.

    Especially Thea. She said, ¡°Zoe, you must¡¯ve heard by now. This house is mine. Please leave. I need

    to rest.¡±

    I pulled my gaze away from my inspection of the apartment and looked at her, remembering the bedding she¡¯d picked out yesterday. ¡°Has Alvin slept here?¡±

    Thea pressed her lips together, and I smiled faintly. ¡°Or should I ask more directly? Have the two of you slept together?¡±

    ¡°Zoe, why are you speaking like that?¡± Thea¡¯s pale face flushed slightly, a touch of feigned pride in her expression.

    C

 Be Honest 23

    ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep together?¡± I let my gaze drift to her stomach. ¡°Oh, right. You are pregnant. It¡¯s not convenient for you right now.¡±

    With those sentences, Thea¡¯s face went from red to white in quick session.

    To be honest, her image was a mess. If she wanted to be the other woman, she should just own it. After all, Alvin had given her the house that was supposed to be mine-she could at least feel confident about that.

    But no, instead, she tried to y the innocent victim, pretending she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. It wasughable-she wanted to act like a saint while ying the mistress.

    ¡°Zoe, if you continue acting like this, Alvin won¡¯t like you.¡± Thea actually tried to lecture me.

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh bitterly. If I still wanted him to like me now, I might as well be asking for

    trouble.

    ¡°Save your breath. Let him like you,¡± I shot back.

    In an instant, Thea¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, her face crumpling in fake distress.

    I was right to keep Davy around-if she started crying, it would be hard to make anyone see who was truly in the wrong.

    ¡°Zoe, what do you mean by that? Aren¡¯t you two supposed to be getting your marriage license today?¡± Thea asked, her eyes gleaming with hope. Her ambition was so obvious.

    I suddenly decided I didn¡¯t want to give her the satisfaction. So I casually said, ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re getting it. In a little bit. Alvin consulted a priest about the best time, and he said 10:58 is the perfect

    moment.

    ¡°Apparently, if we get married at that time, we¡¯ll have a long, happy life together-growing old and surrounded by children and grandchildren.¡±

    The spark of excitement in Thea¡¯s eyes was immediately snuffed out by my words.

    Seeing her hopes dashed, I delivered the final blow. ¡°After we get the license, we¡¯ll be having a wedding party. Don¡¯t forget to attend.¡±

    Thea stumbled, almost falling over. I couldn¡¯t help but smirk, remembering her earlier theatrics. ¡°Alvin isn¡¯t here, you know. If you fall, there¡¯s no one here to catch you.¡±

    She was left speechless, biting her lip, her expression a mix of anger and frustration. It was the kind of look that would probably make any man want to protect her.

    I thought, ¡®Maybe that¡¯s how she won Alvin over in the first ce. But honestly, it didn¡¯t matter anymore. Alvin had be just another ordinary person in my life.

    It was strange. I thought I¡¯d feel worse about this, but somehow I didn¡¯t. After everything Alvin had done to hurt me, today¡¯s events barely affected me.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Lipsy,¡± I called out, signaling for Davy to leave.

    ¡°Ms. Kemp, I think this might be a misunderstanding. Let me talk to Mr. Dolton and see what he has to say,¡± Davy said as he stepped outside, his tone pleading.

    He probably knew that, given the situation, he could guess what decision I¡¯d already made.

    ¡°If it were you, would you believe his exnation?¡± I asked, and Davy fell silent.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell Alvin about today,¡± I said, and with that, I walked away.

    Back at the office, everyone was surprised to see me. ¡°Ms. Kemp, isn¡¯t today supposed to be your big day with Mr. Dolton? Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°I suddenly remembered there were a few important tasks I still needed to finish,¡± I replied, leaving them speechless.

    I¡¯d always been responsible at work, never cking off just because I was going to be the future Mrs. Dolton.

    ¡°Looks like the future Mrs. Dolton is really putting the pressure on us!¡± Myra joked in the group chat, sending a cute sticker along with the message.

    I didn¡¯t respond, focusing instead on catching up on my work.

    At 10:00, I got a call from Alvin. ¡°Zoe, where are you?¡± he asked.

    ¡°At the office,¡± I said.

    He paused, clearly surprised. ¡°What are you doing at the office? I¡¯ming to pick you up.¡±

    ¡°No need. You¡¯re going to the city hall, right? I¡¯ll meet you there. Just wait for me,¡± I said, hanging up the phone.

    After a brief moment of silence, I grabbed my bag, but I left the ID card in the drawer.

 Be Honest 24

    I was listening to sermons at Osraka Church when I got another call from Alvin.

    ¡°Zoe, it¡¯s almost 11 o¡¯clock. Why aren¡¯t you here yet?¡± His voice sounded a little frantic.

    ¡°I¡¯m almost there, just wait a little longer,¡± I replied, dragging it out on purpose.

    I had loved him for ten years. I wondered, ¡®How many times have I waited for him?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t even remember anymore.

    Today, I wanted him to wait for me, just for once. It felt like a small way of collecting some interest on the ten years of youth and love I had given him.

    ¡°Hurry up, don¡¯t miss the time the priest gave us,¡± Alvin urged again.

    At that moment, I was sitting in front of Hubert, who hadn¡¯t said a word about my wedding. Clearly, he had no idea I was supposed to be registering my marriage with Alvin today, let alone offering any ¡°auspicious¡± timing.

    I gave a soft ¡°Okay¡± and hung up, then turned off my phone, returning to Hubert¡¯s sermons.

    Alvin had turned to Christianity after a serious illness when he was a child. Michelle had prayed at the church for three days and nights, and he recovered. Ever since, she had embraced Christianity, and Alvin had be a disciple under Hubert.

    As his ¡°essory,¡± I had to tag along, of course. the priest even tied a red string for us, symbolizing our connection. But sadly, that red thread between Alvin and me had already snapped.

    I didn¡¯t leave Osraka Church until 3 p.m. I hadn¡¯t turned my phone back on, but I drove straight to the city hall.

    By the time I arrived, Alvin was already gone. I wasn¡¯t surprised at all. I didn¡¯t know how long he¡¯d been waiting, but I knew it wasn¡¯t anywhere near as long as the countless hours I¡¯d spent waiting for

    him.

    I parked the car and turned on my phone. My notifications exploded-dozens of missed calls and messages, most of them from Alvin. There were fifty-three missed calls and seven messages.

    Alvin: [Zoe, are you here yet? Why is your phone off?]

    Alvin: [Zoe, the time¡¯s almost up. If you don¡¯t get here soon, we¡¯ll miss the lucky moment.]

    Alvin: [Zoe, what¡¯s going on?]

    Alvin: [Zoe, pick up your phone. Answer me.]

    Alvin: [Zoe, in twenty minutes, the city hall will close. We won¡¯t be able to get the license.]

    Alvin: [Zoe, are you messing with me?]

    :

    Alvin: [Zoe, you really know how to push my buttons¡­]

    As I read the messages, I could almost picture Alvin¡¯s panic slowly turning into frustration and, eventually, full-blown anger. Thest message was sent at 11:55, so his patience barelysted an

    hour.

    I stared at the fifty-three missed calls and called him back. The phone rang once, but then he hung up. It was clear¡ªhe was angry. Angry that I stood him up today, and now, he wasn¡¯t picking up my

    calls.

    I didn¡¯t try calling him again. Instead, I sent a message to Jasmine, since Alvin had already contacted her to find me, and she was also asking where I was.

    I didn¡¯t type out a response, just sent her a voice message. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m fine. Just went to the church.¡±

    Jasmine immediately called me on video. As soon as she picked up, she asked, ¡°What happened?¡±

    I bit my lip. ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±

    Jasmine replied, ¡°Then make it short.¡±

    I smiled faintly, about to speak, when Alvin-who had just hung up on me-called again.

    But I wasn¡¯t nning to pick up. I hadpletely given up. I wouldn¡¯t be like before, when I¡¯d always answer his calls first, no matter who I was talking to or video calling.

    Jasmine heard the phone ringing and immediately understood. ¡°Is that Alvin?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Just pick up, he¡¯s been driving himself crazy trying to find you.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Really? Does he ever lose his mind over me?¡¯

    A mocking smile tugged at my lips. Jasmine, always sharp, immediately noticed something was off. ¡°Zoe, don¡¯t tell me you found out about him and that widow?¡±

    Of course, she knew my

    my boundaries.

 Be Honest 25

    ¡°He gave

    Thea a house. A house that was supposed to be mine.¡± I exined it as briefly as possible.

    Jasmine fell silent for a moment, then ground her teeth and muttered, ¡°You¡­¡±

    She didn¡¯t ask anything more, but I knew what she meant. ¡°I¡¯m not giving him another chance.¡± I

    said.

    ¡°You can¡¯t keep forgiving someone like that. If you do, he¡¯ll just keep doing it again!¡± Jasmine and I saw eye to eye when it came to love.

    ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°Alright, well, we¡¯ll take things one step at a time. But for now, pick up the phone and hear him out. After that,e to me,¡± Jasmine added, pausing for a second. ¡°I¡¯m swapping shifts with someone.¡±

    I was about to say no, but she¡¯d already ended the video call.

    Alvin¡¯s calls kepting in, persistent as ever. I sighed and answered. ¡°Hello¡­¡±

    ¡°Zoe, what the hell are you doing? What¡¯s going on?¡± His voice was so loud and frantic it almost hurt my ears.

    I held the phone a bit farther away and let him rant. When he finally calmed down, I put the phone back to my ear. ¡°Alvin, yesterday, in front of your parents, I gave you my final chance. That was it¡ª for both of us.¡±

    ¡°Stop with the useless talk. Where are you? Why didn¡¯t you show up today?¡± His voice was seething with anger.

    It seemed like neither Davy nor Thea had told him I went to that house today, and I wasn¡¯t going to mention it either. Instead, I just answered his question. ¡°I went to Osraka Church. I spent some time with Hubert, listening to some sermons.¡±

    There was silence on the other end. He knew his lies had been exposed. ¡°Zoe, let me exin¡­¡± he

    started.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing left to exin, and frankly, I¡¯ve heard enough exnations from you. I¡¯m sick of them. I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m done,¡± I said, pausing for a moment. ¡°Alvin, this ends now.¡±

    ¡°Zoe!¡±

    ¡°Oh, and by the way, I finished up all my work. Everything¡¯s been sent to the right people¡¯s inboxes, and I sent you a copy too¡­¡±

    Before I could finish, he shouted, ¡°Zoe, what are you nning to do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ taking annual leave.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?¡± Alvin¡¯s voice was icy as heughed bitterly.

    I didn¡¯t answer, but I could hear him tugging at his tie. ¡°Fine. Looks like you¡¯ve really taken a liking to throwing tantrums. Go ahead, keep at it.¡±

    He mmed the phone down.

    I smiled faintly, looking up at the sky. A bird flew by, so free and untethered. I felt like I could be that free too-free from Alvin, free from the Dolton family, and free to live my own life, just as

    Zoe.

    The Dolton family had given me a life offort, but it felt like being a bird kept in a cage. I had longed for so many things, but fear and responsibility had kept me from reaching them.

    Starting today, I could fly away from that cage and into a world I had always dreamed of.

    I drove to meet Jasmine. She had canceled her shift just to check on me, and I knew she¡¯d feel better once she saw I was okay.

    She knew better than anyone how much I loved Alvin. Even though I was calm on the outside, I knew she was probably worried I¡¯d do something drastic.

    ¡°You¡¯re fast. Did you run every red light on the way here?¡± Jasmine teased when she saw me. ¡°Yeah, but you¡¯re worth it,¡± I said with a smile, making her fall silent before pulling me into a hug. I closed my eyes, resting my head on her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m not that fragile, really¡­¡±

    And I wasn¡¯t. My heart wasn¡¯t aching. I wasn¡¯t sad. I wasn¡¯t heavy with emotion. It felt almost like walking away from a business deal that didn¡¯t go through¡ªnot like the end of a rtionship.

    Jasmine took off her white coat, grabbed her bag, and got into the car with me. But just then, my phone rang. It was the Dolton family calling.

    Jasmine saw the caller ID and immediately said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to answer, don¡¯t.¡±

    I thought about it for a couple of seconds. ¡°I¡¯ll have to face this sooner orter.¡±

    Sighing, I pressed the answer button.

 Be Honest 26

    ¡°Zoe, I have nned a big celebratory dinner for you both, and I have invited all our family and friends. You two need to be back by 6 o¡¯clock, okay?¡± Michelle said.

    I froze for a moment when I heard Michelle¡¯s voice. I hadn¡¯t expected her to be unaware that we hadn¡¯t registered our marriage.

    C

    It seemed Alvin hadn¡¯t told her. After recalling how they actedst night, I guess he was probably afraid of getting an earful from her.

    Listening to the excitement and joy in her voice, I felt a pang of guilt. But the reality was, Alvin and I weren¡¯t going to get married, and it was no longer something I could hide.

    Sooner orter, the truth woulde out. I couldn¡¯t keep up the lie for much longer, especially not when she was already nning a celebration. If all her friends and family showed up, it would make things even harder for her.

    ¡°Michelle,¡± I said quietly.

    ¡°You should be calling me Mom by now,¡± Michelle joked, in a lighthearted tone.

    Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I suddenly felt a weight in my chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Michelle¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever be able to call you Mom.¡±

    There had been so many times in the past ten years when I wanted to call her Mom. I never thought I¡¯d have to give up on that dream.

    ¡°What¡­ what do you mean?¡± Michelle sounded confused. ¡°Zoe, is it hard to call me Mom? If it feels awkward, just keep calling me Michelle¡­¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t register our marriage,¡± I interrupted gently. ¡°And we won¡¯t be.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Michelle¡¯s voice was filled with shock. ¡°What happened? What¡¯s going on? Zoe¡­¡±

    ¡°Michelle, we broke up,¡± I said. And as those words left my mouth, I felt an unexpected lightness, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

    There was a long silence on the other end of the line, and I suddenly felt a rush of anxiety. I feared she wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the disappointment.

    For years, she had treated me like her own daughter. I knew how much she had hoped I would be part of her real family.

    This morning, when I left, she had been so happy, already anticipating the day I would return and

    call her Mom.

    I swallowed the nervous lump in my throat and carefully spoke again. ¡°Michelle¡­¡±

    ¡°Why? Zoe, tell me why.¡± Michelle¡¯s voice trembled.

    A whirlwind of thoughts flooded my mind, but I simply said, ¡°Michelle, Alvin and I aren¡¯t right for

    each other.¡±

    I didn¡¯t go into the details of his betrayal. I wasn¡¯t about to air his dirtyundry. The truth was, I¡¯d lost to Thea-a widow, no less.

    ¡°Not right for each other? How could that be? You¡¯ve been together for years-so close, so connected, you know everything about each other.

    ¡°You love him, and he cares about you. How could you say you¡¯re not right for each other?¡± Michelle¡¯s voice was full of disbelief.

    Her words hit me hard, and my chest felt tight like a huge weight was pressing down on me. ¡°Michelle¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m calling Alvin. He must have done something to hurt you,¡± Michelle said, then hung up.

    Her final words-¡°Alvin hurt me¡±-made my throat tighten. The fact that she was on my side, that she was so ready to defend me, hit me harder than I expected.

    Jasmine squeezed my hand. I nced at her, giving a faint smile.

    In her dark, clear eyes, I could see how broken my smile really was. I looked fine on the outside, but my eyes gave away everything-my heart was in pieces.

    Michelle called again, but I didn¡¯t pick up. I knew what she wanted to say. She¡¯d want me toe back to the Dolton family, but I couldn¡¯t go back.

    I didn¡¯t want to go back. If I did, it would just mean more convincing from Michelle and Peter, more pleading to make me stay. And I was done with that.

    I had already made up my mind, so there was no point in listening to more of their nagging. It would only waste their energy and drain my emotions.

    Jasmine could tell what I was thinking. ¡°Where are we going? I¡¯lle with you, or¡­¡±

 Be Honest 27

    ¡°Come help me pack up my ce,¡± I interrupted.

    She gave me a surprised look. ¡°Wait, are you already prepared for this?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly prepared, but I started thinking about it the other day,¡± I said, pointing to the back seat where I had left the bed linens I hadn¡¯t even bought yet.

    ¡°I bought them with Thea yesterday,¡± I added, and Jasmine¡¯s eyes widened with shock, clearly

    curious.

    On the drive to my ce, I exined everything to Jasmine. She was fuming, shaking her head. ¡°Good thing you didn¡¯t go through with the marriage.

    ¡°Alvin is just another one of those selfish, modern men who want it all-he has his foot in one door and his hand in the other.¡±

    ¡°A scumbag is a scumbag, doesn¡¯t matter what century we¡¯re in,¡± I teased, half-smiling.

    Jasmine nced at me seriously. ¡°Zoe, if you¡¯re upset, you don¡¯t have to put on a smile for me.¡±

    ¡°Really, I¡¯m not upset,¡± I said, my gaze fixed on the road. ¡°Maybe my feelings for him are just like his for me-so familiar that they¡¯ve be indifferent.¡±

    I truly felt that way. Butter, I¡¯d realize that the love I thought had faded was like an old wine-it had only matured into something stronger. And if it was true for me, it was definitely true for Alvin.

    Jasmine didn¡¯t know about my parents¡¯ house. We¡¯d met after I moved into the Dolton family¡¯s ce for school.

    ¡°This ce isn¡¯t bad. A little old and far from everything, but still nice,¡± Jasmine said, as straightforward as always.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s where my parents and I lived. I don¡¯t want to change anything,¡± I said, setting the new bed linens on the couch and heading to wash the kettle I had bought.

    Jasmine wandered around, then leaned against the kitchen doorway, looking at me. ¡°It¡¯s cozy, even if it¡¯s a bit outdated. I can tell your family was really happy here.¡±

    I thought, ¡®If only things had stayed that way. If not for the ident. Even now, I still felt like it was all a nightmare I couldn¡¯t wake up from.

    My parents had dropped me off at school that morning, saying they were going to close a business deal. Eliseo even promised me that if the deal went through, they¡¯d build a theme park for me. But they never came back.

    ¡°Zoe, Zoe,¡± Jasmine called, pulling me out of my thoughts. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re so quiet.¡±

    I looked up at her. ¡°What?¡±

    Jasmine could see the shift in my expression. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, just¡­ missing my parents,¡± I said, my voice catching in my throat. A wave of sadness and heaviness rose in my chest, but I pushed it down.

    Even though I¡¯d always known Alvin would be my boyfriend one day, we only officially got together

    three years ago.

    It was on the anniversary of my parents¡¯ death. I was crying at their graves when he held me and promised that from now on, I¡¯d have him by my side.

    He swore in front of their tombstones that he would love and take care of me. Back then, I thought I had found someone I could depend on, just like my parents.

    ¡°What¡¯s the point of thinking about them now? You should focus on what you¡¯re going to do with your future,¡± Jasmine said, noticing the pain in my eyes. She deliberately changed the subject to distract me.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve broken up with Alvin, why even bother with him?¡± Jasmine asked.

    The kettle finished boiling, and I poured us both cups of coffee. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent all the handover materials to the person in charge, and I¡¯ve written my resignation letter. Once the amusement park¡¯s inspection is done, I¡¯m out.¡±

    ¡°Resigning is definitely the right choice. ¡®Let¡¯s just be friends¡¯ is all nonsense after a breakup. The only way to move on is to get some distance-out of sight, out of mind.¡± Jasmine fully supported my decision.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± I nodded.

    Jasmine could tell I didn¡¯t want to keep talking about it, so she changed the subject.

    Looking around my ce, she added, ¡°By the way, doesn¡¯t your ce need some newer appliances? Like a washing machine, a coffee maker, maybe a robot vacuum?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get to that when Ie back,¡± I said, noticing her looking at me expectantly.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± she asked.

 Be Honest 28

    It took me four hours on the train to get to Tideport, and it was just as the evening lights were starting toe on.

    It might not have the hustle and bustle of Seastone, but the city was still alive with lights, carrying that quaint charm of a small town.

    Jasmine¡¯s call came in, almost right on the dot. ¡°Have you arrived? Found a ce to stay yet?¡±

    She hadn¡¯t expected me to leave so abruptly. When she asked where I was going, I gave her the address and even the train details. She had wondered if I was rushing off to escape Alvin, afraid he mighte after me.

    I told her she was wrong. Alvin wouldn¡¯t do that. He was probably just angry at me for standing him up, for not doing what he wanted.

    Looking at things now, I was right. After he grilled me about why I didn¡¯t show up to register for the marriage, he hadn¡¯t sent a single text or made a call.

    The real reason I came here so quickly wasn¡¯t just that I¡¯d been thinking about it for a while¡ªit was because I wanted to avoid being harassed.

    But it wasn¡¯t Alvin I was trying to avoid¡ªit was his parents. I knew Peter and Michelle would chase after me and try to convince me toe back.

    But my mind was made up. I wasn¡¯t about to go back and listen to them waste their energy on me. I¡¯d rather leave quickly, get some distance, and avoid any more drama.

    I even switched my other phone to airne mode. Jasmine was calling me on my secondary number, the one even Alvin didn¡¯t know about.

    This number belonged to Eliseo. It had been sitting in a separate slot in my phone for ten years had never rung once-until now.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t found a ce yet, but there¡¯s no rush,¡± I replied, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. For a moment, everything seemed to slow down, as if time had pressed pause.

    and

    ¡°No rush? Look at the time! You need to find somewhere, and fast. Get a decent hotel, somewhere safe.

    ¡°And check the closet, under the bed, lock the windows, and make sure the door is secure before you go to sleep¡­¡± Jasmine rattled off a list of things to do.

    I smiled, a little bit of bittersweetness mixed in with the warmth. It wasforting to know she cared. ¡°Okay, I got it. I¡¯ll be careful.¡±

    ¡°And don¡¯t forget to eat something! There must be takeout around there, right?¡± Jasmine added, just as a delivery guy passed by outside.

    ¡°Want me to ask someone to keep youpany so you can continue rattling?¡± I teased.

    Jasmine sighed in relief. ¡°Zoe, please, just take good care of yourself, no matter what.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I will. You should get some rest too, you¡¯ve got a surgery early tomorrow,¡± I reminded her before hanging up.

    I didn¡¯t rush to find a ce to stay. I didn¡¯t want to check into a hotel. The truth was, I came here because it was my hometown-or more precisely, the ce where my parents were born.

    My parents weren¡¯t originally from Seastone. They went there to try to make their fortune, but in the end, they didn¡¯t make any money. Instead, they lost their lives there.

    I was born here in this small county, but we left shortly after I was born.

    Although I grew up in Seastone, I have vivid memories of Eliseo often talking about Tideport.

    He¡¯d say that when I was older, they would bring me back here to visit the house where they lived and the orphanage where they grew up.

    Both of my parents were orphans, abandoned by their parents when they were children because of their disabilities.

    Eliseo was born deaf and mute, and my mom Margery Kemp had a congenital heart condition. Butter, they received help from kind-hearted people, underwent surgeries, and both recovered fully.

    I opened my phone¡¯s photo gallery and found the picture of the address Eliseo had written in his notebook. I hailed a cab and said, ¡°Please take me to Coral Lane.¡±

    As soon as I spoke, I felt the driver nce at me. That one nce made me look at him too, and I

    froze for a moment.

 Be Honest 29

    The man had a buzz cut, sharp, chiseled features, and a cold, stern expression. His skin was a deep, sun-kissed caramel. He looked rugged, tough, and a little intimidating.

    The men I¡¯d been around were all fair-skinned, well-groomed types in shirts and ties, wearing suits and coats. But this man looked like he¡¯d just stepped out of a rough neighborhood.

    I instinctively gripped my bag tighter, remembering the pepper spray and self-defense knife Jasmine had slipped into it before I left.

    But before I could even reach for them, the man started the car without a word. I thought, ¡®What does that look mean, though?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t quite understand, but my heart, which had only just begun to settle in this new city, started racing again, thrown off bnce.

    Out of caution, I didn¡¯t even take the time to admire the city¡¯s sights. It wasn¡¯t until the car finally stopped and I paid the fare, stepping out, that I exhaled, watching the cab drive away.

    It was already 10 p.m. I knew it was a little reckless toe here at this hour. I could have waited until morning to check out the ce where my parents used to live.

    But now that I was here, there was no point in second-guessing myself.

    The area around me was truly run-down. The walls were crumbling, the ground uneven and full of potholes, and there was even standing water on the street. My suitcase wouldn¡¯t roll properly, so I had to drag it by hand.

    The address Eliseo had left me was No. 42 in Coral Lane. I scanned the doortes on each building and finally found it.

    The door even had a ¡°For Rent¡± sign on it. I wondered, ¡®Could a ce like this really be rented out? Only a fool would want to rent a ce like this.

    I muttered to myself, but still walked in. The courtyard was small, with buildings on all sides.

    In the center stood a tree, but since it was dark, I couldn¡¯t make out what kind of tree it was. I knew, though it was a ginkgo tree, the one Eliseo had watched grow.

    ¡°Are you looking for someone or just renting?¡± A voice called out from behind me.

    I turned to see an elderly woman, Holly Brown, her hair a mix of gray and white, leaning on a thin walking stick. She gave me an assessing look from head to toe.

    ¡°I¡ªI¡¯d like to rent,¡± I said, pointing to the room at the far end of the yard. ¡°I¡¯d like to stay in that

    one.¡±

    Eliseo had told me that when we lived here, the courtyard had three rooms. The middle one was the living room where they entertained guests, watched TV, and ate. The kitchen was to the west,

    and the far east room was the bedroom.

    When my parents left, they sold the ce. Now it had been renovated, and all the old traces were gone. But I still wanted to stay in the room where they had lived, even if everything else had changed.

    ¡°That room¡¯s already taken,¡± Holly said, pointing to the room next door. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay in this one instead?¡±

    I didn¡¯t answer right away because I still wanted the other room.

    Holly noticed and added, ¡°That room is a bit old. This one is newer. It¡¯s much better for a young girl like you. Let me show you.¡±

    She opened the door, revealing a neat, clean room with freshly painted walls and a well-made bed.

    ¡°It looks fine,¡± I said, ¡°but I still prefer the other one.¡± Sometimes, I could be stubborn.

    Holly eyed me for a moment before saying, ¡°Well, how about this? You wait until the person in the other roomes back. Maybe you can talk to him and see if he¡¯s willing to swap?¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± I agreed.

    Whether I could stay in that room or not, I was determined to stay here, even if it was just for that ginkgo tree that still stood in the yard.

    I paid Holly and took the kettle of water she had prepared for me. Just as I was settling into the room, my phone rang.

    I assumed it was Jasmine, checking in on my amodation. But when I saw the caller ID, I froze.

    It was someone I hadn¡¯t heard from in years-someone who hadn¡¯t called me in over a decade- calling my secondary number, the one that hadn¡¯t rung once in all that time.

 Be Honest 30

    ¡°Little girl.¡± The voice on the other end of the line was deep and familiar, yet distant.

    A familiar face shed through my mind, and I instinctively said, ¡°Philip.¡±

    I¡¯d thought that changing my number would be enough to escape the Dolton family¡¯s reach, but I never expected Philip to know it-and I certainly didn¡¯t expect him to contact me.

    ¡°Looks like you saved my number after all, didn¡¯t forget me.¡± Philip¡¯s voice held a teasing note.

    He was only two years older than Alvin, and before he went abroad, he¡¯d always looked out for me, calling me ¡°little girl¡± all the time.

    I didn¡¯t know how to respond at first. There was a certain tone in his voice-something between teasing andint, though maybe it was just my imagination.

    The first couple of years after he left, we¡¯d still keep in touch now and then, and I¡¯d ask how he was doing. But as time went on, we lost contact.

    Philip wasn¡¯t the type to reach out. Even with family, he kept his distance. Now, out of nowhere, he was calling.

    It was obvious that he knew about my breakup with Alvin, even though Philip wasn¡¯t really close to the family, he still got wind of important matters.

    ¡°How did you get my number, Philip?¡± I asked directly, not one to beat around the bush.

    ¡°You asked me for money to pay your phone bill back then,¡± Philip replied.

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh. Only Philip would remember a phone number after paying a bill once- and hold onto it for ten years.

    When my parents passed away, Eliseo¡¯s phone became one of the few things I had left of them. One day, I found out it had been deactivated, so I decided to top it up.

    But at the time, I had no money and was too embarrassed to ask Peter and Michelle for help, so I went to Philip for a loan.

    He was worried I¡¯d use the money for something else, so he insisted on going with me to pay bill. In the end, he covered the cost, and in doing so, he remembered my number.

    the

    I hadpletely forgotten to pay him back for that bill. So when he called, I teased, ¡°Philip, are you calling to collect your debt?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I am,¡± he admitted, without missing a beat.

    I knew he wasn¡¯t serious, but I went along with it. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll transfer the money right now¡­¡±

    ¡°Zoe,¡± Philip cut me off.

    Chapter ou

    My hand tightened around the phone, but I didn¡¯t speak. Neither did he¡ªat least, not immediately.

    After a brief pause, his voice came again, this time much softer. ¡°My mom and dad are really worried about you. They couldn¡¯t find you, and they¡¯ve been frantic. My mom¡­ she even copsed

    from the stress.¡±

    My heart squeezed. I¡¯d expected them to be worried, but I hadn¡¯t realized it was this serious. The guilt and anxiety hit me hard. ¡°Is Michelle okay?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s fine. Just high blood pressure from the stress,¡± Philip said, then paused. ¡°Zoe¡­ did Alvin do something to hurt you?¡±

    There it was. I couldn¡¯t avoid the question any longer. I knew anyone who found out about us would ask the same thing.

    The thought of it made my temples throb, and I rubbed my aching forehead. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask him first, Philip? Shouldn¡¯t you talk to him beforeing to me?¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Philip replied. ¡°He said he doesn¡¯t know what happened.¡±

    I almostughed at that. ¡°Didn¡¯t he also say I was being unreasonable? That I was just throwing a

    tantrum?¡±

    Philip didn¡¯t answer that. Instead, he said, ¡°You were so in love with him, so determined to marry him. And now, you¡¯ve suddenly changed your mind¡­ He must have done something to hurt you, right?¡±

    The words he spoke stung, like a sudden sharp pain in my chest. Although Philip had been abroad for several years, he understood my feelings for Alvin better than even Jasmine.

    After all, we¡¯d shared meals at the same table and lived under the same roof.

 Be Honest 31

    Every little detail of my love for Alvin-the candies I left for him, the dishes I saved, the apples I secretly hid, and the diary entries I wrote in silence-Philip had witnessed it all.

    I hadn¡¯t thought about those things in years, but when Philip spoke, it was as if he¡¯d flipped a switch in my mind. Suddenly, all those memories were ying in my head like scenes from an old film.

    ¡°What did he do? Can you tell me?¡± Philip asked, his voice probing gently through my silence.

    If I kept quiet, they¡¯d stay confused, Alvin would probably still think I was just being difficult, and when I went back, Peter and Michelle would definitely ask.

    The easiest thing to do was to say it now, get it out, and not have to deal with it again.

    ¡°He¡­ He¡¯s been with another woman,¡± I said, and immediately the line went dead silent.

    I could practically feel Philip¡¯s disbelief on the other end of the line. I quickly added, ¡°It¡¯s the wife of one of his friends. His parents know about the rumors too.¡±

    Philip was quiet for a long time. I could almost hear his mind racing. I let out a smallugh. ¡°So, you have heard about it, right?¡±

    There was no such thing as a perfect secret. We were no longer engaged, and Peter and Michelle would have been asking around. Philip couldn¡¯t avoid talking to Peter about it.

    ¡°Alvin loves you so much. This can¡¯t be true. There must be some misunderstanding,¡± Philip said, as though he were trying to convince me, just like I used to try to convince myself that Alvin loved <ol><li></li></ol>

    I wasn¡¯t surprised by his response. After all, during the years Philip was around, Alvin used to call me his ¡°wife¡± all the time and wouldn¡¯t let any other man near me. Even when I was close to Philip, Alvin would get jealous.

    ¡°Philip, people change,¡± I said, just as I heard footsteps outside.

    I looked up, and a tall, strong figure passed by the window in a blur.

    Then, I heard Holly¡¯s voice from the courtyard. ¡°Josh, you¡¯re back?¡±

    It sounded like the tenant I was hoping to switch rooms with had returned. Holly¡¯s question confirmed my guess-she had already asked the person about it.

    I overheard the response. ¡°I¡¯m not switching.¡±

    The house had poor soundproofing, and I could hear everything. On the other end of the line, Philip must¡¯ve heard it too.

    ¡°Zoe, where are you? It¡¯ste. You shouldn¡¯t be out there alone. It¡¯s not safe,¡± Philip said.

    I snapped back to reality. ¡°Philip, tell Peter and Michelle I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m just taking a short vacation, getting away for a few days. Also¡­ even though Alvin and I didn¡¯t get married, Peter and Michelle are still my family.¡±

    ¡°And what about me?¡± Philip asked, his voice yful.

    I smiled, my reflection in the window showing the faintest of grins. ¡°You¡¯ll always be my brother.¡±

    ¡°Take care of yourself,¡± he said, his tone shifting to something more serious.

    ¡°Yeah, let me know when you¡¯re back in the country,¡± I replied, almost as an afterthought.

    But then he surprised me with, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t want me toe back.¡±

    I was caught off guard. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should get some rest,¡± Philip said, before hanging up.

    I sighed and set my phone down, just as I heard the sound of water running outside.

    ¡°Josh, why are you washing your hair with cold water again? You¡¯ll catch a cold,¡± Holly scolded.

    I smiled to myself, thinking about how firmly he had rejected the room swap earlier. I stood up and opened the door, only to see the dim courtyard lights casting shadows on a man standing beneath them, washing his hair.

    The sound of water sshing filled the air as he quickly scrubbed through his hair, his strong fingers moving with precision.

    When he turned off the tap and stood up, I noticed his broad shoulders, muscr back, narrow waist, and long legs. A brown leather belt cinched at his waist, emphasizing his raw, untamed strength, with just a hint of wildness.

    I was so caught up in watching that I didn¡¯t notice when he turned around. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.

    It was him-the man who had driven me here. The one I¡¯d thought looked like he¡¯d just been released from jail.

 Be Honest 32

    ¡°Josh, this is the girl I was telling you about who wants to switch rooms. Maybe you two can discuss it?¡± Holly broke the tense silence between the man and me.

    I walked over. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Zoe. Would it be possible for us to switch rooms?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he replied quickly, as bluntly as when he¡¯d been washing his hair earlier.

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little annoyed, a stubborn streak ring up. ¡°Why not?¡±

    He nced at me but didn¡¯t answer. Draping a green towel over his shoulder, he walked past me without a word. A cold draft from the damp towel made me shiver for no reason.

    ¡°Zo¡­ Zoe, right?¡± Holly came over. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. Josh¡¯s not the type to sweet-talk girls. I¡¯ll have a word with himter.¡±

    I was no stranger to being a bit hot-headed, so I raised my voice on purpose. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Whoever wants that room can take it.¡±

    Holly grabbed my arm. ¡°Don¡¯t be so harsh! He¡¯s been in the military, and he¡¯s tough. If you really push him, he could just throw you out.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh. I¡¯d been treating this proud soldier like some sort of criminal.

    ¡°Don¡¯tugh, girl,¡± Holly said, dead serious. ¡°I¡¯m not kidding. That widow from across the street, the one they call Effie-she used to knock on his door all the time.

    ¡°One day, he just wrapped her up in a sheet and tossed her out. Everyone in the neighborhood saw

    it.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Another widow? Looks like I have some sort of connection to them.¡¯

    ¡°Really? Did she end up in his bed?¡± I asked, now fully intrigued.

    ¡°She tried, but didn¡¯t get very far. He tossed her out before anything happened. It was so embarrassing.¡± Holly clicked her tongue, almost like she was reliving the scene.

    I forced a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not interested in the kind of man a widow might fancy.¡±

    Just then, Josh walked out. He wasn¡¯t in just a tank top anymore but had changed into a ck T- shirt and a ck leather jacket. He looked¡­ intimidating.

    ¡°Josh, you¡¯re heading out thiste?¡± Holly asked him, clearly concerned.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he answered, his tone t, like he¡¯d been asked about the weather.

    ¡°Well, don¡¯te back toote. I¡¯ll be locking up soon, and you don¡¯t want any thieves sneaking in¡­¡± Holly barely finished her sentence before Josh was already gone, disappearing into the night.

    I turned and started heading back to my room, but Holly called after me. ¡°Josh¡¯s a good guy. Very

    upright. Any girl who ends up with him will be lucky.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Lucky? If that¡¯s lucky, I¡¯m better off on my own. My heart wasn¡¯t broken, but it sure felt battered after everything had happened.

    Sighing, I was halfway to my room when she called me again.

    ¡°Zoe,¡± she said.

    I turned back. ¡°What is it now?¡±

    ¡°Josh never locks his door when he leaves. If you want, I can take you to check out his room. If you like it, I¡¯ll talk to him tomorrow.¡± Holly had clearly taken my casual remark seriously.

    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound quite right.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with it. We¡¯re not taking his stuff, and he¡¯s a grown man. His room¡¯s just his room-there¡¯s no woman hidden away in there,¡± she said, already starting toward his door.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± I said, feeling awkward. ¡°I don¡¯t want to switch rooms anymore. My room¡¯s fine as it

    is.¡±

    Holly paused in her tracks, and I gave her a warm, grateful smile. ¡°Thank

    some rest too.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t sleep,¡± I heard her mumble as I closed the door behind me.

    you,

    and you should get

    Honestly, I couldn¡¯t sleep either. Even though today had been more exciting than the past ten years of my life, I should¡¯ve been exhausted and ready to crash.

 Be Honest 33

    But there I was, lying on the hard, wooden bed with my mind nk, restless. Sleep just wouldn¡¯te. Eventually, I grabbed my phone and opened WhatsApp, seeing messages from Myra and

    Davy.

    Myra: [Zoe, todaypletely wore me out, but I finished all the tasks you gave me. You owe me some a meal tomorrow as a reward. Zoe, wishing you a happy marriage and a lifetime of happiness!]

    I couldn¡¯t help but curl my lips into a mocking smile as I read the message. But I didn¡¯t reply.

    Davy: [Ms. Kemp, don¡¯t misunderstand Mr. Dolton. Whatever you do, don¡¯t break up with him. If anything happens, I¡¯ll be in big trouble.]

    I didn¡¯t bother replying to him either. Instead, I opened my Instagram and posted a photo of my shadow from the amusement park, using it as the cover for a simple post. [Happy annual leave!]

    After posting, I went through my Instagram and deleted every trace of Alvin. Erasing everything about him felt almost like a celebrity breakup.

    Since we weren¡¯t going to be a couple anymore and we¡¯d never be lovers, it made sense to clear everything out. No need to keep reminders that would only disgust both him and me.

    By the time I was done, it was already 3 a.m. My eyes felt sore, so I tossed my phone aside and shut my eyes.

    Just then, I heard footsteps outside-someone walked past my door, and then I heard the sound of a door opening and closing. I knew Josh hade back.

    I didn¡¯t sleep much. Despite all the noise, I woke up early. My eyelids felt heavy, though, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn¡¯t open them. Even though I was awake, I stayed in bed, unwilling to get up.

    ¡°Josh, could youe back earlier tonight? I want to invite the new tenant for a meal.¡± Holly¡¯s voice made me smile, even while half asleep.

    She really was a warm-hearted person, thinking of inviting me for a meal. It made me feel like I was at home.

    ¡°I can¡¯te back. You two go ahead and eat.¡± Josh¡¯s voice was as cold and blunt as usual.

    I thought, ¡®What a bore. How do women even like men like him? Those women must have a thing for punishment.¡¯

    I mentally rolled my eyes. After two brief encounters, it was clear to me that Josh was pushing all my buttons. I didn¡¯t like him at all.

    Not long after Josh left, I finally got up. I slipped into my pajamas andzily pushed the door open.

    The yard was bathed in sunlight, with golden beams filtering through the gaps in the ginkgo tree leaves, casting a shower of fine, golden dust that seemed to cover the ground like scattered gold.

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re up. I just made pizza, want some?¡± Holly held out a te of pizza to me.

    I really loved simpleforts like this, so I smiled and said, ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°Thene sit,¡± she said, already sitting at the stone table beneath the ginkgo tree.

    For a moment, I felt like I was back in my childhood, sitting with my parents. A wave of emotion hit me, and my eyes suddenly welled up.

    ¡°I was actually born in this yard,¡± I said between bites of pizza, unexpectedly sharing a part of my past.

    Holly nodded, clearly moved. ¡°You¡¯re the child of the Kemp family, right? That¡¯s such a coincidence! Why didn¡¯t you tell me this yesterday?¡±

    I looked at her, touched. ¡°I was afraid you might have second thoughts and not want me to stay, or maybe even ask me to leave.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± she said, looking at my face. ¡°When your parents and I bought this house, everything was settled, and I¡¯m not afraid of anything. You look just like your mother-so pretty.¡±

    I could barely remember what Margery looked like, but I knew she was beautiful.

    ¡°Zoe, you came here alone, so you must not have a boyfriend, right? How about I y matchmaker and get you and Josh together?¡± Holly¡¯s suggestion left mepletely stunned.

 Be Honest 34

    I didn¡¯t expect Holly to try ying matchmaker. Josh¡¯s cold, expressionless face shed in my

    mind.

    The thought of him so bluntly rejecting my request to switch rooms-so direct and emotionless- made me suddenly feel yful. Without thinking much, I replied, ¡°Sure.¡±

    I agreed, but it was more out of habit than anything else I didn¡¯t really take it seriously.

    After breakfast, I borrowed a bicycle from Holly and spent the day cycling around the small town.

    By the time I got back home, it was already evening, and I had a new addition to my things: a sketchpad.

    I¡¯d always loved drawing. Before my parents passed away, they had signed me up for dance, painting, singing sses, and even piano lessons.

    But when they were gone, everything stopped. The one thing that didn¡¯t end was drawing, because it was simple-just a pencil and paper.

    Today, while I was out and about, I spent most of my time sketching-a new scene of Tideport.

    My parents¡¯ biggest wish was to return and see the town. Of course, they¡¯d nevere back, but at least I could paint the Tideport of today for them.

    ¡°Zoe, why are you back sote?¡± Holly noticed me as soon as I walked in, and immediately came over, giving me a yful wink.

    I was a bit confused. ¡°Grandma, you-¡±

    ¡°Josh¡¯s back. I already talked to him,¡± she said, ncing toward Josh¡¯s room with a cheeky grin.

    That was when I remembered what she¡¯d said earlier about ying matchmaker. I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You actually told him? I was just joking.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t joke about things like that,¡± she said seriously. ¡°I¡¯ve already said it.¡±

    ¡°Well, what did he say?¡± I asked casually as I put the bike away,

    ¡°He said he wants to talk to you personally.¡± She nudged me with a big, knowing smile. ¡°It¡¯s got potential.¡±

    Iughed. ¡°If it works out, I¡¯ll invite you to the wedding.¡±

    ¡°Deal. But you better keep your word,¡± she said, still serious. ¡°Now, go wash up and get ready. I¡¯ll tell Josh to do the same.¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± I said with a shrug. ¡°It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t seen each other before.¡±

    ¡°This time, it¡¯s different. This is a formal meeting,¡± she said, making meugh even harder.

    To be honest, I was really enjoying myself here. Especially today. I could wander around freely, draw when I felt like it, and speak my mind without worrying about anything. This was what freedom felt like.

    Even though Holly was a little overbearing, I appreciated her care. I walked into my room, didn¡¯t botherbing my hair or washing my face, and copsed on the bed, pulling out my phone.

    I noticed my WhatsApp had been buzzing with messages all day. I could¡¯ve ignored them, but curiosity got the better of me. The messages were from Myra.

    At that moment, something in me sank. I had to admit, part of me was still hoping to hear from Alvin. Of course, I wasn¡¯t waiting for him to apologize or to get back together.

    But¡­ I¡¯d just disappeared from his life, and he didn¡¯t even bother to check in. It made me feel like a total failure.

    I thought, ¡®Even if he only sees me as a colleague or just a family friend, surely he would¡¯ve been a little concerned, right?¡¯

    He would¡¯ve asked how I was doing, like Philip did, calling from halfway around the world just to check in. But Alvin didn¡¯t.

    I opened up Myra¡¯s messages. There were several new ones.

    Myra: [Zoe, is it true you and Mr. Dolton never registered your marriage? Is everything okay between you two?]

    Myra: [I heard rumors at thepany that Mr. Dolton has a mistress. Could it have been the woman he was hugging the other day?]

    Myra: [Zoe, where have you been?]

    Myra: [Did you run away from home? Don¡¯t do anything crazy, there are plenty of men out there¡­]

 Be Honest 35

    Myra: [Zoe, please reply. I¡¯m really worried about you.]

    Reading through Myra¡¯s flood of messages, with the crying emoji at the end, I finally decided to respond. [I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t overthink it or jump to conclusions. Just focus on your work and I¡¯ll be

    back soon.]

    Myra replied almost immediately. [Zoe, what¡¯s going on between you and Mr. Dolton?]

    I nced at her message and typed a simple word. [Nothing.]

    Her status showed she was typing, but before I could read more, I heard Holly calling from outside. ¡°Zoe, are you ready?¡±

    I tossed my phone aside. ¡°Yep.¡±

    I slipped off my shoes and put on my slippers, opening the door to find Josh outside, filling up several water buckets.

    A row of white buckets stood lined up, and as each filled, he carried them, his strong shoulder muscles visible through his shirt. His presence exuded both strength and control.

    ¡°Why are you filling up so many buckets? Is there a water outage or something?¡± I asked as I walked

    over.

    Holly, noticing my slippers, gave me a quick side-eye.

    Josh didn¡¯t answer, but she did. ¡°Just in case the water gets cut off.¡±

    Then, she turned to Josh. ¡°I¡¯m making fresh fish soup tonight. You two go buy some fish-make sure they¡¯re fresh-and grab sometro.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t really a request to buy things; it was more like a subtle nudge for us to go out and chat. But honestly, with these slippers on, I wasn¡¯t feeling like going, and changing shoes would¡¯ve been even more awkward.

    ¡°Go change your shoes,¡± Josh said, his voice t.

    At this point, changing shoes would¡¯ve been even more embarrassing, so I just shrugged and

    smiled. ¡°No need.¡±

    Josh didn¡¯t say anything more and walked off, but Holly gestured for me to follow. ¡°Josh, wait for

    Zoe!¡±

    Reluctantly, I followed him out in my slippers. They weren¡¯t ideal, but they werefortable.

    We hadn¡¯t walked far when Josh suddenly stopped. ¡°I heard you want to be in a rtionship with

    me?¡±

    I froze. ¡°¡­What?¡±

    I thought, ¡®Did Holly really say it like that? This guy really doesn¡¯t beat around the bush.''¡±

    ¡°So, you don¡¯t want to?¡± He nced at me, and for the first time, I really took a good look at him.

    His features were sharp, his eyes deep. His lips weren¡¯t too thin or too thick. His face was handsome -maybe even more than Alvin¡¯s-but with slightly darker skin.

    I thought, ¡®They say not to judge people by their looks, but who doesn¡¯t notice someone¡¯s face when they first meet? You can¡¯t exactly check someone¡¯s body right off the bat, right?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m 31, served in the army for eight years, now I¡¯m doing¡­¡± He actually started to introduce himself, but was interrupted before he could finish.

    ¡°Josh!¡± A boy, probably around 17 or 18, called out to him, whistling and giving me a quick look as he passed by.

    ¡°Is the taxi yours?¡± After the boy walked off, I asked.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s a friend¡¯s,¡± Josh answered.

    ¡°Have you been involved with the widow?¡± I blurted out without thinking.

    Josh¡¯s gaze grew colder, but he answered simply, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Will

    you

    be in the future?¡± I asked, already feeling like I was crossing a line.

    He replied with his usual brevity, ¡°No.¡±

    Iughed lightly. ¡°I¡¯m 24. I just ended a rtionship that almost led to marriage. Both of my parents are gone, and I¡¯m not nning to get involved with anyone right now.¡±

    I justid it out there, since Holly had asked me if I was interested in trying things with him. To be honest, I wasn¡¯t. I wasn¡¯t interested in dating again, especially not through an arranged setup with a stranger.

    Josh lowered his eyes and said nothing. I thought he understood my point, so I started to turn away when-

    ¡°Then, what about marriage?¡± he asked.

    His question made me stop dead in my tracks. I stared at him,pletely stunned.

    Josh stood tall, meeting my gaze without flinching. ¡°What about getting a marriage license,¡± he repeated.

 Be Honest 36

    I never imagined that a man I¡¯d only met twice would propose marriage. Meanwhile, the guy I¡¯d been with for ten years was hiding a mistress behind my back.

    After the initial shock, I pressed my lips together and smiled. ¡°Josh, isn¡¯t this a bit too sudden?¡±

    Josh¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He remained as serious as ever. ¡°Isn¡¯t the point of dating to get married? If you don¡¯t want to date, then let¡¯s just get married.¡±

    There was some logic to that. But the guy saying it seemed off. I thought, ¡®Would any normal person marry a stranger like that? Sure, it¡¯s a popr plot in novels, but this isn¡¯t one of those stories.

    1 raised an eyebrow, a sarcastic smile curling at the corner of my lips. ¡°So, you do this with every blind date?¡±

    The sunset bathed us in golden light, and Josh¡¯s shadow stretched over me, engulfing me. ¡°You¡¯re the first.¡±

    I felt a tightness in my throat. ¡°We¡­ don¡¯t really know each other.¡±

    Josh didn¡¯t respond. We just stood there facing each other. In the heavy silence, I could feel my body heat up. A bead of sweat even formed at the tip of my nose.

    As I nervously fiddled with the wall behind me, trying to think of something to say, Josh broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯m going to buy fish.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t liketro.¡± The words just slipped out before I could stop them.

    Josh gave a short grunt of acknowledgment and walked away, his long strides purposeful.

    I watched him walk away. Standing well over six feet tall, he had perfect posture and a straight back. Under the golden sunset, he looked like someone who could handle anything life threw at him.

    Suddenly, a bold thought shed through my mind: marrying someone like him on impulse wouldn¡¯t be the worst idea. He was a soldier-a man who had already been tested by the country. Surely he could handle the challenges of life, too.

    When I returned to the courtyard, Holly wasn¡¯t around. Otherwise, she¡¯d be right there, asking me a million questions or trying to convince me how great Josh was.

    I opened the small door to my room. My phone was buzzing on the bed. It was Jasmine calling.

    ¡°How was your first day of traveling? Any exciting experiences or new discoveries?¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice sounded tired.

    Being a medical expert wasn¡¯t easy. She often spent hours on end in surgery, hardly taking a break.

    Iy on the bed, reying the day in my mind, and finally replied, ¡°Does a random encounter count as a new experience?¡±

    ¡°What? That sounds exciting!¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice brightened, as if she¡¯d just been given a burst of energy.

    Iughed and told her about Josh. Jasmine sighed in admiration. ¡°Zoe, life¡¯s fair. When one door closes, another window opens.¡±

    ¡°Who said it¡¯s a window? You haven¡¯t even met him properly yet. Plus, I¡¯m not exactly in the mood for it,¡± I said, feeling a chill in my chest as I spoke thest part.

    ¡°A man who¡¯s so straightforward about wanting to get married? That¡¯s just one thing: he¡¯s fallen for you, no question,¡± Jasmine said, sounding like a rtionship expert.

    I snorted. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just interested in my looks.¡± I was confident about my appearance-I¡¯d even won a beauty pageant,

    after all.

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong. He¡¯s a soldier. Trust in the country,¡± Jasmine said, almost like she knew exactly what I was thinking.

    I didn¡¯t respond, and Jasmine went on. ¡°I was worried you¡¯d feel lonely and isted on this trip, but now, with this encounter¡­ I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll help you heal from the mess that scumbag Alvin left behind.¡±

    Mentioning Alvin still left a strange feeling in my chest-partly aggrieved, partly unsettled. It was a feeling I hadn¡¯t had yesterday.

 Be Honest 37

    It was the kind of difort that made me feel nauseous, like I might get an upset stomach. I didn¡¯t know why, but whenever I felt anxious, wronged, or uneasy, my stomach just went out of whack.

    ¡°Zoe, if I were you, I¡¯d just marry that soldier, drag him straight to the Dolton family, and knock that jerk Alvin off his high horse. It¡¯ll save you from wasting time with them.¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice was sharp.

    I hummed in agreement. ¡°Not a bad idea. I¡¯ll think about it.¡±

    ¡°Make sure you really think about it,¡± she said, then paused before adding, ¡°Zoe, the best way to forget someone and move on is to dive straight into another rtionship.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Ms. Glisson, I get it,¡± I said, hanging up and staring nkly at the ceiling.

    Outside, I could hear Josh¡¯s steady, deliberate footsteps.

    A momentter, the sound of a faucet turning on followed by Holly¡¯s voice. ¡°Where¡¯s Zoe? It¡¯s just you?¡±

    I didn¡¯t hear Josh respond, but I did catch him saying, ¡°Don¡¯t puttro in the soup.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh at that, but as I smiled, tears unexpectedly welled up in my eyes.

    For years in the Dolton family, I¡¯d eatentro, even though I never liked it when I was with my parents.

    There was a saying, ¡°When in Rome, do as the Romans do.¡± Back then, As I lived as Alvin¡¯s fianc¨¦e, Michelle had even called me her daughter. But deep down, I knew I wasn¡¯t really part of the Dolton family.

    In a lot of small ways, I¡¯d forced myself to adjust, pretending not to mind certain things to avoid seeming difficult or spoiled. Liketro. I had forced myself to eat it, even though I hated it.

    Holly called me to drink the soup, but I had already fallen asleep. In my dream, I was about to sign the marriage license with Josh when I was suddenly woken up.

    ¡°You and Josh didn¡¯t work out?¡± Holly asked at dinner.

    I grunted, remembering my interrupted dream. ¡°We were about to get the license¡­ then you called and ruined it.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Holly was confused. ¡°You two were really getting married that fast? Didn¡¯t you want to date for a while first?¡±

    I was speechless. I didn¡¯t know how to respond.

    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯ve got good taste. If you miss out on Josh, you¡¯ll regret it. If I were fifty years younger, I¡¯d be chasing him myself.¡±

    I burst outughing at Holly¡¯s words.

    ¡°Don¡¯tugh. I¡¯m serious. If you don¡¯t act quickly, that little widow will snatch him up,¡± she continued, her voice full of warning.

    By now, it was just me and Holly at the table, so I asked, ¡°Holly, where¡¯s Josh?¡±

    ¡°He went out with friends for drinks.¡±

    I scooped up some fish soup and tasted it-delicious. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he drive for work? And now he¡¯s drinking?¡±

    ¡°He just helps out his friends asionally, not all the time,¡± Holly exined, eyeing me closely. ¡°So, are you two really

    getting married?¡±

    ¡°No, I just dreamt about it,¡± I said, but Holly shot me a disapproving look.

    I didn¡¯t see Josh again until bedtime. But just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard hime in. Then I heard Holly¡¯s voice again. ¡°Lock the door. We have a young girl here.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s locked. Go to sleep.¡± Josh¡¯s voice was low and calming in the quiet of the night,

    A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth, but before I could rx, Holly¡¯s voice cut through again. ¡°Josh, hurry up! Zoe says she dreams about marrying you.¡±

    I shot up from the bed, thinking, ¡®What? I never said that! Holly really has no filter-she¡¯ll blurt out anything, and she doesn¡¯t even bother getting it right. Great, now I have no face to look him in the eye

    As I muttered to myself, I heard Josh¡¯s voice from outside. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll hurry.¡±

    I had no idea how to respond to that.

 Be Honest 38

    That night, I slept deeply, the kind of sleep where you werepletely out, until the noise from outside woke me up. It wasn¡¯t Josh¡¯s voice, but a woman¡¯s, with a distinct local ent.

    From the sound of it, she wasn¡¯t a young girl. Young girls usually had soft, clear voices, but this woman¡¯s was deeper and rougher.

    I¡¯d always been able to identify people by their voices, but I still couldn¡¯t believe that Alvin, the man I¡¯d loved for ten years, turned out to be nothing more than a jerk.

    They said you knew you¡¯d gotten over someone when you stopped thinking about them.

    But clearly, I wasn¡¯t there yet. I still found myself thinking about Alvin, whether I wanted to or not. Even if it wasn¡¯t love anymore-just resentment-he was still upying my thoughts.

    I stayed lying down, straining to listen to the conversation outside.

    ¡°Holly, where¡¯s Josh?¡± the woman asked.

    ¡°He left. Went out early this morning,¡± Holly replied, the sound of water sshing in the background.

    ¡°He left? I thought he hadn¡¯t even woken up yet,¡± the woman said with a smile in her voice.

    ¡°None of your business if he¡¯s up or not. He doesn¡¯t like you, so stop wasting your time,¡± Holly said, blunt as ever.

    Effie Mendoza, the woman outside, didn¡¯t seem fazed by the harsh words. She justughed. ¡°Holly, what do you know? Men like the chase, the whole push-and-pull thing.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but snort. I thought, ¡°This woman sure is confident.

    ¡°Well, I know he threw you out like a piece of trash.¡± Holly didn¡¯t hold back.

    Effie seemed a little irritated. ¡°What would you know at your age?¡±

    ¡°I know how to have some dignity. I know people need to keep their pride intact,¡± Holly shot back, and I silently gave her a mental high-five.

    ¡°Holly, we¡¯ve been neighbors for years. I¡¯ve helped you out plenty. But instead of thanking me, you¡¯re mocking me?¡± Effie started ying the guilt card.

    Holly wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°Sure, you¡¯ve helped, but don¡¯t kid yourself. You didn¡¯t do it out of kindness-you¡¯re just looking for any excuse to get close to Josh.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh quietly. Holly sure knew how to handle her.

    ¡°Alright, enough of that. I heard you took in a pretty young girl?¡± Effie changed the subject, and now her interest was on me.

    ¡°Yep, she¡¯s got that smooth, tender skin, like you could squeeze water out of her. And she¡¯s a pure, innocent girl.

    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m kind of fascinated by her myself,¡± Holly said, making me feel a little awkward. But I couldn¡¯t help but appreciate her ttery.

    ¡°Really? I¡¯d love to see her. Where is she?¡± Effie asked, and I immediately sat up.

    I thought, ¡®Looks like she is here for me. She is probably worried I¡¯ll steal Josh from her, huh?¡±

    I slipped my feet into slippers, my freshly painted toenails on disy. I was wearing a soft, milk-white silk nightgown, the thin straps barely holding on. My hair was a mess from just waking up, giving me that effortlessly sultry look.

    I opened the door, stretched, and yawned as I stepped outside. ¡°Holly, your ce really needs better soundproofing. I get woken up every day.¡±

    As soon as I spoke, Effie turned to look at me. First, her eyes went wide with surprise, then admiration, followed quickly by jealousy and envy.

    Holly gave me a quick nce. ¡°What can I say? This is a small ce, and the walls are thin. Next time, I¡¯ll make sure to close the door and keep the noisy ones out.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but smile to myself. ¡°Thanks, Holly.¡±

    With that, I grabbed my toothbrush and toothpaste from the counter. That was when I noticed something next to mine-a green toothbrush cup. No need to ask, it was definitely Josh¡¯s.

    Mine was pink, his was green. His was bigger, mine smaller, but oddly enough, together they looked pretty good.

 Be Honest 39

    I picked up the cup, filled it with water, and started brushing my teeth. I didn¡¯t nce at Effie once, but I could feel her eyes on me the entire time. She was eyeing me up and down, then back again.

    ¡°Zoe, this is Effie,¡± Holly suddenly introduced.

    With toothpaste in my mouth, I just nodded toward Effie.

    She had a round face, not exactly fat, wearing a floral dress with makeup, clearly someone who took time with her

    appearance.

    ¡°Effie, this is the Zoe you wanted to see. See how fresh she looks? I wasn¡¯t wrong, was I?¡± Holly said, still busy washing clothes by hand.

    When Effie locked eyes with me, I saw a flicker of insecurity, but she wouldn¡¯t admit it. Instead, she said, ¡°Well, she¡¯s young, of course she¡¯s fresh. I wasn¡¯t so bad when I was her age.¡±

    Holly rolled her-eyes, and Effie gave her a sharp look. Their silent battle was almostical.

    After I finished brushing, Effie finally spoke, ¡°Miss Kemp, are you here visiting family or just taking a vacation?¡±

    ¡°Just ying around.¡± I turned off the tap and started rinsing the toothbrush cup.

    ¡°By yourself? No boyfriend with you?¡± she asked, and I couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    ¡°I¡¯m single,¡± I said with a grin.

    Her face instantly soured.

    ¡°Well, Josh¡¯s interested in you. He even asked me to help set things up. Don¡¯t you think you two would make a good couple?¡± Holly added, always ying matchmaker.

    Effie¡¯s lips twitched, and she muttered, ¡°With her beauty, I doubt she will ever set her eyes on Josh, who¡¯s always so rough.¡±

    It was a surprise for her to admit my beauty, and I¡¯d take it as apliment.

    Holly nced at me. ¡°So, Zoe, you really dreamt of marrying Josh, huh?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes,¡± I replied, feeling awkward.

    At that, Effie was silenced. Her eyes shot daggers at me, and then she hissed, ¡°Miss Kemp, just so you know, Josh is mine. Keep your hands off him.¡±

    I casually flicked a lock of hair over my shoulder. ¡°Oh? So, you two¡­ have you slept together?¡±

    Her face instantly turned crimson, and I couldn¡¯t help but picture Holly¡¯s words from earlier-how Josh had tossed her out like a piece of trash.

    ¡°Since you haven¡¯t slept together, aren¡¯t dating, and definitely haven¡¯t gotten married, then what¡¯s it to you if I¡¯m with him? It¡¯s none of your business.¡± I didn¡¯t hold back.

    Effie had nothing more to say. She red at me for a while before shooting a dirty look at Holly and storming off.

    *I¡¯ve never seen anyone so shameless. Honestly, she¡¯s embarrassing the rest of us women,¡± Holly muttered, clicking her tongue as she twisted the clothes to hang them up.

    ¡°Holly, let me help,¡± I offered, stepping forward.

    The clothes were hung on a thin steel wire in the yard. When I hadn¡¯t been paying attention, but now that they were hanging, I noticed Josh¡¯s green tank top among them.

    I couldn¡¯t help but picture him wearing it while washing his hair, muscles taut. My face suddenly felt a little warm¡­

    I didn¡¯t see Josh the rest of the day, or even the next. I asked Holly about him, and she said he¡¯de back but left again.

    I had a feeling he was avoiding me on purpose. I thought, ¡®Could it be because I rejected him? But why should I care?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t dwell on it. By the third day, I had gotten used to life on this little street. The afternoon market was always lively, with stores lining both sides of the street-so full of life and energy.

    Even if I didn¡¯t need anything, I¡¯d still take a walk, picking up some fruit or vegetables.

    Today, the apples at the market looked especially good, so I bought one: But as I was almost home, my foot suddenly slipped, as if I¡¯d stepped on something.

    With a sharp pain in my ankle, I tilted sideways, and was about to fall when, in a sh, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist.

 Be Honest 40

    I looked up and found myself face-to-face with Josh¡¯s strong, chiseled features.

    Not only had he caught me, but he¡¯d also grabbed the apple out of my hands. This moment felt almost like something straight out of a TV drama-one of those picture-perfect scenes that only happened in fiction. Yet, here it was, happening in real life.

    He steadied me, then let go of my waist, but as soon as I tried to move, a sharp pain shot through my ankle.

    I instinctively grabbed his arm. ¡°It hurts¡­¡±

    Following my gaze, he noticed my pale ankle had already started to turn red. ¡°Did you twist it?¡±

    Josh was so close that his deep voice sent a shiver through me. His tone was low and soothing, yet strangely¡­ maic.

    I nodded, and before I could say anything more, he gently ced the apple in my hands, then scooped me up into his arms without a second thought.

    In all the years I was with Alvin, he never once picked me up like this.

    The suddenness of Josh¡¯s princess carry made my heart race, and I could feel heat rise to my cheeks, even a bead of sweat forming at the tip of my nose. I was just the type to sweat when I was nervous or excited.

    At that moment, I heard murmurs and gasps from the neighbors and people passing by. In a small town like this, I guessed disys of affection still caught people off guard.

    Josh seemed oblivious to the attention, walking with long, steady strides back to the yard, carrying me in his arms.

    As we approached the gate, I spotted Effie standing there, holding a spat, her eyes fixed on me with an almost resentful expression.

    ¡°Oh, so he¡¯s carrying you back, huh? You two are moving fast,¡± Holly teased, her eyes twinkling.

    ¡°She¡¯s hurt,¡± Josh replied, cing me gently on a stone bench in the yard. He crouched down, removed my slipper, and took my foot into his hands.

    His touch was cool, and when his hand closed around my foot, a strange sensation rippled up my leg. My toes instinctively

    curled.

    ¡°Stay still,¡± he said, his other hand gently pressing on the swollen part of my ankle.

    I gasped softly. ¡°It hurts¡­¡±

    But he didn¡¯t release me. Instead, he applied more pressure on a nearby spot. ¡°Does this hurt?¡±

    I shook my head, and he moved to press on a few other areas. ¡°It¡¯s probably just a muscle strain. The bone¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°How can you be so sure?¡± I asked without thinking.

    Josh shot me a quick nce, but it was Holly who answered, ¡°Because he¡¯s been in the army. He knows everything.¡±

    I thought, ¡®So being in the army makes you some kind of expert?¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes inwardly, but before I could say anything, Josh stood up. ¡°Stay still. I¡¯ll grab some ointment.¡±

    As he walked away, I noticed he was only wearing a ck fitted T-shirt and dark blue cargo pants. With his broad shoulders and confident stride, he looked like he¡¯d just stepped out of an action-packed TV show,

    ¡°How did you hurt yourself?¡± Holly asked, clearly eager for details.

    I pointed toward the street. ¡°I think I stepped on something and slipped.¡±

    ¡°Where exactly?¡± she pressed further.

    ¡°Right past Effie¡¯s door,¡± I replied.

    As soon as I finished speaking, Holly got up and headed out.

    Josh returned a momentter with the ointment. He knelt beside me, gently cing my foot on his knee. I knew exactly what he was about to do and quickly said, ¡°I can do it myself.¡±

    He nced at me, unamused. ¡°You need to rub it in for it to work. You don¡¯t have the strength to do it properly.¡±

 Be Honest 41

    He rubbed the ointment in his hands for a moment, then gently pressed it onto the swollen part of my ankle, massaging it in. A dull, tingling sensation spread from the area he was working on¡­

    Not long ago, Alvin had massaged my feet, and while I was touched then, it didn¡¯t feel anything like this. I couldn¡¯t figure out why, but I suspected it had something to do with his technique.

    ?? ?? ?? ?¡ª

    By the time Josh finished, I heard the sound of Holly¡¯s voice raised in anger. ¡°You all listen up! If anyone dares to harm my people, don¡¯t me me, Holly, for being rude. I¡¯ll make you regret¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked softly.

    Josh carefully lifted my foot from his knee and set it on another stone bench. As he stood, I noticed his face was a little flushed.

    At first, I thought maybe it was from the heat, but his next words made me realize it wasn¡¯t.

    ¡°From now on, try wearing fewer skirts around here,¡± he said.

    I looked down at my skirt-an elegant sapphire blue silk that hugged my body, with a slit up the side.

    As I sat, the slit had risen a little, exposing my white thigh. And when he was massaging my foot earlier¡­ well, he must have seen something..

    My face warmed, but determined not to lose face, I casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Does my skirt bother you?¡±

    Josh swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. He didn¡¯t say anything but turned and walked out of the yard. A momentter, Holly¡¯s shouting stopped.

    Curious about what had just happened, I hurried over to the door. I saw Josh with his back to me, facing none other than Effie, his rumored love interest.

    ¡°This is intentional harm,¡± Josh said, pointing at a puddle of oil on the ground. ¡°If we report this, you¡¯ll be legally responsible.¡±

    That was the exact spot where I had slipped earlier. So it wasn¡¯t an ident-it had been deliberately set up.

    ¡°How do you know I did that? Did you see me?¡± Effie yelled back.

    Holly spoke up, ¡°I already asked around. Someone saw you pour the oil here.¡±

    Effie fell silent, but her eyes shot a pitiful, yet venomous, nce at Josh. ¡°Who told her to flirt with you?¡±

    I thought, ¡®Flirt with Josh? Effie really knows how to twist things.¡¯

    Watching Holly and Josh standing up for me, I felt like I couldn¡¯t just stay silent. I had to do something.

    So, I hopped over, using the wall for support, and once I was close, I didn¡¯t argue or shout.

    Instead, I casually wrapped my arm around Josh¡¯s, shing a smile at Effie. ¡°Thanks for setting this up. Now I can see just how great Josh really is.¡±

    Effie¡¯s face went pale, and I squeezed Josh¡¯s arm lightly. His muscles were firm and springy, and I couldn¡¯t help but notice how good it felt. I said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Cut me some apples.¡±

    My voice was so sweet that even I got chills, realizing this was something I had never done before-at least, not with Alvin.

    Josh looked at me, his gaze deepening, and before I could blink, he picked me up again. I thought, ¡®Always lifting me with such ease, like I am a bag he can carry without a second thought.

    ¡°Look at that, look at that! She¡¯s been carried inside, while you are tossed out.¡± Holly couldn¡¯t resist teasing Effie.

    Effie tried to make a y, but in the end, she lost badly. I thought, ¡®No, wait-she lost an entire bowl of oil.

    Josh carried me back to the yard, his cool, calm voice drifting above me. ¡°Want to go inside or sit outside?¡±

    ¡°Outside, let¡¯s eat apples,¡± I said, nodding toward the spot where I had been sitting earlier.

    He carried me over and gently set me down. As he did, his chin brushed the tip of my nose, sending a light tickling sensation through me¡­

    I noticed his Adam¡¯s apple bob as he swallowed, and before I could even think, my mouth moved faster than my brain. ¡°Josh, are you flirting with me?¡±

 Be Honest 42

    It was the first time in my life I¡¯d ever said something so blunt.

    Josh paused for a moment, then coldly replied, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking.¡±

    I just stood there, speechless.

    He turned around, sliced the apple into perfectly even pieces, and arranged them on a te, each slice lined up like soldiers at attention.

    As I looked at the apple, I suddenly had the urge to sneak back into his room.

    ¡°Not eating? Does just looking at it satisfy your cravings?¡± Holly teased.

    I realized she wasn¡¯t just any ordinary old woman. She could scold someone with her hands on her hips, be gentle and caring when the situation called for it, and tell a dirty joke without a second thought.

    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you,¡± I replied yfully, handing her the biggest slice.

    She took it without hesitation and bit into it. ¡°Sweet, but my blood sugar is high, so I can¡¯t have too much.¡±

    I took a slice for myself, but Josh had already gone back to his room and didn¡¯te out again.

    At dinner, he was gone again. I really wanted to ask him if he wasn¡¯t going to eat, but he left so quickly that I didn¡¯t even have time to speak.

    Holly let out a little hum from the side. ¡°Josh is really distant. He only acts like this with you because you¡¯ve caught his eye.¡±

    ¡®Acts like what?¡¯ I didn¡¯t ask, but I couldn¡¯t deny that his massage worked-after a nap, my feet didn¡¯t hurt anymore.

    The next morning, when I woke up, the courtyard was eerily quiet-so quiet it felt like no one was around.

    I opened the door in my spaghetti strap nightgown and noticed Josh sitting at the stone table outside staring at me.

    Josh¡¯s gaze lingered on me for a few seconds before he quickly looked away, and I noticed his ears turning red again.

    I nced down at my outfit, and my face instantly turned crimson.

    I quickly turned and went back inside, but Holly cheerfully called out to me, ¡°Zoe, why are you running back to your room? Come over here and have some oatmeal.¡±

    By the time I changed and came back out, Josh was already gone. I peeked into his room and asked, ¡°Why isn¡¯t he eating?¡±

    ¡°He got scared off by you,¡± Holly said with a mischievous grin. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve got some moves.¡±

    She raised her eyebrows and gave me a knowing look. Of course, I understood what she meant, but I wasn¡¯t doing anything like that.

    ¡°Holly, with your age, and all those dirty thoughts floating around in your head, do you really think you can handle it?¡± I

    teased her.

    She looked at me with a grin. ¡°What did you say? Dirty thoughts? Have I been too nice to youtely that you¡¯re insulting me behind my back?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°No, no, I wasplimenting you. At your age, you¡¯re still sharp as a tack. Nothing gets past your

    So, are you and Josh really not a thing?¡± Holly asked.

    I looked down at my pale feet and thought of Alvin, who had once massaged them. ¡°Holly, right now, I¡¯m not thinking about love. It¡¯s just too painful.¡±

    ¡°Too painful, huh?¡± Holly clicked her tongue. ¡°The best way to heal a broken heart is to find someone new.¡± Her ideas were pretty modern for someone her age.

    I bit my lip. ¡°Not right now. I just need some time to be by myself.¡±

    Holly sighed deeply. ¡°Some things, when you miss the chance, it¡¯s gone forever. Do what you want.¡±

    With that, she got up to wash her bowl, leaving me to finish my oatmeal in peace.

    After dinner, I rode my bike out, unsure whether Josh had left or was still holed up in his room.

    When I returned in the evening, Holly was humming a tune, looking very cheerful.

 Be Honest 43

    I¡¯d been staying here for a few days, and I hadn¡¯t seen her childrene to visit. I didn¡¯t ask about it; it seemed to me that she considered both Josh and me as her own kids.

    Later, as I was about to sleep, I got a call from Jasmine, asking when I¡¯d be heading back.

    I told her I wasn¡¯t sure. Honestly, I was really happy here on this quiet little street.

    It was the most content I¡¯d felt since my parents passed away. I even thought about extending my ¡°vacation¡± for a few more days, just staying until I grew tired of it.

    ¡°You sure you¡¯re not just reluctant to leave your soldier boy behind?¡± Jasmine teased.

    Thinking about the few moments I¡¯d shared with Josh-moments that inexplicably made my heart flutter-I replied, ¡°It¡¯s not about not wanting to leave. It¡¯s just¡­ when he¡¯s around, my heart feels more alive.¡±

    ¡°Ah, looks like Ms. Kemp¡¯s healing powers are pretty strong,¡± Jasmine joked.

    I didn¡¯t say anything, and after a few seconds of silence, Jasmine asked, ¡°Has Alvin contacted you? Not even a single message on WhatsApp?¡±

    I licked my lip. ¡°¡­No.¡±

    Jasmine scoffed. ¡°He thinks you¡¯ll never leave him, huh?¡±

    I knew exactly what she meant. Staring out at the moonlight, I murmured, ¡°This time, I¡¯ll show him.¡±

    I drifted off to sleep while chatting with Jasmine. When I woke up again, the sky was still dark, and the call had ended. Jasmine left me a message. [No one in this world is irreceable.]

    Yeah, I could live without Alvin. These past few days proved that. I¡¯d been eating well and sleeping well.

    I smiled faintly, about to close my eyes again when my phone suddenly buzzed with a message. I thought, ¡®Who could be texting me at this hour?¡¯ I opened my eyes, then froze-it was from Alvin.

    Alvin: [Had enough fun? Come back!]

    Just those few words, but they were loaded with anger.

    I thought, ¡®So, after all this time, now he remembers me? And he has the nerve to act like I¡¯m the one causing trouble,pletely unaware of his own mistakes?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t reply. I just shut off my phone. But now I couldn¡¯t sleep. I got up, opened the door, and stepped into the small yard. walked under the ginkgo tree, and just then, I heard the creak of a door opening.

    I turned and saw Josh walking out. He was carrying a backpack and dragging a suitcase behind him.

    He seemed surprised to see me, pausing for a second before wordlessly continuing on his way, pulling the suitcase out of the yard.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± I asked before I could stop myself.

    ¡°Out of town,¡± he said, not slowing his pace. Without another word, he was already out of the yard.

    I stood there, dazed for a moment, before pulling my gaze away. A few secondster, I headed to his room. I was surprised.

    to find the door wasn¡¯t locked-it opened easily with a push.

    When I flicked on the light, his room looked just as I imagined, but also a little different.

    It was the same in that everything was neat and orderly, the bed made up perfectly with the sheets folded like little blocks. But it was different because many of the items were old-at least a decade, maybe more.

    Thinking about what Eliseo had said, I couldn¡¯t help but feel that these were the things my parents had left behind.

    When Holly came in, I was still standing there, lost in thought. She seemed to understand what I was feeling, and without me asking, she exined, ¡°These things¡­ they¡¯re from your parents.

    ¡°I was going to move them to the room you¡¯re staying in, but Josh wouldn¡¯t let me. He said they¡¯re perfectly fine, so I left them here.¡±

    I touched some of the old items, and a knot formed in my throat. Because of these things, I found myself wanting to stay here even more, even if Josh was leaving.

    But just then, I got a voice message from Myra. She sounded almost like she was about to cry. ¡°Zoe, there¡¯s a huge issue with the lights at the amusement park. You need toe back right now!¡±

 Be Honest 44

    I thought, ¡®A major problem? How big can it be?¡¯ I wasn¡¯t panicked. I just asked calmly, ¡°Take it slow and tell me what happened.¡±

    Myra exined the issue. Basically, the lighting didn¡¯t match the design at all. Either there was a problem with the quality of the lights from the supplier, or it was an instation issue.

    ¡°Well, since you know the problem, just go talk to the person in charge and get it sorted. Even if I came back, that¡¯s all I¡¯d be doing,¡± I said, keeping my tone casual.

    ¡°Zoe, pleasee back! I really can¡¯t handle this by myself. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with Mr. Doltontely, but he¡¯s been at the amusement park every day.

    ¡°Every time he leaves, there¡¯s a new problem, and I¡¯m going crazy trying to fix everything,¡± Myra said, her voice breaking as if she was about to cry.

    Her words made me wonder, ¡®Is Alvin purposely making things difficult for Myra to push me intoing back?¡¯ After all these years, he knew me well enough to understand that I was soft-hearted and didn¡¯t want to make others suffer because of <ol><li></li></ol>

    ¡°You handle it for now.¡± I still didn¡¯t agree to return.

    It wasn¡¯t because I was heartless and didn¡¯t care about Myra. It was because I wanted to give her a chance to grow. She needed to learn to take responsibility if she was going to improve and advance.

    I was nning to resign soon, which would open up a promotion for her, but she needed to show she had the skills to take on the role.

    ¡°Zoe, I really can¡¯t handle this alone. This is a huge issue! You know how important the lighting is to the whole park,¡± Myra pleaded.

    I thought for a moment. ¡°Send me a detailed report, then contact me when you¡¯re on-site. It¡¯d be best if you could turn on all the lights at night so I can see the full effect.¡±

    Hearing that I was genuinely hesitant to return, Myra sighed. ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to deal with Mr. Dolton right now. If it weren¡¯t absolutely necessary, I wouldn¡¯t ask you toe back.¡±

    She paused, then added, ¡°But I¡¯m still supporting you.¡±

    Her words warmed my heart, though I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little bitter.

    ¡°Okay, go ahead and follow my instructions,¡± I said, then ended the call. I opened my email and reviewed the lighting design ns and renders for the park.

    That night, Myra called me via video. ¡°Zoe, I¡¯m on-site now, and all the lights are on. How do you want to check it?¡±

    I watched the video, but all I could see was a small section of the lights. ¡°Go to the highest point in the park. I¡¯ll get an overall view first.

    ¡°Then you can use an aerial shot to show the lighting in each section, especially where the issues are.¡±

    ¡°Got it. Hang on,¡± Myra said. The screen wobbled as she started running.

    But after a few steps, she suddenly stopped. Then I heard her call out, ¡°Mr. Dolton, what are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Why are you running?¡± Alvin¡¯s familiar, cold voice came through.

    My hand tightened around my phone, and my heartbeat quickened.

    Despite everything, ten years of shared history couldn¡¯t just disappear overnight. Alvin-his voice alone still had the power to stir something inside me.

    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®If Myra tells him she is talking to me, what will he say? Would he take the phone from her and speak to me directly?¡¯

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m just looking for a higher spot to shoot the video,¡± Myra replied quickly.

    Alvin didn¡¯t answer right away. After a long pause, he muttered a soft ¡°Okay,¡± and then I heard his footsteps fade as he walked

    away.

 Be Honest 45

    Chapter 45.

    ¡°Zoe, I didn¡¯t say it was you, because I was worried Mr. Dolton might want to talk to you. You probably don¡¯t want to speak with him, right?¡± Myra asked, clearly concerned for me.

    I gave a wry smile. ¡°You yed that really well.¡±

    ¡°I knew you¡¯d think that. I¡¯d do the same if I were you,¡± Myraughed, then kept running, climbing onto the Ferris wheel.

    That was definitely the highest point. I could see the amusement park below, lit up, but through the video, I noticed something was off. Overall, it didn¡¯t look bad, but the lighting was nothing like what we¡¯d designed.

    The original n had a blue gradient, like the transition from night to dawn over the ocean. Now, it was all one solid blue- an intense, deep blue. While the color was rich, itpletely lost the soul of the design.

    ¡°Zoe, this is how it looks. I don¡¯t know if the problem is with the construction team or the lighting supplier.¡± Myra¡¯s voice came through.

    ¡°Have you spoken to both of them? What did they say?¡± I asked.

    ¡°The construction team says they followed the specs exactly. The supplier ims they delivered the lights as requested. Neither of them is taking responsibility, so I really don¡¯t know where the problem lies,¡± Myra replied, clearly frustrated.

    ¡°Zoe, pleasee back. I really can¡¯t handle this by myself, and after all the effort you put into this park, you wouldn¡¯t want something like this to happen, right?¡± Myra begged again.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle back,¡± I said, without offering any further exnation.

    I ended the video call and immediately booked a flight. Before long, Myra sent me the aerial footage, and it was clear the issue was bigger than I had expected.

    The next morning, I had everything packed and was ready for the 9 a.m. flight.

    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re up early today. What are you up to? Doing yoga again?¡± Holly asked as she saw me.

    I¡¯d been practicing yoga in the yard during my free time these past few days, and every time, Holly would remind me to be careful not to hurt myself.

    ¡°No, not today,¡± I said, walking up to her. ¡°Holly, I¡¯m leaving.¡±¡±

    She looked surprised and mumbled, ¡°But you said you¡¯d stay a little longer.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a project at mypany that needs my attention. I have to go deal with it, but once everything¡¯s sorted, I mighte back to visit you,¡± I said, keeping it open-ended.

    Though I was leaving Alvin¡¯spany, I still needed to work to support myself.

    ¡°Go ahead, go. Everyone¡¯s leaving, and here I am-an old woman who can¡¯t go anywhere,¡± she said with a tone that tugged at my heart.

    Her words gave me a bold idea. ¡°Holly, why don¡¯t youe with me?¡±

    ¡°Take me with you?¡± she asked, clearly surprised.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll take you to see the big city,¡± I said with a smile, my excitement building up.

    hapter 45

    These past few days, I¡¯d trulye to see her as my own grandmother.

    But Holly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not going. I¡¯m too old, and my legs aren¡¯t what they used to be. I¡¯d just slow you down.¡±

    ¡°No, Holly, don¡¯t say that. It¡¯s just for a few days. Come on,¡± I said, wrapping my arm around hers, trying to coax her.

    She looked at me warmly. ¡°Thank you for thinking of me, but I¡¯ll stay here. When you have time, you can alwayse back and visit me.¡±

    Her words made my chest tighten, and before I knew it, my eyes started to sting. I pulled her into a hug. ¡°Holly, I¡¯m really going to miss you.¡±

    ¡°Miss me for what? You should be thinking about Josh. What a great guy he is, and you hurt him so much that he left.¡± Holly¡¯s words immediately snapped me out of my emotional moment.

    Josh left because I turned him down. I thought, ¡®Is it because I didn¡¯t care for him?¡¯

    Before I could say anything, Holly patted my hand. ¡°Zoe, Josh is a really good man. You should think carefully about it.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± I said, agreeing without hesitation.

 Be Honest 46

    At the pool hall, Alvin took a shot, but missedpletely.

    Oscar, standing nearby, shook his head lightly while wiping down his cue. ¡°Has Zoe not replied to your message or reached out to you at all?¡±

    Alvin didn¡¯t answer. Oscar lined up his shot, aiming for the trickiest ball in the corner. He took the shot with a sharp thud, and the ball curved gracefully into the pocket.

    ¡°She shouldn¡¯t be acting like this. After everything you said, she didn¡¯t take it to heart or hold it against you. So what¡¯s up with her now?¡± Oscar was confused.

    Alvin thought back to the time Zoe hade here to y pool. ¡°What did she ask you when she came over?¡±

    Oscar potted another ball effortlessly, then flopped onto the pool table with casual ease. He aimed for another ball, took the shot, and with a satisfying thunk, it sank into the pocket.

    ¡°I told you already, didn¡¯t I? She asked if anything had happened between you, Thea, and Benjamin back in school.

    ¡°I told her there was nothing to it, so her running off has nothing to do with me,¡± Oscar exined, passing the me.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything, so why are you acting guilty?¡± Alvin¡¯s tone was sharp.

    Oscar eyed thest ball on the table but didn¡¯t take his shot immediately. Instead, he turned to Alvin. ¡°You seriously don¡¯t know why she left? Why she didn¡¯t even go with you to get the marriage license?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. She¡¯s just throwing a tantrum, that¡¯s all. I¡¯ve spoiled her all these years!¡± Alvin said, frustration dripping from his words.

    Not getting the marriage license was making everything worse. The moment he got home, his parents gave him the cold shoulder.

    At the office, people were already spreading rumors-saying he¡¯d cheated and that Zoe had caught him. It was absurd how people loved to spin whatever story they wanted.

    ¡°You spoiled her?¡± Oscarughed. ¡°Alvin, let¡¯s be honest, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve spoiled her. It¡¯s more like¡­ you¡¯ve gotten used to Zoe being your little shadow.

    ¡°You thought she couldn¡¯t live without you. That¡¯s probably why you said those things and haven¡¯t even bothered to look for

    her.¡±

    ¡°How am I supposed to look for her? Should I put up missing-person flyers everywhere?¡± Alvin shot back, defensive.

    Oscar sighed and shook his head, clearly done with the argument. He took another shot and cleared the final ball with precision, finishing the game in one smooth move. His skill as the pool hall owner was evident.

    Alvin grunted, his frustration growing. ¡°Another round.¡±

    ¡°Alvin, Oscar said again as Alvin lined up for another shot. ¡°Zoe loves you, but her love has dignity. If you hadn¡¯t done something to really disappoint her, she wouldn¡¯t have just walked away like this.¡±

    ¡°What did I do?¡± Alvin snapped, visibly irritated.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something you¡¯ll have to figure out,¡± Oscar replied, shrugging. ¡°Sometimes, a missed opportunity can change everything.

    ¡°When you have some time, ask yourself-do you really love Zoe? Or has it just be so familiar between you two that you¡¯ve lost those feelings?

    ¡°And even if you don¡¯t feel the passion anymore, she¡¯s lived in your house for ten years. You should have some sibling bond. You owe it to her to look for her. If something happens to her, you won¡¯t be able to live with yourself.¡±

    Oscar¡¯s words made Alvin miss his shot again. He angrily threw the cue onto the table and stormed out of the pool hall, his frustration boiling over. He thought, ¡®Even a simple game of pool can¡¯t go right.

    As he reached the door, Oscar casually called after him, ¡°By the way, I heard the Hayward family¡¯s son-the one who went missing twenty years ago-has been found. Apparently, he¡¯sing back soon.¡±

    Alvin furrowed his brows slightly. Oscar continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard this person is no ordinary character. If you n to coborate with the Hayward family, you¡¯d better act fast before anything changes.¡±

 Be Honest 47

    ¡°And as for Zoe,¡± Oscar added, ¡°If you care about her, stop being so proud and make the first move.¡± Alvin didn¡¯t say a word as he walked out, but Oscar muttered to himself, ¡°You¡¯ll regret it when it¡¯s toote.¡±

    Inded at 3 PM. Without even bothering to grab my luggage, I headed straight to the amusement park.

    Myra was already there. The moment she saw me, she ran over and hugged me. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re back!¡±

    I gave her shoulder a pat. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go check out a few things first.¡±

    I hadn¡¯t slept much the night before-barely at all, really-because I¡¯d been running through all the possible trouble spots in my head.

    Though I suspected the construction team and the lighting supplier, I knew the chances of them messing up were slim. This was a huge project. If they made a mistake, they wouldn¡¯t just lose money-they¡¯d lose everything.

    So, I kept thinking. ¡®Maybe the issue isn¡¯t with them.¡¯ But as a non-expert, I couldn¡¯t figure out exactly where the problem was. The only way to know for sure was to go on-site.

    I spent the rest of the nightparing lights, turning them on and off, checking the design specs, until it was nearly 2 AM.

    ¡°Zoe, looks like you¡¯ve been saving up all your energy for this,¡± Myra teased, clearly wiped out.

    I thought, ¡®Has it really been that long?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t have the energy to think about it. Myra and I then went to the office and worked through the night, putting together

    report on the issues we¡¯d found.

    We needed to contact the construction and lighting suppliers the next day and report everything to Alvin.

    He already knew about it and was furious. Myra told me that no matter how well we handled it, we¡¯d still get punished in the end.

    Even though Alvin had no emotional attachment to me, he always kept work and personal matters separate-and he was extremely strict about these things. So, I wasn¡¯t surprised.

    ¡°Even if we get punished, we still need to do our job right,¡± I said, sticking to my principles.

    It wasn¡¯t until 6 AM that Myra and I finished. She was so tired she just slumped over and fell asleep at the desk.

    I was exhausted too, but for some reason, I couldn¡¯t seem to feel tired at all. I sshed some cold water on my face, brewed myself a cup of coffee, and kept reviewing the issues I¡¯d found.

    If I was right, the problem likelyy with the lighting calibration.

    ¡°Ms. Kemp, you¡¯re back?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Kemp, so early!¡±

    By the time the workday started, everyone had trickled into the office. They all greeted me warmly, but I could tell their looks were different now.

    Myra had already told me¨Ceveryone knew about my marriage troubles with Alvin. But they also knew I had been living with the Dolton family for years.

    Even though we never officially registered our marriage, we¡¯d been living like a married couple for a long time.

    I didn¡¯t care about other people¡¯s gossip. Even though I could feel their stares and hear whispers behind my back, I pretended not to notice.

    I thought. Who doesn¡¯t get talked about?¡¯ And besides, Alvin and I were already separated. Their curiosity waspletely understandable.

    After a sleepless night, by 10 AM, I was starting to feel the weight of exhaustion. So, I went to the break room to grab some coffee to wake myself up. Just as I stepped out with my coffee, I ran into Alvin,

    When he saw me, I could feel his gaze sharpen. Even from across the room, I could sense theplex emotions in his eyes -resentment, anger¡­ it was hard to put a name to it.

    ¡°Good morning, Mr. Dolton!¡± I greeted him as usual, then walked past him with my coffee.

    ¡°Come to my office.¡± Alvin¡¯s voice was low, heavy, andmanding, making my hand tremble slightly.

    I took a deep breath. ¡°Okay.¡±

 Be Honest 48

    Alvin sat in his chair, dressed in a ck suit, a white shirt, and a tie with star patterns.

    That tie was a gift I had given him for his birthdayst year. He never wore it, probably because he didn¡¯t like it. But now, after we had parted ways, I was surprised to see him wearing it.

    His expression was dark, his eyes locked on me with an intense, almost hostile gaze.

    I knew why he was angry, but I stayed calm and spoke first, ¡°Mr. Dolton, what¡¯s this about?¡±

    ¡°Where have you been these past few days?¡± His voice was sharp and cold.

    ¡°On vacation,¡± I replied, sidestepping the question.

    Alvin¡¯s fingers tightened slightly on the desk. ¡°I asked where you went.¡±

    .

    ¡°Tideport,¡± I said, answering without hesitation. There was no reason not to tell him.

    His brow furrowed deeper, and for a moment, confusion shed in his eyes, as if he didn¡¯t know what Tideport was. But then again, it was such a small, insignificant town. I thought, ¡®Why would he know?¡¯

    If he actually cared about me, though, he would have known. I had mentioned it before-it was where I was born, the ce my parents always dreamed of taking me.

    But he had forgotten. Because he didn¡¯t care enough to remember. The things I said had never mattered to him.

    ¡°You went there for vacation?¡± Alvin¡¯s question sounded almost mocking.

    And I couldn¡¯t help it-I smiled, just a little. ¡°Yes,¡± I said, nodding.

    ¡°Then why was your phone off? Why didn¡¯t you respond to any messages on WhatsApp?¡± His words were pointed, each one colder than thest..

    I pressed my lips together. ¡°Isn¡¯t it my choice, Mr. Dolton?¡±

    His face grew even darker, his expression hardening. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s your choice. But thepany has rules. Employees can¡¯t let personal matters interfere with work.¡±

    ¡°Has my absence affected anything?¡± I asked, giving him a t look.

    Alvin swallowed, and suddenly, I thought of Josh. The way his Adam¡¯s apple had moved when his chin brushed my nose¡­ It was bigger, more defined, and somehow more masculine.

    ¡°About the amusement park¡­¡± Alvin raised his hand and pointed at me. ¡°Are you really going to say this hasn¡¯t had an impact?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I answered firmly. ¡°Whether I was on vacation or not, the lighting issue would still be there. As soon as I found out, I cut my vacation short and came back immediately.¡± I had ten days off, but I only took seven.

    Alvin fell silent for a moment, then, after a brief pause, nodded sharply. ¡°But this is your project. Any issue here is your responsibility.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± I said, standing my ground. ¡°I¡¯m already working to fix it. The handover won¡¯t be affected.¡±

    Alvin knew my capabilities, and he also knew I could be stubborn. He nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you some time. But if the

    handover is dyed, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡±

    He didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but I knew exactly what he meant. So, I finished it for him. ¡°If the handover fails, I¡¯ll take full responsibility for the losses.¡±

    ¡°Can you afford that?¡± He snapped, his voice rising suddenly.

    I tightened my fingers slightly, then replied, ¡°I know I can¡¯t. That¡¯s why I won¡¯t let it affect the handover.¡±

    It was a tense back-and-forth, but usually, these kinds of exchanges would have reassured him. Yet, for some reason, I could tell that he was getting more frustrated, not less.

    He fell silent, his gaze still fixed on me.

    ¡°Is there anything else, Mr. Dolton? If not, I¡¯ll get back to work,¡± I said, turning to leave.

    ¡°Stop!¡± His voice was cold, sharp.

    ¡°What else can I do for you, Mr. Dolton?¡± I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

    Alvin tugged at his tie, clearly frustrated. ¡°Zoe, what¡¯s going on? Why didn¡¯t you get the marriage license? Why did you suddenly disappear?¡±

    Once the business matters were done, we were back to personal issues-the real reason he had called me here.

    ¡°I¡¯m not causing trouble,¡± I replied tly, making my stance clear with those words.

 Be Honest 49

    ¡°You don¡¯t call this trouble? Do you have any idea what¡¯s been happening at home? My mom¡¯s so upset she ended up in the hospital!¡± Alvin¡¯s anger was practically radiating off him.

    Hearing about Michelle made me feel guilty, but I knew the two issues didn¡¯t mix. My guilt toward his parents couldn¡¯t erase

    the hurt Alvin had caused me.

    ¡°I¡¯ll apologize to Michelle and exin,¡± I said quietly.

    ¡°That¡¯s not the point, Zoe. I¡¯m asking you why you didn¡¯t get the license,¡± he said, tugging at his cor again, clearly frustrated.

    He¡¯d messed up, but still acted like I owed him an exnation. I thought, ¡®Fine, if that¡¯s how he wants to y it, I don¡¯t mind making it clear who owes whom.¡¯

    I nced down, letting my eyes fall on his watch. ¡°I went to Saltwater Spring.¡±

    The chair scraped loudly as he shifted in his seat, freezing, and I could hear the tension in the air.

    Alvin stiffened, his expression shifting rapidly as if he were trying to piece together what I¡¯d just said. ¡°Listen to me¡­¡±

    ¡°Alvin, there¡¯s nothing to say. No matter how you exin, the fact is, Thea is living there, and¡­¡± I paused, watching his face closely, ¡°¡­when I went shopping for bedding with her, she picked out all the designs you like.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not what you think,¡± Alvin said, standing up and walking toward me.

    I took a step back, keeping my distance. ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m not the type to overthink or make assumptions. But I do have eyes, and I can see. I also have a heart, and I can feel.¡±

    ¡°Zoe¡­¡± He shook his head, his voice softer.

    ¡°That house was for you,¡± he said, stepping closer. ¡°I picked out everything the way you like it. It was supposed to be a gift for you.¡±

    ¡°But you gave it to someone else,¡± I whispered, almost to myself.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t give it to her! I just let her stay there temporarily,¡± Alvin exined quickly. ¡°She¡¯s been rejected by her inws after Benjamin died. She doesn¡¯t even have a ce to stay, so I let her stay there for now.¡±

    A bitter smile tugged at my lips. ¡°So you¡¯re waiting for her to leave before you give it to me, right?¡±

    Alvin opened his mouth, but no words came out. But I knew the answer.

    A sharp, painful twist shot through my chest. I clenched my fist, digging my nails into my palm. ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m only good enough to live in a ce someone else has already lived in, right?¡±

    ¡°No, Zoe, I¡¯ll buy you a new one!¡± His voice softened, but the frustration was still there.

    ¡°Oh,¡± I said with a humorlessugh. ¡°So now you can just keep one hidden while you give me the other?¡±

    ¡°Zoe!¡± Alvin snapped, his anger rising again.

    I stayed calm, watching him, while he seemed to struggle with his emotions. Finally, he said, ¡°Do you really have to make everything so difficult? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be kind and understanding?

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you ept Thea? She¡¯s in a tough spot-pregnant, and her husband¡¯s gone.¡±

    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s in a tough spot. I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m being generous and letting you have her. Take care of her, marry her, be a father to her child-whatever. I don¡¯t mind,¡± I said, my words dripping with sarcasm.

    Before I could finish, Alvin stormed toward me, grabbing my arm tightly. ¡°Zoe, what are you saying? What do you think I am to you?¡±

    ¡°Alvin, you¡¯re the one who wants me to be generous,¡± I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

    ¡°Then your idea of generosity is not marrying me and breaking up with me?¡± His voice was cold, cutting.

    I stared at his face-the face I had adored for ten years-and answered tly, ¡°What else should I do? Should I share you with Thea?¡±

    ¡°Zoe, why do you always have to be so cruel?¡± Alvin¡¯s grip tightened painfully on my arm.

    It hurt, but the pain only made me feel more awake, more alert.

    ¡°Alvin, if I were in your position, would you be okay with me taking care of another man?¡± I asked quietly. But as I spoke, Josh¡¯s face shed in my mind, just for a split second.

 Be Honest 50

    Alvin didn¡¯t say anything at first. After a long pause, he gave a mocking nod. ¡°If you want to cause trouble, go ahead.¡±

    Even now, he still didn¡¯t think he was in the wrong. He still believed it was all my fault.

    I didn¡¯t bother to argue anymore. I just said, ¡°I¡¯ll move out of your house.¡±

    ¡°Our house?¡± Alvin¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Zoe, you never really thought of it as your home, did you? My parents treated you like their own, and this is how you repay them?¡±

    I bit my lip. I thought, ¡®Does he really think I want his parents¡¯ affection? What I want is his.¡¯ But I had already made up my mind to break up with him, so exining myself felt pointless. His words didn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°Mr. Dolton, I¡¯m going back to work,¡± I said. I didn¡¯t mention resigning yet-I still had work to do.

    ¡°Zoe, are you really going to break up with me?¡± Alvin asked again, disbelief in his voice.

    It seemed like he hadn¡¯t heard me the first time. I looked at him-the face I¡¯d admired for ten years-and said the words that would end everything.

    ¡°Yes, Alvin. I¡¯m breaking up with you. From now on, you live your life, and I¡¯ll live mine. We¡¯ll marry other people and never cross paths again.¡±

    A cold, brokenugh escaped him. ¡°Fine. This is what you want, Zoe? Don¡¯t regret it.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Regret?¡¯ This was the second time he¡¯d said that word. I didn¡¯t understand where his confidence came from.

    Maybe it was because I¡¯d been hopelessly in love with him for ten years, following him around like a fool, putting up with his neglect and hurt, never walking away.

    ¡°Goodbye.¡± I turned and walked away, leaving him with those two words.

    Alvin didn¡¯t stop me. But just as I reached the door, I heard a knock. I opened the door, only to freeze. It was Thea.

    She saw me, and for a split second, panic shed in her eyes. But then she smiled, as if we were old friends. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re back?¡±

    I didn¡¯t respond. My gaze dropped to the folder in her hand, and the red header with the Dolton Group logo stopped me dead in my tracks.

    It was an internalpany document-something only employees would have ess to. But here she was, holding it. Her being here was shocking enough, but with that file in her hands, it raised even more questions.

    I didn¡¯t answer her. Thea¡¯s smile faltered, and she quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver a file to¡­ Mr. Dolton.¡±

    The way she said ¡°Mr. Dolton¡± made everything click in an instant. Alvin hadn¡¯t just hidden her away in a private house-he had brought her to thepany.

    This was something Myra hadn¡¯t told me. Maybe she was too busy to mention it, or maybe she didn¡¯t want to upset me. I didn¡¯t know.

    But it didn¡¯t matter anymore. Whether Alvin brought Thea into thepany or even married her-it had nothing to do

    with me.

    ¡°Excuse me, I need to get through,¡± I said, my voice polite but firm.

    a bus or train, it was always first out, then in.

    Thea stepped aside, and I walked past her without a second nce.

    Just as I reached the door, I heard Alvin¡¯s voice behind me, sharp and using. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me Zoe went to Saltwater Spring?¡±

    I didn¡¯t care what Thea said in response. It wasn¡¯t my business anymore.

    When I got back to the office, Myra immediately came over to me. ¡°Zoe, you went to Mr. Dolton¡¯s office! What did you two talk about? Did you break the ice?¡±

    I looked at her, a small smile tugging at my lips. ¡°Do you think so?¡±

    Under my gaze, Myra nervously grabbed my arm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zoe, I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you. I just didn¡¯t want to upset you¡­¡±

    ¡°Or were you afraid I¡¯d cause trouble for you at work and get you scolded?¡± I finished her sentence.

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Zoc¡­¡±

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    I¡¯m not mad at you. It¡¯s only natural to look out for yourself,¡± I said honestly, and I genuinely didn¡¯t hold anything against Myra. After all, we were just colleagues, and even sisters would put themselves first.

    ¡°Zoe¡­¡± Myra shook my arm, clearly wanting to say more.

    I cut her off. ¡°Mr. Dolton said if the lighting issue isn¡¯t handled properly, it¡¯s on us. We don¡¯t have time to think about anything else right now. We need to focus on solving the lighting problem.¡±

    Myra blinked, her eyes wide. ¡°But this isn¡¯t really our fault. It¡¯s like we¡¯ve done something wrong.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re in charge of this project. If something goes wrong, we¡¯re the ones responsible, no excuses. If you don¡¯t want to deal with the fallout, then fix the problem,¡± I said firmly.

    Myra fell silent, nodding before turning to get to work.

    I heard her mutter under her breath, ¡°Personal vendetta¡­¡±

    I understood what she meant-that Alvin was taking out his frustration with me on the work itself.

    I sighed. I knew that too. But the more he acted this way, the more determined I was to handle the problem perfectly, so he wouldn¡¯t have anything toin aboutter.

    Besides, this amusement park was Eliseo¡¯s dream, and I couldn¡¯t let it be anything less than wless. When Eliseo was alive, he was a perfectionist, and I wanted him to see that his daughter could be just as capable and wless.

    Soon, Myra came over, handing me the contact information for the lighting supplier and the construction team.

    I made the calls and decided to bring both teams to the site to discuss the issues and figure out solutions.

    They both agreed, but the soonest they coulde was the day after tomorrow, so I had no choice but to wait.

    Since Myra had barely slept the night before, I gave her the day off to rest. As for me, I decided to head to the Dolton family.

    I had already cleared things up with Alvin, but I needed to officially end things with his family too.

    Just as I was packing up to leave, Thea came looking for me. ¡°Zoe, can we talk?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t really have anything to talk about,¡± I said coldly, having just checked the personnel chart in HR. I already knew that Thea had joined thepany three days ago in the admin department.

    Since I worked in the project department, we didn¡¯t interact much, so this wasn¡¯t about work.

    ¡°What is it, Miss Mills?¡± I asked formally.

    Thea hadn¡¯t just joined the admin department; she¡¯d been promoted to supervisor. Alvin¡¯s actions were starting to resemble those of a ruler blinded by a new favorite.

    Not only had he brought Thea into thepany, but he¡¯d also made her a supervisor. You didn¡¯t need to be a genius to know there would be office gossip.

    And he didn¡¯t seem to care how it would affect me. After all, I was supposed to be his fianc¨¦e, while Thea had been involved

    in the rumors about him.

    ¡°It¡¯s personal,¡± Thea said, her face awkward.

    I nced at the time. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s working hours right now.¡±

    Thea¡¯s embarrassment deepened. She bit her lip. ¡°How about after work?¡±

    I gestured to my bag. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. I have other ns after work.¡±

    Her face fell, and she looked around as if hoping for a way out. Finally, she spoke again, ¡°I know you¡¯re upset because I¡¯m living in that house with Alvin. I can move out.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Thea, stop pretending. If you wanted to move out, you would¡¯ve done it already. And¡­¡±

    I paused, staring at her sharply. ¡°You know full well that everything between Alvin and me fell apart because of you, yet you¡¯re still showing up under my nose.

    ¡°What exactly are you trying to do? Do you think I¡¯m blind, or just stupid?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m doing this for my livelihood,¡± Thea tried to justify.

    Looking at her fake innocence, I wasn¡¯t holding back. ¡°What, is only Alvin¡¯spany good enough to support you? Or are you telling me you can¡¯t survive without him?¡±

    ¡°Zoe, how can you say that?¡± Thea raised her hand as if to p me.

    I stepped back, putting some distance between us. ¡°Thea, there are cameras everywhere in the office. So, don¡¯t try any petty tricks. You¡¯d only embarrass yourself.¡±

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    Thea¡¯s little schemes werepletely exposed, and her face turned bright red with embarrassment.

    But she still tried to keep up her high-and-mighty act. ¡°So, do you really think something¡¯s going on between Alvin and me?¡±

    I thought, ¡®Does it really need someone else¡¯s confirmation? Doesn¡¯t she know in her heart what she¡¯s done?¡¯

    I could¡¯ve said something sharp, but my self-restraint held me back.

    Thea, however, looked like she was about to burst into tears. ¡°I never imagined people¡¯s minds had be so dirty and corrupt.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Look at her, trying to paint herself as some saint.¡¯

    ¡°Zoe, Alvin is a good man. If you can¡¯t even trust him, then you¡¯re not worthy of him.¡± Thea¡¯s words made everything clear.

    I thought, ¡®So, this whole drama is just to say I¡¯m not good enough for Alvin. Of course, there has to be moreing.

    I stayed silent and just watched her performance unfold.

    As expected, she wiped her eyes and tried to look heartbroken. ¡°Zoe, are you really going to throw Alvin away?¡±

    I thought, ¡®This woman really thinks I¡¯m an idiot. Does she take me for some naive fool?¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°If I said I didn¡¯t want him, would you im that you do?¡±

    Thea¡¯s face froze for a moment, and her cherry-red lips pressed tightly together. She was really ying up the delicate, fragile act. But I was not a man, or I might have been moved by that little performance.

    ¡°Alvin deserves to be cherished,¡± Thea added,ying her cards on the table.

    I lowered my gaze to her still-t stomach and then nced at her t shoes. ¡°Looks like you really want to cherish him. But do you think you¡¯re worthy of him?¡±

    Thea¡¯s face darkened, and her hand clenched the edge of her shirt.

    ¡°Thea, let me give you a little reminder. Even if Alvin and I never end up together, getting into the Dolton family won¡¯t be easy for you.

    ¡°And as for why¡­ I¡¯m sure you can figure that out,¡± I wasn¡¯t trying to bring her down, just snapping her out of it.

    Even if Peter and Michelle epted that Alvin wouldn¡¯t marry me, they would never let a woman carrying another man¡¯s child into their family-unless, of course, the child turned out to be Alvin¡¯s.

    Thea¡¯s sparkpletely fizzled after that. She didn¡¯t say another word, and I grabbed my bag and left.

    Instead of going straight back to the Dolton family, I headed to Jasmine¡¯s ce.

    I hadn¡¯t changed since I got off the ne and didn¡¯t want to show up looking like a mess. I didn¡¯t want Peter and Michelle thinking I¡¯d had a rough few days; that would only make it harder for me to leave the Dolton family.

    Jasmine, who was working thete shift, was surprised to see me. ¡°What are you doing back so suddenly? You didn¡¯t even give me a heads-up.¡±

    I knew she¡¯d be busy, since it was peak baby-making season.

    With today¡¯s tech, everything about having babies was so nned. They even said that babies born in spring or summer were smarter and more beautiful because they were born when everything was in full bloom.

    I got in yesterday, just had to take care of some things at the amusement park, so I didn¡¯t mention it,¡± I exined as I kicked off my shoes and walked barefoot into her living room.

    ¡°Workaholic,¡± Jasmine teased with a grin.

    1 flopped down on the couch, grabbed an orange from the table, peeled it, and split it in half-giving her one piece and eating the other.

    Staying upte wasn¡¯t anything new for me, but I always feltpletely parched afterward. No matter how much water I drank, it never seemed to be enough.

    ¡°Did youe back alone?¡± Jasmine¡¯s question was loaded with meaning.

    Iughed. ¡°What, you didn¡¯t think I would?¡±

    ¡°What about your admirer?¡± Jasmine poured me a ss of water.

    I took it and drank most of it. ¡°He left already.¡±

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 Be Honest 53

    What?¡± Jasmine sat cross-legged across from me, looking curious.

    ¡°I turned him down, so he left. Said he had to get back to work. And that was it,¡± I said, and Jasmine paused, looking a little surprised.

    ¡°He left just like that? Didn¡¯t even try a bit harder?¡± Jasmine shook her head. ¡°This guy¡¯s got no persistence.¡±

    ¡°He knows when to back off. Not the clingy type,¡± I said, thinking of Josh, his rough, tough exterior still fresh in my mind.

    Jasmine tilted her head and looked at me, a sly smile on her lips. ¡°If he¡¯d tried a little harder, would you have¡­¡±

    ¡°No!¡± I interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m not about to let one man fix the mess another left behind.¡±

    ¡°Guess no one can rece Alvin that easily,¡± Jasmine said, summarizing my thoughts.

    I gave a faint smile. ¡°Alvin agreed to break up.¡±

    Jasmine froze for a moment, and I set my ss down. ¡°I came by to shower, change, and head to the Dolton family. I need to clear things up with Peter and Michelle. Alvin and I¡­ we¡¯re done, for good.¡±

    As the words left my mouth, I lowered my gaze.

    It wasn¡¯t about being reluctant, nor was it a sense of relief. It was something moreplicated-hard to exin.

    Ten years. I wasn¡¯t just letting go of my love for Alvin, but also of ten years of my life, my hopes, and all the dreams I once had about love.

    Jasmine seemed to sense my shift in mood. Her long leg nudged mine lightly. ¡°Let it go. If it¡¯s over, it¡¯s over. Out with the old, in with the new.¡±

    I chuckled. ¡°Yeah, out with the old, in with the new.¡±

    I stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡±

    In the bathroom, I turned on the water, letting the stream ssh down as I closed my eyes. The water ran through my hair, over my forehead, and down my face¡­

    By the time I arrived at the Dolton family, it was already past lunchtime. Michelle was arranging some flowers.

    When she saw me, she immediately set down her shears. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re back! Oh, thank goodness. I¡¯ve missed you so much! You little thing, your phone¡¯s been off. I was so worried I almost went crazy.¡±

    Michelle grabbed my hand, a mix of relief and frustration on her face.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Michelle, for worrying you. I heard you¡¯ve been sick,¡± I apologized first.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Michelle said, pulling me down to sit on the couch and insisting I eat some fruit from

    the table.

    I picked up a grape and popped it into my mouth. ¡°Michelle, are you feeling better now?¡±

    ¡°Much better. Seeing you makes everything okay again,¡± Michelle said, still holding my hand tightly.

    Her smile made it hard to say what I needed to say, but I knew I couldn¡¯t avoid it forever. So, I asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Peter? Isn¡¯t he

    home!

    ¡°He¡¯s here, in the study,¡± Michelle replied, calling out, ¡°Peter,e out. Zoe¡¯s back.¡±

    Her words felt like added pressure, and I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she knew exactly why I was here. That was probably why she was acting like this.

    Peter came out of the study, adjusting his reading sses. Seeing me, he took them off and asked, ¡°Have you eaten yet? If not, let your mom make you something. We always keep your meals ready.¡±

    Before I left, Peter had made me call Michelle ¡°Mom,¡± and now, even though they both knew Alvin and I had split up, he still said it like that. I knew what it meant-he was trying to pressure me.

    Michelle stood up as if she were going to get up to prepare something, but I stopped her. I knew what I had to say next would upset them, maybe even hurt them.

    But this moment was inevitable, and the longer I put it off, the harder it would get for everyone.

    I took a deep breath. When Peter sat down beside us, I finally spoke, ¡°Michelle, Peter, I came here today to talk to you Alvin and me.¡±

    about

 Be Honest 54

    The moment I spoke, both of them froze. It wasn¡¯t unexpected, but they were clearly anxious.

    ¡°Zoe, we already know everything. It¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s that good-for-nothing Alvin¡¯s fault. I¡¯ve already scolded him. I¡¯ll make hime back and apologize to you¡­¡± Michelle said.

    Before I could get a word in, Michelle had alreadyunched into a tirade about Alvin. It was clear she was trying to prevent me from saying things they didn¡¯t want to hear.

    Peter, on the other hand, was moreposed. He interrupted her, ¡°Let Zoe speak.¡±

    Michelle tightened her grip on my hand, her eyes locked onto me, full of emotion, her gaze matching the words she didn¡¯t

    say.

    I lowered my gaze slightly, trying not to be swayed. ¡°Peter, Michelle, I¡¯ve broken up with Alvin.¡±

    The room wentpletely still. The only movement was Michelle¡¯s hand, gripping mine even tighter.

    ¡°Why?¡± Peter¡¯s voice was firm, full of weight.

    I knew I had to give them a reason that would make it hard for them to argue, something that would put an end to the

    conversation.

    Otherwise, they would just keep circling around it. Exining that Alvin and I weren¡¯t right for each other wasn¡¯t going to cut it-it wouldn¡¯t get us anywhere.

    So, I decided to bepletely honest. ¡°It¡¯s because of Thea. His concern for her went way beyond what he showed me as his fianc¨¦e.¡±

    Michelle jerked my hand toward her, her face twisting in anger. ¡°What did he do for that woman? Zoe, tell me, and I¡¯ll go confront her. Why does she keep hanging around my son?¡±

    Peter¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Zoe, we don¡¯t know the full story about what¡¯s been going on outside. But if you tell us, we¡¯ll back you up.¡±

    I thought, ¡®They don¡¯t know the full story?¡¯ I found that hard to believe. ¡°The rumors about them have been all over the ce. Haven¡¯t they heard them? Didn¡¯t they ask around?¡¯

    Knowing Peter the way I did, I believed there was no way he didn¡¯t know.

    Alvin might have been in charge of Dolton Group now, but it was Peter who founded thepany. He was still the chairman, even though most of the authority had shifted to Alvin.

    But when it came to important matters, Alvin always consulted with Peter. Peter was the one who truly called the shots. He acted like he didn¡¯t care about anything, but in reality, he was the one pulling all the strings. Why? Because he knew everything.

    There was no way Peter hadn¡¯t heard about the scandal with Thea. It was gossiping all through thepany. He was pretending not to know, waiting for me to speak up.

    Since that was the case, I just said it. ¡°He gave Thea his secondary bank card and even let her move into the house he had nned for me. But the worst part is¡­ she bought the bedding he likes.

    ¡°And what really hurt me is that he¡¯s been sneaking around behind my back, spending time with her-going to her prenatal checkups, even.¡±

    Jasmine was the one who told me about the checkups. Alvin was clever enough not to have Thea¡¯s prenatal records created at Jasmine¡¯s hospital. Instead, he took her to a high-end private hospital in Seastone.

    But what he didn¡¯t know was that Jasmine worked as a specialist at that very hospital. On the day Alvin and I were supposed to register for our marriage, he lied, saying he had to consult Hubert to pick an auspicious time.

    He pushed back our registration so he could go with Thea to her prenatal appointment.

    Coincidentally, Jasmine had a surgery scheduled there that day and saw everything. She didn¡¯t tell me right away, though. She thought Alvin and I had registered, and she didn¡¯t want to add more to my te.

    Later, when I didn¡¯t register my marriage with Alvin, Jasmine had held back from saying anything because she didn¡¯t want to add to my pain.

    It wasn¡¯t until today, when I came to the Dolton family, that she finally told me everything. And just like that, she gave me even more reasons to condemn that jerk Alvin.

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 Be Honest 55

    ¡°Is this for real? What a bastard!¡± Peter mmed his hand down on the table, his voice full of rage. It was terrifying. He was usually so gentle, so calm-it was rare for him to lose his temper.

    Even though his anger wasn¡¯t directed at me, I couldn¡¯t help but flinch.

    Michelle, too, trembled as she held my hand. Then she started cursing. ¡°That bastard! I¡¯m calling him right now! I¡¯m going to ask him what the hell he¡¯s thinking! Didn¡¯t he say there was nothing going on with that Thea?¡±

    Finally, she let go of my hand and grabbed her phone.

    I shifted my hand, sore from her tight grip. ¡°Michelle, I¡¯ve already talked to him at thepany. He agreed to break up with me, but¡­¡±

    I paused. ¡°He¡¯s even gotten Thea a job at thepany.¡±

    As soon as I said it, I realized how much like tattling it sounded. But since it hade to this, I wasn¡¯t going to hold anything back. I was going toy it all out-every single thing Alvin had done.

    ¡°What?¡± Now, both of them were stunned.

    Peter¡¯s face darkened immediately, and Michelle turned on him, her voice sharp. ¡°You said you knew everything about thepany. How could you not know about this?¡±

    Just as I¡¯d thought. Peter might be the head of thepany, but he didn¡¯t follow every little detail-like who wasing and going. Those things were beneath his radar.

    Peter didn¡¯t respond, but the fury in his eyes was crystal clear. Michelle, seeing that, quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m calling Alvin back. We need to get to the bottom of this.¡±

    I didn¡¯t want them to call him. If he showed up now, it would just make everything worse.

    ¡°Peter, Michelle, I know this is hard to ept. But if it¡¯s difficult for you, imagine how I feel. He just had a scandal with Thea, and now he brings her into thepany. He clearly doesn¡¯t take me-his fianc¨¦e-seriously.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, we¡¯ll make him get rid of that woman,¡± Michelle said, squeezing my hand again.

    ¡°Michelle, the day before we were supposed to register, he blocked all contact with Thea right in front of me.

    ¡°But the very next day, he still went with her to her prenatal checkup. Getting rid of Thea won¡¯t fix anything,¡± I said, my voice quiet but firm.

    ¡°The real problem is that Alvin has feelings for her. For her, he¡¯ll lie, he¡¯ll ignore everything else,¡± I continued.

    Those words stung. They felt bitter in my chest, and I felt embarrassed. I¡¯d been with Alvin for so long, yet I couldn¡¯t evenpete with a widow¡¯s hold over him. In the end, I had lost.

    I had said what I needed to say. No more hiding. No more pretending. And it left Peter and Michelle without an argument.

    ¡°Peter, Michelle, Alvin and I are done. Even if you force him to stay with me, his heart won¡¯t be in it,¡± I said.

    ¡°A man who¡¯s not invested-marrying him would only hurt me. If you truly care about me, you wouldn¡¯t want me to stay in a loveless marriage, crying myself to sleep every night, would you?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Zoe¡­¡± Michelle¡¯s voice cracked, and her eyes filled with tears. ¡°Alvin must have¡­ been confused. Can¡¯t you give him another

    chance? Wait a little longer and let him reflect?¡±

    ¡°Wait for what?¡± Peter interjected sharply. ¡°He¡¯s the one who¡¯s wronged Zoe. Why should she wait for him?¡±

    Peter¡¯s words hit me hard. It was like hearing a father stand up for his daughter. My nose tingled with emotion.

    ¡°Zoe, if Alvin doesn¡¯t cherish you, don¡¯t give him another chance. You need to move on.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t have anyone in mind, I can introduce you to some good young men-there are plenty around me,¡± Peter continued, his tone now one of a protective father.

    Michelle, however, was getting impatient. She shot a re at Peter. ¡°What nonsense are you saying? Zoe is only going to be my daughter-inw. I won¡¯t have her marrying anyone else!¡±

    The heavy conversation had somehow taken a light turn, and their yful bickering added some levity to the otherwise tense atmosphere.

    ¡°Oh, so you want to have another son, do you?¡± Peter joked, his humor cutting through the tension.

    Before Michelle could respond, a familiar voice came from the doorway. ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea.¡±

    I looked

    up and saw Philip standing there, backlit by the light. He was dressed casually, a suitcase in hand. His eyes were locked on mine, sparkling with a certain intensity I couldn¡¯t quite read.

 Be Honest 56

    Philip was back. I didn¡¯t expect it-just like I didn¡¯t expect him to remember Eliseo¡¯s old phone number.

    Peter and Michelle were just as surprised. They stood there, staring at Philip for a while without saying a word.

    Philip had been gone for four years, withouting back even once. So, his sudden return was a big shock to them-both a pleasant surprise and a little overwhelming.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you not happy to see me?¡± Philip walked in with a smile.

    His warmth and easygoing nature made him the perfect older brother type. During the ten years I spent with the Dolton family, before he left, he was always the one who treated me the best.

    But unlike Alvin, who openly showed his affection, Philip was more the quietly supportive type.

    ¡°Philip,¡± I called out to him.

    That snapped Peter and Michelle back to reality. Michelle immediately let go of my hand, stood up, and walked toward Philip.

    She gave him a couple of yful smacks. ¡°So, you still remember your parents? You finally decided toe back?¡±

    Peter also grumbled, ¡°You couldn¡¯t even give us a heads-up? What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Philip nced at me before offering a casual smile. ¡°I thought I¡¯d surprise you all.¡±

    Michelle¡¯s eyes misted up. Philip reached out to hug her. ¡°Mom.¡±

    At that, Michelle smacked him again, this time softly, and held him tight. ¡°You¡¯ve been gone so long, Peter and I were starting to think we¡¯d done something wrong, that maybe you were upset with us.¡±

    ¡°Mom, what are you talking about? I¡¯ve just been too busy overseas,¡± Philip replied, but his eyes kept drifting toward me.

    The intensity in his gaze made my heart skip a beat. I thought, ¡®Could he havee back because of me?¡¯

    Philip¡¯s arrival ended the conversation about me and Alvin, but everything that needed to be said had already been said. It seemed like Peter had epted it, but Michelle was still having a hard time.

    I was sure that with both Philip and Peter talking to her, she¡¯d eventuallye around.

    Philip mentioned that he hadn¡¯t eaten yet and was craving his parents¡¯ cooking. Peter and Michelle immediately got to work in the kitchen, even inviting me to join them for a meal.

    That left me alone with Philip in the living room. We¡¯d already covered everything over the phone, so neither of us knew what else to say.

    After a moment of silence, Philip broke it. ¡°I thought you weren¡¯ting here anymore?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? This is my home. I cane and go whenever I want,¡± I replied. But as soon as the words left my mouth, I remembered I still had to pack up my things.

    Looking at the busy figures in the kitchen, I realized it was the perfect time to finish packing and get my things into the car.

    That way, when I leftter, Peter and Michelle wouldn¡¯t have to see my luggage and get even more upset or try to stop me.

    T help you with your luggage,¡± I said, standing up to grab his bags.

    ¡°No need!¡± Philip quickly refused, reaching out to stop me.

    Our hands brushed, and I flinched, quickly pulling back.

    Philip¡¯s fingers twitched slightly, and he smiled. ¡°I never let you carry my luggage when we were kids, and I¡¯m not about to

    start now.¡±

    It was true. When I was with him, he never let me carry anything-not even a single sheet of paper. Except for my feelings for Alvin, no one in this family ever made me feel like I was carrying a burden.

    ¡°You¡¯re still the best, Philip,¡± I said, shing him the same innocent smile I used to give him when I was younger.

    ¡°I thought you might¡¯ve forgotten,¡± he said, repeating the words he¡¯d said so many times before.

    I wasn¡¯t sure how to respond, so I simply reached out. ¡°Let me help you with your bag.¡±

    This time, he didn¡¯t refuse. I grabbed his bag, and we headed upstairs together.

 Be Honest 57

    His room was right next to mine and Alvin¡¯s, but his was at the very end of the hall, mine in the middle, and Alvin¡¯s on the outermost side.

    Because of the renovations, Alvin¡¯s room was still in progress, with clear signs of unfinished work.

    Philip stopped in his tracks, his gaze narrowing in suspicion.

    I gave a half-smile. ¡°Michelle had it renovated.¡±

    I handed him his bag. ¡°Philip, go ahead and settle in. I¡¯ll tidy up a bit.¡±

    He gave a soft hum of acknowledgment, and I walked back into my room.

    The room was still full of our things-mine and Alvin¡¯s. It was clear that no one had stayed here since I left.

    It seemed Alvin hadn¡¯te back even once. I wondered, ¡®So where has he been staying these days? With Thea at Saltwater Spring?¡¯

    The thought made a heavy weight settle in my chest. Even though I¡¯d managed to push Alvin out of my heart, the wound he left behind still needed time to heal.

    I tried not to dwell on it, focusing instead on packing. I¡¯d always been someone who preferred to declutter, so there wasn¡¯t much to pack-just a suitcase that held everything I needed.

    By the time I finished packing, I heard a knock at the door. I walked over and opened it. It was Philip.

    He¡¯d changed into a new outfit, and his eyes scanned the room. When theynded on the half-packed suitcase, his brow furrowed. ¡°Are you moving out of the Dolton family?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, turning back to my things. ¡°It¡¯d be awkward if I stayed here any longer.¡±

    Philip stepped inside, his eyesnding on the open wardrobe. Inside, Alvin¡¯s clothes still hung there. He clenched his hand at

    his side.

    ¡°You and Alvin were together for so long¡­ to leave like this¡­¡± Philip spoke slowly. ¡°Are you really sure about this?¡±

    ¡®Sure?¡¯ The word sounded strange.

    I paused for a moment, then replied, ¡°Philip, you know I¡¯m someone who¡¯s good at letting go.¡±

    Philip didn¡¯t say anything, and I continued packing. Once I finished, I zipped up the suitcase and reached to lift it off the bed. But as I was about to pick it up, Philip ced his hand on it.

    I looked up, our eyes locking.

    His gaze was clear and calm, like a stillke in spring-pure and without a trace of bitterness or cynicism.

    It was different from Alvin¡¯s coldness and far more gentle than Josh¡¯s brooding intensity. His eyes made me feel light, like all my tangled thoughts had been swept away.

    ¡°Zoe, you said this was your home.¡± His voice was low and heavy, carrying a quiet, suffocating emotion.

    I understood what he was trying to say. He didn¡¯t want me to leave.

    Philip, I said, gesturing toward the bed. ¡°Do you really think I still belong here?¡± I nodded toward the pillows that had been left on the bed. ¡°Do you expect me to sleep in the same bed as Alvin after everything that¡¯s happened?¡±

    Something shed in his eyes, too quick for me to catch. He slowly pulled his hand back, his voice low and thoughtful.

    Then¡­ will youe back to visit?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± I smiled.

    But even as I said it, I knew I wouldn¡¯t being back regrly. Maybe asionally, or perhaps never again.

    After a breakup, pretending to be family or friends wasn¡¯t something I could do. Whoever believed in that ¡°we can still be friends¡± nonsense had clearly never been through a breakup like mine.

    ¡°Will you still consider me your brother?¡± Philip asked, his voice tinged with an almost painful sadness.

    My heart squeezed at the question, but I managed a smile. ¡°Of course. You¡¯ll always be my brother.¡±

    He paused, his gaze deepening, like he was searching for something in me. His voice was softer when he spoke next, ¡°Then¡­ can I hug you?¡±

    I froze for a moment, not knowing how to respond. Before I could say anything, he pulled me into his arms.

    His warm breath brushed my hair, and the heat of his embrace seeped into my skin, making my heart skip a beat. That closeness, that intimate pressure, made me shiver, and for a moment, I felt like I was losing myself in him.

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 Be Honest 58

    ¡°Little girl, you still have me,¡± Philip said, giving the back of my head a gentle pat before pulling his hand away.

    I hadn¡¯t cried until that moment, but suddenly, tears welled up in my eyes and spilled down without warning. I couldn¡¯t stop them, no matter how hard I tried. I knew I couldn¡¯t let these tears fall-they would give me away.

    I swallowed hard, trying to hold them back, but the more I tried, the worse it got. I turned my face away, unwilling to let him see me like this.

    Philip¡¯s hand returned to the top of my head, lightly tousling my hair. ¡°It¡¯s not shameful to cry in front of me, you know. Have you forgotten?¡±

    He¡¯d said that to me before. And now, he said it again. But this time, his words tore through thest remnants of my pride. I turned away from him, quickly wiping my tears.

    Maybe sensing how I felt, he took my suitcase. ¡°I¡¯ll put this in the car for you.¡±

    He left, and I covered my face with my hands, letting the tears flow freely.

    When I went downstairs, Peter and Michelle were still in the kitchen, busy with preparations. Their joy over Philip¡¯s return was clearly stronger than their worry about losing me as their daughter-inw.

    I didn¡¯t say anything, not wanting them to see my red eyes or to be pressured into staying.

    Philip was waiting by the car, staring off into the distance, lost in thought.

    When he saw me approach, a faint smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Do you want me to give you a ride?¡±

    I shook my head, forcing a small smile. ¡°You haven¡¯t been back in four years. The city¡¯s changed. You¡¯ll probably get lost.¡±

    Philip raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡±

    I kept my gaze on the ground, not wanting him to see the redness in my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. I¡¯ll take you out to eat sometime.¡±

    He didn¡¯t say anything. I opened the car door and climbed in. Just as I was about to start the engine, his hand rested on the window.

    ¡°Where are you staying? Can you tell me?¡± he asked softly.

    I gripped the steering wheel tighter and stayed silent.

    He gave a quiet, almost resignedugh and withdrew his hand. ¡°Take care on the road.¡±

    I drove off. As the car pulled out of the driveway, I nced at the rearview mirror, watching the house fade into the distance.

    The tears came again, this time uncontrobly. ¡®Goodbye, the home I¡¯ve known for ten years. Goodbye, my love. Goodbye, the person I used to be.¡¯

    Maybe Philip had talked to Michelle, because she didn¡¯t call after that.

    I arrived at my ce, unloaded my luggage, tidied up a bit, and went to bed.

    I slept through the night, and when I woke up the next morning to the soft glow of the rising sun, I opened the window and whispered to myself, ¡®Everything starts anew from today!

    Myra was ready for a busy month ahead since the deadline for the handover was drawing near.

    ¡°Double-check the arrival times for the two main contacts tomorrow,¡± I told her.

    ¡°Got it, Zoe. One group arrives at 10 AM, and the other at 2 PM. I¡¯ve already booked them into the nearest Holiday Inn,¡± she replied, her logistics always on point.

    ¡°Book one more room,¡± I added.

    ¡°Anyone elseing?¡± Myra asked.

    ¡°No, just the two of us. We¡¯ll need to stay overnight because the lighting setup has to be tested in the evening for the best effect. We¡¯ll probably be working through the night, and it¡¯ll be too inconvenient to go home,¡± I exined.

    Myra gave me a thumbs-up. ¡°Zoe, you really thought of everything.¡±

    2

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 Be Honest 59

    ¡°If you get a boyfriend, make sure to give him a heads-up too. You¡¯re about to steal some of your romance time,¡± I reminded. her with a grin.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯ll be a good test for him,¡± Myra said, her face lighting up with a big, happy smile-sweet, full of joy.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get to work. To save time, we need to pinpoint the root of the problem so we can address it directly when the others arrive,¡± I instructed.

    Myra nodded and pulled out the blueprints. ¡°I¡¯ll handle Areas A, D, and F.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Even though I was the one in charge, in situations like this, I couldn¡¯t just sit back and delegate. I had to get hands-on, just like Myra.

    The next day, we met the two representatives from the construction team: one was named ir, the other Marc. On the third day, in the afternoon, we met the lighting supplier¡¯s team: one was named Lester, the other Cameron.

    We, the three parties, went over the issues Myra and I had identified, then proceeded with a site inspection. In the end, we all agreed: the lights were fine, the construction was fine-it was the lighting adjustments that were the problem.

    ording to the contract, the lighting adjustments were the responsibility of the supplier. Cameron Patel, the person in charge, immediately contacted hispany and got back to me. ¡°We¡¯ll send two lighting technicians over. They¡¯ll arrive tomorrow afternoon.¡±

    I felt a bit impatient. ¡°Can theye any sooner?¡±

    Even though there was still a month left and we¡¯d figured out the issue, lighting adjustments were a meticulous task.

    Sometimes, a single light needed to be adjusted multiple times, and with thousands of lights in the park, if we didn¡¯t speed up, we wouldn¡¯t finish on time.

    Plus, we had to leave enough time for Alvin to do a pre-inspection. If he wasn¡¯t satisfied or found something that needed fixing, we¡¯d have to make more changes.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got Mr. Hayward, but he¡¯s out of town. He¡¯s rushing back, but tomorrow is the earliest he can get here,¡± Cameron exined.

    Since they were doing their best, I didn¡¯t push further and just had to wait.

    ¡°How good is Mr. Hayward?¡± I casually asked as we sat down for dinner.

    Cameron, about forty, a little chubby, and very friendly, grinned. ¡°Well, if he says he¡¯s second-best in the industry, no one dares to im the top spot.¡±

    I wondered, ¡®Really?¡¯

    I smiled. ¡°That puts my mind at ease.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Hayward is still single, by the way. If Miss Kemp knows any suitable youngdies, maybe you could introduce them?¡± Cameron added, yfully turning into a matchmaker.

    ¡°Sure, but aren¡¯t you worried he might meet someone here and decide he doesn¡¯t want to leave?¡± I teased.

    ¡°Ourpany arranges positions for employees¡¯ families too,¡± Cameron joked back.

    The dinner was lighthearted and rxed-perfect for unwinding before the hard work ahead.

    When I got home, my phone rang. It was Alvin.

    I wasn¡¯t sure what he wanted at this hour, but I answered anyway. ¡°Mr. Dolton.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re really something. So you think I have something going on with Thea, huh?¡± His voice was cold and threatening

    I thought, ¡®It looks like he was calling to confront me. Someone must¡¯ve filled him in.

    ¡°Did I say anything that wasn¡¯t true?¡± I replied, keeping my tone steady.

    Alvin sneered. ¡°Alright, Zoe, I¡¯ll give you what you want.¡±

    I thought, ¡°What?¡¯ Before I could process what he meant, he¡¯d already hung up.

    After washing up, Iy down in bed and checked my phone. I saw a bunch of unread messages in a group chat called ¡°y Around.¡±

    This was a group with Alvin, Oscar, and a few of their other friends. I was in it too, having joined as Alvin¡¯s fianc¨¦e.

    I opened the group, and all the messages were directed straight at me.

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 Be Honest 60

    <i>Chapter 60 </i>

    <i>Chapter 60 </i>

    <i>Carrol: [Zoe, is it really over between you and Alvin?] </i>

    <i>Hiram: [Zoe, Alvin¡¯s so confused right now. Don¡¯t be mad, we¡¯ll set him straight.] </i>

    <i>Sterling: [Zoe, when you have time, let me take you and Alvin out for a meal.] </i>

    <i>Jarred: [Count me in! I¡¯ll definitely help you and Alvin work things out.] </i>

    <i>Arron: [Stop causing a fuss. Couples fight, but they always make up. Stop all this nonsense.] </i>

    <i>I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what they¡¯d heard that made them all direct at me in the group. </i>

    <i>There were eight people in the group: besides the ones talking, there was also Alvin, me, and Oscar. </i>

    <i>Oscar hadn¡¯t said a word, but he was the one I was closest to. </i>

    <i>So I sent him a message in private. [Oscar, what¡¯s going on? What did everyone hear?] </i>

    <i>In this group, Alvin was third in seniority, and Oscar was sixth. When I first met Oscar, Alvin and I weren¡¯t officially together yet. Back then, he and Oscar had already sworn brotherhood. </i>

    <i>[Didn¡¯t you see Alvin¡¯s post on Ins?] Oscar replied almost immediately. </i>

    <i>I knew he must¡¯ve seen the group chat, but since he knew about the situation between Alvin and me, he hadn¡¯t said anything. </i>

    <i>After reading his message, I immediately opened Instagram. Alvin had posted a picture of a freshly picked red rose with the caption: [Red looks better after all]. </i>

    <i>Everyone knew I liked white roses. So when he posted this, it was his way of telling everyone that he didn¡¯t want me </i>

    <i>anymore. </i>

    <i>As I thought back to the harsh words he¡¯d thrown at me on the phone, I knew this post was him making it clear that he was choosing Thea over me. </i>

    <i>The group was waiting for me to respond, so I couldn¡¯t leave them hanging. I liked Alvin¡¯s post, then typed my reply in the </i>

    <i>group. </i>

    <i>Zoe: [Thanks for your concern, but Alvin and I are done. From now on, we¡¯ll just be friends, like all of you.] </i>

    <i>As soon as I hit send, a flood of shocked and worried emojis appeared. </i>

    <i>I skimmed through them, then went into the group settings and exited the chat. I didn¡¯t care about their reactions anymore. </i>

    <i>That night, I hardly slept. In my dreams, everyone in the group was asking me why I broke up with Alvin. </i>

    <i>I woke up before dawn. My eyes were swollen from crying yesterday. </i>

    <i>I put some ice on them, did my makeup, and packed a few changes of clothes, because starting today, I¡¯d be staying at a hotel. </i>

    <i>By the time Myra arrived at the amusement park, I was already deep into work. She looked at me, wide-eyed. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re not nning to stay here overnight, are you?¡± </i>

    <i>1/2 </i>

    <i>No, I just got here a little early.¡± I nced at her. ¡°Did you have breakfast yet?¡± </i>

    <i>¡°Not yet,¡± Myra admitted. She was always the type to rush to work and sneak in breakfast afterward. </i>

    <i>¡°Go eat first. When you¡¯re done,e back and work. And just so you know, if you¡¯re sticking with me, no more sleeping in,¡± I reminded her. </i>

    <i>Myra stuck her tongue out but promised, ¡°Okay, no more sleeping in, but once the project¡¯s over, you¡¯re giving me a week off to catch up on all the sleep I¡¯ve missed.¡± </i>

    <i>I thought, ¡®Once the project¡¯s wrapped up and I¡¯ve quit, will I even have the right to give her time off?¡¯ Still, I agreed to it. ¡®When the timees, I¡¯ll bring it up. Hopefully, I¡¯ll still have enough right to make the request. </i>

    <i>Around noon, Myra and I had just ordered takeout when Oscar showed up. </i>

    <i>¡°I¡¯m treating you to a meal,¡± he said right away. </i>

    <i>¡°I can¡¯t. I¡¯ve got to meet the lighting technicians this afternoon.¡± I turned him down. </i>

    <i>2/2 </i>

 Be Hones 61

    Oscar nced around the amusement park. ¡°You really do care about this ce.¡±

    I smiled. ¡°If you need something, just say it.¡±

    He nodded and headed into the park, with me following behind.

    ¡°Why¡¯d you leave the group?¡± he asked as we walked.

    ¡°It¡¯s your guys¡¯ chat. I don¡¯t talk much in there, and besides, when I¡¯m around, you¡¯d have to censor your jokes,¡± I said, beingpletely honest.

    There had been times before when they¡¯d made some off-color jokes, and Alvin had reminded them to be careful.

    Back then, Alvin had said, ¡°Watch yourselves, my wife¡¯s in the group.¡±

    That ¡°wife¡± had made me read the message over and over, feeling like I was the luckiest person in the world.

    ¡°You really think ahead.¡± Oscar¡¯s voice broke me from my thoughts.

    I didn¡¯t respond, and Oscar stopped in front of a roller-skating car. ¡°Can I try this?¡±

    ¡°Go for it.¡± I said it, and sure enough, he jumped in and started skating around.

    ¡°Hey, this is fun!¡± Oscar had turned into a kid.

    I just watched him in silence. After a couple ofps, he stopped and asked, ¡°You really don¡¯t want to be with Alvin anymore?¡±

    I leaned against a nearby pole. ¡°I¡¯m a bit of a clean freak. Didn¡¯t you know that?¡±

    Oscar spun around to face me. ¡°Don¡¯t you think letting go so easily is just handing him over to someone else?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always been merciful,¡± I said.

    My words made Oscarugh. He paused the roller-skate car and got off. ¡°So, after you left the group, did you see what everyone was talking about?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to know,¡± I said bluntly.

    But Oscar couldn¡¯t resist. ¡°They¡¯re all saying that by letting go so easily, it just means you didn¡¯t love Alvin enough.¡±

    I nodded slightly. ¡°Maybe.¡±

    ¡°Do you know how Alvin reacted in the group?¡± Oscar asked, looking at me with amusement.

    I thought for a second. ¡°He left the group.¡±

    Oscar gave me a thumbs up. ¡°On that point, you two are really well-matched.¡±

    ¡°Now he¡¯s more suited to a red rose,¡± I said, just as Myra ran up.

    ¡°Zoe, the takeout¡¯s here. Are you eating?¡± Myra asked.

    I turned to Oscar. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything else to say, you can stay and y around. I¡¯m going to grab a bite.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll stay here and y for a bit.¡±

    Oscar was sometimes like a big kid, but since he and Alvin were so close, he was also close to me. He didn¡¯t try to change my mind, he just asked what I was thinking and shared what I needed to know.

    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re really something else,¡± Oscar called after me.

    I turned around. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°You actually liked Alvin¡¯s post. Impressive!¡± Oscar gave me a thumbs up.

    I smiled faintly. ¡°He posted it for me, so I had to let him know I saw it.¡±

    During the meal, Myra couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Zoe, is Oscar sent by Mr. Dolton to ask you back?¡±

    ¡°No, he just came to chat. Don¡¯t overthink it. Honestly, at this point, no one would make a difference,¡± I said, which made Myra sigh.

    ¡°Zoe, you really are ruthless. If it were me, I¡¯d be wavering,¡± she said, impressed.

    ¡°Everyone¡¯s different. We all have our strengths,¡± I said, staring at my takeout. I wasn¡¯t hungry, and just the thought of eating made me feel a little nauseous.

    Just then, my phone rang. It was Cameron. The lighting technicians had arrived.

    I told him to bring them in, then forced myself to eat a few bites. Even though I wasn¡¯t hungry, if I didn¡¯t eat something, I wouldn¡¯t have the energy to run around dealing with work.

    Before I could finish, Cameron came in with the team. When I looked up and saw who was with them, I froze.

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 Be Hones 62

    I thought, Josh? Isn¡¯t he just a taxi driver? How does he end up being the lighting engineer I¡¯ve been hoping for?¡¯ In that instant, I thought I was hallucinating.

    Josh, this is Miss Kemp!¡± Cameron made the introduction.

    Josh reached out his hand to me. ¡°Hello, Miss Kemp.¡±

    The tone of his voice and the look in his eyes were like we¡¯d never met before.

    I was still sitting, and from where I was, I could see his sharp jawline and that¡­ damn Adam¡¯s apple, which, for some reason, I couldn¡¯t help but keep noticing.

    Myra nudged me with her elbow, bringing me back to reality. I stood up and extended my hand.

    As soon as our hands touched, Josh spoke up, ¡°Miss Kemp, you eat first. I¡¯ll go check out the site.¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯ll go with you,¡± I said, starting to walk, but Josh didn¡¯t move.

    He suddenly turned to Cameron beside him. ¡°Cameron, have you eaten yet? I haven¡¯t had anything. Is there food here?¡±

    Cameron smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten,¡± then nced at me, ¡°You can order takeout.¡±

    I understood the look he gave me and immediately turned to Myra. ¡°Myra, order some takeout for Josh.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Myra said, quickly pulling out her phone. ¡°What do you want, Josh? Pasta, pizza, or hamburger?¡±

    Josh raised a hand, pointing at the half-eaten takeout I was having. ¡°Just get the same as that.¡±

    The takeout I was eating was steak, which I¡¯d asked Myra to order. But I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be into this kind of food. Yet, here he was, ordering it.

    ¡°Alright. Didn¡¯t expect you and Miss Kemp to have the same taste, Myra said, muttering as she ced the order.

    I awkwardly cleared my throat and turned to Josh and Cameron. ¡°So, should we-¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. You need to be full before you can work.¡± Josh said, dropping his big backpack and pulling out a half-finished bottle of water. He tilted his head back and took a few quick sips.

    As he drank, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down, and I couldn¡¯t help but swallow a little myself.

    The takeout wouldn¡¯t arrive for at least 20 minutes. Josh looked at me, still holding the bottle. ¡°Miss Kemp, go ahead and keep eating. We¡¯ll check out the site first.¡±

    With that, he and Cameron walked off. Myra poked me. ¡°Zoe, Josh is so handsome. He¡¯s so manly!¡±

    People were visual creatures, and Myra immediately took a liking to him. I had to say, she really had good taste.

    ¡°But don¡¯t you have a boyfriend?¡± I asked, still slurping my food.

    Myra grinned. ¡°That doesn¡¯t stop me from keeping my options open. Anyway, once the lighting¡¯s adjusted, he¡¯ll be gone. If I can just¡­

    I nearly choked on that. I hadn¡¯t expected the prim and proper, in-looking Myra to have such a wild side.

    You¡¯re shameless!¡± I muttered, then added, ¡°Keep that to yourself. Don¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±

    ¡°Why not? It¡¯s been so boring here for over a month. Don¡¯t worry, Zoe. I won¡¯t cross the line, Myra said, looking like she was already plotting her next move,

    I thought about what Josh had told me earlier and shook my head.

    Josh¡¯s takeout arrived 22 minutester. In those 22 minutes, Myra had talked about nothing but him. I had to admit, after seeing how she acted, I was starting to believe in love at first sight.

    I couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®If Myra breaks up with her boyfriend for Josh, I might be half responsible. And honestly, I didn¡¯t think Josh would ever like her.

    Right now, Myra was just looking for a distraction, but I knew once she started developing feelings, it would be like opening a wound she couldn¡¯t close. To avoid her getting hurt, it was better to nip this in the bud.

    So I said, ¡°He already likes someone else.¡±

 Be Hones 63

    ¡°What?¡± Myra turned to me. ¡°Zoe, how do you know? Are you two friends?¡±

    If I said yes, it would lead to a whole exnation, and then Myra would probably start asking me a million questions about Josh and me.

    It would only make things awkward between us. Plus, Josh clearly didn¡¯t want anyone to know we knew each other, so I couldn¡¯t let that slip.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know him,¡± I lied.

    ¡°Then¡­?¡± Myra¡¯s question trailed off, but I quickly interrupted her.

    ¡°I just guessed.¡±

    Myra hadn¡¯t eaten much. Her mind was all on Josh. Normally, she could eat anything, but today, even her favorite was hardly touched. I thought, ¡®Guess even the best food loses its appeal in front of a handsome guy!

    ¡°Guessed?¡± Myra wasn¡¯t letting it go. She was the type to dig until she got an answer. ¡°Zoe, how¡¯d you guess? Did Josh¡¯s face give it away?¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure how to respond to that. If I didn¡¯t say something, Myra would juste up with her own theories.

    While I was thinking of an excuse to get out of this, my eyesnded on a little keychain hanging off Josh¡¯s bag. It was a tiny white bunny-cute and a little silly.

    ¡°Well¡­¡± I pointed at it. ¡°That¡¯s probably the best proof.¡±

    ¡°That proves what?¡± Myra was still confused.

    ¡°A guy like him carrying a cute little bunny keychain-don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a little out of ce?¡± I grabbed my coffee and took a sip.

    I thought, ¡®Ugh, too sweet!¡¯ Myra had ordered this for me.

    ¡°Next time, don¡¯t add too much sugar,¡± I reminded her.

    Myra didn¡¯t respond to that. Instead, she kept staring at the bunny keychain, mumbling to herself, ¡°So you¡¯re saying that means his girlfriend put it there? Like a sign of ownership?¡±

    It seemed like she was getting it. I gave her a quick pat on the shoulder and started to stand up, but Myra grabbed the hem of my shirt. ¡°Zoe, I don¡¯t know¡­ Maybe he just really likes bunnies?¡±

    I blinked, speechless.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just ask him directlyter,¡± Myra said, right as Josh and Cameron walked back in.

    Josh was sharp-didn¡¯t even need me to call him.

    ¡°Josh, your takeout is here.¡± Myra eagerly opened the bag for him, even trying to pass him the fork.

    But Josh stopped her. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± Myra hesitated, wanting to help, but Josh quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m a bit of a clean freak.¡±

    I nearly burst outughing, thinking if he were really that obsessive about cleanliness, he wouldn¡¯t be eating takeout in the first ce-there was no way the food hadn¡¯t been touched by someone else.

    He was clearly just shutting down Myra¡¯s attempts to be helpful, and it was also clear to me that he wasn¡¯t interested in her.

    But Myra, already a little high on dopamine, didn¡¯t catch on. She just said, ¡°Oh.¡±

    As he was eating, Josh nced at my takeout box. But I was quick-I hadn¡¯t eaten yet, but I¡¯d already closed the lid. He didn¡¯t see anything. Still, he asked, ¡°Are you guys done eating?¡±

    ¡°Yep!¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡±

    Myra and I gave totally different answers. After Myra said ¡°nope,¡± she sat back down and went back to eating her now-cold

    pasta.

    Watching her, I just shook my head. The saying ¡°love makes people dumb¡± couldn¡¯t be more true.

    I couldn¡¯t watch it anymore, so I grabbed my takeout box to toss it, when I heard Myra ask, ¡°Josh, your bunny keychain is so cute. Could you give it to me?¡±

    Her bluntness made me freeze mid-step, almost tripping. I thought, ¡®This girl is bold.¡¯

    ¡°No,¡± Josh said, his rejection clear and firm.

    I wasn¡¯t surprised. Even though I didn¡¯t see Myra¡¯s face, I could feel her embarrassment. Honestly, I was embarrassed for her

    too.

    And then, from behind me, Josh¡¯s voice came again. ¡°I¡¯m giving it to my girlfriend.¡±

 Be Hones 64

    I thought, ¡®Girlfriend? Just a few days ago, he was trying to set me up on a blind date and even talked about getting a marriage license with me. And now, just dayster, he has a girlfriend?¡¯

    As I thought about how eager he was to get a marriage license, it seemed like he really needed a woman. So when I turned him down, he quickly found someone else.

    I thought, ¡®Fine by me-at least now I don¡¯t have to worry about him. I can move on without any tension.¡¯

    I tossed my takeout box into the trash, then moved off to the side to wait for him.

    It didn¡¯t take Myra more than a couple of minutes to catch up with me. Clearly, she hadn¡¯t finished her pasta. She probably couldn¡¯t stomach it now that Josh, the guy she liked, already had a girlfriend.

    Myra let out a dramatic exhale. ¡°Of course, all the good ones are taken. Not even a chance to flirt.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Myra, thank God your mom made you a girl. If you were a guy, you¡¯d be dead by now.¡±

    Just as I finished speaking, Josh walked over. He was wearing a ck T-shirt, cargo pants, and ankle-high boots. His posture was straight, exuding confidence-he was pure charisma in motion.

    ¡°Hot!¡± Myra gasped. ¡°Zoe, look at how built he is. The more I look, the better he gets. If he picked me up and hugged me around the waist, I think I¡¯d faint.¡±

    I flicked her on the head. ¡°Stop thinking about that kind of stuff.¡±

    ¡°Come on, Zoe, what kind of woman is worthy of a guy like him? I¡¯m so curious.¡± Myra seemedpletely taken by Josh.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You could ask him yourself,¡± I said, already walking toward him.

    Even though Josh was technically the client, he was in charge of the entire lighting setup right now.

    As the person overseeing the project, I had to respect his position. If the lights didn¡¯t get fixed right, it was me who would have to deal with the fallout.

    Myra quickly followed me. Just before we got to Josh, she whispered, ¡°Zoe, this guy is totally out of reach, but at least it¡¯d be nice to get up close and breathe him in.¡±

    I rolled my eyes, thinking, ¡®She¡¯s unbelievable.¡¯

    Myra had been around me for two years, and I never knew she was this obsessed with men. It was like she had zero boundaries.

    When we arrived at the site, Josh and Cameron were already there. Since Cameron had already sent him the details in an email, Josh immediately dove into the lighting adjustments.

    The process went smoothly, and in no time, he had fixed the first lighting issue.

    ¡°Awesome! Truly a top-tier engineer!¡± Myra pped and cheered, clearly fangirling.

    Josh walked up to me. ¡°Where¡¯s your power distribution room?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± I was confused.

    ¡°These lights are really sensitive to current fluctuations. I need to check your power supply and the wiringyout. It¡¯d be best

    if you could get the electrician who handles the circuits to meet me there,¡± Josh exined.

    I didn¡¯t ask any more questions. I just called the electrician and told him to meet me at the power distribution room.

    Myra went with Cameron to check out the next issue. I led Josh to the power room, and we walked in silence. The atmosphere felt oddly tense.

    Finally, I broke the silence. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a taxi driver?¡±

    ¡°I am. It¡¯s a part-time job,¡± he answered casually.

    Holly had said he was capable, and now I could see it. Being a lighting engineer was a high-level job with good pay, but he still worked part-time as a taxi driver.

    Aside from him being capable, there was probably another reason why he rented from Holly-he needed the money. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be staying in such a small, rundown ce.

    I couldn¡¯t help but nce at his clothes again. They were nothing special, but somehow, on him, they looked tough and had a certain edge.

    They said clothes made the man, but Josh seemed to have the ability to turn even a worn-out jacket into something stylish.

    ¡°Do I have a problem?¡± His voice brought me back to reality.

 Be Hones 65

    Chapter

    ¡°No,¡± I quickly denied. But thinking about Myra¡¯s crush on him, I couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°Just¡­ don¡¯t let anyone know we know each other.¡±

    ¡°Why, is our rtionship something to hide?¡± His question caught me off guard.

    I turned and met his dark gaze, and for a brief moment, I felt a little guilty. I quickly looked away and started walking again. ¡°It¡¯s not that. I just don¡¯t want people jumping to conclusions.¡±

    ¡­Oh,¡± he said with a single word that left me unsure whether he was agreeing or just acknowledging it.

    I didn¡¯t press the issue. We were both adults, after all, and should understand boundaries. Plus, he didn¡¯t seem like someone who liked to ask too many questions.

    From there, we walked in silence, and the atmosphere felt a little awkward. Eventually, I broke the silence, asking, ¡°How long do you think it¡¯ll take to finish adjusting all the lights?¡±

    Josh answered, ¡°Hard to say.¡±

    I didn¡¯t know what to say to that. Then I remembered my promise to Alvin. I had given my word to finish the lighting setup in twenty days, no exceptions.

    I asked, ¡°Can it be finished in twenty days?¡±

    Josh nced at me, and I thought he might say something, but instead, he just muttered, ¡°Okay.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Wait-did he just agree?¡¯

    After that, there wasn¡¯t much else to say. I could¡¯ve asked about Holly, but I didn¡¯t. Without her, there wouldn¡¯t be this awkwardness between Josh and me, so bringing her up would only make things worse.

    The rest of the walk was silent. A few minutes felt like hours, and I could feel a light sweat forming on my back.

    I admitted, I was being a little ridiculous. I was perfectly fine around Alvin, my ex-fiance, but for some reason, I felt ufortable around Josh, the guy I had failed to connect with on a blind date. I wondered, ¡®What is going on?¡¯

    Finally, Josh and I reached the power distribution room. The manager was already waiting for us. I made a quick introduction, and he led Josh through the amusement park¡¯s electrical ns.

    Once they were done, I asked, ¡°Is there a problem?¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Josh said.

    Hearing that made me feel a little deted. I thought, ¡®After all that checking, there is nothing wrong?¡¯ But the fact that Josh had toe look meant he suspected the power situation might be affecting the lights.

    I was starting to feel confused. Josh turned to the manager. ¡°Let¡¯s check the power room.¡±

    The manager didn¡¯t hesitate and led the way. Josh and I followed closely behind. He was silent, inspecting everything, while I just tagged along, pretending to understand, though I didn¡¯t get any of it.

    For a moment, I even wondered if Josh knew what he was doing. But then I reminded myself, he was a lighting technician. Of course he knew what he was doing with electrical systems.

    ¡°This line isn¡¯t 110V. Where does it lead?¡± Josh asked, his voice calm but authoritative.

    The manager nced at the generator¡¯sbel. ¡°It¡¯s for therger equipment in the amusement park.¡±

    ¡°I need a list of all the equipment that runs on these lines, along with their locations and the lightingyout,¡± Josh said, looking at me.

    I nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll have Myra send it over.¡±

    immediately called her, and as I hung up, Josh was already talking to the manager about another power supply issue.

    He had sharp features, and while his face wasn¡¯t soft and youthful, there was something strong andmanding about him. His looks paired with his work clothes made him seem effortlessly cool.

    I found myself distracted by his presence when suddenly, Josh looked up. ¡°Come here.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure what he wanted, but I quickly walked over. However, I didn¡¯t notice a piece of equipment sticking out from the side and identally brushed against it. It hurt, and before I could regain my bnce, I stumbled forward.

    The manager, who was closest, reached out to catch me, but Josh was faster. He blocked the manager¡¯s arm and pulled me toward him, wrapping his arm around my waist.

    His grip was firm, and hisrge hand seemed to swallow my waist whole-suddenly, I felt tiny in his arms.

    At that exact moment, I heard footsteps approaching the door. ¡°Zoe, I brought¡ª¡±

    Myra¡¯s voice cut off, and I could tell she was frozen in ce, shocked by what she had just witnessed.

 Be Hones 66

    ¡°Zoe, you totally did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± Myra asked.

    I never expected Myra to think that way. My waist still hurt, and I could already feel a bruise forming.

    I almost wanted to lift my shirt and show her, but I wasn¡¯t that reckless. I wasn¡¯t about to risk it all for a silly crush. I gave her a look but didn¡¯t stop her.

    ¡°Zoe, what was it like when Josh held you? Were his arms super strong? Was his hug¡­¡± Myra started.

    ¡°Myra!¡± I cut her off, my patience running out. ¡°Is there anything even remotely normal in that head of yours?¡±

    Seeing I was really upset, Myra stuck her tongue out. She mumbled something else, but it was too quiet for me to hear.

    I pressed my hand to the sore spot on my waist and stepped out of the power distribution room first.

    That was when it hit me-Josh had called me over, but he hadn¡¯t asked me a single thing. I ended up embarrassing myself and getting hurt in the process.

    I thought, ¡®This guy¡­ Looks like I¡¯ll need to keep my distance. He¡¯s just another contractor. Nothing more. Besides, we only went on one blind date. That¡¯s it.¡¯

    Myra handed something to Josh and followed me out. When she saw me standing by myself, she said, ¡°Zoe, Josh wants us to head to the next testing site. He¡¯ll join uster.¡±

    I nodded, about to head over with Myra, when my phone rang. It was Oscar. ¡°Where are you? You just left me hanging.¡±

    I was caught off guard for a second. I thought, ¡®Has he really stayed there the whole time? Is he already done exploring the whole amusement park?¡¯

    ¡°I thought you left already,¡± I answered honestly.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t leave. Where are you?¡± Oscar asked.

    I

    gave him the location of the testing site, and he said he¡¯d be there soon. But it was almost an hour before he finally showed <ol><li></li></ol>

    ¡°Did you get lost?¡± I teased.

    Oscar was fiddling with a ball from the ocean pool. No surprise there-he was a former snooker champion, after all. Anything involving balls seemed to be his thing.

    ¡°I¡¯ve walked through every maze in the world. A ce this small isn¡¯t going to make me lose my way,¡± he said, his usual confidence showing. Aside from ying ball, Oscar loved solving mazes.

    Alvin once told me that Oscar explored a maze wherever he went. He¡¯d nearly tackled every maze on Earth and was now nning to explore some geological ones.

    People were all so different with their hobbies. Some liked racing cars, others enjoyed birdwatching, some loved adventure, while others were collectors¡­

    ¡°The path through a maze might be confusing, but there¡¯s always a way home,¡± Oscar suddenly said.

    I paused for a moment before realizing what he meant.

    He was trying to tell me that getting lost wasn¡¯t the end of the world¨Cas long as I remembered which path I wanted to take. He¡¯d also told me before to figure out what I really wanted.

    On the surface, Oscar seemed carefree, but he was actually pretty wise. What mattered most was that he genuinely cared

    about me.

    Now I understood why he came here-to offer advice. Not to tell me to forgive Alvin or give him another chance, but to encourage me to let go of the past and focus on the future,

    My heart softened slightly. ¡°Yeah, thanks, Oscar.¡±

    Oscar handed me the ball he¡¯d been ying with. ¡°Let¡¯s go. If you ever need anything, just reach out. No matter what happens with Alvin. I¡¯m always with you.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± I nodded, taking the ball from him.

    A momentter, I felt a tap on the top of my head. He¡¯d patted me gently. ¡°You¡¯re such a great girl. Someone even better wille along and appreciate you.¡±

    He finished speaking, pulled his hand back, and walked off.

    I was left holding the ocean ball he had been ying with, still warm from his touch. I stared in the direction he¡¯d gone, my heart twisting with a mixture of bitterness and longing.

    Ìï

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 Be Hones 67

    I had thought that once I severed ties with Alvin, everything associated with him would fade away. But now I realized that wasn¡¯t the case. Some people and emotions began because of one person, but they didn¡¯t necessarily end because of them.

    ¡°Miss Kemp.¡± Josh¡¯s voice broke my thoughts.

    1 quickly snapped back to reality and turned around, surprised to find him standing right behind me. With him were Myra and the head electrician.

    There was something about Josh¡¯s expression that seemed unusually cold, making me wonder if something had gone wrong. ¡°Did you find a problem, Josh?¡±

    ¡°The electrician¡¯s already addressing it,¡± he said in a t tone.

    I nodded, about to ask what I should do next, but before I could, he added, ¡°We¡¯re not doing the lighting adjustments today.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± I was caught off guard.

    The head electrician quickly exined, ¡°The voltage in the circuits needs to be adjusted.¡±

    I furrowed my brows. ¡°How long will it take?¡±

    ¡°Should be done today.¡±

    I let out a quiet sigh of relief. I¡¯d been bracing myself for days of dys.

    ¡°Anything else you need from me?¡± I asked, ncing at Josh.

    ¡°No.¡±

    I frowned slightly, but before I could respond, Myra chimed in, her words faster than mine. ¡°So, does that mean we don¡¯t need to stay here? We can leave early?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re free to go do something else. We¡¯ll contact you if there¡¯s an issue,¡± Josh said, surprising me.

    I had expected him toe in and have us workingte into the night, but instead, he was giving us the rest of the day off.

    I was about to say something else, but by the time I opened my mouth, Josh had already walked off with the electrician.

    Myra leaned in and whispered to me, ¡°Zoe, I¡¯ve noticed something since you broke up with Mr. Dolton. You¡¯re really attracting attention now.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I didn¡¯t quite catch her drift.

    ¡°First, Josh hugs you, and now this handsome guy gives you a ¡®head pat¡¯¡ªZoe, you¡¯re like a ma for good-looking men now!¡± Myra teased, clearly enjoying herself.

    I rolled my eyes. ¡°Enough. And this is thest time. From now on, if you talk about anything unrted to work during working hours, I¡¯ll deduct 10% from your bonus.¡±

    I had toy down thew, or else I knew Myra would turn every little interaction with Josh into gossip.

    Myra immediately covered her mouth, her eyes wide as she looked at me, but I could see the yful glint in her eyes.

    Josh told us to go back, but there was no way I was going to just sit around. Even though the lighting wasn¡¯t being tested, any

    small problem could still affect the setup.

    I headed to the amusement park¡¯smand office, sat down, and went over the lighting ns and the issues we¡¯d discovered. I even re-watched the aerial footage from the past few days.

    Only when Josh and the others were finished did I head back to the hotel with them.

    ¡°Has Josh¡¯s room been set up?¡± I asked Myra.

    ¡°It¡¯s ready. He just needs to check in with his ID,¡± Myra said, reaching for Josh¡¯s ID like she was going to handle it for him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it myself,¡± Josh said, heading straight to the front desk.

    Myra watched him walk away with a sigh. ¡°He¡¯s so handsome and aloof. His charm just keeps growing.¡±

    She then turned to look at me, and when our eyes met, she quickly added, ¡°Zoe, it¡¯s off work now.¡±

    Admiring someone, like falling in love with something, was a personal thing. I couldn¡¯t exactly say much.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head upstairs,¡± I said, heading toward the elevator.

    Just then, Josh¡¯s voice called out, ¡°Miss Kemp, which room are you in?¡±

    I was caught off guard.

    Myra, ever the fast talker, immediately answered, ¡°Room 306!¡±

    Without missing a beat, Josh turned to the front desk and said, ¡°Please arrange a room either across the hall from or next to room 306.¡±

    I was speechless.

    Myra¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Zoe¡­ Zoe¡­¡±

    I pulled her aside, signaling her to stop making a scene. I didn¡¯t leave immediately, though. I stayed behind, wondering what it meant that Josh had requested a room so close to mine.

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 Be Hones 68

    Josh quickly walked over, his gaze calm and natural. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    I thought, ¡®What? He isn¡¯t going to exin why he is staying so close to me?¡¯ I was about to ask, but then I hesitated-if I did, it might seem a bit awkward.

    ¡°Josh, what¡¯s the deal with staying so close to us?¡± Myra, ever the quick talker, jumped in for me.

    Josh reached the elevator and pressed the button. I noticed his room key-it was 308, right next to mine.

    ¡°Convenient,¡± he said, offering only those two words.

    ¡®Convenient for what?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but wonder, and it left me feeling a little curious.

    Myra, also intrigued, nced at me, then back at Josh. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®convenient, Josh?¡±

    I almost smacked her on the head, thinking, ¡®Is she really that nosy? Does she have to keep pushing for answers?¡¯

    The elevator walls were so shiny that they reflected everything. As I nced at my reflection, I noticed Josh¡¯s gaze in the mirror. Our eyes met for a second, but he quickly looked away and answered Myra instead.

    ¡°Everything¡¯s convenient,¡± he said.

    Both Myra and I were speechless.

    In the end, Myra stayed quiet, tugging at the corner of my shirt with a look of defeat. It was like a little fox caught by an experienced hunter.

    The elevator reached the third floor in no time. We all got off and headed to our rooms. As she entered hers, Myra still couldn¡¯t hold back. She called out to Josh, ¡°Josh, if you need anything, just let me know.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± He replied briefly, opened his door, and went inside.

    Once he was inside, Myra leaned in. ¡°Zoe, what¡¯s going on with Josh? Why¡¯s he staying so close to us? Does he have ulterior motives? Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s one of those seemingly perfect guys who¡¯s secretly a¡­ you know?¡±

    It was rare for her to have such self-preserving thoughts.

    While her concerns might keep her from getting too infatuated, I also worried she¡¯d carry that mindset into our work. I quickly reassured her, ¡°He¡¯s not like that.¡±

    Myra blinked at me. ¡°How do you know he¡¯s not?¡±

    I regretted speaking so quickly. From now on, I decided to keep things short with Myra-otherwise, I¡¯d end up talking in circles.

    ¡°Just a guess. But I could be wrong. Maybe you should try testing it out yourself?¡± I teased.

    Myra¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really? Can I?¡±

    Just as I reached the sofa, I grabbed a cushion and threw it at her.

    Myra let out a mock wail, and I went into my room, dropped my luggage, and headed straight for the bathroom.

    After undressing, I took a shower. Halfway through, I remembered something and looked down at my waist. Sure enough, ¨C

    there was a bruise, turning a purplish hue. My skin was pale, so the mark stood out clearly.

    I gently touched it, and for a brief moment, the memory of Josh holding me shed across my mind. It was just a quick image, and I shut my eyes, trying to force myself not to think about it.

    I hadn¡¯t even finished my shower when I heard Myra¡¯s voice from outside. ¡°Zoe, your phone¡¯s ringing.¡±

    I turned off the water. ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s from an unregistered number.¡±

    I furrowed my brows. ¡°Don¡¯t answer it. It¡¯s probably just a wrong number.¡±

    I had saved every important contact-clients, friends, even people from the Dolton family. If it was something important, they¡¯d have left their name.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Myra responded, then added, ¡°By the way, Zoe, how sweet do you want your coffee?¡±

    ¡°Three out of ten,¡± I replied, turning the water back on.

    By the time I finished my shower and came out, twenty minutes had passed. Myra had already gone into the bathroom.

    I picked up my phone while drying my hair and saw that the unknown number was registered to Tideport. My first thought was of Holly. ¡®Could it be her? Is something wrong?¡¯

    I called the number back. It rang for a few seconds before someone picked up. I didn¡¯t hesitate to speak, ¡°Hello, who¡¯s that?¡±

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 Be Hones 69

    Chapter

    ¡°It¡¯s me. Come over for a minute.¡± Josh¡¯s voice came through the phone, catching me off guard. I should¡¯ve known it was him, but somehow I hadn¡¯t expected it.

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± He responded with a single word before hanging up.

    He wad the lead on the lighting setup. I definitely couldn¡¯t afford to upset him.

    I quickly threw on a jacket over my sleepwear and made my way to his room. I knocked on the door, and Josh opened it. His eyes immediatelynded on my still-damp hair, and I noticed his throat move as he swallowed.

    ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± he asked.

    The question took me by surprise. ¡°What?¡±

    His gaze dropped to my waist, and I instantly understood what he meant.

    For some reason, my heart skipped a beat. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°Wait here,¡± he said, turning away and leaving me standing in the doorway.

    I looked past him and saw hisptop on the desk. It looked like he had already gotten to work while I was in the shower. Impressive, I had to admit-his dedication was something I could respect.

    Josh walked back toward me, his tall figure blocking my view of the room. I quickly looked away and back at him.

    He was still wearing the same clothes as before, but now his T-shirt was tucked into his waistband, which made his legs look even longer. Honestly, he looked like a model walking down a runway.

    It wasn¡¯t hard to understand why Myra was so smitten with him. After all, I thought, ¡®Who doesn¡¯t like a good-looking guy?¡¯

    He handed me a small box of ointment. ¡°Put this on your bruise. It¡¯ll help with the swelling.¡±

    I took it from him. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    ¡°If it still hurts too much, go see a doctor,¡± he added.

    I wondered, ¡®Is he concerned about me?¡¯

    The thought crossed my mind, but before I could dwell on it, he said, ¡°Once we start the work, I don¡¯t want anyone¡¯s health to dy the progress.¡±

    I was left speechless, thinking, ¡®So it isn¡¯t concern for me-it is just about not letting anything interfere with the work.¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little self-mocking for thinking he cared. I forced a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Josh. I¡¯m just as eager to finish as you are.¡±

    I thought, ¡°The sooner we¡¯re done, the sooner I can get away from him and turn the project over to Alvin.

    ¡°Thanks!¡± I shook the ointment at him, then turned to leave.

    Back in my room, I tossed the ointment onto the bed and let out a long sigh.

    For some reason, I felt a tightness in my chest, an inexplicable sense of being trapped. Myra came out of the bathroom wrapped in a big bathrobe and jumped onto the bed with a dramatic ir, like a diver about to make a ssh.

    But the next second, she groaned, ¡°Ouch! What is this? It¡¯s so hard!¡±

    She pulled out the ointment and stared at it. ¡°Where did thise from? Zoe, is this yours?¡±

    ¡°Who else¡¯s would it be?¡± I replied, reaching for it.

    ¡°Zoe, why do you have this? Did you hurt yourself?¡± Myra asked, looking at me in confusion.

    I wondered, ¡®She saw me get bumped into earlier, didn¡¯t she?¡¯ But it seemed like she was more interested in the moment when Josh held me than in the fact that I was actually hurt.

    I thought, Josh must have thought I was injured. That¡¯s why he gave me this ointment.¡¯

    Suddenly, my mind felt foggy, so I closed my eyes and forced myself to stop thinking about it. Iy down on the bed and picked up my phone. There were a few unread messages, including some group chats and a few private ones.

    Jasmine: [What are you doing now?]

    Philip: [When do you have time to show me this city that¡¯ll make me get lost?]

    Alvin: [Your friend has retracted a message.]

    I stared at the notification from Alvin, wondering, ¡®What has he retracted? Did he send it by mistake? Or did he regret it after sending it? Maybe it is just some angry words?¡¯

    I quickly closed the chat with him and opened the one with Jasmine. Just as I was about to reply, my phone buzzed-it was a friend request on WhatsApp.

    I opened it and saw a profile picture of a ginkgo leaf, followed by the name: Josh.

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 Be Hones 70

    It wasn¡¯t surprising that Josh added me on WhatsApp. We were working together now, and there would be plenty tomunicate about, so it only made sense to use WhatsApp-it was more convenient.

    But I didn¡¯t ept his request right away. Instead, I replied to Jasmine, though she didn¡¯t respond. She was probably busy again.

    I then opened Philip¡¯s WhatsApp. After thinking for a moment, I typed back. [I¡¯ve been caught up with the amusement park project. I¡¯ll hang out with you once it¡¯s done.]

    I added one more word. [Sorry.]

    Philip replied almost immediately. [No worries, just make sure you take care of yourself, no matter how busy you get.]

    I was about to reply with a simple [Okay], when another message from him popped up. [I¡¯m waiting for you.]

    Those words made me rethink my response, so I typed: [Are you staying there for long?]

    Philip: [Yeah, I¡¯m staying.]

    I was a bit surprised by his answer.

    A few secondster, I replied: [Your parents must be happy about that.]

    I saw that Philip was typing a response, but it took a while before anything came through.

    I didn¡¯t wait around, though. Instead, I opened my email to check for any updates. It had be part of my routine. I¡¯d wrapped up all my handover tasks, so my inbox was empty.

    Seeing the notification that I had zero unread emails somehow left me feeling¡­ oddly empty.

    Just then, Myra came over, holding up her phone. ¡°Zoe, have you seen this show? I¡¯ve been watching ittely-the second couple is amazing.¡±

    I nced at the screen. Both the male and female leads were actors I liked, and the scene was pretty funny. The female lead had turned into a chicken and was angrily confronting the male lead, who was teasing her.

    I put my phone down and decided to watch the show with Myra. But the drama couldn¡¯tpete with how tired I was. I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, it was already morning.

    Thanks to my internal clock, I woke up at 5 a.m. Meanwhile, Myra was still asleep, lying with her legs syed in a scissor-like position. Her nightgown had ridden up to her thighs, exposing herce underwear.

    I pulled the nket over her and checked my phone. There were a few new messages.

    Jasmine had replied, and Philip had sent an unread message. [What about you?]

    I stared at it for a moment, then scrolled back through our chat. I finally realized that he was asking if I was happy he stayed.

    I wondered, ¡®Why should that matter to me? Whether he stays or leaves is none of my business. But why did he ask?¡¯ We were both adults, so it felt a little off. I decided not to respond.

    I put my phone down, washed up, and poured myself a ss of water, Standing by the window, I noticed a light mist outside. It wasn¡¯t heavy enough to block the view, but it added a soft, serene touch to the morning.

    ????

    As I finished my water and started stretching, I caught sight of a familiar figure-tall, with long strides. Of course, it was Josh.

    Even after leaving the military, he still carried himself with that disciplined posture. He was like a walking example of self- discipline.

    I suddenly remembered I hadn¡¯t epted his WhatsApp request yet. So, I grabbed my phone from the bed, epted it, and then continued with my stretching.

    While getting dressed, I applied the ointment Josh had given me earlier. There was no reason to deny myself relief.

    Just as I was finishing up and getting ready to head downstairs for breakfast before going to the amusement park, I received a message from Josh. [Got a boyfriend yet?]

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    I thought, ¡®So, Josh adds me on WhatsApp, not for work, but to ask that? Why would he ask something like that?¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t quite figure it out, so I replied with a simple: [Why ask?]

    But Josh didn¡¯t answer, and by the time I¡¯d realized, he¡¯d already eaten and headed to the amusement park ahead of schedule.

    By the time the night passed, the electrical issues at the park had been sorted, and Josh had started working on the full lighting adjustments.

    I was more like an inspector, checking his work as he made each change. If something wasn¡¯t quite right, I¡¯d ask him to

    tweak it.

    I finally understood what he meant when he said he didn¡¯t want health issues to slow the work-he wasn¡¯t just being considerate, he was being all about the job.

    He worked like a machine, almost non-stop, and it made me feel like a spinning top. I barely had time to drink water, and even when I did, I was reluctant to drink too much because it meant constant bathroom trips.

    In the time it took me to the bathroom, he could¡¯ve already finished adjusting an entire light setup. If I didn¡¯t inspect it immediately, he¡¯d have to wait, which really dyed the progress.

    After three days of this, my mouth was covered in painful sores, while Josh-who¡¯d barely had time to drink water either- seemedpletely fine. It hit me: women were just more fragile than men.

    ¡°Zoe, drink some water! If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll turn into a dry, olddy,¡± Myra said, her concern obvious. She¡¯d noticed I wasn¡¯t taking care of myself and felt bad for me.

    I smiled and replied, ¡°Even if I dry up, I¡¯ll still be a dry, beautiful girl.¡±

    I tilted my head back and took a long sip of water, only to identally lock eyes with Josh. Our gazes met for a moment, and I nearly choked on the water.

    ¡°Zoe, why are you drinking so fast?¡± Myra patted my back to help me out.

    At that moment, Josh came down the stairs, grabbed a bottle of water, and drank it down quickly. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed with each swallow, and I found myself swallowing along with him.

    It was just a natural, physical reaction, but I wondered, ¡®Why do I feel so¡­ sensitive to his Adam¡¯s apple? Do I have some weird thing for Adam¡¯s apples?¡¯

    The thought caught me off guard and made me choke again, prompting Myra to quickly pat my back. ¡°Zoe, you keep choking! Is your throat on fire or something?¡±

    Just as she spoke, Josh looked over at me, and I quickly shook my head. ¡°No, just got choked on water.¡±

    ¡°Your throat hurt?¡± Josh said, his gaze lingering on my lips.

    I instinctively pressed my lips together and shook my head again, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°You are just trying not to dy Josh¡¯s work,¡± Myra blurted out, not sparing me any embarrassment. ¡°You are hardly drinking any water, and now your mouth is full of sores. You can¡¯t even eat anything.¡±

    Josh stepped forward and stood right in front of me. ¡°Open your mouth.¡±

    I froze, and Myra¡¯s eyes went wide in confusion.

    Before I could say anything, Josh reached out and gently but firmly pinched my chin, forcing my mouth open. He took a quick look and then let go. ¡°You¡¯ve got an ulcer.¡±

    He turned to Myra, who was still staring with her mouth open. ¡°Go get some medication for mouth ulcers.¡±

    Myra nodded and went to leave. But then she turned back around. ¡°Josh, aren¡¯t you an electrician? How do you know about medicine?¡±

    I was still recovering from the awkwardness of him touching my chin when I managed to speak, ¡°Because he was in the army.¡±

    Myra looked at me, about to say something, but when our eyes met, she seemed to realize something and quietly left.

    I was about to say something to Josh when Myra suddenly called out, ¡°Mr. Dolton¡¯s here!¡±

    I froze, thinking, ¡®Alvin?¡¯

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    Turning my head, I saw Alvin, just as expected. He was looking at me too, but still asked Myra, ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°Zoe has a mouth ulcer. I¡¯m going to get her some medicine,¡± Myra said, and Alvin immediately walked over.

    ¡°Are you drinking enough water?¡± he asked, as if he knew me inside and out. I tended to get heaty, so I always drank oatmeal with my meals and made sure to stay hydrated.

    If I didn¡¯t, I ended up with a nosebleed or mouth ulcers. After ten years of knowing me, Alvin was well aware of this.

    But right now, his words felt like a jab, and it made me think back to what he¡¯d said to Oscar. ¡°We¡¯re too familiar.¡±

    So familiar that he didn¡¯t even care anymore-making it impossible for me to catch his eye, even losing to Thea, a widow.

    ¡°Is there something you need, Mr. Dolton?¡± I didn¡¯t answer his question. Instead, I shot back coldly and formally.

    As he saw my icy response, Alvin¡¯s expression immediately darkened. He opened his mouth to speak but then noticed Josh standing beside me. He hesitated before saying, ¡°Come here, I need to talk to you.¡±

    Although I had no idea what he wanted to say, it was awkward with Josh around, so I followed Alvin a few steps away.

    I didn¡¯t go too far though, and called out to him, ¡°I¡¯m on a tight schedule, Mr. Dolton. Please get to the point.¡±

    Alvin stopped, his handsome face clearly showing his frustration. ¡°Are you deliberately trying to provoke me? Is this your way of getting back at me?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± I said. His words seemed toe out of nowhere, and I didn¡¯t quite understand.

    ¡°Zoe, if you don¡¯t want to get a marriage license, that¡¯s your choice. If you¡¯re upset and want to find a guy to make me jealous, go ahead.

    ¡°But don¡¯t go after people you know. If you do that, we won¡¯t be able to stay friends anymore.¡± His words packed a punch.

    I paused for a moment, processing it, especially thest part, which made me think of Oscar.

    It seemed like someone had tipped him off about Oscaring over, but I hadn¡¯t expected Alvin to misunderstand me and

    Oscar.

    He was the one with a dirty mind, yet he assumed everyone else was the same. I felt a rush of anger. ¡°Alvin, do you really think everyone¡¯s like you?¡±

    He looked confused, his sharp eyes narrowing. I gave him a mocking smile. ¡°You even slept with your best friend¡¯s wife.¡±

    His expression turned dark instantly. ¡°Zoe, I told you, my rtionship with Thea is not what you think.¡±

    I didn¡¯t want to argue about that anymore. ¡°Whether you¡¯re involved with her or not is none of my business.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, are you so tired of me that you¡¯re just looking for any excuse to pick a fight?¡± Alvin shot back, as if turning the tables on <ol><li></li></ol>

    ¡°If that¡¯s how you want to see it, fine,¡± I replied. ¡°Didn¡¯t you already say we were too familiar? So familiar that you lost

    interest?¡±

    This wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d brought it up-his words had stung too much.

    Alvin¡¯s hand, which had been hanging by his side, clenched into a fist. ¡°So what do you want from me?¡±

    ¡°I just want us to go our separate ways. Mr. Dolton, stop dragging this out. You send me messages and then delete them. Every time I talk to someone, youe questioning me.¡± I was blunt.

    Alvin had never been confronted like this by me. For all the years we were together, I had always been gentle, going along with whatever he said, like a well-behaved little wife.

    He probably didn¡¯t expect me to be so sharp now. His face turned dark, and he looked more irritated than ever. ¡°Zoe, do you really think I can¡¯t live without you?¡±

    ¡°No, Mr. Dolton, you¡¯ve got money, looks, and women lining up after you. Who would you ever have trouble letting go of?¡± I mocked.

    But before I could finish, Alvin suddenly stepped forward. ¡°If you understand me so well, why can¡¯t you let go of the small mistakes I¡¯ve made?¡±

    I thought, ¡®Small mistakes?¡¯ The way he was with Thea-he didn¡¯t even think he¡¯d done anything wrong. That moment only made me more certain that cutting ties without dragging things out was the right choice.

    Ìï

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    His words made it clear: he thought he could flirt with Thea because he assumed I was so attached to him, so sure I couldn¡¯t live without him. It was time I made my feelings clear.

    ¡°Alvin, what you call a small mistake is something I can¡¯t tolerate. After all these years, you should know I don¡¯t tolerate nonsense,¡± I said, stepping aside to put some distance between us.

    ¡°My love doesn¡¯t need to be dramatic, but I won¡¯t stand for my man being ambiguous with anyone-no matter how small the hint. If I want him, I want all of him, not just a piece,¡± I added, ncing at him to see his reaction.

    As I turned, my eyes briefly met Josh¡¯s, who was standing a few steps away. It seemed he had overheard everything.

    I quickly looked away and turned back to Alvin. He was watching me with an expression of annoyance, as if I were being unreasonable. ¡°Zoe, you should know by now that loyalty is a thing of the past. Don¡¯t live in some fantasy about love.¡±

    It was true-temptation was everywhere. The days when life was slower and people loved only one person were long gone.

    I smiled faintly. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I don¡¯t want it. I won¡¯t settle.¡±

    Alvin didn¡¯t respond, so I stared at him. ¡°Alvin, today I want this to be thest time we talk about us.

    ¡°We¡¯ve broken up, so it¡¯s time for us to go our separate ways. You should be the kind of man who knows how to move on.¡±

    Alvin sneered. ¡°Fine, go your own way. I¡¯ll be curious to see what kind of man you, Zoe, end up with.¡± With that, he turned and walked away in a huff.

    Watching him storm off, I suddenly realized how childish he looked-almost like a petnt child. If he wasn¡¯t so immature, he wouldn¡¯t being after me even after we¡¯d broken up.

    When Myra came back with the medicine, she quietly asked, ¡°You and Mr. Dolton had another falling out? He looked so angry, like he was about to explode.¡±

    She always knew how to make light of things. I took the medicine from her, tearing open the package as I replied, ¡°How does a pig blow up? Want to give it a try and show me?¡±

    ¡°Zoe¡­¡± Myra gave me a yful punch. ¡°Did Mr. Doltone to ask you to get back together? Maybe you should give him another chance. He still loves you, or else why would he keep trying?¡±

    Before I could answer, Josh suddenly interrupted, stepping in between us. He reached out, took the medicine from my hand, and started opening it.

    ¡°Myra, I¡¯m out of markers. Can you get me two-one ck, one red?¡± Josh said, not even looking up as he worked on the medicine.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Myra, ever the professional when it came to him, hurried off without hesitation.

    Once she was gone, Josh finished prepping the medicine but didn¡¯t hand it to me immediately. Instead, he sprayed a little to the side and then turned to me. ¡°Open your mouth.¡±

    ¡°No need, I can do it myself.¡± I knew exactly what he was up to, so I refused and reached for it.

    But Josh simply raised his arm, blocking me. No matter how much I reached for it, I couldn¡¯t get it. I felt like a little woman, defeated by Josh standing in front of me.

    ¡°Can you see the sores in your mouth?¡± he asked.

    I was caught off guard, unsure how to respond. He added, ¡°I¡¯m spraying this to help you heal faster, so it doesn¡¯t affect your work. There¡¯s no need to make this moreplicated, Miss Kemp.¡±

    The way he said it made it sound like if I refused, I¡¯d be making a big deal out of nothing. Sighing, I opened my mouth and let him spray.

    The cool, soothing sensation made me shiver slightly, and the next thing I knew, Josh¡¯srge hand was on my shoulder, gently pulling me toward him.

    With my head tilted back, I looked up at the sky. The sunlight was a little too bright, and I squinted, letting him hold me as he sprayed medicine onto my mouth.

    In that moment, with my eyes closed and the world around me feeling distant, it was as if I were floating¡­

    It also urred to me that while I couldn¡¯t see the sores in my mouth, I could always look in a mirror. But now¡­ it felt like it was toote for anything to change.

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    Medicine worked wonders. After spraying it, the burning pain in my mouth eased considerably.

    At lunch, drinking water wasn¡¯t nearly as painful as before. Still, I wasn¡¯t brave enough to eat solid food-anything with salt or seasoning would definitely make it worse.

    ¡°Zoe, let¡¯s just have oatmeal. We can go with eggs and tomatoes, or some vegetables,¡± Myra suggested, trying to take care of <ol><li></li></ol>

    I knew she was a meat lover, so I replied, ¡°I¡¯ll just have the oatmeal. You order whatever vegetables you like.¡±

    Myra was about to say something when Josh walked over. ¡°Can I join you for lunch?¡±

    A tough guy like Josh asking to ¡°join for lunch¡± sounded so out of ce.

    I was ready to turn him down, mainly because I still felt awkward about him spraying medicine for me, even though he seemedpletely casual about it.

    But before I could say anything, Myra, his little fangirl, immediately nodded. ¡°Of course, Mr. Hayward! What do you like to eat?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± Josh nced at me, then said, ¡°Like Miss Kemp, I¡¯ll just have oatmeal.¡±

    Myra¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Just oatmeal? No vegetables?¡±

    ¡°Something light, little salt, little oil,¡± Josh said, pointing to his mouth. ¡°I haven¡¯t been drinking enough water these past couple of days.¡± He was telling the truth.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got ulcers too?¡± Myra sighed dramatically, then muttered under her breath, ¡°Seems like I¡¯m the only one fine¡­ does this make me look too free?¡±

    In the end, the three of us ordered oatmeal, green sd, and bacon.

    ¡°Mr. Hayward, don¡¯t you think there¡¯s too little food? What if it¡¯s not enough for you?¡± Myra asked again after we ced our order.

    ¡°It¡¯s enough,¡± he replied, as always, with just a few words.

    We¡¯d been working together for a few days, and he was the type to just get things done without much talk.

    ¡°Zoe, what if we order a couple more dishes? Look at Mr. Hayward¡¯s build-he doesn¡¯t seem like the type to eat so little.¡± Myra nudged me.

    I wasn¡¯t in the mood for small talk, so I just said, ¡°He¡¯s muscle type, not meat type.¡±

    As soon as I said it, I remembered the image of Josh washing his hair in a tank top-his muscles were so defined.

    ¡°Zoe, I also think Mr. Hayward is muscle type. Just never had the chance to see it,¡± Myra said, with a look in her eyes that clearly wanted to undress him.

    I thought, ¡®Dealing with this little pervert is exhausting.¡¯ I sighed. ¡°Opportunities are there for the taking. You could step up to him and ask him to take his shirt off. That way, you¡¯d get to see.¡±

    ¡°Zoe¡­¡± Myra blushed, clearly embarrassed.

    I thought that would be the end of it, but she wasn¡¯t done. ¡°Zoe, I think Mr. Hayward might like you.¡±

    I almost choked on my food when I heard that.

    ¡°Zoe, seriously. The way he looks at you is different. He¡¯s always so hands-on with you,¡± Myra said, reaching out to mimic Josh¡¯s usual move of grabbing my chin.

    I pped her hand away. ¡°Do you want to lose your bonus?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s lunch break,¡± she said, sounding so reasonable.

    ¡°Zoe, why don¡¯t you give it a shot with Mr. Hayward? It¡¯d also mess with Mr. Dolton and show him that you¡¯re still popr,¡± Myra said, clearly enjoying the drama.

    Iughed. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mr. Hayward the one you¡¯re into?¡±

    ¡°But he¡¯s not into me,¡± Myra said with surprising self-awareness. ¡°Zoe, besides not being a CEO, Mr. Hayward is better than Mr. Dolton in every way.¡±

    I had to admit, her taste wasn¡¯t bad.

    ¡°Zoe, if you¡¯re feeling too shy, I can totally help set you up,¡± Myra said, getting bolder by the second.

    I almostughed. First, there was Holly trying to matchmake me with Josh, and now even Myra was jumping on the bandwagon. I thought, ¡®Do people really think Josh and I are such a perfect match?¡¯

    ¡°Zoe, I¡¯ll go ask him right now,¡± Myra said, already gearing up to make a move.

    I grabbed her arm. ¡°Sit down. And drop it. There¡¯s nothing between me and him.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Myra was confused. ¡°Zoe, don¡¯t you like him?¡±

    To avoid making things more awkward between me and Josh, I just gave a ¡°No.¡±

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    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re not that shallow, are you? Mr. Hayward is only a little less rich than Mr. Dolton.¡± Myra tried to reason.

    I nced at her and decided to be blunt. ¡°I¡¯m all about the money. Without it, even someone who looks like a god wouldn¡¯t impress me.¡±

    As soon as I finished speaking, Josh happened to look over. It seemed like he¡¯d heard me.

    I didn¡¯t flinch. There was no chance between us, so if he heard and dropped whatever thoughts he had, then fine by me.

    I wasn¡¯t oblivious. Between the casual touches and today¡¯s medicine-spraying session, it was clear he was interested.

    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re so shallow,¡± Myra grumbled.

    I didn¡¯t respond, nor did I look at Josh.

    Myra¡¯s phone rang, and she nced at the caller ID. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Lipsy.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Davy?¡¯

    ¡°¡­ Yes, I¡¯m here, in the A-section of the family area at the amusement park. Is there something you need, Mr. Lipsy? ¡­Okay,e over then.¡± After hanging up, Myra looked at me. ¡°Mr. Lipsy is looking for you.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Davy is looking for me?¡¯ I had no idea why. I hoped it wasn¡¯t something to do with Alvin. But then I thought about it-since this morning I told Alvin not to bother me, it probably wasn¡¯t him who sent Davy.

    Before long, Davy appeared, holding a lunchbox. ¡°Ms. Kemp, Mrs. Dolton asked me to bring you this soup. It¡¯s good for your health¡±

    I thought, ¡®From Michelle? She hasn¡¯t contacted me, so how would she know I am having ulcers? It must have been Alvin who told her.

    ¡®If this was from him, I could send it back with Davy. But if it is from Michelle, I can¡¯t do that.¡¯

    ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll take it,¡± I said, epting the soup.

    Davy didn¡¯t leave right away, though. He seemed like he wanted to say something. I could tell he felt guilty about taking me to the Saltwater Spring, so I quickly reassured him, ¡°Mr. Lipsy, don¡¯t overthink it.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Kemp, I¡­¡±

    ¡°It has nothing to do with you. If you keep worrying about it, that¡¯s on you.¡±

    I made it clear, and Davy didn¡¯t say anything else. He just added, ¡°You should drink the soup, Ms. Kemp. It¡¯s especially good for you.¡±

    He left, and Myra, who thought she knew everything, immediately said, ¡°Zoe, this soup is definitely from Mr. Dolton.¡±

    I thought, ¡®As if I didn¡¯t know that?¡¯

    ¡°Zoe, Mr. Dolton¡¯s not giving up on you. He probably wants to keep you as a backup,¡± Myra said, sounding surprisingly clear- headed.

    I smiled bitterly, thinking, ¡®What does he think I am? A backup n?¡¯

    Myra¡¯s order hadn¡¯t arrived yet, so I decided to drink the soup. I called over to Josh, ¡°Do you want a bowl?¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± he replied tly, shutting me down.

    I didn¡¯t push it. I just shared the soup with Myra. Before I¡¯d even finished the bowl, she nudged me with her elbow. ¡°Zoe, Zoe, herees another handsome guy.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t surprised by her theatrics, but I still followed her gaze. And then I froze-it was Philip.

    He smiled at me, and that smile was as warm as spring sunshine. ¡°You can¡¯t just drink soup, can you?¡±

    As he said this, I noticed he was holding a food box. ¡°My mom made pizza.¡±

    ¡°Why did Mrs. Dolton send the soup and pizza separately?¡± Myra said without thinking, her mouth moving faster than her brain.

    Philip didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°What?¡±

    But I understood perfectly. The soup I¡¯d been drinking wasn¡¯t made by Michelle at all¡ªit was a lie Alvin had told Davy to pass on. He probably thought I¡¯d refuse to drink it if I knew the truth.

    ¡°Nothing. I was just craving pizza,¡± I said, taking the food box from Philip and opening it. The smell of the pizza hit me immediately. Despite the difort in my mouth, I couldn¡¯t resist.

    I grabbed one with my hand and bit into it, but the sharp vor of the filling immediately irritated my mouth ulcers, and the juice from the pizza leaked out.

    Before I could react, Philip reached over and wiped the corner of my mouth where the sauce had spilled.

    Just then, a cold voice interrupted. ¡°Your mouth still hasn¡¯t healed, and you¡¯re eating without washing your hands. You really don¡¯t care, do you?¡± It was Josh¡¯s voice, cold and dismissive.

    Ìï

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 Be Hones 76

    Josh¡¯s voice was low and pointed, clearly directed at both me and Philip. I wasn¡¯t too bothered, but Philip was clearly

    ufortable.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s fine. Nothing¡¯s wrong with it,¡± I said quickly, trying to ease the tension.

    Josh walked over, holding a wet wipe. Philip reached out to grab it, but Josh didn¡¯t let go. I took one instead, handed it to Philip, and used the other to wipe my own hands.

    ¡°Zoe, who¡¯s this?¡± Philip asked, his gaze curious as he eyed the tall, intimidating figure of Josh.

    ¡°Josh, a lighting technician,¡± I answered, ncing at Josh.

    Josh looked at me with that suffocating intensity. It was like he was forcing me to introduce Philip. ¡°This is¡­ my brother, Philip.¡±

    ¡°Hello.¡± Philip extended a hand, smiling warmly.

    Josh only nodded in response, not shaking his hand. Myra, always quick to speak, jumped in, ¡°Josh¡¯s a bit of a neat freak.¡±

    Philip gave a smallugh, then looked at me. ¡°Let¡¯s sit down and eat before everything gets cold.¡±

    Myra licked her lips. ¡°Can I have one?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Philip said, then turned to Josh. ¡°Josh, why don¡¯t you try one?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m having oatmeal.¡± Josh turned down the offer, then stepped away.

    Myra froze for a moment. She looked at me and then whispered, ¡°Zoe, I swear, Josh¡¯s acting like he¡¯s on his period or something.¡±

    I gave her a thumbs up. ¡°You¡¯re spot on.¡±

    Philip chuckled at our conversation, but then added, ¡°Josh¡¯s temper is a bit¡­ intense.¡±

    ¡°No, he¡¯s usually fine. A little distant, but never rude. Today, though¡­ I don¡¯t know, maybe he had something spicy,¡± Myra said, clearly not able to keep quiet even when she was eating.

    Thankfully, the food we ordered arrived. But after the pizza and soup, I didn¡¯t feel like touching the rest of the dishes. I let Myra and Josh take care of it.

    Myra, of course, was more than happy to eat with Josh, but he told her to go ahead while he had some work to do.

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh a little when I saw the disappointment on Myra¡¯s face. It was honestly pretty funny.

    ¡°You seem in a good mood. I was worried you¡¯d be upset,¡± Philip said, pulling me back into the moment.

    ¡°Why would I be upset?¡± I took another bite of my pizza and a sip of soup. ¡°I¡¯m not the type to live or die for love. When I love someone, they¡¯re my everything. When I don¡¯t, they¡¯re nothing.¡±

    Philip nodded thoughtfully, a small smile tugging at his lips. ¡°That¡¯s the girl I know.¡±

    I paused, then tentatively asked, ¡°How are Peter and Michelle doing?¡±

    It felt odd that they hadn¡¯t contacted me at all. I had this nagging feeling that they were starting to ept that things were

    over between me and Alvin, but I didn¡¯t think it was that simple.

    Philip looked at me with that calm smile again. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll be okay?¡±

    I stopped eating for a moment, processing his words. Philip continued, ¡°They still believe you and Alvin can¡¯t stay apart. They¡¯re just angry right now, giving you both some time.¡±

    I thought, ¡°That makes sense.¡¯

    The pizza in my mouth suddenly seemed tasteless as I processed his words. I swallowed and said quietly, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll disappoint them.¡±

    ¡°Maybe with time, they¡¯lle to ept it. Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself,¡± Philip said, his voice kind.

    I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s not about pressure. I just feel like I¡¯ve let them down. They raised me, after all.¡±

    ¡°They think of you like their daughter. It¡¯s hard for them to imagine you not being around,¡± Philip said gently.

    I smiled faintly. ¡°A daughter eventually gets married, but even after that, she can stille home.¡±

    When I looked up, I caught Philip¡¯s gaze. His eyes flickered, and there seemed to be something stirring behind them. He smiled at me and said, ¡°But if you marry into the Dolton family, you¡¯ll live there forever.¡±

    I thought, ¡®That is never going to happen.¡¯

    I smiled back, ¡°In my next life, I¡¯ll be born as their daughter, and then¡­ we¡¯ll be siblings.¡±

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 Be Hones 77

    For a moment, Philip¡¯s smile faltered. He nodded toward the pizza and said, ¡°Eat more. You¡¯ve lost weight recently.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, then turned my attention back to the pizza.

    Philip kept watching me, and only when I couldn¡¯t eat anymore did I finally stop. I took another sip of soup.

    ¡°Alvin still cares about you,¡± Philip said suddenly, ¡°He had my mom make the soup for you.¡±

    I forced a smile, ¡°Late affection is cheap.¡±

    The sore in my mouth was still affecting my appetite. I cleaned up my leftover pizza and soup, then said, ¡°Philip, thanks foring all the way here. Please tell Peter and Michelle I¡¯ll visit them once I¡¯m done with work.¡±

    I gestured toward the amusement park. ¡°There¡¯s less than a month left until the deadline. The lighting still isn¡¯t properly adjusted. I¡¯m really busy right now.¡±

    ¡°I heard Alvin mention it,¡± Philip said. ¡°But don¡¯t forget to take care of yourself.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± I replied, pointing to where Josh was working nearby. ¡°I need to get back to it.¡±

    ¡°Take care,¡± Philip reminded me again.

    Josh didn¡¯t have lunch that day, and the whole afternoon, he barely spoke to me. It felt like he was angry, but I couldn¡¯t figure out what I had done to upset him.

    For the next few days, Josh grew even colder and quieter than usual. He just worked.

    I didn¡¯t mind-if that was how he wanted to be, I¡¯d do my best to keep up. Now we had set times for breaks, and I couldn¡¯t tell if he was doing it for himself or for me.

    A week passed, and our progress was right on track, but the rest of the project was still uncertain.

    The workload was brutal. Myra was so drained that she couldn¡¯t even finish her favorite show before falling asleep.

    But I couldn¡¯t afford to sleep early. Every night, I had to review the adjustments I made during the day, usually staying up until midnight orter.

    I was exhausted. On nights when I could barely keep my eyes open, I¡¯d ssh cold water on my face or soak my feet in cold water until I felt fully awake.

    One night, after I¡¯d finished washing my face and soaking my feet, Josh sent me a message. [Are you asleep? If not,e over to my side. There are a few issues in tomorrow¡¯s test zone that I need to discuss with you.] <ul><li></li></ul>

    If it had only been the first three words, I would¡¯ve ignored it. But since he mentioned work, I replied right away. [Okay.]

    Fortunately, I was awake enough by now, so I grabbed my notebook and went to knock on his door.

    Josh was wearing a green T-shirt and ck cotton pajama pants. Somehow, he looked even taller than usual, and I felt almost a head shorter than him.

    He looked at my face, his eyes narrowing slightly, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He simply stepped aside and let me in.

    I set myptop down and was about to open it when he turned hisputer toward me. ¡°Take a look at these areas I¡¯ve marked. Do they match the drawings?¡±

    He had a hand-drawn schematic beside him, and the digital version on hisputer matched mine. I was surprised he was asking me about this. I looked it over carefully, and to my surprise, I found a discrepancy.

    Myra and I had reviewed it several times, and we hadn¡¯t noticed it. It was a good thing Josh caught it now, or we would¡¯ve wasted timeter during the test.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make the adjustments now. I¡¯ll send you the other areas so you can keep checking,¡± I said.

    Josh ced a ss of water next to me and got back to his work.

    I focused onparing the drawings, but my eyelids were getting heavier. I had to pinch myself several times to stay awake, while Josh seemed full of energy, like he didn¡¯t even need sleep.

    When I couldn¡¯t keep my eyes open any longer and was about to ask if we could leave the rest for tomorrow, Josh grabbed his phone and headed to the balcony. I could hear him speaking on the phone.

    His voice was deep and soothing, and it made my eyelids feel even heavier¡­

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    When Josh stepped out onto the balcony, he saw that I had fallen asleep in front of theputer, the dim yellow light casting a soft glow on my face. His gaze lingered on me.

    1 could feel his eyes on me, but I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to wake up.

    After a long moment, I heard him call my name softly, ¡°Zoe, Zoe¡­¡±

    I thought, ¡®Zoe? Is he calling me? Yes, that is my name.¡¯

    ¡°My name is Zoe¡­¡± In my dream, a little girl appeared before me, with two buns in her hair and a sweet, doll-like face. She was calling out to a boy.

    The boy was distant and quiet. Then, I became the girl, and Josh became the boy. I was leaning on his back.

    ¡°Josh, you smell nice¡­¡±

    ¡°Josh, there¡¯s a little ck dot on the back of your neck. Let me get rid of it.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, stop pinching, it hurts.¡±

    ¡°Josh, you¡¯re tired. Can we stop running?¡±

    ¡°Mom, I like Josh. I want to marry him¡­¡±

    ¡°Mom, Dad, stopughing. I¡¯m really going to marry Josh.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, you can¡¯t marry him. You already have a fianc¨¦¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry him. He¡¯s a jerk! A jerk!¡±

    I woke up suddenly, my breathing quick and shallow. I thought, ¡®How strange¡­ How could I dream about Josh and me, and when we were so young-probably only two years old?¡¯

    Lying there for a few seconds, I blinked and realized something felt off. I slowly sat up and looked around. This wasn¡¯t my

    room.

    My mind rushed back tost night. I froze, ncing around. Therge bed I had been in was empty, and Josh was nowhere to be found. I looked down at myself-still fully dressed, nothing had been disturbed.

    I let out a quiet breath and walked out of the room, my eyesnding on Josh, who was sleeping on the couch. As expected of a soldier, even when sleeping on the couch, he was perfectly arranged.

    My first thought was, ¡®How can he sleep like that? Isn¡¯t it ufortable?¡¯ Honestly, someone so neat and organized made you want to mess things up just to see him lose that perfectposure.

    He was still asleep. I stood quietly for a few seconds, watching him, then tiptoed over to myputer.

    I picked it up carefully, moving quietly as I made my exit. The thought of having slept in this roomst night was so embarrassing, I just had to leave without waking him.

    Luckily, I had grabbed the room key when I left. When I snuck back in, Myra was still sound asleep, so I didn¡¯t have to worry about her stirring up a storm with her wild guesses.

    It was 5 a.m. when I checked my phone. I knew I wouldn¡¯t be able to fall back asleep, so I opened myptop to pick up where 1/2

    I left off with the problems Josh had pointed out yesterday.

    But when I opened the files, I was surprised to see he¡¯d already handled everything.

    I stared at the screen for a moment, lost in thought. Then, I went to wash up and drink some water, before heading out onto the balcony to get some fresh air.

    As I looked out at the view, I saw Josh again, standing below.

    I thought, ¡®Has he woken up too? He was still asleep when I left earlier. Did I wake him when I opened the door? Or has he already been awake and just pretended to be asleep to avoid making things awkward for me?¡¯

    As I stood up there, looking down at him, my thoughts started to swirl. At that moment, I couldn¡¯t deny it-Josh was starting to have an impact on me, and the more time I spent around him, the stronger that influence became.

    I sent Jasmine a cheeky text first thing in the morning. [A man and a woman sleep in the same room, but nothing happens. What do you think that means?]

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    I knew she wouldn¡¯t respond right away, so I closed the chat and opened my Instagram. To my surprise, Oscar had posted a series of cool photos-one of a few sses clinking together.

    But there was one hand I recognized: it was Alvin¡¯s. He was wearing the cheap ring I gave him.

    Seeing that ring now made me feel childish and embarrassed. It was part of a matching set; the other one was still with me. I bought it for my 18th birthday, and it cost 300 dors.

    I wore the women¡¯s version and gave him the men¡¯s one. He teased me about it back then.

    After that, he never wore it again. I asked him once why, and he said he was worried people wouldugh at him for wearing something so cheap.

    I understood-someone with his status probably wouldn¡¯t wear a ring that cost a few hundred bucks. But to me, it was special. It was the first money I earned from tutoring.

    I never mentioned the ring again, and neither did he. But now, seeing it in the photos¡­ I wondered, ¡®What is that supposed to mean?¡¯ I didn¡¯t know, and honestly, I didn¡¯t want to guess anymore.

    The ring stung a little, though. It reminded me of the times I used to chase after Alvin, always looking up to him, always so careful around him.

    Just then, Jasmine¡¯s message popped up, pulling me out of my thoughts.

    Jasmine: [Who did you sleep with?]

    I stared at her message but didn¡¯t reply. The photo of Alvin wearing the ring was still swirling in my mind.

    Jasmine: [Alvin?]

    Jasmine: [No way, it can¡¯t be him.]

    Jasmine: [Is it Josh?]

    She knew my life and my rtionships too well-it didn¡¯t take much for her to figure it out.

    Jasmine: [A man and a woman, nothing happens? There¡¯s only one exnation: something¡¯s wrong with the man.]

    I thought, ¡®Is there something wrong with Josh?¡¯ An image of his narrow waist and toned body shed in my mind, and I immediately rejected Jasmine¡¯s theory.

    There was absolutely nothing wrong with him-it had to be me. Maybe I wasn¡¯t attractive enough.

    Then I remembered how I couldn¡¯t evenpare to a widow in front of Alvin, and I shook my head, no longer bothering to read Jasmine¡¯s messages.

    ¡°Hey, Zoe, you weren¡¯t in bedst night. Where did you go? I texted you, and you didn¡¯t reply,¡± Myra asked as soon as her rm went off. Her first question was all about me.

    I couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d actually woken upst night, considering how deep a sleeper she was.

    I felt guilty and couldn¡¯t look her in the eye. ¡°I went for a run.¡±

    Myra¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Running in the middle of the night? Are you punishing yourself, or is it just that your hormones are

    Chapter

    out of control? Wanting a man?¡±

    Her mind really worked in strange ways. ¡°Shut up!¡± I shot her an exasperated look.

    ¡°Then why on earth were you running sote?¡± she pressed, still confused.

    I didn¡¯t respond. Instead, I changed the subject, saying we needed to hurry downstairs because I had found a new problem to deal with.

    Myra was a curious little thing. ¡°Zoe, did you mess something up working overtime? You should stop working overtime if it causes problems,¡±

    I just sighed and didn¡¯t answer.

    We headed downstairs to the restaurant, and as soon as we walked in, we saw Josh sitting there eating breakfast.

    ¡°Good morning, Josh!¡± Myra greeted him, all bright and cheery.

    Josh gave a slight nod. ¡°Morning.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t bring myself to look at him. I tugged at Myra to pick our breakfast. She surprised me by grabbing my bag. ¡°Zoe, I¡¯ll eat the same as you. You choose, I¡¯ll save us a spot.¡±

    Myra winked at me. Her n was obvious-she wanted to spend more time with Josh. I didn¡¯t know how to react, but honestly, I really didn¡¯t want to sit with Josh.

    Reluctantly, I was about to go get food when Josh spoke up, ¡°Myra, I can save the seats for you, but you should get the food yourself.¡±

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    I felt embarrassed for Myra.

    Of course, she was embarrassed too, but she was good at brushing it off, shing a cheeky smile and saying, ¡°Alright, Josh, I¡¯ll leave it to you

    then!¡±

    Myra put my bag down and quickly walked over to me, nudging me as she pulled me forward. As we walked, she asked, ¡°Is something up with Josh today? He doesn¡¯t seem quite himself.¡±

    I didn¡¯t respond. From what Josh had said, Myra could tell he was annoyed, but I thought¡­ he¡¯d asked Myra to get her own food so she wouldn¡¯t have to bother me. Was he¡­ worried about me?

    The thought made me shiver, and I immediately felt a little too full of myself.

    ¡°When we sit down, let¡¯s sit separately,¡± I suggested, recalling how I had ended up in Josh¡¯s roomst night. I really wasn¡¯t ready to face him just yet.

    ¡°Why separate? Why not sit together? It¡¯s the perfect time to talk about today¡¯s ns,¡± Myra countered, using work as her

    excuse.

    Still, I called her out. ¡°You just want to see if you can get Josh to eat more, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re starting to really understand me,¡± Myra said with a mischievous grin.

    I knew I couldn¡¯t refuse sitting with Josh, so I kept quiet. If I said anything, Myra would start guessing again.

    Myra¡¯s mind works in such strange ways, and yet she¡¯s clever.

    But no sooner had we put down our trays and sat down than someone approached us.

    ¡°Myra, is that really you?¡± A beautiful girl, holding her breakfast tray, stood there.

    Myra jumped up, her face lighting up with joy. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m on a business trip. It¡¯s been so long! Want to eat together?¡± the girl asked.

    Myra didn¡¯t even nce at me first. She looked at Josh, then back at me, and said, ¡°Sure!¡±

    She picked up her tray and, after nodding at both Josh and me, followed her old friend away.

    Now, it was just Josh and me left at the table. I was already ufortable, but now it was even worse.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to feel awkward. You just slept on my bedst night. We didn¡¯t¡­ sleep together,¡± Josh said casually, and I almost choked on the soup I was drinking.

    I quickly covered my mouth, and he handed me a napkin.

    I red at him as I wiped my mouth, trying topose myself, and leaned closer to him, lowering my voice. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me upst night?¡±

    ¡°I did, but you didn¡¯t wake up,¡± Josh replied, eating his breakfast like it was nothing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you,¡± I said. I¡¯m always sharp when I sleep.

    ¡°Sorry, but I did try. You just didn¡¯t wake up,¡± Josh said with a look that clearly said, ¡°Believe it or not.¡±

    I was so frustrated. The thought that he had probably carried me to his bedst night made me feel even more awkward. I snapped, ¡°Even if I didn¡¯t wake up, you could¡¯ve at least taken me back to my room.¡±

    ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll make sure to take you back,¡± Josh said, his expression unreadable.

    Next time? As if there would be a next time. I wasn¡¯t letting that happen.

    I took a big bite of bread, and after chewing a few times, I finally said, ¡°Don¡¯t let Myra find out aboutst night.¡±

    Josh finished his meal, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said, ¡°What are you afraid of? That she might misunderstand us? Or are you more concerned about your reputation? Or maybe¡­ you¡¯re worried about your boyfriends finding out?¡±

    His words took me by surprise. I almost choked again. ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°You should be more worried about me, you know,¡± Josh continued, folding the napkin into a neat square.

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    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I was confused and a little angry.

    ¡°You probably don¡¯t know, but up until now, I¡¯ve never been in a rtionship. I¡¯mpletely innocent, unlike you, with all yourplicated love life-your ex-fiance, the ambiguous guy who pats your head, and whatever other guy,¡± Josh said, taking his time with every word.

    I was about to say something but stopped when Josh suddenly lowered his eyes and added, ¡°So, if anyone finds out we spent the night together, they¡¯ll think I¡¯m not as innocent as I seem.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying I¡¯ve tarnished your innocence?¡± I blurted out, furious.

    ¡°No, not really,¡± Josh replied, his tone making him sound like the wronged woman in this situation, while I felt like the shameless viin. ¡°You were very well-behavedst night. You didn¡¯t do anything inappropriate.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°This guy is so sly,¡¯ I thought angrily, but the words stuck in my throat. All I could do was take my frustration out on the bread I was eating.

    ¡°If you want to keep his innocence, he¡¯d better stay far away from me,¡± I finally said after finishing my bread.

    ¡°That¡¯s probably not going to happen. Unless we stop working together,¡± Josh said, standing up.

    I didn¡¯t know what to say.

    When I finished my breakfast, Myra was already done too. She said goodbye to her friend and promised to call next time she came to Seastone so they could meet up properly.

    As soon as her friend got in the car, Myra turned to me. ¡°What did you two talk about? I saw Josh talking the whole time.¡±

    I was so speechless. Myra was out having dinner with her ssmates, yet her eyes kept wandering over to me.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t talk about much,¡± I replied, not wanting Myra to make a big deal out of it.

    Myra blinked, clearly not convinced. I quickly added, ¡°Work stuff. We¡¯ll probably be working longer hours from now on.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Myra¡¯s cheerful face immediately turned into a frown. ¡°That Josh¡­ he doesn¡¯t know how to treat ady. He¡¯s so heartless.¡±

    I didn¡¯t say anything as we headed to the amusement park, but Josh still hadn¡¯t arrived.

    When we parked the car, Josh showed up, riding his electric scooter.

    ¡°Josh rides an electric scooter every day? I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s a man who still does that,¡± Myra said, shocked. I was surprised

    too.

    I thought he¡¯d always take a cab or the subway, but apparently, he rides a shared bike.

    ¡°Josh, don¡¯t ride that next time. Juste with us in Zoe¡¯s car. It¡¯s morefortable,¡± Myra said, acting like the boss.

    I was about to say something, but Josh looked at me and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave it to you then.¡±

    I was speechless.

    1 had already been put in an awkward position twice that morning, and now this.

    1 sighed and turned to Myra. ¡°Next time, can you check with me first before doing this?¡±

    Myra saw that I wasn¡¯t happy and tried to y it cute. ¡°I just wanted to be efficient, and safety¡¯s important. Josh doesn¡¯t know the area well, and riding an electric scooter is risky. What if something happens? How will we finish the project?¡±

    I was speechless.

    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely check with you next time,¡± she said, throwing her arms around me and acting all sweet.

    I could only tap her on the head with my finger. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re in charge of running errands today.¡±

    ¡°Got it! My legs are strong,¡± Myra said, her optimism unwavering.

    ¡°Then you¡¯re handling things with Josh today, and I¡¯ll go handle things with Cameron on the other side,¡± I said. I didn¡¯t want to deal with Josh today.

    But just as I arrived at Cameron¡¯s side, Myra called me. ¡°We¡¯re done here.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± I asked, confused.

    ¡°Josh said we¡¯re taking the day off,¡± Myra said, and suddenly, I was fuming.

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    What¡¯s going on? Why are we taking a break?¡± I rushed up to Josh,pletely fired up.

    ¡°Two days off a week is thew. The project is behind schedule, but one day off shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡± Josh¡¯s calm response left me speechless.

    I tried to keep my temper in check. ¡°Josh, I get it, but we¡¯re on a tight deadline. I¡¯ve said before, we have a final deadline. Can we dy the day off? Let¡¯s focus on catching up, or I can pay you overtime.¡±

    Josh kept looking at me, his gaze unwavering. ¡°It¡¯s not about the money. People aren¡¯t machines; we need rest. Rest is important so we can work better.¡±

    It made sense, but the situation was urgent.

    I exhaled sharply. ¡°So, today¡¯s a must for you to rest?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Josh said, and I turned on my heel to leave.

    But then he added, ¡°You all need to rest today too.¡±

    I was boiling with anger. I turned back and shot him a look. ¡°Josh, you can rest, but whether we rest or not is none of your

    business.¡±

    Myra was trying to hold in herughter, but Josh remained calm, unbothered. ¡°If you don¡¯t rest, you won¡¯t be able to work properly. Just likest night¡­¡±

    ¡°Josh.¡± I cut him off, sweat forming on my palms.

    This guy was relentless. I¡¯d just told him not to mentionst night, and here he was, about to spill it.

    I red at him. Eventually, under his gaze, I relented. ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll rest. Let¡¯s go, Myra.¡±

    ¡°Myra, wait,¡± Josh called, stopping me. ¡°I need your help today.¡±

    I felt my temper re up again. ¡°You need a massage or a back rub to go with your rest, Josh?¡±

    The tension in my chest was building up like it could explode at any moment. I gritted my teeth and snapped, ¡°Josh, seriously? You need a massage to take a break? Or a back rub, maybe?¡±

    ¡°No, nothing like that. I need to pick up a few things. I could really use you as a guide,¡± he said as if it was the most casual request in the world.

    I nearly lost it. ¡°Fine. Let Myra go with you¡­¡±

    ¡°I want you toe,¡± Josh interrupted, his voice t.

    Myra, who¡¯d been silently enjoying the drama, finally couldn¡¯t hold back augh.

    That broke the tension, and Iughed too. This wasn¡¯t the cool, aloof guy I¡¯d been expecting-he was just acting like a child.

    ¡°Josh, you¡¯re not a kid anymore. Don¡¯t you think this is a bit much?¡± I teased him.

    Josh didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with this area. What¡¯s the problem with you helping me? Besides, you¡¯ve helped me

    before¡­¡±

    Fine, I¡¯ll go, I cut him off, knowing full well what he was about to say.

    If I didn¡¯t agree, he¡¯d bring up the whole Tideport thing, and I couldn¡¯t let Myra know about that.

    I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Myra piped up, not missing her chance.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Josh and I spoke at the same time. I agreed with his refusal.

    Myra looked between us, confused, and Josh simply said, ¡°It¡¯s not convenient for Myra toe along, right?¡±

    He passed the ball back to me.

    I knew exactly what he was doing. If I insisted on bringing Myra, he¡¯d bring up that situation again.

    Sure enough, lying never worked. One lie just leaded to a whole web of others.

    I finally turned to Myra. ¡°You¡¯ve got a rare day off, go spend some time with your boyfriend. I¡¯m sure he misses you.¡±

    Myra shot me a look, clearly annoyed that I¡¯d mentioned her boyfriend in front of Josh.

    I ignored it, and with a parting shot from Josh that told Myra not toe near him, she sulked away, casting suspicious nces back at us. I could tell she was starting to question the nature of my rtionship with Josh.

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    But I¡¯d deal with thatter. For now, I had to focus on this man standing in front of me.

    ¡°Josh, what¡¯s your game? Are you ckmailing me with our friendship andst night?¡± I confronted him.

    ¡°No,¡± he said, but he couldn¡¯t look me in the eye.

    That was enough to tell me he was guilty. My fists clenched. I was seriously tempted to punch him.

    ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with the area, you¡¯re just helping me. I¡¯ve helped you too,¡± Josh said, his tone softer now.

    It was like he was trying to make me feel like I owed him something.

    I sighed, realizing I had no choice. ¡°Fine, Josh. Where do you want to go? What do you need to buy? Just tell me, I¡¯ll take you there.¡±

    ¡°I want to look at apartments,¡± he said, and my throat tightened.

    ¡°Look at apartments? Aren¡¯t you supposed to head back after this?¡±

    ¡°I might not go back, so I want to check out apartments in advance,¡± Josh¡¯s answer made my stomach drop.

    I didn¡¯t know why, but I suddenly felt¡­ strange.

    ¡°Yourpany¡¯s not here though,¡± I pointed out.

    ¡°I can quit,¡± he said simply.

    I was speechless.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not buying, I¡¯m renting. I can¡¯t afford to buy right now,¡± Josh said, without any shame.

    That caught me off guard. He waspletely honest about his financial situation. It was rare to see someone be so upfront about their struggles, especially in a world where everyone¡¯s pretending to have it all together.

    ¡°So you¡¯re quitting?¡± I asked, still trying to process.

    He didn¡¯t respond, almost like he didn¡¯t hear me.

    Somehow, his honesty about being broke made me feel sorry for him, so I found myself driving him into the city.

    ¡°This is the city center. The property prices here must be crazy,¡± he observed.

    ¡°The suburbs are cheaper, but it¡¯s far. If you¡¯re an engineer and n to work here long term, you¡¯ll want to rent in the CBD to save time,¡± I offered.

    He didn¡¯t reply, so I added, ¡°I can lend you the money until you can pay me back.¡±

    His eyes narrowed. ¡°What¡¯s with the offer? Sounds like you¡¯re nning on ¡®keeping¡¯ me.¡±

    I stared at him, taken aback. His insinuation caught mepletely off guard. I thought of his mixed feelings toward me, and how he¡¯d once thought about marrying me. I smirked and said, ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. I¡¯d rather find myself a rich man to spoil me.¡±

    But as we arrived at a real estate office in the suburbs, my phone rang.

    ¡°Hello¡­ What? Alright, I¡¯m on my way back,¡± I said, cutting the call short. I turned to Josh. ¡°You go ahead and look around. I¡¯ve got something to take care of.¡±

    Josh didn¡¯t move. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    I didn¡¯t hide anything. ¡°My pipes broke, I need to get them fixed.¡±

    The call was from my downstairs neighbor, saying water had flooded the hallway.

    ¡°I can fix it,¡± Josh said, catching me off guard.

    I was about to say something when he added, ¡°If you wait too long, you¡¯ll be responsible for the damage to their ce.¡±

    He really knew everything. Withoutining, I drove him to my ce.

    As soon as we stepped into the hallway, we were met with the sound of water pouring out. Neighbors had gathered, pointing and gossiping.

    Josh got out of the car faster than I did. He took a quick look and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the main water valve?¡±

    One neighbor pointed to a rusted iron te on the floor. ¡°It¡¯s under there, but it¡¯s stuck.¡±

    Without a word, Josh was already pulling the te up. He looked at me and asked, ¡°Which floor are you on?¡±

    ¡°Fourth, east side.¡±

    Before I even finished speaking, Josh was kneeling on the floor, his body t against the ground. He reached out and turned the rusted valve with surprising strength.

    I

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 Be Hones 84

    ¡°It¡¯s stuck.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been rusted for years.¡±

    ¡°The ground¡¯s shifted, too. The valve¡¯s buried deep now.¡±

    The neighbors were talking among themselves, but my eyes were fixed on Josh.

    I never expected him to lie t on the ground like that. He was straining so hard that veins popped in his temples and arms -he exuded raw strength.

    But despite all that, the valve wouldn¡¯t budge. I even saw his face start to turn red.

    ¡°The poor guy, don¡¯t waste your time. A few strong men already tried,¡± an elderly neighbor called out sympathetically.

    I felt sorry for him, too. ¡°Josh, why don¡¯t we just call someone to fix it?¡±

    Just as I spoke, I saw Josh¡¯s whole body rx. He got up quickly, dusting himself off. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡±

    He was as efficient as ever, turning to me with a quick motion. ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs and take a look.¡±

    The water was still pouring down the stairs, and the thought of going up in wet shoes didn¡¯t seem appealing. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit. Let the water calm down first.¡±

    Josh nced at my shoes. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you upstairs.¡±

    My eyes widened. ¡°No need.¡±

    As I said it, I could feel my face flush, especially with everyone watching.

    Josh looked at me for a moment, as though he¡¯d caught something in my expression. Then he said, ¡°I¡¯ll go up first and take care of things. Give me the keys.¡±

    He reached out, and when his fingers brushed mine, it was like an electric shock.

    It was a feeling I¡¯d never had with Alvin. We¡¯d been close since childhood, so holding hands or hugging was second nature. But this? It felt different-strange, intense, and something I hadn¡¯t felt in a long time.

    I suddenly understood what Alvin meant when he talked about the way Oscar made him feel.

    Josh marched upstairs, his boots sshing through the water. With every step, it felt like he was walking on lotus flowers.

    I stood there for a moment, unable to tear my eyes away from him. Then the voice of an old neighbor broke my trance.

    ¡°Is that your boyfriend, dear? He¡¯s quite the capable young man. He¡¯s got strength, doesn¡¯t he?¡±

    Another neighbor chimed in, ¡°Doesn¡¯t even mind getting dirty, lying down on the floor like that. Not many guys like that around these days.¡±

    My face burned. I couldn¡¯t tell if they were teasing me or offeringpliments, but something stirred inside me.

    The water eventually subsided, so I headed upstairs. The door was wide open, and the whole floor was soaked.

    ap

    I carefully walked inside, lifting the hem of my pants, and made my way to the bathroom where Josh was working on the valve. He looked up when he saw me, exining, ¡°This pipe cracked. It¡¯s probably because it hasn¡¯t been used in years, and corrosion got to it.¡±

    He was right. It hadn¡¯t been touched in over a decade-of course it had rusted.

    I didn¡¯t say anything, but Josh added, ¡°The whole plumbing system in this house is old. To avoid future problems, it¡¯s best to rece everything.¡±

    ¡°Such a big project?¡± I was surprised, and honestly, a little overwhelmed.

    ¡°It¡¯s doable,¡± Josh said, already removing the broken pipe fitting. He looked at me.

    Seeing my wet shoes, his brows furrowed, and he handed me the part he had just taken off. ¡°Go buy six of these fittings, a pipe wrench, some PVC pipes, and four faucets. One for the sink, one for the kitchen, and two regr ones.¡±

    I blinked, and Josh, noticing my confusion, quickly added, ¡°I¡¯ll send the details to your phone. Just get them.¡±

    ¡°Josh, why don¡¯t we just hire someone to do it?¡± I asked. The task seemed tooplicated.

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 Be Hones 85

    I wasn¡¯t sure why, but I wasn¡¯t feeling up for it. The lights andplex setups I usually dealt with didn¡¯t bother me, but this felt chaotic, like I just couldn¡¯t handle it right now.

    ¡°You don¡¯t trust me?¡± he asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­¡± I trailed off, my gazending on him. His shirt was dirty, and his pants were soaked at the hem.

    Seeing him like that, I felt a pang of guilt.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got it handled. Go,¡± he said, patting me lightly on the head. ¡°Be a good girl.¡±

    I froze. My scalp tingled from the touch. It was nothing like the time Philip had patted me on the head. This was¡­ different. Warm, sweet, like something I had longed for without realizing it.

    I couldn¡¯t put it into words, but there was a kind of missing piece that suddenly felt filled.

    The way Josh looked at me made me want to turn away, but I couldn¡¯t. I quickly bought everything he needed and returned to find Josh cleaning the hallway with a mop.

    By the time I came back inside, the flooded floor was spotless. He hadn¡¯t been idle while I was out.

    In that moment, seeing my house looking pristine-like nothing had ever been wrong-I felt a lump in my throat.

    ¡°I checked downstairs. No leaks, so you don¡¯t have to worry about paying for damages,¡± Josh said.

    Not only was he capable, but he also noticed the little details. My throat tightened, and I didn¡¯t know what to say.

    Josh had already started working on the plumbing, and I just stood there, watching. His hands moved skillfully, like when he was adjusting lights.

    I leaned against the doorframe, watching him, and asked, ¡°Josh, is there anything you can¡¯t do?¡±

    ¡°There is,¡± he replied, not skipping a beat as he worked.

    ¡°What?¡±

    He nced back at me. ¡°Have kids.¡±

    I had been feeling a little down, but his response made meugh out loud. Without thinking, I shot back, ¡°Well, you can¡¯t have kids, but as long as you can get someone to have them for you, it¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I can definitely handle that,¡± he replied easily.

    I stopped, suddenly embarrassed by how cheeky we were being. My face turned red, and I didn¡¯t know what else to say.

    To break the tension, I added, ¡°Josh, whoever marries you will be very lucky.¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you want to marry me?¡± he asked, his voice direct.

    I lowered my gaze, staying silent for a long moment before answering. ¡°I¡¯m tooplicated. Like you said, I have a past with an ex-fianc¨¦, and there¡¯s still all this ambiguity. You, on the other hand, have never even dated. You¡¯re too pure. I¡¯m not good enough for you.¡±

    Josh didn¡¯t say anything. I stood there, watching him for a while before I turned and walked to the balcony to tend to the

    ?.

    flowers I¡¯d bought.

    Soon, I heard Josh heading downstairs again. I looked out to see him crouching down to twist the valve open.

    Was he finished?

    I turned back to the kitchen and turned on the faucet.

    The water flowed clean and clear, and the new faucet worked perfectly, the water streaming smoothly.

    I was so lost in the moment that I didn¡¯t notice Josh had appeared behind me.

    His long arm wrapped around me as he turned off the water, his deep voice murmuring in my ear, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to conserve water?¡±

    My heart skipped a beat. As I tried to step away, he didn¡¯t let me go.

    Josh¡­¡± I raised my hand to push him, but when my palm touched his chest, I found myself pressed against the hard muscle.

    It felt like touching a hot iron, the heat spreading rapidly through my hand¡­

    2

 Be Hones 86

    My breath quickened, and I froze in ce.

    Josh didn¡¯t move or speak, but his gaze was glued to me.

    More precisely, we were locked in a stare.

    We just stood there, neither of us making a move-no advance, no retreat.

    In that stillness, I could feel both our heartbeats racing¡­

    Until a neighbor¡¯s voice broke the moment. ¡°That youngdy¡¯s boyfriend seems great. Look how he cleaned up the stairs.¡±

    The spell was broken. I shoved Josh away gently and hastily fled to the living room.

    But once I was there, I was lost, unsure of what to do next. My thoughts were all over the ce, tangled and confused.

    Josh walked in, effortlessly breaking the tension. ¡°Is this your parents¡¯ old house?¡±

    I blinked, surprised. How did he know that? He walked over to the wall covered with photos and continued, ¡°You still look the same as when you were little.¡±

    The wall was lined with my awards, and a family portrait-Mom and Dad nking me, all of us smiling gently.

    But looking at their smiling faces now, my chest tightened.

    ¡°You were a top student,¡± Josh remarked, ncing at the awards. There were numerous des: Outstanding Star, Model Student, Excellence Award.

    ¡°I¡¯m still outstanding,¡± I replied, not at all shy.

    Josh looked at me. ¡°You are.¡±

    He paused, then added, ¡°In every way.¡±

    His words made it hard to meet his gaze. He was so straightforward¡ªhis eyes, his words, everything about him so direct.

    I didn¡¯t want to linger on it, so I quickly shifted the conversation. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard today. Let me treat you to dinner, and then I¡¯ll help you find a ce.¡±

    I¡¯d gone from reluctant to proactive, because I owed him that much.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Josh agreed without hesitation, but then added, ¡°I need to wash my face. Do you have a towel?¡±

    I hadn¡¯t noticed before, but his face and clothes were covered in dirt. ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll go get you a shirt.¡±

    There was a small, affordable supermarket nearby, so I knew I could get something easily.

    ¡°No need,¡± Josh interrupted. ¡°Just give me a towel. I¡¯ll be fine with that.¡±

    I wanted to protest, but his unyielding gaze made me drop it. I walked to the bathroom, grabbed a towel, and handed it to him. ¡°Here, you can use this. I don¡¯t have a clean one.¡±

    He nodded, turning on the faucet and sshing his face with water.

    For some reason, I didn¡¯t leave. I just stood there, watching him wash up in a rough, almost careless manner-water sshing everywhere, even running through his hair.

    It wasn¡¯t cold, but it was still water from the tap, and as he rubbed his face and hair with the towel, I almost spoke up. But he finished before I had the chance.

    When he lifted his head, his eyes met mine in the mirror.

    In that moment, I felt heat rush to my face. It was like being caught-like he¡¯d seen through me, catching me staring.

    I couldn¡¯t remember how many times I¡¯d been flustered around him like this. It felt like I had no idea how to act-like a shy girl who had never been in a rtionship.

    Though Alvin and I had been talking about marriage, there was none of this sweetness between us.

    As Oscar once said, with Alvin, it was more like being siblings-sharing everything, but never that electric feeling between lovers.

    ¡°You don¡¯t mind the cold water?¡± I finally asked, unable to keep my curiosity in check.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been using cold water for years. Got used to it in the army,¡± Josh replied, his words both admirable and a little heartbreaking.

    Was it really necessary to use cold water in the army?

    ¡°Do you have any wet wipes at home?¡± he asked, rubbing the towel over his face. ¡°Or another towel to wipe down with?¡±

    He was holding my towel, but didn¡¯t seem inclined to use it on his clothes.

    ¡°We have face wipes. You can just wet them and use those,¡± I offered, pulling out two wipes.

    He looked confused, as if he didn¡¯t know what they were.

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Josh, you don¡¯t know what these are?¡±

    ¡°First time seeing them,¡± he said, his blunt honesty endearing.

    It made sense. He¡¯d never had a girlfriend, never been around women much, so he wouldn¡¯t know about these little things. After all, face wipes were a fairly recent invention.

    ¡°They¡¯re for women to wash their faces, single-use,¡± I exined, wetting the wipes and handing them to him.

    Josh took them and began wiping off the dirt on his clothes. But when I noticed some dirt on his shoulder, I instinctively grabbed another wipe and began cleaning it for him.

    As soon as my hand touched his shoulder, I felt him stiffen. I pretended not to notice and kept wiping, feeling the heat of the moment build.

    That¡¯s when my gazended on a small mole on the back of his neck. For a moment, my mind wandered, and I couldn¡¯t help but think of the dream I¡¯d had-the little boy on my back, the mole on his neck.

    I froze, momentarily lost in thought, until Josh¡¯s voice snapped me back to reality.

    I quickly pulled my hand back, noticing that the wet wipe had left a damp spot on his shirt. ¡°Uh, yeah. All done.¡±

    I looked at the mole on his neck again, and without thinking, I asked, ¡°Josh, did you have that mole when you were little?¡±

    GD

    He touched it absently and nodded. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been there since I was a kid.¡±

    My heart skipped a beat. Oh no¡­ Could the little boy in my dream have been Josh?

    This was crazy. I barely knew Josh, and here I was, dreaming about him as a child, carrying me on his back.

    Dreams were just fragments of the mind, but this one felt too close to reality to be a coincidence.

    Before today, I hadn¡¯t even known Josh had a mole there.

    ¡°I¡¯m done. Let¡¯s go,¡± Josh said, turning to leave, effectively pulling me out of my tangled thoughts.

    We made our way downstairs, and as we reached the bottom, we bumped into an olderdy who was heading up. She stopped topliment Josh again, ¡°That young man is really something. Hees over often, huh? Helps out with cleaning

    too.¡±

    Josh smiled, answering politely, ¡°Sure, anytime.¡±

    But I could tell his response was half-hearted. How often would he really be back here?

    We stepped out of the building, and Josh looked around. ¡°Your neighborhood¡¯s old, but the environment¡¯s not bad.¡±

    ¡°It used to be better. Now it¡¯s all renters, so it¡¯s gone downhill,¡± I replied casually.

    He nodded thoughtfully, and as we got into the car, he asked, ¡°Is the rent here expensive?¡±

    I nced at him. ¡°Hmm?¡±

    He shrugged, pulling on his seatbelt. ¡°Just curious. I¡¯ll be renting soon, so I want to know the going rates.¡±

    It sounded harmless enough, but something about it felt off.

    ¡°So, what do you want to eat?¡± he asked, changing the subject.

    ¡°You choose. I¡¯ll go wherever,¡± I said as I drove out of the neighborhood.

    ¡°I¡¯m not picky,¡± he replied easily. He really was aid-back guy.

    But when we walked into the restaurant, I immediately spotted someone I didn¡¯t want to see.

    And of course, that person saw me first. They froze for a moment, and then began walking straight toward me.

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 Be Hones 87

    Some people really have no shame.

    As Thea walked toward me, that thought shed through my mind.

    Women who¡¯ve yed the third wheel role should have at least a shred of decency. If they had any sense of morality, they¡¯d avoid making eye contact with the wife and sneak away.

    But in today¡¯s world, people have no shame.

    She was practically unting herself, acting like she had to prove something-like she was somehow superior.

    ¡°Zoe, what a coincidence! You¡¯re here for dinner too?¡± Thea said, her words sweet but her eyes never left Josh, glued to him as soon as she saw him.

    It was impossible to ignore how attractive Josh was-everyone stared, even olddies. The woman from my building was the perfect example of that.

    ¡°Yeah, of course. What, are you here for a tour?¡± I answered, not hiding the annoyance in my voice.

    It wasn¡¯t that I was bitter, but I couldn¡¯t stand the shamelessness of it.

    If she had just openly admitted she was into Alvin and wanted to be with him, I¡¯d step aside.

    But no, she had to rub it in, stepping on all myndmines.

    Sure enough, my sharp words made her visibly ufortable, her face flushing with a mixture of shame and guilt. It was clear she wasn¡¯t trying to impress me.

    Was it Josh she was after?

    Everyone had a bit of narcissism in them, always thinking they were the most beautiful and charming person in the world.

    Thea, with her looks, probably had an even stronger sense of self-admiration.

    Now, being a young widow, she¡¯d been missing the presence of a man and desperately looking for a good one.

    But wait¨Dhadn¡¯t she alreadytched onto Alvin? So why was she still getting all flirty and lighting up every time a better man walked by?

    Or was it just that she was only interested in the men around me?

    Even though there was nothing going on between Josh and me, I didn¡¯t want Thea setting her sights on him. Looking at her smug expression, I couldn¡¯t help but sneer and say, ¡°Came here for the pregnancy meal, huh? The food here¡¯s really good, perfect for someone like you-pregnant and all.¡±

    Thea¡¯s face turned red. Her gaze flicked nervously toward Josh.

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh-there she was, clearly trying to grab Josh¡¯s attention with her awkwardness.

    She was already hanging on to Alvin, but still throwing flirtatious nces at other men. Was she trying to y both sides and pick the best option?

    I was actually surprised to realize that Alvin wasn¡¯t her only target. It felt like a small victory, somehow, but also a bit satisfying.

    What would Alvin think if he knew Thea was treating him like a backup? That thought brought me some twisted satisfaction.

    The waiter came over then, interrupting my thoughts. ¡°May I take you to your table?¡±

    ¡°Sure, find us a nice spot,¡± I replied, then turned without another word and walked off, not giving Thea the time of day.

    Now that I understood her game, as I walked beside Josh, I purposefully nudged a little closer to him. I misjudged it, though, and almost lost my bnce.

    Josh¡¯s reflexes were quick-he caught me by the shoulder and held on, not letting go until I shifted my weight and pulled away. He guided me gently to the table the waiter had arranged for us.

    He never once asked about Thea, never showed any curiosity. His boundaries and sense of decency were a breath of fresh air.

    ¡°What do you want to eat? Feel free to order anything,¡± I said, pulling out my phone to show him the menu.

    This time, Josh didn¡¯t say he didn¡¯t care. Instead, he took the phone from my hand and studied it with genuine focus, his fingers asionally tapping the screen.

    While he was distracted, I nced out the window and saw Thea on the phone. Was she calling Alvin?

 Be Hones 88

    Just as that thought crossed my mind, I saw Alvin¡¯s car pull up in front of her, and then him getting out of the car, opening the door for her with the kind of protective gesture he¡¯d never shown me.

    It hit me like a punch to the gut. Howe he never treated me that way?

    I turned away, trying to shake off the feeling, but before I could, I caught Alvin¡¯s eyes through the window. His brow furrowed when he saw me.

    I quickly looked away and turned my attention back to Josh. He had finished ordering and handed me the phone. I nced down at the choices he¡¯d made.

    Every dish was something I loved.

    But how did he know? I didn¡¯t remember ever telling him my favorites. Was it a coincidence, or did he just happen to have the same taste?

    I nced up at him, about to ask, but then stopped myself. Thest thing I wanted was for Josh to think I cared too much.

    Instead, I casually asked, ¡°Want some wine?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t drink,¡± Josh replied. ¡°Plus, I¡¯ve got things to do this afternoon.¡±

    Right, he still had to look at more apartments.

    I figured that was why he wasn¡¯t drinking, so I quickly reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go with you to see the ces. I¡¯ll make sure no one takes advantage of you.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate it, but¡­¡± he hesitated. His eyes locked with mine, and he finished, ¡°I¡¯ve decided to just choose on my own. I want to take my time and look around more.¡±

    I nodded, understanding. Honestly, I wasn¡¯t thrilled about tagging along either. It would be exhausting, and if something went wrong with the rental, I¡¯d feel responsible.

    I ordered two drinks instead of wine, then sent the order in.

    Just then, the light in the restaurant dimmed slightly, and an all-too-familiar voice cut through the air. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be working? Why are you sitting here eating?¡±

    It was Alvin, of course. He couldn¡¯t stay away, and I had no idea what Thea had been telling him.

    His words stung. Was eating lunch somehow beneath him when there was work to be done?

    Before I could retort, Josh spoke up, ¡°It¡¯s a break today.¡±

    Alvin shot him a cold, dismissive look, then turned to me. ¡°Who gave permission for this ¡®break¡¯?¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Josh responded calmly, not even ncing my way.

    Alvin¡¯s expression grew colder. ¡°You? You¡¯re just a lighting tech. What right do you have to demand a break? You¡¯re supposed to be working with us to finalize the lighting setup, not wasting time on lunch.¡±

    It was a tant insult. I could feel my temper rising.

    ¡°Mr. Dolton,¡± I snapped back, ¡°The amusement park project is my responsibility. Today¡¯s break was my decision. What,

    should we all work ourselves into the ground with no rest, just because you think we should? We¡¯re human too.¡±

    The metaphor might not have been perfect, but it fit the situation.

    Josh chimed in. ¡°I may just be a lighting tech, but you guys are in a rush, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s face went a deeper shade of grey, and he was clearly furious.

    *Fine. You two enjoy your meal. Company¡¯s picking up the tab today.¡± Without another word, he stormed off to the front desk to settle the bill.

    I shot Josh a wry smile. ¡°Did we order too little?¡±

    He stared at me for a moment, and though he didn¡¯t answer, his eyes held a look that made me feel suddenly guilty.

    Before I could look away, Josh spoke again, his voice low. ¡°Someone sent you a message.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± I asked, surprised, as I pulled out my phone.

    I read the message and felt my ears turn red.

    It was from Jasmine. [Is Josh that bad in bed? Otherwise, how could he sleep in the same room with you, and yet not make a move on a gorgeous girl like you?]

    I wanted to p myself. Why had I left my phone unlocked this morning when I ran out of Josh¡¯s room, and why did I share that awkward story with Jasmine?

    She¡¯d never responded until now-why did she have to reply with that message, of all things?

    I couldn¡¯t even look Josh in the eye. His voice broke the silence, low and steady. ¡°I¡¯m perfectly healthy. Everything¡¯s working just fine.¡±

    I was speechless.

 Be Hones 89

    If there were a hole in the ground right now, I would have crawled into it.

    But there wasn¡¯t.

    And I knew the more I tried to avoid facing the situation, the more Josh would start to overthink things.

    Besides, Josh seemed to think he could be open with me-saying whatever was on his mind, no matter how inappropriate, and acting without hesitation.

    He really didn¡¯t treat me like an outsider.

    At that thought, I forced myself to lift my head and reply, trying to sound casual, ¡°Oh? Well, words are just words.¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± Josh said, taking a sip of water, ¡°I could¡­¡±

    Hearing those words made the rm bells in my mind go off. ¡°Josh, shut up.¡±

    In the end, I was the one to give in.

    ¡°I mean, if you need me to prove it, I can go to the hospital,¡± Josh blurted out.

    It wasn¡¯t anything that was hard to hear, but it still made me feel ufortable.

    Why did he think I needed him to prove anything? I wasn¡¯t his girlfriend.

    ¡°Josh, save the proving for your future wife,¡± I said, standing up, making my way to the bathroom to escape.

    But as soon as I turned the corner, my arm was grabbed. The familiar scent told me who it was before I even looked.

    It was Alvin, gripping my arm tightly. ¡°Zoe, are you really having dinner with a little lighting tech in a ce like this?¡±

    His anger was clear, and the jealousy was almost palpable. I smiled, ¡°Can¡¯t we eat here? Did Mr. Dolton buy the whole ce out?¡±

    ¡°Zoe,¡± Alvin said, his forehead vein popping out, ¡°If you want to find a man, at least find someone decent.¡±

    From the way he spoke, it was clear he had nothing but disdain for Josh.

    And of course, he was throwing a jab at me as well.

    ¡°Josh is a senior engineer, dual degrees from top universities. What does Mr. Dolton have thatpares?¡± I shot back sarcastically.

    I¡¯d looked up Alvin¡¯s info this morning, just out of curiosity, and found that Alvin had been far from the academic star he liked to pretend to be. Sure, he was sharp, but his actual educational background didn¡¯t stand out.

    He was a brilliant businessman, no doubt, but when it came to intellect, he wasn¡¯t even close to Philip.

    Some people shine in different ways, and Alvin was too proud to recognize that. He only saw his own shine.

    ¡°Zoe, is that how you see me?¡± Alvin¡¯s face had turned red with frustration.

    ¡°Not exactly ¡®bad,¡± I said, not going too hard on him. After all, he was the man I had loved for ten years. If he was really a lost

    F

    cause, my obsession would just make me look foolish.

    ¡°But let¡¯s be real-you¡¯re no better than Josh,¡± I finished, using Josh to push Alvin¡¯s buttons.

    Alvin¡¯s grip tightened, almost crushing my arm, but just moments ago, he had been so gentle with Thea.

    A sharp pain hit my heart, and I said quietly, ¡°Alvin, I¡¯ve told you this before-we¡¯re done. You don¡¯t get to control who I eat with or what I do anymore.¡±

    My words made Alvin¡¯s expression darken, but he smirked and replied, ¡°Zoe, if you want to prove you¡¯re capable, then go find someone better than me. Someone who¡¯s stronger and more sessful.¡±

    I smiled back, ¡°Alvin, you¡¯re with a widow, and you don¡¯t mind the gossip. Why should I care? If you find someone better than me, I¡¯ll happily wish you well. But you¡¯ve chosen a widow, with someone else¡¯s child inside her¡­¡±

    I paused and added, ¡°But I guess that shows just how generous you are, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s face twisted with rage, but he couldn¡¯t get a word out.

 Be Hones 90

    I pulled my arm free from his grip and walked toward the bathroom.

    Standing in front of the mirror, I didn¡¯t find my reflection all that reassuring.

    Even though Alvin and I had broken up, his harsh words still stung.

    And the way he acted just now-he was clearly jealous.

    What a total jerk he was. He flirted with the young widow on one side, but wouldn¡¯t let go of me on the other. He really tried to have his cake and eat it too.

    I stayed in the bathroom for several minutes before finally stepping out, only to hear Thea¡¯s voice. It was soft, almost mournful, ¡°Alvin, you still love Zoe, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s my fianc¨¦e,¡± Alvin¡¯s reply confirmed what I suspected-he still had feelings for me.

    ¡°But she broke up with you,¡± Thea¡¯s voice dropped, almost in a whisper.

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little impressed-she was ying the role of the vulnerable woman perfectly, even making her voice sound just right.

    ¡°That was her decision. I didn¡¯t agree. Besides, she can¡¯t live without me. She¡¯s just mad; once she cools down, she¡¯lle back,¡± Alvin said, surprising me with his words.

    So, he thought our breakup was just a tantrum, and he believed I couldn¡¯t live without him.

    But was he saying all this in front of Thea because there really was nothing between them?

    ¡°You men are all the same,¡± Thea sneered. ¡°You never know what you have until it¡¯s gone, and then you can¡¯t let go.¡±

    He stayed silent, not responding. Then Thea added, ¡°If Zoe is the one you¡¯ve already chosen, why are you still being so nice to me, making her think otherwise?¡±

    My breath caught. This was what I was curious about too.

    Before hearing that, I really thought there was something between him and Thea. But if there really was, he wouldn¡¯t be so open about admitting his feelings for me right in front of her.

    But Alvin didn¡¯t answer, and I wasn¡¯t sure what to think. I took a quiet step forward, curiosity gnawing at me.

    They were standing just outside the hallway, and I could see them through the floor-to-ceiling mirror.

    Alvin¡¯s head hung low, his face dark with thoughts I couldn¡¯t quite read.

    ¡°Alvin, if you love Zoe, why did youe to me in the first ce? Why did you kiss me?¡± Thea¡¯s voice hit me like a punch.

    Had they really kissed? That kind of intimacy?

    My heart twisted, and it felt like something inside me snapped.

    ¡°Alvin, say something!¡± Thea¡¯s voice grew more desperate as she grabbed his shirt.

    ¡°Why did you kiss me? If you hadn¡¯t, Benjamin wouldn¡¯t have seen us, and¡­¡± She stopped mid-sentence, and before I knew it, I saw her body go limp. Alvin immediately caught her.

    Thea! Alvin called out, panic in his voice as he lifted her up and rushed out of the room.

    I stayed frozen, watching them leave, my eyes reflecting the image of Alvin hurriedly carrying Thea out.

    Thea had mentioned Alvin kissing her, and that Benjamin had seen them. That meant their affair wasn¡¯t recent-it had been going on for a while.

    He had already betrayed our rtionship.

    A waiter entered and asked, ¡°Are you Miss Kemp?¡±

    I snapped back to reality and looked at her. ¡°Mr. Hayward is waiting for you outside,¡± she said.

    I clenched my palm tightly, forcing myself to adjust my emotions before walking out of the bathroom.

    Josh stood by theundry area, backlit by the light, his tall frame standing steady like a rock.

    He walked toward me, his voice low and husky, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    I swallowed the lump in my throat and said, ¡°Josh, I can¡¯t stay for this meal.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then I won¡¯t eat,¡± he said, holding out his hand.

    I stepped back, ¡°You eat. I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and quickly walked away.

 Be Honest 91

    I had been here in the tavern since three in the afternoon, nursing drinks all the way until nine at night. Not drinking much, but drinking for a long time. By the end, my mind was nk, my body was numb.

    The owner, Apollo Castro, knew me well, so even though I was alone, I didn¡¯t have to worry about getting too drunk and ending up in trouble.

    ¡°When are you leaving? Is someoneing to pick you up?¡± Apollo asked.

    He looked to be in his fifties, about the same age as my father would be if he were still alive.

    ¡°Now,¡± I replied, though I didn¡¯t really want to go.

    But I had work tomorrow, and I needed to get some rest.

    Tonight felt like the final goodbye to Alvin and everything that had been between us.

    I pushed myself-up from the chair, but Apollo stepped in front of me. ¡°I don¡¯t feel right letting you go like this. Let me have someone take you.¡±

    Apollo was always thoughtful. His tavern had been tucked away in an alley for years, but it did great business, mostly regrs and old friends.

    I came here often because, years ago, when I was a student, I¡¯de to this bar after seeing Alvin dancing with a girl who liked him. I¡¯d been jealous and upset, so I came here to drown my feelings in alcohol.

    I drank too much that night and ended up falling asleep until the early hours of the morning, the tavern empty except for <ol><li></li></ol>

    When I woke up, scared and anxious, Apollo had made me a bowl of pasta. He told me that whenever I needed to drink, I shoulde to him, but not to go anywhere else, just in case I ran into bad people.

    Since then, whenever I felt down, I¡¯de here, and Apollo would never stop me from drinking. No matter how far I went, he always made sure I was safe.

    I also knew about Apollo¡¯s daughter-how, at sixteen or seventeen, after a breakup, she drank away her sadness and was assaulted. Her mind was never the same after that, and she eventually jumped off a building.

    Apollo opened this tavern to take in girls who were heartbroken and needed a safe space to drink and heal.

    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, not wanting to worry him.

    ¡°Stay put. Don¡¯t leave by yourself,¡± Apollo warned as he turned to take care of things.

    Just then, I heard a familiar voice.

    I turned and saw Philip walking toward me.

    I smiled. ¡°Apollo, no need to send me now.¡±

    Philip knew about this ce too. He¡¯d been here before, and I¡¯d run into him several times.

    Today, by chance, here we were again.

    There are no real coincidences. Many ¡°coincidences¡± are orchestrated, and I knew that all too well.

    ¡°Take care of the bill,¡± I said, grabbing Apollo¡¯s arm.

    ¡°No need. Next time,¡± Apollo insisted.

    I didn¡¯t argue. I would double the payment next time.

    F ? ? ? ?? ?

    But Philip had already pulled out his phone and transferred 600 dors to Apollo.

    Before Apollo could say anything, Philip spoke first, ¡°Keep the extra for her next round of drinks.¡±

    Next time? Was he treating me like some kind of drunk?

    Then again, if he thought I was drunk, that worked out.

    Philip stepped closer to me and helped me up. Together, we made our way outside. The cool night air hit me, and for a brief moment, it cleared the fog in my head.

    ¡°Taxi, or bike?¡± Philip asked.

    I froze, the memory blurry.

    Back when we were younger, I didn¡¯t have a driver¡¯s license yet, and I always rode a bike when Philip picked me up after I¡¯d been drinking.

    It seemed like it had been so long since Ist rode one.

    ¡°Bike,¡± I pointed to a nearby one.

    I wanted to ride, but he stopped me. ¡°You¡¯ve been drinking. You can¡¯t ride.¡±

 Be Honest 92

    ¡°Since when do they check for DUIs on bikes?¡± I tilted my head, asking yfully.

    ¡°They do. And¡­¡± Philip took my arm gently, unlike Alvin, who always gripped me so tightly it hurt. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous for you to ride after drinking.¡±

    Philip was so considerate.

    I smiled and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re here?¡±

    ¡°If you really want to ride, we can do it another time. But not tonight,¡± he said, guiding me toward the bike.

    Philip hopped on and helped me sit on the back. ¡°Hold on tight, Zoe. Don¡¯t fall off.¡±

    I grabbed the fabric at his waist. ¡°Got it.¡±

    The wind rushed by as we rode. Philip, the boy on a bike-that was the memory he gave me. Alvin had never ridden a bike. He only ever rode a motorcycle.

    They were brothers, but they werepletely different. One was refined and gentle, the other wild and unruly.

    ¡°Feeling down today?¡± Philip¡¯s voice broke through the quiet.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine,¡± I lied, turning away.

    ¡°You still can¡¯t let go of Alvin, can you?¡± Philip asked.

    I snorted, raising my hand to give him a yful punch. ¡°Who said I can¡¯t let him go? I¡¯ve already moved on. After today, he and I have nothing to do with each other. He¡¯s him, and I¡¯m me.¡±

    Philip didn¡¯t say anything else, just kept riding forward. After a while, I spoke up. ¡°Take me to the hotel. I¡¯ve got work tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Zoe,¡± Philip called out suddenly.

    I was about to answer when he asked, ¡°Why is it that in your eyes, it¡¯s always just Alvin? Why can¡¯t you see me the way you see him?¡±

    My grip on his shirt tightened, my heart skipping a beat.

    I wasn¡¯t blind. I had known for a while that Philip had feelings for me, but I hadn¡¯t wanted to acknowledge it.

    Now, it was clear. He didn¡¯t really just see me as his little sister.

    ¡°Because he¡¯s my fianc¨¦. That¡¯s what everyone told me,¡± I answered, my voice soft but firm.

    ¡°Now you¡¯re not with him anymore, so what about me?¡± Philip paused, then said, ¡°Do I have a chance?¡±

    My heart raced, and I couldn¡¯t answer right away. It took me a long while before I finally said, ¡°You¡¯re my brother.¡±

    Philip didn¡¯t respond. He just kept riding, and by the time we reached the hotel, I had to get off the bike.

    But the alcohol had taken its toll, and I nearly stumbled and fell. Philip caught me in time, his arms steadying me. He parked the bike and said, ¡°Let me take you upstairs.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± I tried to pull away.

    But Philip didn¡¯t let go. Instead, he tightened his grip. ¡°Zoe, I don¡¯t just want to be your brother. I want to take care of you. For the rest of my life.¡±

    I froze, my throat tightening.

    ¡°Zoe, if you were still with Alvin, I would never say this. But now that you¡¯re not, I want to take a chance,¡± Philip¡¯s voice was low, heavy in the night air, pressing down on my chest like a weight.

    I struggled to breathe, unable to speak.

    I pinched the palm of my hand hard, forcing myself to look up and say, ¡°I¡¯ve only ever seen you as a brother. From the very beginning, till now.¡±

    The hurt in Philip¡¯s eyes was unmistakable, his voice filled with pain as he said, ¡°Then¡­ can we try, from now on, for you not to see me as your brother?¡±

    Just then, I heard a familiar voice. ¡°Zoe, what are you doing up sote? Don¡¯t you have work tomorrow?¡±

    It was Josh. In the dark, he was wearing a gray loungewear set, hotel slippers on his feet, but he moved toward us with steady

    steps.

    I was momentarily distracted, and before I knew it, my wrist was firmly held. Josh had grabbed me, and at the same time, Philip pulled on my other hand.

 Be Honest 93

    This scene caught mepletely off guard, and in an instant, I snapped back to my senses.

    It was¡­ awkward.

    A woman, caught between two men.

    At that moment, I had to make a decision to break the tension. But one thing was crystal clear to me: Philip and I would never happen.

    If I had to choose between the two of them, it would only be Josh.

    After all, Alvin and I were so close to marriage. I couldn¡¯t just break up with him and then immediately turn to Philip. That kind of transition was impossible.

    ¡°Philip, I¡¯m tired,¡± I spoke up, breaking the silence.

    Philip tightened his grip on my hand, but after a long moment, he finally let go.

    Josh took my hand and led me away. I didn¡¯t look back, but I could feel Philip¡¯s gaze following me, lingering.

    Whether it was the alcohol or my mind in turmoil, I suddenly missed a step on the hotel stairs. Before I knew it, I felt mysel being lifted into Josh¡¯s arms.

    ¡°Put me down,¡± I gripped his shirt.

    ¡°Shut up and don¡¯t speak if you want him to give up on you,¡± Josh growled softly.

    His words echoed Philip¡¯s, and I fell silent, letting Josh carry me without resistance. I could get tangled with anyone, but with Philip, I absolutely couldn¡¯t.

    I thought of him like a brother-truly, like family. Never had I considered anything more. That bond was precious to me, and I didn¡¯t want it to be destroyed.

    Philip was reserved, not one to easily express his feelings, but he wasn¡¯t the type to cling or persist.

    If I let him think I had feelings for someone else besides Alvin, he would likely step back.

    Josh finally set me down in the hotel lobby, but he didn¡¯t let go of me. He carried me all the way to the door of my room.

    I could see through Philip¡¯s intentions, but I wasn¡¯t blind to Josh¡¯s feelings either.

    Since I was cutting off Philip¡¯s advances, I might as well do the same for Josh.

    When Josh finally let go of me, I didn¡¯t release him. Instead, I kept my grip on his shirt, my eyes boldly meeting his.

    ¡°Josh, you¡¯re really handsome,¡± I said, my words daring.

    He looked back at me with confidence. ¡°Mm.¡±

    I smiled, my fingers tracing lightly over his sharp nose. ¡°I bet a lot of girls like you, right?¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± he confirmed, undeniably self-assured.

    Iughed, bringing my fingers to the corner of his eyes. ¡°Myra likes you too.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t betraying Myra-her feelings were as obvious as day. If Josh hadn¡¯t seen it, he was blind. Even if I didn¡¯t say anything, it was in as day.

    ¡°Then what about you? Do you like me?¡± This time, Josh didn¡¯t hum in response but went straight for the question.

    I paused, taken aback, then shook my head. ¡°No.¡±

    Josh¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment, but he didn¡¯t ask me why.

    Instead, I spoke again, ¡°Josh, I don¡¯t want a man who chases after other women. I don¡¯t likepeting for attention. I just want someone who¡¯s mine, even if they¡¯re not as handsome as you.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± he said, his voice steady.

    Iughed, puzzled. ¡°What does ¡®okay¡¯ mean?¡±

    He shrugged casually. ¡°It means I understand.¡±

    His response left me a little off bnce, but I wasn¡¯t nning to dwell on it. My hand slid from his jaw to his shoulder. ¡°Josh, don¡¯t tempt me, and don¡¯t be too nice to me¡­¡±

    As I spoke, I started to pull away, but Josh had already looped his arm around my waist.

    ¡°If I like you and want to pursue you, that¡¯s my business. Whether you respond or not is up to you. Just take care of yourself, and don¡¯t expect me to stop,¡± he said, his tone resolute.

    I was confused.

    He liked me, but he was telling me not to interfere?

 Be Honest 94

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll keep trying to tempt me? Keep flirting with me?¡± I shot back, not shying away.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Before I could say more, he added quietly, ¡°I can¡¯t control myself. I just want to be near you, take care of you¡­ and yes, flirt with you.¡±

    Love really couldn¡¯t be controlled, could it? If it could, none of us would be suffering from it-human or divine.

    I didn¡¯t know how to respond, and just then, Josh loosened his grip. ¡°Drink some water and rest. If you need anything, just

    call me.¡±

    He let me go and gestured to my purse. ¡°Your keycard. Let me open the door for you.¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± I said, regaining some distance between us. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡±

    I fumbled for my keycard and swiped it, pushing open the door. I leaned against it for a moment, trying to clear my head.

    When Myra came back, I was already lying on the bed. She moved quietly, likely so she wouldn¡¯t wake me.

    I didn¡¯t open my eyes, not because I was asleep, but because I didn¡¯t want to talk. I did hear her muttering softly, ¡°I thought you were asleep, but I guess it¡¯s no use now that I¡¯m here.¡±

    At the sound of her voice, I curled my fingers under the nket. So, it was Josh who had sent her to look after me.

    How had I gotten tangled up with Josh?

    I didn¡¯t have an answer, and before long, I drifted into sleep. This time, my dream was a mess. I seemed to see my parents, and the car ident they were in.

    Even though I had never seen the ident scene firsthand, I¡¯d secretly gone through the case files at the traffic police station and seen the photos.

    Those images had burned themselves into my mind, bing my nightmare.

    I had dreamed about it several times when I first joined the Dolton family, but in recent years, I hadn¡¯t dreamed of it much.

    Yet,st night, it came back.

    I woke up before dawn, checking my phone¡ªit was 5 a.m.

    This had be a routely, waking up at this time, no matter howte I stayed up.

    Though I had drunk a lot yesterday, my head wasn¡¯t aching, and I felt clear-headed.

    There were several missed calls and messages on my phone. Since it was on silent, I hadn¡¯t heard them.

    Jasmine had called twice, and so had Michelle.

    I had a bad feeling, likely something to do with Alvin.

    But I had said everything that needed to be said, and she hadn¡¯t reached out recently. It couldn¡¯t be about Philip, could it?

    I hesitated but decided to reply to Jasmine first. It was too early to call, so I opened WhatsApp. I saw several messages from

    her.

    (Why aren¡¯t you picking up? Is everything okay?]

    [Did Josh take you away?]

    [If you don¡¯t reply, I¡¯ll call the police.]

    [Did you go to Apollo¡¯s to drink? What happened?]

    Jasmine, unable to reach me, had probably gone to Apollo¡¯s bar to ask around. Otherwise, she might¡¯ve shown up at the hotel to pound on the door.

    I sent her a quick response with a meme and a message: [I¡¯m fine, just felt like a little drink to lift my mood.]

    As soon as I sent it, my phone rang. Jasmine was calling.

    She must have been on a night shift, or she wouldn¡¯t have responded this quickly.

    I stepped onto the balcony to answer, trying not to wake Myra. As I looked down, I saw Josh jogging below.

    Turning my back, I began chatting with Jasmine.

    When I read Josh¡¯s message aloud, Jasmineughed, and then said, ¡°Zoe, I think you and Josh would be great together. Why don¡¯t you give it a shot?¡±

    ¡°I turned him downst night. No, I¡¯m not interested,¡± I responded firmly.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Jasmine sighed. ¡°One heartbroken girl, never talks love again.¡±

    After hanging up, I went to take a shower. When I came out, my phone rang again-it was Michelle.

    I hesitated for a moment before answering. ¡°Michelle¡­¡±

 Be Honest 95

    As expected, the moment I picked up Michelle¡¯s call, she started asking me toe home for a meal.

    But, honestly, I knew the meal was just an excuse-she definitely had something else on her mind.

    ¡°Michelle, I¡¯ve had your pancakes already, but I really can¡¯t make it home right now. We¡¯re rushing the project at the amusement park. I¡¯m working day and night. I¡¯lle when I get a break,¡± I turned her down, but still promised toe sometime.

    ¡°Ugh, Alvin¡¯s something else, isn¡¯t he? Pushing you so hard on a deadline. It¡¯s not like the world¡¯s ending. I¡¯m going to give him a piece of my mind!¡± Michelle pretended to be angry.

    ¡°Michelle, it¡¯s not his fault. This project has been in the works for a long time,¡± I exined.

    Business is business, and personal life is personal. Alvin never mixed the two-he didn¡¯t make things difficult for me because of our rtionship.

    ¡°Alright then, workes first,¡± Michelle said, clearly disappointed, though she didn¡¯t sound happy.

    But there wasn¡¯t much I could do. I really had work to focus on, and even if things calmed downter, I couldn¡¯t just waltz into the Dolton family anytime I wanted anymore.

    She would have to ept it eventually, after all the disappointments.

    People part ways all the time. First, it was with my parents, then with Alvin, and now with the Dolton family.

    When Myra and I were having breakfast, I didn¡¯t see Josh.

    ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t Josh say he¡¯de with us to the amusement park? Why¡¯d he leave early?¡± Myra mused.

    I didn¡¯t answer. Myra nudged me with her shoulder and said, ¡°Josh really cares about you. Last night he made mee back to take care of you, said you¡¯d been drinking. Did you drink with him?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I replied, trying to keep it simple.

    ¡°Then how did he know you¡¯d been drinking?¡± Myra was full of questions.

    ¡°He saw me,¡± I replied nonchntly.

    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Myra said, looking at me as if trying to read something between the lines.

    ¡°You can stop looking. Josh and I are nothing,¡± I answered directly, preemptively shutting down any awkward questions.

    Myra smiled. ¡°You know, it doesn¡¯t matter if you and Josh have something. I admire his looks, but it¡¯s the same as admiring a celebrity. It¡¯s harmless.¡±

    She seemed pretty level-headed.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s just admire together, then,¡± I said, ending the topic. We finished breakfast quickly and headed to the amusement park.

    Josh had already started working. Myra waved at him and said, ¡°Josh, you¡¯re early! Why didn¡¯t you wait for us?¡±

    ¡°Just more convenient this way,¡± Josh replied, leaving Myra to stick her tongue out in mock annoyance.

    We threw ourselves into work, making impressive progress.

    By lunchtime, Myra was about to ce an order when a luxury car pulled up.

    I recognized it immediately-it was Michelle¡¯s.

    Looks like she had something important to discuss with me. Since I wasn¡¯t going to the Dolton family, she hade to find me herself.

    ¡°You go ahead and eat,¡± I said to Myra before heading toward Michelle.

    She stepped out of the car, and the driver popped open the trunk, revealing several food containers.

    ¡°Zoe, I brought lunch for everyone,¡± Michelle¡¯s words took me by surprise.

    ¡°Michelle, you really didn¡¯t have to go through all that trouble,¡± I felt a bit embarrassed.

    ¡°You guys are always eating takeout, which is unhealthy and nd. Go call them over to get it,¡± Michelle gestured toward Josh and Myra.

    Josh was still working, and Myra was busy on her phone, preparing to ce an order.

    For some reason, I felt like Michelle¡¯s gaze lingered on Josh for a moment.

    ¡°Myra, Michelle brought us lunch, so no need to order,¡± I called out to her.

    Myra froze for a second, then joyfully ran over and bowed to Michelle, saying, ¡°Thank you, this is so generous!¡±

    That girl always knew how to make things amusing.

    Michelleughed, ¡°You like it? Well, I can bring it every day if you want.¡±

    ¡°No need, no need,¡± Myra graciously declined. ¡°Just an asional treat will do.¡±

 Be Honest 96

    Michelle walked toward Josh, and I followed her. She nced around, then asked, ¡°You guys have just been working on thistely?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, the lighting has some issues,¡± I exined, but Michelle was already under the scaffolding where Josh was working.

    ¡°Hey, this worker isn¡¯t wearing a safety harness. That¡¯s dangerous, isn¡¯t it? Safety should alwayse first,¡± Michelle, never missing a beat, immediately pointed out the issue.

    Actually, Josh had been wearing the harness, but when he climbed down earlier, he¡¯d temporarily taken it off. Since he was just getting back up now, he hadn¡¯t put it on again.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll make sure to remind him,¡± I said, calling out to Josh. ¡°How could you go up without the harness? Come down now.¡±

    Josh quicklyplied,ing down without protest. He was almost like a schoolboy who¡¯d made a mistake and was honestly admitting it. ¡°My bad. I¡¯ll pay more attention next time.¡±

    Oddly enough, I felt like I was bullying him.

    Michelle turned to Josh and said, ¡°Safety is about taking care of yourself. You have to be responsible for yourself first before you can take care of others, right?¡±

    Michelle might not be in the workce, but she was no fool. Her words were full of wisdom, and they had an educational

    tone.

    But for some reason, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that her words carried a hidden meaning.

    ¡°Yes, Mrs. Dolton,¡± Josh said, his attitude polite and respectful.

    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard all morning. Go ahead and eat,¡± Michelle said in a warm, motherly tone.

    Josh thanked her and went off to eat, and Michelle turned to me with a slightly cryptic smile. ¡°This guy looks strong and capable.¡±

    I understood what she meant. She wasparing Josh to some rough, unpolished type of man. Alvin had looked down on himst night, and now Michelle was doing the same.

    I also began to understand why Michelle hade all the way here today. She must have heard something from Alvin and was here to size Josh up.

    ¡°He¡¯s an engineer, handling the lighting adjustments,¡± I corrected Michelle¡¯s understanding of Josh.

    But Michelle just smiled lightly. She¡¯d seen all kinds of people, so she wasn¡¯t easily fooled.

    ¡°Are you hungry? Let¡¯s go eat in the office, we can chat while we eat,¡± she said, her tone soft and warm.

    ¡°Sure,¡± I agreed, not wanting to refuse.

    By the time we reached the office, the driver had already set up a beautifully arranged lunch. It was exquisite and clearly different from what Myra and the others were eating. I was sure of it.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I smiled, touched by her thoughtfulness.

    ¡°You didn¡¯te home, so I had no choice,¡± Michelle said, gesturing for me to sit. ¡°Hurry up, it¡¯ll get cold.¡±

    I didn¡¯t hesitate and began cating.

    ¡°Slow down,¡± Michelle chuckled as 1 devoured the food.

    ¡°It¡¯s just so good,¡± I responded, ying along.

    I wasn¡¯t being insincere, but after all these years with the Dolton family, I¡¯d learned the art of keeping everyone happy. It made things easier for all of us.

    ¡°Zoc, so you and Alvin really have no chance, huh?¡± Michelle finally asked, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

    My hand froze, and I nodded silently.

    Michelle sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not his good fortune, and neither is it mine or Peter¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°Michelle, I¡¯m the one with no good fortune,¡± I replied, my voice tinged with sadness.

    They had truly cared for me all these years, and I felt that. Leaving Alvin wasn¡¯t as hard as it seemed, but leaving the people who loved me was.

    ¡°Well, sometimes a forced rtionship just doesn¡¯t work. If your heart¡¯s made up, I won¡¯t pressure you,¡± Michelle said, her words a quiet relief to me.

    I was afraid she might go on and on with the whole ¡®forcing things¡¯ speech.

    I lowered my head and took a sip of my soup, but then Michelle spoke again. ¡°Zoe, even though you and Alvin won¡¯t be together, I still want you to find someone good.¡±

    My hand tightened around the spoon. Was she suggesting I should be with Philip?

    ¡°Michelle, I¡¯m not looking for anyone right now,¡± I said quickly, cutting off whatever she was about to suggest.

 Be Honest 97

    Michelle froze for a moment before breaking into a warm, almost yful smile.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, Zoe,¡± she teased gently. ¡°You can¡¯t let one bad apple, like that jerk Alvin, make you give up on men entirely. Sure, there are bad guys out there, but there are plenty of good ones, too.¡±

    She was in her fifties, but still spoke with the sharpness and wit of someone much younger. I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.

    get the message.

    ¡°Yeah, there are good guys, but right now, I¡¯m just not interested. I need time,¡± I said, hoping she¡¯d

    I didn¡¯t want her pushing me into anything I wasn¡¯t ready for.

    She chuckled, her eyes twinkling. ¡°Fair enough.¡±

    And then-just as quickly as she¡¯d let it go-she added, ¡°But remember, don¡¯t wait too long. You don¡¯t want all the good ones to be snatched up by someone else.¡±

    Iughed again, and so did she.

    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful and kind, Zoe. Any man who gets to be with you is really lucky. He must¡¯ve done something good in his past life to deserve you.¡±

    Herpliment made me ufortable. It was ttering, but it also set my nerves on edge. I smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°Well, since I¡¯m so great, only the very best will do for me. Until that guy shows up, I¡¯m happy to wait.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Michelle agreed wholeheartedly. ¡°Never settle. Don¡¯t rush just because you¡¯ve been hurt. You deserve someone who really values you.¡±

    Thatst part was clearly aimed at me and Josh.

    I decided to be blunt about it. ¡°I never settle. If I choose someone, he¡¯ll be the best. I¡¯m not in a rush, and I don¡¯t make decisions on a whim.¡±

    I made it clear to Michelle that my choices were always carefully thought out, never impulsive-even when it came to giving up on Alvin.

    Michelle studied my face but didn¡¯t say anything more.

    I had been by her side for ten years. She had practically watched me grow up, so how could she not understand what kind of person I was?

    ¡°I see,¡± she finally said. ¡°Good. As long as you know what

    you want.¡±

    We ate in silence after that, and just when I thought the conversation was over, Michelle asked, ¡°Did you go back to your parents¡¯ hometown recently?¡±

    I looked up, surprised.

    ¡°Alvin told me,¡± Michelle exined. ¡°He¡¯s still worried about you.¡±

    She smiled softly and added, ¡°Even if you two aren¡¯t together anymore, you grew up together. You¡¯ll always be family.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I responded quietly.

    ¡°Why did you go back? I remember your parents said when they came to Seastone, they sold the house, and there aren¡¯t

    many rtives left there,¡± Michelle asked carefully.

    I paused for a moment, thinking about how to exin. ¡°When my dad was still alive, he used to talk about it. He said he wanted to take me there one day. I went to fulfill his wish, and to see the ce where I was born.¡±

    It was the truth, and there was no reason to hide it.

    ¡°Did you find anything meaningful there?¡± she asked.

    For some reason, Josh popped into my mind first, followed by the little courtyard and thendlord.

    ¡°Things have changed,¡± I said, my voice soft.

    I didn¡¯t want to mention the details anymore. After all, they had nothing to do with Michelle.

    ¡°Twenty years,¡± Michelle murmured.

    I had been so young when my parents brought me here that I didn¡¯t even remember the ce. It felt like a lifetime ago.

    ¡°Just let us know where you¡¯re going next time, okay? We really worry about you,¡± Michelle said, her toneced with concern.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I apologized, feeling guilty.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be, darling. It¡¯s not your fault,¡± she said, but I knew what she meant.

 Be Honest 98

    She stayed with me until I finished my meal, and when I said I needed to get back to work, she reluctantly left. Before she did, she made me promise toe home after finishing for the day and reminded me that the Dolton family would always be my family.

    I agreed and saw her off before returning to work.

    When I walked in, I only saw Myra, not Josh. ¡°Where¡¯s he?¡± I asked.

    ¡°He got called away by Cameron,¡± Myra said, eyeing me curiously. ¡°Your future mother-inw is already trying to y matchmaker. You¡­¡±

    I cut her off quickly, not wanting to hear more. ¡°Alvin and I are done. It doesn¡¯t matter who tries to intervene. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡±

    Myra sighed. ¡°Honestly, the Doltons are great people, but Alvin? Not so much.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t wrong. The Dolton family had everything going for them, but it didn¡¯t matter because I wasn¡¯t marrying the Doltons-I was marrying Alvin, and he wasn¡¯t enough.

    We waited for Josh for half an hour, but still, no sign of him. I called him, but his phone was sitting unattended in the break

    area.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Josh doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend,¡± Myra said with a grin. ¡°If he did, he¡¯d never leave his phone behind like that.¡±

    But I wasn¡¯t in the mood for idle chatter. I checked the time and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going to see Cameron.¡±

    Just as I was about to leave, I heard Josh¡¯s voiceing from the other side of the door. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, if they move me, finishing this setup will take at least another two weeks, maybe more.¡±

    I froze. Move Josh? What was going on?

    I reached for the door, but before I could push it open, I heard Davy¡¯s voice. ¡°Mr. Dolton said this is our responsibility. It¡¯s not on you.¡±

    That¡¯s when I understood everything. I pushed the door open. ¡°I don¡¯t agree,¡± I said firmly.

    Davy¡¯s face reddened, and he immediately tried to exin. ¡°Zoe, this is Mr. Dolton¡¯s decision.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not his decision to make. I¡¯m in charge of the park. I won¡¯t agree to a change,¡± I said, my tone cold andmanding.

    Davy looked ufortable. I knew he was just the messenger, but it didn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°Davy, go back and tell Mr. Dolton that I won¡¯t back down. If he wants to rece someone, he can rece me, too.¡±

    ¡°Zoe¡­¡±

    ¡°Josh, let¡¯s go,¡± I called, ignoring Davy¡¯s protests.

    Josh didn¡¯t move at first, but I walked over, grabbed his hand, and started pulling him out of the room.

    Just then, I bumped right into Alvin. His eyes immediately dropped to the hand I was holding.

    Michelle had sent her message, now Alvin was trying to pull the same stunt-moving Josh out of the picture. How had I

    Copter 98

    never seen how petty he could be?

    I saw the fury sh in his eyes before he sneered, ¡°Zoe, you think I wouldn¡¯t fire you too?¡±

    ¡°Then do it,¡± I shot back, not backing down.

    Alvin¡¯s face turned an ugly shade of red. Josh stepped forward. ¡°If Mr. Dolton wants to rece me, I¡¯d like to know why, he asked, standing his ground,

    ¡°You¡¯re not following orders, taking unauthorized breaks, and dying the schedule. That¡¯s why,¡± Alvin snapped.

    ¡°I agreed to the break,¡± I immediately countered,

    Alvin red at me. ¡°Just because you agreed doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s free of responsibility.¡±

    Cameron, who had been quiet until now, hurried over. ¡°Mr. Dolton, the break was an issue, but it won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t he take breaks? It¡¯s his right,¡± Josh shot back, unflinching.

    ¡°Even if he doesn¡¯t take a break, I will. You can¡¯t do anything about it,¡± I added, backing Josh up.

    Alvin¡¯s face was ck with anger now. His eyes narrowed at me holding Josh¡¯s hand. ¡°Zoe,e here. I need to talk to you.¡±

 Be Honest 99

    His voice was as sharp as a knife, full of fury, like he was about to devour me whole.

    But I wasn¡¯t afraid. If anything, it was the perfect time for me to speak my mind, so I let go of Josh¡¯s hand.

    ? ? ? ?

    But then, in the next instant, Josh grabbed my hand again, his grip firm and protective.

    I looked at Josh, and he met my gaze. There was a familiar gleam in his eyes.

    That¡¯s right-back in Tideport, when Effie had schemed to make me fall, Josh¡¯s eyes had held the exact same light.

    But right now, I didn¡¯t need it. I pulled my hand out of his grasp and said, ¡°Mr. Dolton can¡¯t eat me.¡±

    Josh didn¡¯t stop me this time. I followed Alvin as he stormed off.

    He was walking with purpose, and Davy quickly followed. But after only a few steps, Alvin snapped, ¡°Stay out of this.¡±

    Davy froze, casting a cautious nce at me before backing off.

    Alvin kept walking. I had no idea where he was headed, so I called out, ¡°Mr. Dolton, if you have something to say, you can say it now.¡±

    He didn¡¯t stop, but I did. I stood still, watching his back, and added, ¡°If you have something to say, do it here. You¡¯ve already wasted enough of my time.¡±

    Alvin stopped then, his posture tense as he turned to face me. I walked toward him, but before I could even get close, he raised his hand and grabbed my arm, squeezing it tightly.

    The world spun around me as he yanked me into a circle, pushing me hard against the wall. His cold breath washed over me as he loomed, his face-the face I¡¯d admired for so long-hovering just inches from mine.

    His nose almost touched mine as he hissed, ¡°Zoe, you really think you can use Josh to threaten me?¡±

    My back was pressed painfully against the wall, and I could feel the heat of his anger radiating. He was impulsive, hot- headed, and I knew it all too well from our past.

    For the past ten years, I¡¯d tiptoed around him, afraid of setting him off.

    But for some reason, standing here now, looking at him, something inside me had shifted. I stared him down, unflinching. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to make sure your stubbornness doesn¡¯t ruin the project¡¯s timeline,¡± I said coolly.

    Alvin didn¡¯t respond immediately, his eyes locked on mine with intensity. Then, he asked, ¡°Are you really with Josh?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I answered inly, not even hesitating.

    Alvin smirked, bitter and mocking. ¡°Really? You defend him, hold his hand, and now you¡¯re telling me there¡¯s nothing between you two?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh at that. ¡°If holding hands means we¡¯re together, what does a kiss mean?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he snapped, ¡°You kissed him? Is that what you¡¯re telling me?¡±

    He didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but the implication was clear-he was suggesting something far worse.

    I tilted my head, unfazed. ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m talking about you kissing Thea.¡±

    11:34 pm

    His grip on my arm tightened, and he froze. ¡°What¡­ what are you talking about?¡±

    You know exactly what I mean. I heard it myself, yesterday at the restaurant. Don¡¯t pretend I¡¯m making it up. I said, my voice steady. ¡°Alvin, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so shameless. Before your ¡®good friend¡¯ even died, you were already getting involved with his wife.¡±

    an

    Oscar had once told me that ¡°a brother¡¯s wife is off-limits,¡± and at the time, I¡¯d thought he was just ying along with Alvin¡¯s words. But now I realized Oscar had been trying to warn him.

    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think,¡± Alvin stammered, his face shifting from anger to frustration.

    I didn¡¯t respond. The kiss had happened, and the details didn¡¯t matter anymore.

    ¡°I was drunk. I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it,¡± he stuttered, trying to exin, his words tripping over themselves.

    I couldn¡¯t help but finish his sentence for him. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you thought she was me.¡±

    Alvin opened his mouth but stopped short.

 Be Honest 100

    I interrupted him, my tone cutting, ¡°Alvin, you¡¯ve hardly kissed me, haven¡¯t you2¡±

    His face twisted with a mix of rage and embarrassment.

    We¡¯d been in a rtionship for over three years, but apart from holding hands and the asional hug, there was almost no real physical affection between us. Even the rare kisses were just pecks-on my hand, my cheek, my forehead¡ªand when our lips did touch, it was only a brush, as light as a butterfly¡¯s kiss.

    That reality seemed to hit Alvin hard. He went quiet, his anger building, Finally, he let me go, running a hand through his hair in frustration. ¡°Fine, yeah, I¡¯m a bastard. I kived her in a moment of weakness, but it didn¡¯t mean anything¡±

    Does sleeping with her make it mean something?¡± I shot back, my voiceced with sarcasm.

    Alvin seemed to snap then. ¡°Is that what you think of me? That I¡¯m some kind of filthy animal? If I were that kind of guy. I¡¯d have already slept with you. Wouldn¡¯t we be here talking right now if I had?¡±

    I paused for a second, caught off guard, but then Iughed.

    He thought that if he¡¯d slept with me, I wouldn¡¯t be making such a fuss? What was he thinking? That it was some ancient rule that once a woman slept with a man, she couldn¡¯t object?

    I didn¡¯t engage with that, instead cutting him to the quick. ¡°But you¡¯re not interested in me, are you? You didn¡¯t sleep with me, did you?

    And just like that, his words became my weapon.

    Alvin¡¯s eyes narrowed, his voice cold. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re saying there¡¯s no going back, right?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re already separated. It¡¯s you who keeps clinging to the past, forcing me to bring it up again,¡± I reminded him.

    ¡°Separated? Alvin scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to. You broke up with me to be with Josh. You two were already seeing each other in Tideport, weren¡¯t you?

    I wasn¡¯t surprised he knew about Tideport. His mother had mentioned it before, but I didn¡¯t expect him to jump to such conclusions about Josh and me.

    ¡°If you want to think that way, go ahead. But just so you know, Josh and I got together after we broke up, not like you, sneaking around with someone else¡¯s wife while he was still alive,¡± I said, my words sharper than ever.

    Alvin¡¯s face twisted in anger, but I could tell he was rattled by my usation about Thea.

    Maybe guilt was eating at him, or maybe something else.

    ¡°So now you¡¯re defending Josh, trying to keep him here so you can have a private little love affair under the guise of work, right? Alvin used, his tone venomous,

    1 didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°Mr. Dolton says what goes, right?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s face turned beet-red, and he jabbed a finger at me. ¡°Zoe, I¡¯ll make sure he¡¯s gone, make him disappear from the industry. Do you believe me?

    ¡°Yeah, I believe you,¡± I said, looking him dead in the eye. ¡°If he goes, I go. If he disappears, I¡¯ll disappear too.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s hand shook with fury as he pointed at me, but I wasn¡¯t done yet.

    ¡°Alvin, you¡¯re the one who betrayed me. You¡¯re the one who turned everything into a mess. Now I¡¯m trying to let you go, and you keep dragging me back in. Don¡¯t you think you look pathetic?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to save you from making a mistake!¡± he shot back, his voice cracking. ¡°You have no idea how deceitful men can

    be

    ¡°No need to imagine it. You¡¯ve already shown me,¡± I retorted, and his fingers clenched around his cor.

    I could see the shock in his eyes, like he¡¯d never expected me to view him this way.

    I took a deep breath, cutting through the tension. ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m telling you clearly-if Josh goes, I go. If you want to move him, I¡¯ll follow. I¡¯ll make it crystal clear for you.¡±

    I turned away without looking back, but I could feel Alvin¡¯s presence behind me, deted. I didn¡¯t see the look in his eyes- the one that seemed to say he had lost everything.

 Be Honest 101

    In the pool hall, when Oscar walked in, he saw Alvin furiously smashing balls around. The way he was ying was clearly a way to blow off steam.

    Oscar didn¡¯t try to stop him. Instead, he picked up a cue stick and casually strolled over. ¡°Same old routine, ready for a game?¡±

    Alvin didn¡¯t even look up, lost in his frustration. He kept hitting balls, missing one after another, until finally, in a fit of rage, he threw the cue stick onto the table and stormed off.

    Oscar set his stick down and followed him, saying, ¡°What did Zoe do this time to piss you off?¡±

    ¡°Who said it was because of her? Don¡¯t bring her up in front of me,¡± Alvin growled, his face contorted with anger.

    Oscar chuckled, ¡°Is it really not about her? You¡¯re losing it over her, aren¡¯t you? She doesn¡¯t want you anymore, and now you can¡¯t handle it.¡±

    As usual, Oscar got straight to the point, hitting where it hurt.

    Alvin spun around suddenly, grabbing Oscar by the cor, snarling, ¡°Don¡¯t start with me.¡±

    ¡°What did I start?¡± Oscar asked, unfazed, his gaze steady.

    Alvin¡¯s lips moved, as though he wanted to say something, but then he let go, his hands trembling slightly. He wanted to tell Oscar to stay away from Zoe, but he knew that doing so would mean admitting how much he still cared for her.

    How could he not care?

    From the moment Zoe had joined the Dolton family when she was just a teenager, he¡¯d known she was meant to be his wife. He didn¡¯t know why, but he hadn¡¯t rejected the idea. Instead, he had silently protected her, treating her like his own little wife for the past ten years.

    For ten years, he¡¯d protected her, and she had be his girlfriend. She¡¯d followed him, obedient and sweet, always within reach.

    But now, she had pulled away, even fighting him for another man. That feeling was like watching someone steal his favorite

    toy.

    ¡°You know exactly what I mean,¡± Alvin snapped, ring at Oscar.

    ¡°Alvin, you love Zoe,¡± Oscar said, his voice steady and clear, cutting through the tension.

    Alvin blinked, taken aback for a moment, then snorted, ¡°Love her? I don¡¯t love her, I¡¯m just used to her, okay? It¡¯s like how you¡¯re used to ying with your left hand when you y pool.¡±

    Oscar didn¡¯t buy it. He shook his head and said, ¡°So why are you acting like this?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m angry because she doesn¡¯t appreciate what I¡¯ve done for her. Whatever. Let her do what she wants, I¡¯m done trying to control it,¡± Alvin waved his hand dismissively, clearly exhausted by the conversation.

    Oscar didn¡¯t push it, instead sitting down and starting to make coffee. Alvin stared into space, lost in thought, until he suddenly muttered, ¡°She does love me, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have said those things. She¡¯s just jealous. I¡¯ll go apologize to

    herter.¡±

    ¡°You should go apologize then,¡± Oscar said, pouring him a cup of coffee.

    ¡°Apologize?¡± Alvin scoffed, shaking his head. ¡°You can¡¯t spoil women, you know? If I give in now, she¡¯ll just cause more trouble next time. Then I¡¯ll be spending the rest of my life ¡®making it up to her.¡±¡±

    Oscar took a sip of his coffee, ncing over the rim at Alvin. ¡°Aren¡¯t women meant to be ¡®spoiled¡¯? Or are you saying they¡¯re just tools for sex or childbirth?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Alvin quickly denied, but Oscar¡¯s words seemed to hit a nerve.

    ¡°Then what do you mean?¡± Oscar pressed, raising an eyebrow.

    Alvin stared back at him, uncertain. After a long pause, he finally said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at Zoe¡¯s outbursts now. Once she¡¯s had her tantrum, she¡¯lle back to me.¡±

    Oscar ced his coffee cup down, watching him quietly. ¡°Maybe.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°Definitely.¡±

    I received a message from Oscar: [You¡¯re getting better at this. You¡¯ve got Mr. Dolton so mad, he¡¯s venting on my pool cue.]

    I didn¡¯t reply. No matter what Oscar meant by that message or what he was trying to achieve, I wasn¡¯t in the mood to respond because Alvin was already out of my life.

    He didn¡¯t deserve my time or energy anymore.

 Be Honest 102

    That little drama didn¡¯t affect my work with Josh, and we didn¡¯t finish until well past midnight.

    Myra was so tired, she could barely keep her eyes open, yawning incessantly. <ol><li> on the other hand, had no idea what was going on with me today-I wasn¡¯t even remotely tired. Josh, as usual, was full of energy, like an unstoppable machine. </li></ol>

    ¡°You and Josh really are a perfect match,¡± Myra said on the way back, her words carrying a suggestive tone.

    I shot a nce at Josh, then snapped at Myra, ¡°You¡¯re delirious. What are you saying?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not joking,¡± she said, clearly half asleep. ¡°You both work nonstop, and I feel like I¡¯m about to copse.¡± She slouched in

    her seat.

    ¡°Even if you copse, you¡¯ve got to power through. We¡¯re almost done,¡± I said, ncing at the remaining areas of the venue. At this rate, we¡¯d be done in about ten days.

    ¡°How much longer?¡± Myra groaned, like she couldn¡¯t bear to think about it.

    I nced in the rearview mirror at Josh, then answered, ¡°About ten days.¡±

    ¡°Ten days¡­¡± Myra sighed dramatically, as if her life were over.

    By the time we reached the hotel, Myra had fallen asleep in the car. I tried waking her up a few times, but she was out cold. Finally, I leaned down to her ear and whispered, ¡°If you don¡¯t wake up, I¡¯ll have Josh carry you in.¡±

    ¡°Sure, carry me,¡± Myra mumbled, her hand reaching out sleepily.

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh, tugging her to her feet. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go.¡±

    She let me pull her into the elevator, her eyes barely open. Just as we reached the hotel room door, Josh, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up. ¡°Zoe, I need to talk to you.¡±

    My heart skipped a beat. ¡°Okay.¡±

    Myra, nowpletely out of it, stumbled into the room without a care, but I stayed behind and turned to Josh. ¡°What is it, Josh?

    ¡°I¡¯ve already talked to thepany. I¡¯ll finish up the work here,¡± Josh said, his tone serious.

    I wasn¡¯t surprised. If he left, I really would walk off the job.

    Even though the lighting adjustments would continue without me and Josh, the deadline would definitely slip.

    And most importantly, the final results would be different from what we were working on now.

    I also suspected that Alvin wasn¡¯t ready to let me leave thepany yet. He hadn¡¯t put pressure on Josh¡¯spany to rece him, probably because he feared I¡¯d actually follow through on my threat to quit.

    ¡°Okay,¡± I simply said in reply.

    ¡°Are you nning to start your ownpany after this project ends?¡± Josh¡¯s question took me by surprise. I hadn¡¯t expected him to figure out what I was thinking.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I admitted without hesitation.

    He nodded slightly. ¡°We can speed up the process.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± I didn¡¯t understand.

    Speeding things up meant more overtime, and while Josh and I could handle it, Myra definitely couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°We don¡¯t need overtime. We can finish earlier without adding hours,¡± Josh said, sounding serious.

    ¡°Josh, are you joking?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m serious,¡± he said, his face unwavering.

    I pressed my lips together. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s no need. We¡¯ll finish on time as nned.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to leave? Then let¡¯s get it done earlier,¡± Josh¡¯s words stopped me in my tracks.

    But I quickly recovered. ¡°No need. Even if we finish early, I can¡¯t leave sooner. I have to wait for the park to pass its inspection, even the grand opening.¡±

    Josh¡¯s gaze deepened, but I didn¡¯t offer an exnation.

    I didn¡¯t n on getting involved with him, so there was no reason to exin myself.

    The next day, when Myra and I arrived at the amusement park, Josh was already there working. I asked the park management and found out that he¡¯d been there since 5 AM.

    It looked like he was pushing to finish the adjustments early, working overtime on his own without involving Myra or me.

    ¡°Morning, Zoe.¡±

    ¡°Morning.¡± I responded out of habit, but as soon as I said it, something felt off.

    I turned my head, and there he was-Philip, dressed in work gear and wearing a hard hat. I froze for a moment.

    9

 Be Honest 103

    ¡°Philip, what are you doing here?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but ask, even though deep down I had a pretty good idea.

    He was clearly here to work. But I had to ask-it was just too ridiculous.

    Was the entire Dolton family really mobilizing just to keep an eye on me?

    And to top it off, Philip had been working overseas for thest few years-wasn¡¯t he supposed to be back there?

    What was he doing in the Dolton Group now?

    Was he nning on staying in the country long-term?

    ¡°I¡¯m here to work, Zoe. I¡¯ll be counting on your guidance, Philip said, extending his hand with an air of nonchnce, like this was the most natural thing in the world.

    I was stunned but still shook his hand, the touch sending a jolt through me. ¡°Wee, Mr¡­¡±

    I trailed off, unsure of how to address him.

    He was here to work, so we were colleagues now. That meant I couldn¡¯t keep calling him ¡°Big Brother¡± anymore.

    ¡°Just call me Philip,¡± he said with a warm smile, as smooth as jade.

    ¡°During work, it¡¯s better to have clear roles and responsibilities, that¡¯s always been Mr. Dolton¡¯s rule,¡± I mentioned, referring to Alvin.

    Even though I wasn¡¯t sure whose idea it was for Philip toe here. Alvin, being the executive CEO, must have known. A regr employee-maybe not. But Philip was the second-inmand at the Dolton Group. Alvin couldn¡¯t possibly be in the dark about this.

    Philip caught on to my implication and answered smoothly, ¡°Executive Director.¡±

    What? Executive Director? I¡¯d worked at thepany for years and never heard of that position.

    Philip continued, ¡°I¡¯m temporarily overseeing the amusement park¡¯s follow-up and final touches. I¡¯m also a mechanical engineering expert, so I might be able to help with the problems you¡¯re facing.¡±

    As soon as I heard that, I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes internally. Philiping here to ¡®help¡¯? Please. He was probably just here to spy on me and Josh.

    Whether it was Alvin or Philip, neither of them would want me getting too close to Josh.

    ¡°Perfect timing,¡± Josh chimed in, walking over casually, as if nothing was strange about this situation. ¡°I was just talking with Zoe about speeding up the schedule. Now we¡¯ve got someone to help, we can definitely wrap this

    up faster.¡±

    I nced at him, confused. He looked back at me and said simply, ¡°Let¡¯s get to work.¡±

    Then, turning to Philip, he said, ¡°Since it¡¯s your first day, you should familiarize yourself with the workflow and the current issues. You¡¯re the expert in this field, so once you¡¯re up to speed, we¡¯ll divide into teams. Zoe and I will work together, and you¡¯ll team up with Myra.¡±

    I blinked. Wait a second. Did Josh just assign Philip a role and team him up with Myra, just like that? What was going on? Was Josh channeling his inner CEO?

    It hit me then-Josh was not as aloof and serious as he appeared. In fact, he was a lot more calcting and devious than I¡¯d realized.

    Philip seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but Josh cut him off, shooting me a nce. ¡°Let¡¯s

    get to work.¡±

    At that point, I didn¡¯t have much to say. I gave Philip a small nod and followed Josh.

    I could feel Philip¡¯s gaze following me, though.

    Honestly, this whole situation was ufortable. I could feel a surge of irritation building inside me.

    Alvin probably thought he was being clever by sending Philip here to keep an eye on me and Josh. But what Alvin didn¡¯t know was that Philip probably had his own agenda.

    If he ever found out, he¡¯d probably be kicking himself for being so clueless.

    I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn¡¯t notice the uneven ground beneath me, and suddenly, I felt myself swaying.

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 Be Honest 104

    Josh¡¯s strong arm hooked around me, and I stumbled into his chest, enveloped in the clean, soapy scent of his shirt. His deep voice came to my ear, low and steady, ¡°Focus on walking, Zoe. Don¡¯t space out.¡±

    There was no way to hide anything from him.

    I pulled back, trying to smooth over the awkward moment. ¡°You crossed a line there. Philip is my boss, and you just went ahead and assigned him work?¡±

    ¡°He cameter than us. If we don¡¯t assign him work, are we supposed to wait for him to assign us tasks?¡± Josh said, his tone matter-of-fact. No way to argue with that logic.

    As much as Philip might be difficult, he had no idea about the specific tasks Josh and I were handling.

    ¡°Wait, you want to work with him?¡± Josh suddenly asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

    ¡°Of course not,¡± I replied quickly, giving him a look. A sly smile flickered at the corner of Josh¡¯s lips.

    The rest of the day passed like normal, and Philip didn¡¯t approach us again. But Myra couldn¡¯t hold her curiosity. She practically ran over, her voice full of disbelief. ¡°Zoe, what¡¯s going on? Did Philipe to supervise us himself?¡±

    Yes, and the kicker is he¡¯s here to supervise you. He¡¯ll be teaming up with you for the next phase of the testing,¡± I said, watching Myra¡¯s jaw drop.

    ¡®No way! I don¡¯t want to team up with Philip! You and him are the best match-you won¡¯t get yelled at if something goes wrong,¡± Myra protested, immediately rejecting the idea.

    ¡®I don¡¯t agree,¡± Josh said, speaking for me once again.

    Myra and I both looked at him, but Josh didn¡¯t nce at either of us. He was focused on his work, but still managed to reiterate his point. ¡°I don¡¯t agree.¡±

    This response caught both Myra and me off guard.

    Myra looked at me, and I suppressed augh.

    ¡®Zoe, look¡­¡±

    Before Myra could finish, Josh interrupted, ¡°Zoe,e check if there¡¯s any discrepancy in the adjustments.¡±

    I didn¡¯t argue, hopping onto the lift immediately. As I rose, I caught sight of Myra pouting, her face twisted in annoyance.

    When I reached Josh¡¯s side and leaned over to look at the screen, I froze.

    [I only want to team up with you.]

    Wait-this was the test result?

    I turned to Josh, eyes wide. ¡°You¡­¡±

    Josh met my gaze with a mischievous glint. His expression said, ¡°You can try exining this to Myra.¡±

    I sighed, shaking my head. Just as I was about to protest, Josh pressed a button on the control panel, and the message immediately changed back to a normal test result. I was left standing next to him, watching him tweak the settings on the

    tablet.

    3:04 pm;

    ¡°Josh, you¡¯re such a fox,¡± I couldn¡¯t help but mutter.

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Josh looked at me, his face genuinely confused.

    The way he asked made me feel like he was genuinely unaware of what I meant. It was so convincing that I almost thought I¡¯d misjudged him. But after everything I¡¯d seen and experienced with him so far, I couldn¡¯t deny-he was far from the innocent soldier he appeared to be.

    I looked him dead in the eye and said, ¡°It means you act clueless, but you¡¯re actually sharper than anyone.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± Josh feigned shock. ¡°Is that how you see me?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± I shot back.

    Josh didn¡¯t reply immediately. Instead, he stared at me for a few seconds before turning his attention back to the tablet. A few momentster, I felt the lift tremble beneath me.

    I gasped, grabbing onto him instinctively. The lift swayed harder, and for a moment, I thought I might be thrown off.

    In a panic, I clung to Josh, and the next thing I knew, I heard him murmur, ¡°Zoe, what are you doing? People are going to see

    us.¡±

    I shut my eyes tightly, holding onto him for dear life. ¡°It¡¯s shaking! You have to check!¡±

    But I didn¡¯t know that Josh, seeing someone approaching below, wrapped his arms tighter around my waist, leaning in close to whisper in my ear, ¡°Stop moving, and it won¡¯t shake.¡±

    Ìï

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 Be Honest 105

    I obediently stopped moving, but I only held onto Josh tighter.

    The strong beat of his heart thumped in my ear, and that¡¯s when I realized I was pressed up against his chest.

    But at that moment, I wasn¡¯t scared-I didn¡¯t care. The only thing that mattered was holding on tightly to him.

    It was the only way I could be sure I wasn¡¯t moving around-only the lift was swaying.

    After a while, the shaking finally stopped, and I realized I hadn¡¯t let go of him yet. He broke the silence with his voice. ¡°Got a new colleague?¡±

    I froze for a moment, pulling away from his arms and looking down. And when I did, I froze even harder.

    Not only was I stunned, but a surge of frustration shot through me. Without thinking, I mmed the button for the elevator and headed straight down.

    There stood Thea, with her signature fake smile stered on her face. ¡°Zoe.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t in the mood for pleasantries. I shot her a sharp, unfriendly question. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    I wasn¡¯t being rude for no reason-she was pregnant, anding here was absolutely inappropriate. The park hadn¡¯t even opened to the public yet. There were still uninspected safety measures, and if anything happened, no one could take responsibility.

    Thea¡¯s answer left me dumbfounded. ¡°I¡¯m here to work.¡±

    I blinked, sure I hadn¡¯t heard her right. ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dolton sent me here. He said I need to follow up on the safety checks,¡± she said, making me want to throw up.

    I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing. ¡°Is Alvin out of his mind? He wants you to handle safety checks?¡±

    My blunt words caused the people around us to nce over. Thea wasn¡¯t alone. The project manager hade with her, and Myra and Philip were also there.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Thea¡¯s face turned a shade darker, her voiceced with fake hurt.

    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s totally inappropriate for a pregnant woman to be here,¡± I said, pulling out my phone and dialing Alvin.

    Of course, he wasn¡¯t answering at first, and just as the call was about to end, his voice came through. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    I didn¡¯t waste time. ¡°Why did you send Thea here?¡±

    I didn¡¯t have any hidden agendas-just a strong sense of responsibility. I was always straightforward.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear? I sent her to work,¡± Alvin replied coolly.

    I looked at Thea and asked him point-nk, ¡°Is it appropriate for her to be here? Who¡¯s responsible if something goes wrong?¡±

    ¡°Of course, you are,¡± Alvin¡¯s reply caught me off guard.

    Before I could respond, he continued. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re in charge of the amusement park project. You¡¯re responsible for delivering a safe, functional park, and for the safety of all the workers. Understand?¡±

    His words made it clear-he was doing this on purpose. One spy, Philip, wasn¡¯t enough. Now he¡¯d brought Thea in too, just to distract me, to tie up my energy.

    I tightened my grip on my phone, looking at Thea¡¯s innocent expression and huffing. ¡°Well, if someone rushes in and gets themselves hurt, don¡¯t me me.¡±

    Thea¡¯s face darkened even further. Alvin finally snapped on the other end. ¡°Zoe, why do you have to be so vicious?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dolton,¡± I replied, keeping my tone cool. ¡°I¡¯m just speaking harshly right now. But if you¡¯re worried, maybe you should pull her out. Or¡­.¡± I nced at Philip, my voice dripping with sarcasm, ¡°I could arrange 24/7 protection for her.¡±

    Alvin didn¡¯t catch on to my underlying tone. ¡°Fine, if you¡¯re the one protecting her, I¡¯ll be more at ease.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± I replied quickly. ¡°I¡¯m not that free.¡±

    I ended the call without waiting for further response. Thea, sensing an opportunity, spoke up. ¡°Zoe, you don¡¯t have to be so hostile toward me. I can take care of myself.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re healthy and capable. I believe you can. But it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry,¡± I said, making Myra bite her lip to stop herself fromughing.

    ¡°Mr. Dolton said on the phone that someone should protect you around the clock. But I think that¡¯s unnecessary. After all, when you¡¯re sleeping, the only one who can protect you is someone close to you, right?¡± I didn¡¯t mince words.

    In the past, I¡¯d felt sorry for Thea-her husband had died early, and I could empathize. But now, I understood the saying ¡°those who are pitied often have something to be despised¡± all too well.

    ¡°Mr. Dolton,¡± I said, turning to Philip, ¡°You and Thea are both new here. Why don¡¯t you familiarize yourselves with the park and keep an eye on her?¡±

    Philip was momentarily stunned. ¡°Zoe, you¡­?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dolton,¡± I interrupted, my tone decisive. ¡°You¡¯re the Executive Director at thepany, and you¡¯re my superior. But here at the park, I¡¯m in charge. Everyone who works here has to follow my lead.¡±

    This was the privilege Alvin had granted me from the start, and I¡¯d never used it until now, right before the project¡¯s conclusion.

    Philip had nothing more to say. Thea, however, was furious, her face turning a deep purple. ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone¡¯s protection. I can look after myself!¡±

    She couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware of the connection between Philip and Alvin. She was involved with Alvin, yet often found herself with Philip too. The situation must have been awkward for her, especially with the two of them in such close proximity.

    I shot back coldly, ¡°I¡¯ve told you-it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, Mr. Dolton¡¯s not here specifically to protect you. It¡¯s just a side job for him. Don¡¯t overthink it, Thea.¡±

    Thea had nothing more to say. She turned to Philip, but when he looked at me, he didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, he just nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll follow Zoe¡¯s lead.¡±

    That was the end of it.

    ¡°Everyone, back to work,¡± I said, using my position to take control.

    Reluctantly, Thea walked off, but not before muttering to Philip, ¡°How could you agree to this? She¡¯s doing this just to make

    us look bad.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. She¡¯s just doing her job. She doesn¡¯t want anything to happen to you,¡± Philip replied, his calm response making me smirk.

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of guilt. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have taken my frustrations with Alvin and Thea out on him. But what was he doing here in the first ce?

    ¡°You¡¯re clever,¡± Myra said, giving me a thumbs-up.

    ¡°Get back to your work. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have to assign you 24/7 protection duty with Thea,¡± I teased.

    She immediately shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back to work now, I promise!¡±

    As I watched everyone walk away, my expression darkened.

    The anger I felt earlier had turned to a bitter, sour feeling deep inside. Alvin had hurt me enough. Was he really trying to make me suffer even more by sending Thea here? Did he think I wasn¡¯t humiliated enough already?

    Just as I was lost in my thoughts, the light in front of me dimmed, and arge hand blocked my path. I was about to push it away when Josh¡¯s voice came to my ear. ¡°You did well.¡±

    He moved his hand, revealing a lollipop in front of me.

    I looked at him, and he added, ¡°This is a reward.¡±

 Be Honest 106

    A lollipop as a reward? Was he treating me like a child?

    I was about to call him childish, but before I could, he¡¯d already ced the candy in my hand and grabbed a drink for himself, then handed me my water bottle. Josh sat down on the rest chair, patting the seat next to him. ¡°Take a break.¡±

    I didn¡¯t need a break.

    I hadn¡¯t done anything yet-just dealt with people¡¯s nonsense.

    But since Josh was sitting down, I had no choice but to sit as well. Without him, I¡¯d be stuck.

    That¡¯s when I realized-he was the one leading me.

    ¡°You were pretty fierce just now,¡± Joshmented.

    I took a sip of water and shrugged. ¡°Was I?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you scared me,¡± Josh added, making me tilt my head to look at him.

    He nodded seriously. ¡°Really.¡±

    For some reason, I couldn¡¯t help but feel that something about his serious face was¡­ kind of cute.

    It was strange to feel that way about him¡ªa tall, handsome, and very straightforward man. It made me want to tease him. ¡°Josh, how old are you?¡±

    I meant to joke, poking fun at how immature he was being.

    But he just replied, ¡°I¡¯ve told you already.¡±

    I blinked, not fully processing.

    ¡°We talked about it when we went on that blind date,¡± he continued.

    I was speechless.

    ¡°I¡¯m 31,¡± he finally answered, skipping over my memorypse.

    I didn¡¯t know how to respond. He and I were clearly on different wavelengths when it came to talking.

    I drained my water bottle, trying to focus, when Josh suddenly said, ¡°Holly called me. She heard we¡¯re working together. She wants me to finish up and then take you home with me.¡±

    This was the first time Josh had mentioned Holly since he came here.

    He didn¡¯t seem bothered by it, but I was. Holly had always been the one pushing Josh and me together, so just bringing her up made everything feel a little awkward.

    Josh might not have been aware of it, but now that he¡¯d mentioned it, I had to say something. I gave him a tight-lipped smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell her you¡¯re staying here long-term?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m ying it by ear,¡± he replied casually, his eyes focused on his water bottle. His nonchnt tone made me nce at him.

    But Josh wasn¡¯t looking at me. He was drinking again, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he swallowed. I unconsciously mirrored the motion, then quickly averted my gaze, feeling a little guilty for watching.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to see herter. Doesn¡¯t mean I have to go with you,¡± I muttered under my breath.

    ¡°Why not together?¡± he asked, his hearing sharp.

    ¡°I like doing things alone,¡± I replied coolly, turning to look him dead in the eye. ¡°I¡¯m someone who enjoys solitude.¡±

    I said it on purpose, to make sure he didn¡¯t get any ideas. I wasn¡¯t interested in developing anything further with him, so I needed to keep him at a safe distance.

    Even if I kept identally brushing up against him-like earlier, in the elevator.

    Thinking of that, I nced at the elevator and asked, ¡°What happened with the elevator earlier? Why did it suddenly shake?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± He looked at me, confused.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t tamper with it, did you?¡± I asked directly.

    After all, Josh was the kind of guy who could control the whole park¡¯s lighting. Messing with the elevator wouldn¡¯t be a stretch for him. And considering I hadn¡¯t moved or walked in it, there was no wind-there was no reason for it to shake on its own.

    ¡°You think I did that?¡± he asked, his voice calm but sharp. ¡°Why would I do that?¡±

    His questions left me speechless.

    Why would he do that?

    Was it just to make me cling to him out of fear?

    I stared at his eyes, searching for any sign of guilt. But he just put his water down and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Back to work.¡±

    I didn¡¯t move. Josh stepped into the elevator and turned to me. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go up together.¡±

    I held the lollipop tightly, watching him. He added, ¡°Also, there¡¯s some more testing I need you to check.¡±

 Be Honest 107

    It sounded like the same excuse he used earlier, but back then, what was I looking at?

    ¡°Josh, it¡¯s work hours. Don¡¯t use work as an excuse to pull me into your personal drama,¡± I warned him.

    ¡°Oh, he responded obediently, but still stood there, waiting for me to move.

    I had no choice but to stand up and walk toward him. As I stepped into the elevator, he reached for me, but I quickly dodged

    his hand.

    Just as I was about to step fully inside, the elevator shook again. Instinctively, I reached out to grab his arm.

    For a split second, I felt my face flush with embarrassment. He looked around, muttering, ¡°Someone needs to check the elevator when we¡¯re done. Why does it keep shaking like that?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t respond.

    This time, Josh didn¡¯t try any tricks. He began testing the equipment while I watched, offering feedback and suggestions.

    We hadn¡¯t been at it for long when I received a call from Alvin. Seeing his number made my stomach drop-this couldn¡¯t be good.

    The call wasn¡¯t about work. It was probably because Thea hadined about something.

    I stood a little away from Josh and answered. ¡°Mr. Dolton.¡±

    Zoe, you¡¯re so vicious,¡± Alvin¡¯s voice came through, full of reprimand.

    I didn¡¯t even need to hear the rest¡ªI already knew what this was about.

    It was Thea, of course. She couldn¡¯t handle the truth and had toin.

    Mr. Dolton, I believe my arrangements were perfectly reasonable. If there¡¯s an issue, it¡¯s yours. You¡¯re the one who arranged for them toe here at the same time. I just made the necessary adjustments,¡± I said, not backing down.

    Alvin was silent for a while, likely furious. I took the opportunity to cut the conversation short. ¡°Mr. Dolton, I¡¯m busy. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up now.¡±

    ¡®Get someone to apany Thea immediately. I want you to stay with her personally,¡± Alvin ordered coldly.

    ¡®Alvin, are you out of your mind? You want me to be with her? Is she even qualified for that? And what about the lighting¡ª are we still testing that?¡± I didn¡¯t hold back.

    ¡°I¡¯m giving you a direct order. Don¡¯t worry about anything else,¡± Alvin responded, using his boss status to pressure me.

    I gripped the elevator¡¯s handrail tightly. ¡°Alvin, you can be a tyrant, but I won¡¯t y along.¡±

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll strip you of your position as the park¡¯s project lead. You can go back to the office,¡± Alvin¡¯s decision took me by

    surprise.

    I stood silent for two seconds before asking, ¡°Are you serious, Alvin?¡±

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m joking?¡± Alvin¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Zoe, don¡¯t think the park will copse without you.¡±

    His words hit me like a cold wave. I knew he wasn¡¯t kidding.

    Standing 200 feet above the ground, looking out at the park, a sudden sadness crept

    into

    my chest.

    After Alvin¡¯s betrayal, I had endured all the humiliation just to finish this project, to fulfill my dream. But now, it seemed like I wouldn¡¯t be able to finish it after all.

    Maybe this was what people meant when they said life was full of regrets.

    It was like my parents, who loved me so much and wanted to see me grow up, marry¡­ but they passed away too soon.

    Since perfection is rare in this world, I guess I can¡¯t demand it.

    ¡°Fine,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll head back to the office now.¡±

    I hung up the phone, my body trembling slightly. Josh was standing beside me.

    He didn¡¯t ask me anything, probably because he had overheard my conversation with Alvin.

    We stood there in silence for a while. Finally, I spoke. ¡°Josh, I have to go back to the office. I won¡¯t be able to help with the testing anymore, but I hope you can finish the adjustments yourself.¡±

    He furrowed his brows, and I could see the concern in his eyes. I got the feeling that once I left, he would leave too.

    It wasn¡¯t arrogance on my part-I just knew that¡¯s what he would do.

    This amusement park is my dream. I want to see it finished perfectly,¡± I whispered.

    A long moment passed before Josh finally said, ¡°Okay.¡±

 Be Honest 108

    I returned to thepany, and coincidentally, Alvin was there too.

    ¡°Mr. Dolton, this is my resignation letter. I¡¯ve also submitted my departure procedures to HR through the app.¡± I handed him the letter I had prepared in advance.

    Alvin took the letter, nced at it briefly, then threw it down on the desk, looking at me with cold eyes. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯ve really lost your mind now.¡±

    He still thought I was throwing a tantrum, but honestly, from the moment we met until now, I had never truly caused a

    scene.

    At first, I lived under his roof, a guest in his family, with no right to make trouble. Thenter, I liked him-too afraid to do anything that might drive him away.

    Before my parents¡¯ ident, I was their cherished little princess, and I could throw tantrums all I wanted. But once I entered the Dolton family, ¡°tantrums¡± ceased to exist in my life.

    ¡°Am I the kind of person who makes trouble? What have I ever done to cause you trouble?¡± I asked, my tone calm.

    Alvin opened his mouth as if to say something, but then stopped.

    I was determined to make things clear, so I continued, ¡°Alvin, the one causing trouble between us has always been you. To you, I¡¯m just a toy-when you¡¯re bored, you pat my head and sweet-talk me. But when you¡¯re off doing your own thing, you forget about mepletely.¡±

    ¡°You think that of me? Zoe, you¡¯re really heartless,¡± Alvin retorted, clearly not agreeing with my words.

    He would never see his own faults, and I knew no matter what I said, he wouldn¡¯t admit to them.

    I gave a mocking smile. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m heartless.¡±

    ¡®Is this how you¡¯re going to talk to me? Am I wronged here?¡± Alvin seemed like he was ready to confront me about it.

    I looked at him and said, ¡°No, you¡¯re so great. Why would I break up with you? Isn¡¯t that heartless of me?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°Stop talking like that.¡±

    ¡°Well, how should I say it then?¡± I met his gaze and asked, ¡°Alvin, now you don¡¯t like me, so everything I say is wrong, everything I do is wrong. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if I just leave? Out of sight, out of mind?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s hand, resting on the desk, started tapping it nervously. ¡°Zoe, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what this is about. It¡¯s not about me; it¡¯s because you¡¯ve changed your heart.¡±

    He was looking for any excuse to shift the me onto me.

    ¡°You¡¯ve already hooked up with Josh, haven¡¯t you?¡± Alvin asked bluntly.

    I wasn¡¯t bothered by his assumption, so I didn¡¯t deny it. I simply replied, ¡°Not before you and Thea did.¡±

    Alvin jumped to his feet, eyes widening. ¡°You really are with him?¡±

    Ah, so it was all just a test. He wanted to see if I would crack.

    ¡°This is my business. It has nothing to do with you,¡± I reminded him. ¡°Alvin, we¡¯re broken up. You agreed to it.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t agree to it,¡± Alvin shot back.

    His shamelessness really took me by surprise.

    In two long strides, Alvin walked around the desk and stood directly in front of me. Before I knew it, his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and pulling me violently to his chest.

    He locked me in his arms, his voice low and possessive. ¡°Zoe, have you forgotten who you are? You¡¯re mine. You¡¯ve been mine since the day you entered the Dolton family.¡±

    He looked ferocious, but I wasn¡¯t scared. I met his eyes and said, ¡°Yeah, I thought I was your wife too, always acting like a dutiful little wife by your side. But the one who strayed from the path was you. If you think other women are better, or that a widow is more appealing, then I¡¯ll let you go.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. There¡¯s nothing between me and Thea!¡± Alvin denied it again.

 Be Honest 109

    ¡°Alvin, I really didn¡¯t expect your moralpass to be this low. You kissed her, and you call it nothing? What would count as something to you? Sleeping with her? Maybe getting her pregnant?¡± My questions cut deep, each one a jab at his integrity.

    Alvin¡¯s grip tightened, and he snarled, ¡°I¡¯ve exined it before. I was drunk, it was a moment of confusion.¡±

    ¡°You can make mistakes once, but if you do it again¡­ you should know by now that with me, there are some mistakes that can¡¯t be forgiven,¡± I said firmly, making my stance clear.

    ¡°Stop pretending like you have some high ground!¡± Alvin cursed at me.

    His vulgarity only made my disappointment grow. I even started to question myself-how could I have ever fallen for someone like him?

    ¡°Zoe, you just want to leave me, you want to go y around with other men, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know,¡± he continued, refusing to listen.

    I was exhausted from arguing with him. ¡°If that¡¯s how you see it, fine. I know that you, Alvin, are too proud and can¡¯t stand anyone betraying you. So, for someone like me-unfaithful and impure-why don¡¯t you just let me go and let me get as far away as possible?¡±

    I was trying to save myself, but Alvin, enraged by my words, leaned down to kiss me.

    I recoiled, especially after remembering he had kissed Thea. I was furious and disgusted.

    But the more I dodged, the more he lost control. He shoved me roughly onto the desk, his hands reaching for my clothes. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to kiss you? Do you want Josh to do it instead? Have you slept with him yet?¡±

    His words were vile, and his actions maddening. It made me feel ashamed and terrified.

    As his hands traveled up my waist, I grabbed whatever I could find and, without thinking, smashed it into his head.

    With a loud thud, I felt his grip freeze. He looked at me, stunned. Something warm and sticky began trickling down his face.

    When I realized what it was, my heart dropped. It was blood.

    I quickly closed my eyes as a drop of it fell directly into my eye. The warmth of it slid down my face, tracing my cheek¡­

    My hand trembled, and I felt his other hand grip the back of my head. Alvin¡¯s cold voice rang in my ear. ¡°Zoe, listen to me carefully. You¡¯re mine.¡±

    With that, his weight on top of me vanished, and I quickly scrambled to my feet.

    As I opened my eyes, I saw Alvin clutching his head, his face pale as he stormed out of the room.

    I felt my legs give out beneath me, and I grabbed the desk to steady myself.

    ¡°Mr. Dolton, you¡¯re bleeding!¡± I heard Davy¡¯s shocked voice.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Alvin snapped as he walked off, his footsteps growing distant.

    I copsed, closing my eyes, feeling utterly drained. When I opened them again, I didn¡¯t want anyone to see my disheveled state, so I went into the small break room in Alvin¡¯s office.

    In the mirror, I saw a drop of Alvin¡¯s blood still clinging to the corner of my eye, so bright it looked like a tear I had shed for

    him

    I wiped it away with a tissue, then quickly left the office and thepany behind

    I had barely made it home when Jasmine called ¡°Zoe, I saw Alvin. He got a headshot.¡±

    ¡°At the hospital?¡± I asked quietly,

    ¡°Yes, his assistant was there with him. It looked bad. Jasmine replied, pausing before asking. ¡°You¡¯re not feeling sorry for him, are you!¡±

    1 gave a dry chuckle. ¡°What if I¡¯m the one who gave him the headshot?¡±

    Jasmine gasped on the other end. After a long pause, she asked carefully. ¡°Did he do something to you?¡±

    I thought about his crazed behavior in the office earlier, and without hesitation. I replied. ¡°He tried to rape me

 Be Honest 110

    Jasmine said, ¡°You should¡¯ve hit him harder, just kill the bastard. When you were in bed with him, you didn¡¯t sleep, but now you want him to force himself on you? Hitting him in the head was the right move.¡±

    Jasmine went off on a rant, her words far from the graceful, professional tone you¡¯d expect from a high-ss obstetrician.

    ¡°His problem is ssic insecurity. He always thought I couldn¡¯t live without him. Now that I¡¯m really walking away, he¡¯s panicking, I exined.

    Jasmine fully agreed, adding, ¡°It¡¯s only just hit him that he loves you. Now he can¡¯t stand the idea of you being with anyone

    else.¡±

    That was right.

    To stop me from working with Josh, both Philip and Thea were sent to meddle, making it impossible for me to even finish up the tasks at the amusement park.

    But Josh promised me he¡¯d handle it, so I wasn¡¯t too worried.

    ¡°Zoe, remember this: if Alvin dares to mess with you again, every time he does, you hit him back. Make him understand that if he¡¯s scared enough, he won¡¯t dare do it again,¡± Jasmine instructed me.

    ¡°Got it,¡± I replied.

    Just before hanging up, Jasmine was called away by someone. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on himter, see if he bled out or not,¡± she added casually.

    Herment made meugh, but by the end, theughter was hollow, tinged with bitterness.

    I sat in the car for a while before getting out. As I walked into the building, the neighbors greeted me. ¡°Youngdy, back by yourself? Your boyfriend didn¡¯te with you?¡±

    Thinking back to thest time the neighbors had spoken to Josh, I smiled and said, ¡°Oh, is it time to clean the hallway again?¡±

    The neighborsughed. ¡°No, no. Just that the guy seemed nice-handsome and hardworking. You¡¯d better appreciate him!¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± I nodded and headed upstairs.

    But just as I reached my door, I froze. The door across from mine was wide open, and I could hear someone rummaging around inside.

    I had no idea who lived there, but no one had been there since I moved in.

    Now, their stuff was blocking my door, so I had no choice but to ask, ¡°Are you moving out?¡±

    A middle-aged woman turned around, surprised. ¡°You¡¯re¡­?¡±

    I pointed across the hall and said, ¡°I live here.¡±

    The woman¡¯s face softened with understanding. ¡°Sorry, this apartment has been rented out. The new tenants wanted me to tidy it up, so it¡¯s a mess right now. I¡¯ll move things out of your way so you can get in.¡±

    I thanked her and nced at the apartment. It looked far more run-down than mine.

    If I had been looking for a ce, I wouldn¡¯t have considered it. Whoever rented it must not have had many options.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, can I ask if the renter is a man or a woman?¡± I asked, curious about my new neighbor.

    ¡°A man. A handsome young guy,¡± she said while shifting some of the things blocking the hallway.

    I felt a strange difort. Having a stranger, especially a man, living across from me didn¡¯t feel right.

    But it wasn¡¯t really any of my business. I thanked Lena, then entered my apartment, copsing onto the couch. Staring at the ceiling, my mind was a whirlwind of chaos. I was emotionally drained.

    Even though I hadn¡¯t physically fought with Alvin, it felt like I had poured all my energy into something that wasn¡¯t worth it.

    I closed my eyes, trying not to think, but the more I tried, the more scattered my thoughts became.

    Eventually, I opened my eyes and walked to the kitchen to make myself something to eat-anything to distract myself.

    While I was cooking oatmeal, my phone rang. It was Philip. ¡°Zoe, get back to the amusement park. You can¡¯t just leave.¡±

    ¡°Philip, I already submitted my resignation,¡± I said calmly.

 Be Honest 111

    Before leaving the park. I really thought I couldn¡¯t leave-it felt like I was the only one who could hold everything together. Even if it was done, it wouldn¡¯t be to my satisfaction. But now that I was actually leaving, it felt strangely indifferent.

    It was like how I felt about letting go of Alvin.

    ¡°Your resignation isn¡¯t valid,¡± Philip¡¯s response was forceful, carrying an air of authority.

    I knew he had the power to make it stick, and if not, he could have Peter step in, voiding Alvin¡¯s approval. But I didn¡¯t want

    that.

    So I hit back, ¡°Mr. Dolton already approved it.¡±

    After all, Alvin was now the true head of the Dolton Group, not Philip.

    There was silence on the other end for a moment, before Philip asked, ¡°Where are you?¡±

    I had moved here in secret. Besides Jasmine and Josh, no one else knew where I was, though I wasn¡¯t sure Philip wouldn¡¯t figure it out.

    He seemed to have a knack for remembering my phone numbers, so he might connect the dots.

    But I wasn¡¯t about to tell him. ¡°Philip, the amusement park is my work of the past two years. The rest is up to you to finish.¡±

    ¡°Zoe¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say more,¡± I cut him off.

    I hung up the phone and stared at the bubbling oatmeal in the pot, inhaling its sweet aroma.

    I didn¡¯t have any vegetables because I hadn¡¯t bought any, so oatmeal was all I had for now.

    Sitting on the couch, I ate my oatmeal while sending out job applications.

    With my experience at the Dolton Group, finding a good job wouldn¡¯t be hard. I had that much confidence.

    Once I finished, I saw the neighbors across the hall were still moving things around.

    I was full, ready to rest. Iy down on the couch, turning my phone to silent mode to avoid any disturbances.

    I must¡¯ve fallen asleep for several hours. When I woke up, everything outside was eerily quiet, like I had stepped into another world.

    I picked up my phone to check the time-it was already past three in the afternoon.

    It felt like time was dragging. Usually, when I was busy, the hours flew by, but now, it felt as though everything had slowed down.

    I noticed several missed calls-Myra, Michelle, and a number I didn¡¯t recognize. The unknown number had called three

    times.

    I wasn¡¯t too worried about Josh¡¯s calls. If he wasn¡¯t calling me, it meant things were going smoothly at work.

    But I called Myra back anyway. She picked up immediately. ¡°Zoe, why aren¡¯t you answering your phone?¡±

    ¡°Was there something urgent?¡± I askedzily, still groggy from sleep.

    Myra immediately sensed it. ¡°So, you¡¯re just taking naps while we¡¯re here working our butts off?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, with nothing else to do, of course I¡¯m going to sleep,¡± I replied, as if it was the most obvious thing.

    Myra gave a little hum, then said, ¡°Zoe,e back. I can¡¯t handle this alone without you here.¡±

    Her voice was soft, but I could tell she didn¡¯t want Josh to hear. I couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°What, is your crush giving you a

    hard time?¡±

    ¡°Not really. He¡¯s just annoyed because I can¡¯t keep up with his pace. He gives me that ¡®you¡¯re an idiot¡¯ look, and it really bruises my ego,¡± Myra said, making meugh.

    But afterughing, I reassured her, ¡°A strong general has no weak soldiers. You¡¯re not an idiot. If he¡¯s looking down on you, he¡¯s underestimating me. I¡¯ll take care of him.¡±

    Then, suddenly, I heard a familiar voice on the other end of the line. ¡°What do you want to do with me?¡±

    I froze for a second, then responded casually, ¡°Josh, Myra needs some time to adjust. You should show a little mercy.¡±

    Josh didn¡¯t answer. I hesitated, then asked, ¡°Is there something wrong?¡±

    There¡¯s another issue with the testing today. Myra doesn¡¯t fully understand it, and we still need your help,¡± Josh exined, catching me off guard.

    Without missing a beat, I said, ¡°I¡¯ve resigned. This isn¡¯t my responsibility anymore.¡±

    ¡°But you said you wanted it to end perfectly, didn¡¯t you?¡± Josh¡¯s words made me pause.

    I stayed silent for a few seconds, then finally relented, ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle overter.¡±

 Be Honest 112

    In the end, I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of the amusement park being wed. This dream, which carried the love of my father, had to be perfect. So, I reluctantly agreed to stay involved.

    But instead of being an open participant, I¡¯d be a behind-the-scenes consultant-working for free.

    It didn¡¯t matter. As long as the park ended perfectly, I was fine with it.

    More than anything, I had nothing else to do. It was better than just sitting around doing nothing.

    I went to the hotel in the evening. As I left, the door across from mine was locked. The thought of a man moving in next door made me uneasy. It didn¡¯t sit right with me.

    Then, out of nowhere, an idea popped into my head-I could rent the ce.

    Conveniently, thendlord¡¯s number, Lena, was right on the door. I dialed her number immediately. As soon as I voiced my intention, she hesitated, ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ve already taken the deposit from someone else. I can¡¯t just back out.¡±

    ¡°Double the deposit, I¡¯ll pay for that, and I¡¯ll even offer to pay more rent than they did,¡± I countered. When it came to peace of mind, I was more than willing to spend a little extra.

    They say money gives you confidence, and that couldn¡¯t be more true.

    With money, you can buy peace of mind, and even convince others to let go of their principles.

    Once Lena heard she could make more money, she stopped hesitating and agreed to negotiate with the current renter before getting back to me.

    I hung up, got in my car, and drove to the hotel.

    As soon as I entered the lobby, I spotted Thea. It wasn¡¯t like she couldn¡¯t be there, but instinctively, I felt like she was waiting for me.

    Sure enough, when she heard my footsteps, she looked up and called my name, ¡°Zoe.¡±

    She¡¯d been sitting there waiting for me-it was clear she was determined to talk.

    ¡°If you came here to report on work, you¡¯re talking to the wrong person. I¡¯ve already resigned,¡± I cut her off before she could say anything.

    It was a bit petty on my part, but after all, my resignation was indirectly because of her. I was still holding onto that anger.

    At first, I had intended to let it slide, especially with her pregnancy. But now that she¡¯de to me, I couldn¡¯t just swallow my frustration.

    ¡°I came to talk to you about this,¡± Thea said, her voice sweet and soft.

    We¡¯d shed before, and she had yed both the tough and the innocent card on me. But to my surprise, she still managed to show up looking as sweet and innocent as ever.

    ¡°Oh? I¡¯m curious to hear what you have to say, Thea,¡± I said, sitting down across from her.

    ¡°Zoe, when I went to the amusement park, I was just there for work. Nothing else. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea,¡± she began, trying to justify herself.

    I smirked, cutting her off again, ¡°But you seemed to get the wrong idea. I asked you to familiarize yourself with the park alongside Philip, but you had to go and tattle to Alvin?¡±

    She immediately shook her head, ¡°I didn¡¯t tattle. Alvin called me, and I just mentioned it casually. I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d¡­¡±

    She trailed off, but I understood her meaning.

    Alvin, in a fit of rage, had fired me for the sake of Thea, his precious new woman. She wasn¡¯t here to exin; she was here to gloat.

    ¡°He¡¯s a love-struck idiot. When his hormones take over, he¡¯ll do the dumbest things. It¡¯s nothing surprising,¡± I said, watching Thea¡¯s face turn pale with difort.

    I couldn¡¯t resist adding, ¡°You probably don¡¯t know, but his little group of friends has a nickname for him-¡®The Big Dumb Dog.¡±

    It was true, though the guy who first came up with the nickname had long been kicked out of Alvin¡¯s circle, even forced out of Seastone.

    E

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 Be Honest 113

    Alvin was incredibly petty, and if he had any real power, anyone who crossed him would have no chance of surviving.

    Thea¡¯s expression darkened further. She realized that by me saying that, I was insulting Alvin, which indirectly insulted her. Her face flushed with anger, and she said, ¡°Zoe, how can you say that? He¡¯s someone you once loved. After breaking up, at least you should have some ss and not nder him. I never thought you¡¯d be like this.¡±

    Was she defending him now?

    ¡°ss?¡± I chuckled coldly. ¡°That¡¯s something reserved for people who actually deserve it. When you were still married, you were kissing your husband¡¯s friends, and now you¡¯re pregnant with your dead husband¡¯s child, and still going after other men¡¯s fianc¨¦s. Do you think you deserve my ¡®ss¡¯ after all that?¡±

    Thea¡¯s face drained of color. ¡°Wha¡­ What are you saying?¡±

    ¡°You said all that yourself. If anyone¡¯s ndering anyone, it¡¯s you,¡± I paused and stared directly at her. ¡°You said it all at that

    restaurant.¡±

    For a moment, Thea went silent, her face losing all color, as if I¡¯d just knocked the wind out of her.

    It took her a while to regain herposure. When she finally spoke, her voice trembled, ¡°He¡­ he provoked me, not the other way around¡­¡±

    ¡®Really? One hand doesn¡¯t p,¡± I shot back, refusing to let her off the hook.

    Thea was like a cockroach that refused to die. If I wanted to make sure she never bothered me again, I had to go all in.

    Her tears started to fall uncontrobly, and she said, ¡°It¡¯s his fault! If it wasn¡¯t for him, I wouldn¡¯t be in this mess. He owes ne!¡±

    she was trembling with emotion, but I couldn¡¯t tell whether it was genuine or not.

    As her sobs grew louder, people started looking at us. But I wasn¡¯t worried. This was the hotel lobby, and there were cameras

    verywhere. I hadn¡¯tid a finger on her, so if something happened, it wouldn¡¯t be my problem.

    watched as her tears fell, but my mind kept turning over her words. ¡®Alvin ruined her? Owed her something?¡¯

    Then I remembered something Alvin had said before-about how her husband¡¯s family med her for her husband¡¯s death, ind how she was still shunned even though she was carrying herte husband¡¯s child. Suddenly, a thought shed in my nind.

    My heart tightened. I asked, ¡°What exactly does Alvin owe you?¡±

    Thea opened her mouth but stopped herself when she met my gaze.

    Was this a secret she couldn¡¯t share?

    The more she hesitated, the more my curiosity grew. ¡°Why not speak up, Thea? Is it because you can¡¯t, or is it because you¡¯re ust lying?¡±

    She pursed her lips, then said, ¡°This is my business. I came here to tell you-if Miss Kemp has a problem with me, she shoulde to me directly and not drag others into it.¡±

    I frowned slightly, a realization dawning on me. Was she really here to vent on Alvin¡¯s behalf?

    ¡°You¡¯re talking about me smashing Alvin¡¯s head, aren¡¯t you?¡± I said, cutting straight to the point.

    ¡°His injuries are serious. He had to get ten stitches in his skull. Zoe, you guys used to love each other. How could you be so cruel and hit him that hard?¡± Thea¡¯s tone shifted, her voice filled with a strange reproach, almost like she was Alvin¡¯s wife.

    But she wasn¡¯t, and I wasn¡¯t about to spare her any mercy.

    ¡°Really? Only ten stitches? I could¡¯ve made sure his brain sttered out, but I decided to show mercy,¡± I said, watching Thea squirm.

    ¡°You¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you know why I hit him? Because he tried to force himself on me in the office,¡± I said coldly, locking eyes with her. ¡°Maybe you couldn¡¯t satisfy him while you¡¯re pregnant?¡±

    Thea¡¯s face went ashen, and she had no words left to say.

    Even after all that, I didn¡¯t let up. ¡°Now that you know why I hit him, go back and think about how to fix things. After all, you¡¯re married, so you should know how to handle these situations, right?¡±

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 Be Honest 114

    Thea stood there,pletely at a loss for words, utterly humiliated by everything I had said. She looked like she was about to crumble under the weight of it all.

    But she brought this on herself.

    ¡°If you have nothing else to say, you should head back. You¡¯re carrying a delicate little one, after all. If anything happens, it¡¯ll be a problem,¡± I said, not mocking her but genuinely offering a piece of advice.

    If she intended to keep the baby, she should be extra careful, not running around, especially in risky ces like an amusement park.

    Unless, of course, deep down, she didn¡¯t want the child at all.

    The thought struck me like a jolt. I nced at Thea¡¯s face, but she was still caught up in the embarrassment I had caused, so I didn¡¯t notice any obvious signs.

    I¡¯d said what needed to be said, and the anger had been released. Without another word, I turned to leave.

    ¡®Do you really not love Alvin anymore? Do you not want to be with him?¡± Thea¡¯s voice broke through as I was walking away.

    I smiled, not turning around. ¡°Mm, I¡¯m letting him go. He¡¯s all yours.¡±

    Let her have him, but I doubted she¡¯d be able to hold onto him.

    These past days, Alvin¡¯s childish, out-of-control behavior had shown me that, despite everything, he still had feelings for me. He was just too oblivious to recognize it. Now that I¡¯d officially cut ties with him, he seemed to be desperately trying to prove he was still relevant.

    It was clear-his feelings for Thea weren¡¯t love. It was just a fleeting impulse.

    But even if that were true, I couldn¡¯t forgive him.

    I either want all of him or none of him.

    My man couldn¡¯t belong to anyone else. If he was with someone else, I didn¡¯t want him.

    ¡°Then don¡¯t have any more contact with him. Better yet, avoid even seeing him,¡± Thea¡¯s next words were so predictable, they almost made meugh.

    It was clear she was deeply invested in Alvin, even if it was just for the things he could provide her with-food, lodging, and ess to his credit card.

    I had reached the elevator, and I turned to nce at her with a mock smile. ¡°How about you just give me a small fortune, and I¡¯ll disappear into the wilderness? That way, everything will go just as you wish.¡±

    Thea¡¯s face went deathly pale. She tugged at the hem of her skirt, clearly distressed.

    She¡¯d previously told me she didn¡¯t have money and had to use Alvin¡¯s card, so myment hit her hard.

    The elevator door opened, and I stepped inside without even sparing Thea a second nce.

    Back in Myra¡¯s room, I didn¡¯t know what to do, so I started watching the drama Myra had been glued to.

    It was actually pretty good, and by the time I¡¯d watched five episodes, I heard a knock on the door. It was Josh, saying, ¡°Myra,

    tell Zoe toe to my room in ten minutes.¡±

    ¡°Oh, sure,¡± Myra replied, opening the door. She didn¡¯t see me, but she did see her shoes flying across the room.

    ¡°Ugh, this is impossible! Who does this kind of work?¡± Myra grumbled, walking into the room.

    I put my phone down and patted the couch beside me. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll give you a massage.¡±

    Myra came over, but instead of lying down, she threw her arms around me. ¡°Zoe, pleasee back. I can¡¯t do this without

    you.¡±

    I patted her head. ¡°If you want the big responsibilities, you have to endure the tough stuff. Go take a bath and get some sleep.¡±

 Be Honest 115

    ¡°Tin not taking a bath, I just want to sleep.¡± Myra said, getting up, but then she froze when she saw the paused screen on my phone. She pouted. ¡°You¡¯re so heartless.¡±

    I smiled at her gently, like a doting mother. ¡°Be good. Once you finish your work and get some time off, you can watch it

    24/7

    Myra huffed but, as she walked to the bedroom, she called out, ¡°Josh wants you to go to his room.¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± I murmured, already hearing that part.

    ¡°I suddenly realized Josh isn¡¯t cute anymore. I¡¯m switching from fan to hater,¡± Myra said, making meugh. It seemed like she¡¯d been doing a lot of running around for Josh today.

    But I knew Josh was always kind to me, and with his upright, no-nonsense personality, he¡¯d never treat Myra any differently

    than me.

    Still, I waited another twenty minutes before heading to Josh¡¯s room.

    He had asked me to wait ten minutes, probably because he was showering and changing.

    As expected, when I knocked on his door, Josh opened it with wet hair and wearing loose,fortable clothes, along with hotel slippers.

    ¡°Come in,¡± he said with just those three words.

    I noticed hisptop was open. Walking over, I went straight to the point. ¡°Is there a new issue?¡±

    ¡°The document I need you to look at is on the desktop. Open it and check,¡± Josh said just as the kettle whistled.

    I sat down, opened hisptop, and was immediately hit with a surprise-his desktop was filled with documents. I had expected it to be neat and clean, but I was wrong.

    Luckily, I didn¡¯t have a fear of clutter, or I¡¯d be dizzy by now.

    With so many documents, I had no choice but to ask, ¡°Which one?¡±

    Josh pointed to onebeled ¡°YLC.¡±

    I searched the screen, but after a full scan, I couldn¡¯t find it.

    ¡°Josh, I can¡¯t find it,¡± I turned to him.

    He was busy brewing coffee, and the rich aroma hit my nose.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take a look,¡± he said, but then his phone rang. He nced at the caller ID and said, ¡°Just wait a minute.¡±

    I nodded, using the time to search again.

    As I scanned the screen, I could hear Josh¡¯s conversation, though I couldn¡¯t catch the other side of it. I only heard him say, ¡°We signed the agreement. I won¡¯t ept any changes, and there¡¯s no room for negotiation¡­ Hmm, nopromise.¡±

    The phone call was quick, and before I could finish scanning all the documents, Josh came over with a cup of coffee. He set it down beside me. ¡°Here, for you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± I said, feeling a bit awkward as Josh¡¯s arm suddenly went around me in a half-embrace. He pointed to a file on the

    screen.

    ¡°It¡¯s this one.¡±

    His voice was low and smooth, and his proximity made my head swim. I could almost feel his chin brushing against my forehead. The slightest movement would make our faces collide.

    The scent of soap mixed with shampoo was intoxicating, clean and crisp.

    In that moment, I felt like my blood was heating up, my body turning to molten warmth. Everything around me seemed to blur, and my mind went nk.

    ¡°Open it. I¡¯ll exin it to you,¡± Josh said, noticing I hadn¡¯t moved.

    I quickly grabbed the mouse and clicked the file open. But at that exact moment, I couldn¡¯t find the one he had just pointed

    out.

    ¡°This one,¡± his hand covered mine, guiding me to the file. Then, he clicked it twice, and the document appeared.

    But the words on the screen werepletely blurred to me. Everything I could feel-every sense-was overtaken by Josh. 1 didn¡¯t even hear his voice properly.

    Until he asked, ¡°Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I replied, shifting slightly to the side. ¡°Josh, you¡¯re too close.¡±

 Be Honest 116

    The words slipped out of my mouth, and even I felt embarrassed.

    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if I had been too blunt, and I thought maybe Josh would feel awkward, too.

    But instead of pulling away, he just stood there for a moment, letting almost half a minute pass before he casually replied,

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Oh? That was it? He was so calm.

    I looked up at him. Slowly, he straightened himself and added, ¡°You have bad eyesight. I told you where it was, but you still couldn¡¯t find it. How would you find it without me getting closer to help?¡±

    It actually made sense, and I felt a bit foolish for overthinking it.

    Josh moved to the side and sat down, picking up his tablet to work on something. I couldn¡¯t help but nce at him a couple of times, and then I took a sip of water, trying to refocus myself on the task at hand.

    The issues in the document Josh had gged were small-nothing major.

    He could¡¯ve handled this himself, and if he wanted to confirm anything, a quick phone call would¡¯ve sufficed. Waiting thiste to go over it felt a bit excessive.

    Could it be intentional?

    I stole another nce at him, but he was engrossed in his work, not sparing me a nce. Maybe I was just overreacting, being overly suspicious.

    Anyway, I fixed the issues and then looked at him, but when I turned my head, I froze. Josh was lying in the hotel chair, holding his tablet, fast asleep.

    I¡¯d always thought he never got tired, but now it seemed I was wrong.

    He was human, after all-not a machine. How could he never be tired?

    Even gods in the shows I¡¯d been watching took naps.

    I watched him quietly, noticing how his brows were rxed in sleep, his skin wasn¡¯t pale but had a deep tan that made him look very manly.

    His nose was high and sharp. In the soft light above him, he looked almost as handsome as a lead actor in a drama, the kind that¡¯s been photoshopped to perfection.

    I thought about how Myra had beenining about being tired, but Josh must have been even more exhausted. These past days working with him, though he sometimes had me running around doing things, he was also constantly on his feet, adjusting lights and climbing up and down.

    By the end of the day, he had to be more drained than anyone.

    He had just fallen asleep like that¡­ he must have beenpletely wiped out.

    Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through, and the curtains fluttered, sending a chill down my spine.

    I nced at Josh, still in his short sleeves, and quietly stood up, walking over to grab a nket from the bed and gently cover

    him.

    hapter

    I wasn¡¯t sure if my movement had disturbed him or if he was just naturally alert, but just as I draped the nket over him, his eyes snapped open, and his hand gripped mine.

    In that instant, it felt like my bones were being crushed.

    ¡°Ow,¡± I gasped softly.

    Josh loosened his grip slightly but didn¡¯t let go. He just stared at me, his gaze intense.

    Now, it was me who was close-close enough that he could probably see the shock in my eyes.

    And in such proximity, I saw the deep-set eyes of his, the way hisshes brushed the top of his cheek, the contrast of his dark irises against his tan skin¡­

    He didn¡¯t say anything, but I felt my lips trembling, unsure how to speak. For some reason, no words came out. We just locked eyes, in silence¡­

    It wasn¡¯t until my leg started aching from leaning too long, and I shuddered, almost falling over, that he reached out with his other hand to steady me.

    Now both my hands were caught in his. I snapped out of my trance and quickly tried to exin. ¡°Um, I¡­ I saw you were asleep, and I was just trying to cover you up so you wouldn¡¯t catch a cold¡­¡±

 Be Honest 117

    I immediately realized how that sounded, so I rushed to add, ¡°I mean, I just didn¡¯t want you to get sick and have it mess with the light adjustments tomorrow.¡±

    I tried to pull my hand away, but Josh didn¡¯t let go. Instead, he pulled me a little closer. I wasn¡¯t bnced, and nearly copsed right into him.

    Josh¡­¡± I whispered, flustered.

    ¡°Just worried I¡¯d get sick and mess up the adjustments?¡± His voice was low, hoarse from just waking up.

    My heart skipped a beat, and I could barely breathe. My cheeks flushed, and I stammered, ¡°Yeah.¡±

    As soon as the words left my lips, Josh¡¯s grip tightened, and his gaze darkened for a second-something fleeting passed through his eyes.

    The pressure in my hand disappeared, and he released me.

    I quickly stepped to the side, rubbing the spot where his hand had gripped me, trying to regain myposure. ¡°I¡¯ve fixed all the issues you marked. Do you want to check them now?¡±

    Josh didn¡¯t move. He just reclined in the chair, closing his eyes again. ¡°No need. You should go rest.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Okay. Goodnight,¡± I said, turning to leave.

    ¡°Zoey.¡± Josh¡¯s voice stopped me in my tracks.

    I froze. Did he just call me¡­ Zoey?

    That was my childhood nickname. The only people who ever called me that were my parents when they were alive, and Jasmine, asionally.

    But I clearly heard Josh say ¡°Zoey.¡±

    I turned back in surprise. ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± he muttered, still with his eyes closed. ¡°Could you¡­ close the door for me?¡±

    I stared at him for a moment, unsure, before walking out. As I closed the door, I applied a little more force than necessary.

    Once I left Josh¡¯s room, I didn¡¯t go straight back to Myra¡¯s room. Instead, I leaned against the wall in the hallway, trying to calm my breathing and heartbeat.

    The more I tried to settle, the more images of Josh kept shing in my mind-the way he looked at me earlier, how his arm had circled around me as he helped me open the document.

    Eventually, I had to p my own head to snap myself out of it. I forced myself to go back to my room and lie down in bed, trying to sleep.

    To distract myself, I opened my phone. I had several unread messages on WhatsApp.

    One was from Jasmine. She just sent one sentence. [The pest lives on, unharmed, though the blood was a little much.]

    I chuckled at that and quickly replied: [Next time, I¡¯ll make sure to hit harder.]

    Jasmine didn¡¯t reply. Maybe she was asleep, or maybe she was back on the operating table.

    I exited the chat and opened Oscar¡¯s messages. He¡¯d sent me several, all about Alvin.

    [Nice one, taking out your ex. You¡¯re a real badass, girl.]

    [Just saying, that was a good hit.]

    [If you¡¯d had this kind of energy before, maybe things wouldn¡¯t have ended up this way.]

    [Alvin¡¯s the type who needs a little fire. He gets bored without it, and you have to keep him excited.]

    Reading Oscar¡¯sst message, I couldn¡¯t help but picture Thea¡¯s soft, pitiful face when she tried to manipte me. If she was like that in front of me, how much worse would she be in front of Alvin?

    Wouldn¡¯t he get bored of her eventually?

    After a moment¡¯s distraction, I remembered Thea saying Alvin owed her for ruining her. I quickly typed out a reply: [Oscar, does Alvin owe Thea anything?]

    But Oscar didn¡¯t respond. I waited a few seconds before adding: [Or maybe Alvin owes her husband something?]

    I stared at my screen for a long time, but no reply came. I finally set the phone down, closing my eyes, trying to sleep.

    Just then, in the quiet of the room, Myra mumbled in her sleep, ¡°Josh¡­ you¡¯re so heartless¡­¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but smile, turning to look at her.

    She¡¯d been tortured by Josh so much that even in her dreams, she was cursing him?

    As Iy there, my mind kept drifting back to moments with Josh, but this time, I didn¡¯t feel as flustered as before. Eventually, my thoughts wandered, and I fell asleep.

    In my dream, Josh was there-his younger self, chasing after me as I ran around. ¡°Zoe, be careful, don¡¯t fall¡­¡±

 Be Honest 118

    When I woke up this morning, I was still thinking about that dream.

    This was the second time Josh had appeared in my dreams, and I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if we had met before.

    Putting that aside, remember thest time I dreamt about a little boy carrying me on his back? He had a mole right where Josh has one.

    And then there was yesterday-he actually called me ¡°Zoe,¡± and I¡¯m sure I heard it right.

    I was deep in my thoughts when Myra¡¯s voice snapped me back to reality. ¡°What are you doing back here, sleeping again?¡±

    It was rare for this sleep-loving girl to wake up before the rm went off.

    I knew exactly what she meant, so I shot her a look and said, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®sleeping again¡¯?¡±

    Myra grinned mischievously. ¡°I thought you and Josh¡­¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I cut her off, frowning. ¡°Why does your mind always jump to the most ridiculous things?¡±

    ¡°Well, they¡¯re just two adults, one single and the other unmarried. Isn¡¯t it normal for men and women to fall for each other?¡± Myra wasn¡¯t wrong, but I still gave her an exasperated look.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean you can just fall for anyone anytime,¡± I retorted.

    Myra smirked and edged her pillow toward mine. ¡°Zoe, you know, I really want to see Josh¡¯s ¡®do-no-wrong¡¯ imagee crashing down.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± I was confused.

    ¡°You know, I want to see him, the ¡®serious¡¯ guy, acting anything but serious when he¡¯s with a woman.¡± Myra¡¯s words made meugh.

    ¡°Well, if you really want to see it, you¡¯re going to have to try it yourself. You won¡¯t see it from anyone else,¡± I said as I sat up.

    Myra followed my lead and sat up too. ¡°So, you can try it and tell me all about it,¡± she said with a wink.

    I stared at her, speechless, then said, ¡°Should I record it for you?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± she said without hesitation.

    I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. Myra caught it quickly and rested it under her chin. ¡°Zoe, did something happen between you and Joshst night?¡±

    Her question immediately made the scene of Josh helping me find a document sh in my mind, then the moment I covered him with the nket, and when he grabbed my wrist¡­

    ¡°Did something really happen?¡± Myra must¡¯ve sensed my hesitation, and she immediately jumped onto my bed, eager to gossip.

    ¡°No. Don¡¯t jump to conclusions,¡± I denied as I started getting out of bed.

    She grabbed my arm. ¡°Come on, just tell me.¡±

    ¡°I already told you, nothing happened. And stop shipping me with Josh. I¡¯m not interested in him that way.¡± I added thest

    part to shut her up.

    I stood up and headed for the bathroom, but as I reached the door, Myra sighed. ¡°Well, I guess after being with Mr. Dolton for so long, it wouldn¡¯t be so easy to fall for someone else.¡±

    I snorted, but didn¡¯t respond.

    After I finished washing up, Myra and I went downstairs for breakfast. As we opened the door, we bumped into Josh.

    He was wearing camo pants and a ck T-shirt, his entire vibe exuding a sort of hardness that felt¡­unexpectedly intense.

    For some reason, I felt a bit sweaty behind my ears.

    ¡°Josh, why aren¡¯t you working this morning?¡± Myra, who was definitely too quick with her words, asked without thinking.

    Josh looked at me briefly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t feel like it.¡±

    Myra was stunned but quickly recovered. ¡°Well then, we can have breakfast together, and after that, you can go back to

    work.¡±

    Josh didn¡¯t respond, and I could already feel the awkwardness.

    But Myra didn¡¯t seem to care. She hooked her arm through mine and said, ¡°You¡¯ll drive me and Josh to the amusement park and then you can go back to work.¡±

    I scoffed. ¡°You paying me for that?¡±

    ¡°Myra, Josh¡¯s paying you,¡± she said, turning to Josh. ¡°Right, Josh?¡±

    I expected Josh to shoot her down immediately, but instead, he said, ¡°If she wants to, she can.¡±

    I was speechless.

    Myra, sensing something was off, squeezed my arm and gave me a sly look. Apparently, she smelled a juicy story.

    Josh was turning into some kind of drama ma, wasn¡¯t he?

    I wasn¡¯t giving Myra any more gossip fodder. I shed a sly grin and said, ¡°I¡¯m not short on money, so no thanks.¡±

    ¡®Zoe¡­¡± Josh called out, his voice soft but still carrying weight.

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel a tight knot in my stomach, and Myra seemed to sense it, too. As we were eating breakfast, my phone rang. It was Lena Wace, myndlord. I thought she¡¯d finallye to a resolution, so I answered the call. ¡°Lena¡­¡±

    ¡°Zoe, I¡¯m really sorry to bother you so early,¡± Lena said, sounding polite but a bit ufortable.

    ¡®It¡¯s fine, just tell me,¡± I replied, sipping my milk.

    ¡®I spoke with the person about the rental situation, but they won¡¯t agree. They¡¯re refusingpensation, so¡­¡± Lena¡¯s voice sounded familiar, but I couldn¡¯t quite ce it.

    ¡°Zoe, don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯ve checked on this guy. No criminal record, no bad habits, and he¡¯s actually quite handsome. He¡¯s even worked as¡­¡± Lena paused mid-sentence, but then Josh interrupted.

    ¡°Zoe, can I have that fried egg?¡± Josh pointed to the egg on my te.

    I froze, not hearing Lena¡¯s words anymore. All I could focus on was Josh standing there, looking at me.

    ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t want it, then forget it,¡± he added, already peeling a soft-boiled egg.

    ¡°Josh, I¡¯m done with the fried egg. You can have it,¡± Myra, ever the enthusiastic one, pushed her te toward him.

    ¡°No thanks, I don¡¯t feel like eating it anymore,¡± Josh turned her down coldly.

    I remained silent, watching as he shoved the soft-boiled egg into his mouth. The way he did it-so casual, so¡­direct-it made my throat dry.

    And yet, I had this odd feeling he didn¡¯t really want the fried egg at all.

    But why had he asked for it then?

    Before I could process any more, Josh had finished his meal. He stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder, and said, ¡°You guys eat. I¡¯m heading out.¡±

    Myra watched him leave and then smirked. ¡°He didn¡¯t want the fried egg. He just wanted yours.¡±

    ¡°Seriously? Does eating my fried egg make him immortal?¡± I picked up my fork and took a bite of my egg.

    ¡°Myra, Josh likes you,¡± she said, with a knowing look.

    I choked a bit, coughing and reaching for my milk. ¡°Just because he wants my fried egg?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s how he acts around you, the way he looks at you¡­¡± Myra made a face. ¡°I can¡¯t put it into words, but it¡¯s definitely electric.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t a teenager anymore, so of course I had noticed.

    From the moment Josh casually mentioned marriage, I had an inkling.

    But as time went on, especially after these past few days, includingst night, I started to think that maybe he really did like <ol><li></li></ol>

    ¡°So what?¡± I said, deflecting, but as I looked up, I realized Josh had returned.

    He was staring straight at me, no attempt to hide it.

    That made me squirm, my fingers curling into my palm. Myra, seeing my difort, jumped in, ¡°Josh, we were just talking about Zoe¡¯s ex-fiance. She said¡­¡±

    ¡°I get it,¡± Josh interrupted, locking his eyes on mine.

 Be Honest 119

    The awkwardness was real, but at least now Josh knew.

    He grabbed his phone off the table and walked out, and Myra immediately blurted out, ¡°Well, that¡¯s done.¡±

    I didn¡¯t think much of it. Josh and I had never intended for anything to develop between us, so whether he was upset or had misunderstood didn¡¯t matter.

    After all, we were just passing strangers to each other. I had no ns for another rtionship-it¡¯s not that I couldn¡¯t love again after being hurt once, but simply that I wasn¡¯t in the right mindset for it.

    After breakfast, I was preparing to drop Myra off at work before heading to my interview.

    I¡¯d only sent out my resume yesterday, but I¡¯d already gotten an interview invitation this morning. The speed was a bit surprising, but getting a job soon was a good thing.

    However, as I pulled into the parking lot, I spotted Philip¡¯s car. He stopped, got out, and opened the back door-out stepped Michelle.

    She was here to see me.

    ¡°Michelle,¡± I called out, walking over to her.

    ¡°Zoe,¡± she said, taking my hand, and tears immediately began to fall.

    Her sudden outburst caught me off guard, and I nced at Philip, who handed her a tissue and said, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re scaring Zoe. What¡¯s this crying about? Just tell her what¡¯s going on.¡±

    Michelle took the tissue and wiped her eyes, then said, ¡°Zoe, can we go home and talk? Please?¡±

    I turned to Philip, who exined, ¡°Mom tried calling you all night and texting, but you didn¡¯t answer. She didn¡¯t sleep at all, so she had me bring her here. She knows everything about Alvin.¡±

    I figured that¡¯s why she was here.

    ¡°Michelle, let¡¯s sit down in that restaurant inside. You must be hungry too, so we can talk while eating,¡± I suggested, not wanting to go to the Dolton family home.

    Michelle shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t eat.¡±

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll just talk,¡± I said, trying to ease her. After a moment, she nodded.

    Turning to Philip, I said, ¡°Take Myra to the amusement park. I¡¯ll stay with Michelle and drop her off afterward.¡±

    Philip looked at his mother, then nodded at me. ¡°Thanks for this.¡±

    Myra followed Philip as he left, and I guided Michelle toward the restaurant. When I went to order breakfast, Michelle refused, but I insisted on ordering her favorite dish.

    ¡°Zoe, I know about Alvin¡¯s mess. Don¡¯t me yourself. He deserved every bit of what you did to him,¡± Michelle¡¯s words made me lower my gaze.

    ¡°Zoe, it¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t raise him properly, and now he¡¯s hurt you,¡± she added, shaking her head in guilt.

    I bit my lip. ¡°Michelle, this isn¡¯t your fault. Alvin is an adult, not a child.¡±

    Although I wasn¡¯t sure what Michelle¡¯s real purpose foring was, I could already guess that her emotional appeal was leading to one thing: she wanted me to forgive Alvin.

    The truth is, forgiveness didn¡¯t matter much anymore. But I feared Michelle still wanted me to get back together with him.

    Michelle nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right, so don¡¯t feel any guilt.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. I don¡¯t feel guilty, because I haven¡¯t done anything wrong,¡± I said, the confidence in my voice making Michelle pause.

    She nodded slowly. ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s Alvin¡¯s fault, not yours.¡±

    I didn¡¯t respond. Michelle then said, ¡°Zoe, Peter doesn¡¯t want you to quit. Alvin will personally apologize and ask you toe back to work.¡±

    I was taken aback by this.

    ¡°But Michelle, I¡¯ve already quit. And I¡¯ve applied for another job-I have an interview today,¡± I said, straightforwardly.

    ¡°What? So fast?¡± Michelle was shocked.

    ¡®Actually, I¡¯d already decided to leave before Alvin and I even got married,¡± I told her, not an ounce of hesitation in my voice.

    Working in the samepany after breaking up with him would be awkward, and if he didn¡¯t mind, I would still feel ufortable. So, even if Alvin hadn¡¯t asked me to leave, I was nning to quit once the amusement park project ended,¡± I exined my thoughts fully.

    Michelle shook her head. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this, Zoe. If it¡¯s too awkward, you can switch departments or work at a branch. Just stay away from him.¡±

    ¡®I know you¡¯re worried about me being mistreated outside, but I still want to explore other opportunities,¡± I stated my stance clearly.

    Michelle¡¯s eyes misted up again, and she shook her head. ¡°How did ite to this? You won¡¯t be my daughter-inw anymore, but why won¡¯t you stay with thepany? Zoe, are you really going to leave uspletely?¡±

    Her distress really tugged at my heartstrings. After all, we had spent over a decade together-it wasn¡¯t possible to have no feelings.

    ¡®Michelle, I¡¯ll still visit you and Peter often,¡± I offered somefort.

    Michelle wiped her tears and said, ¡°Zoe, tell me, are you seeing someone? Is that why you want to leave? Are you afraid he¡¯ll care about your past with Alvin?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh. Josh and I had nothing going on, but the entire world seemed to think we were together.

    ¡°I¡¯m not seeing anyone right now, and even if I were, he has no right to interfere with my life. You¡¯re overthinking it,¡± I rified.

    ¡°Then promise me you won¡¯t leave thepany,¡± Michelle pressed. ¡°At least, when I miss you, I can call you and see you.¡±

    It was clear she didn¡¯t want me to leave, as if I were her own daughter.

    But I still didn¡¯t agree. I simply said, ¡°I may leave thepany, but I¡¯ll still work locally. You can always call me whenever

    you miss me.¡±

    Michelle didn¡¯t speak for a long time. I thought we were done with this conversation when she finally spoke again. ¡°Zoe,

    there¡¯s something I want to say, but I¡¯m afraid it will upset you.¡±

    My heart skipped a beat. I had a feeling whatever she was about to say was going to be difficult for me.

    ¡°Then don¡¯t say it, I interrupted her.

    Michelle seemed surprised by my bluntness. After a pause, she smiled and said, ¡°But I still need to tell you-it¡¯s about your

    future.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but smile at her tactful approach. She was experienced, no doubt.

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± I said with a slight smile.

    ¡°Zoe, Peter ns to let Philip go off on his own and start his ownpany. Would you want to help him?¡± Michelle¡¯s words. were indirect, but I understood her meaning.

    It wasn¡¯t really about helping Philip-it was her subtle way of trying to pair me with him now that Alvin and I were no longer an option.

    I was the girl they raised, and if I wasn¡¯t going to marry Alvin, they¡¯d make sure I married Philip instead. They didn¡¯t want me to marry outside the family.

    ¡°Michelle,¡± I called her name and then spoke directly, ¡°Do you think if I were with Philip, Alvin would be okay with it? How would they both ever get along after that?¡±

    Michelle¡¯s lips moved, but she didn¡¯t respond immediately. Finally, she said, ¡°But I can¡¯t bear to let you go. I don¡¯t want you leaving the family, Zoe.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯d rather be your goddaughter,¡± I said firmly, making my stance clear.

 Be Honest 120

    With the conversation heading in that direction, Michelle, despite whatever thoughts she might still have, didn¡¯t push the issue any further.

    She nodded and said, ¡°Zoe, in my heart, you¡¯re like my own daughter.¡±

    If she truly thought of me as her daughter, she wouldn¡¯t be trying to pair me with Philip. But then again, perhaps it was Philip¡¯s idea-after all, he had already made his feelings clear.

    ¡°Well, next time when Alvin and Philip have the time, let¡¯s have a ceremony, and we can formally recognize each other,¡± I said casually, and I noticed Michelle¡¯s gaze flicker.

    It was clear she didn¡¯t genuinely want to call me her daughter, but after ten years of her kindness, I didn¡¯t want to read too much into it. I knew the truth of how she had treated me over the years.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Michelle agreed with a small nod.

    I took her back home, and just as I was about to leave, I ran into Alvin. He was wearing a baseball cap and a casual sports jacket, a far cry from his usual CEO demeanor. He looked like the rebellious young man I once admired.

    I remember when Alvin was in high school, he would often sneak out on his motorcycle to do stunts. It always had me on edge, excited but terrified at the same time.

    Dressed in his leather jacket and helmet, flying through the streets, he was the epitome of cool-a true bad boy in my eyes.

    I remember one time, he took me for a ride. I was so scared my heart nearly stopped. I clung to him tightly, and that was the irst time I held him so close.

    Afterward, he teased me, ¡°Little girl, holding on so tight. Are you trying to take advantage of me?¡±

    Eventually, he stopped riding the motorcycle, and his wardrobe shifted from casual to business suits. He became the intouchable CEO.

    But now, seeing him back in his old clothes, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a ripple of emotion inside.

    But deep down, I knew he wasn¡¯t the same person anymore-even if he was wearing the same clothes.

    That baseball cap now just hid the wound on his head.

    ¡®What¡¯s this? Didn¡¯t get enough beating yesterday? Now you¡¯re here for round two?¡± Alvin shot me a cocky smirk.

    Before I could respond, Michelle raised her hand and pped him across the back of the head. ¡°How dare you say that! If you weren¡¯t dead, it¡¯s only because Zoe spared you!¡±

    ¡®Mrs. Dolton, even if you have two sons, you can¡¯t be this cruel. Let her beat me to death? Which one of us is your real child?¡± Alvin, the domineering Mr. Dolton at work, was now acting like a child at home.

    Michelle, with her usual dry humor, quipped, ¡°I¡¯d rather Zoe be my daughter. You shouldn¡¯t havee back here.¡±

    ¡°Fine, next life, let her be your daughter, and I¡¯ll keep my distance,¡± Alvin grinned, pulling Michelle in for a hug to prevent her from hitting him again.

    Watching the warm interaction between them, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of envy. If my parents were still around, I¡¯d probably be that girl who could still throw tantrums no matter how old I was.

    )

    But in this world, there are no ¡°if only¡± scenarios.

    Their closeness left me feeling suffocated. I looked at Michelle and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Alvin called out, ¡°I need to talk to you.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have anything to talk about,¡± I was done with him. I didn¡¯t want to say anything more, and I feared that if he provoked me, I might justsh out again.

    I realized something about myself: when ites to hitting, if you don¡¯t do it, you¡¯re fine. But once you start, you can¡¯t stop.

    ¡°I do have something to say,¡± Alvin pressed, his tone suddenly forceful.

    Michelle pinched him again. ¡°Stop being so bossy, or I¡¯ll really kill you today.¡±

 Be Honest 121

    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. This woman is my wife. I won¡¯t¡­¡± Alvin smirked, shameless as ever.

    In the past two years, after spending so much time with him at work, I had almost forgotten that this was how he used to act.

    ¡°Go inside, Mom. Don¡¯t interrupt us while we have a private conversation,¡± Alvin said, coaxing and nudging Michelle away.

    But Michelle didn¡¯t seem entirely reassured, ncing back at us every few steps.

    I looked at Alvin and asked, ¡°What do you want to say? Do you want me to paypensation or are you nning to sue me for intentional harm?¡±

    He frowned. ¡°Do you really think of me that way?¡± With that, his tone became heavy, and for a moment, he returned to his usual cold CEO persona.

    ¡°I¡¯m apologizing to you. Yesterday, I acted impulsively. You were right to hit me,¡± Alvin¡¯s words genuinely caught me off guard.

    I nced at the bandages peeking out from under his cap and nodded slightly. ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand.¡±

    Alvin chuckled bitterly. ¡°Zoe, I think you¡¯ve be¡­ cynical.¡±

    Cynical? I said, ¡°You were wrong.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Alvin agreed. ¡°I got too close to Thea, and I ignored how you felt. Letting her move into the apartment I got for you was a huge mistake, and giving her my secondary card was even worse.¡±

    His self-reflection was unexpected, and I was at a loss for words. He continued, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. All of that was my fault.¡±

    I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s toote for apologies. The right and wrong don¡¯t matter anymore.¡± I turned to leave, but Alvin blocked

    my way.

    ¡°Zoe, I haven¡¯t finished yet.¡±

    I nced at the baseball cap perched on his head. ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°I apologized. I know I was wrong. And I¡¯ve told you, there¡¯s nothing between me and Thea. About that kiss- it was a joke, a stupid ident. If it makes you feel bad, maybe one day you can find a guy and kiss him back, just to even the score,¡± Alvin said, his tone too casual, almost mocking. My fists clenched involuntarily.

    Alvin saw it, and backed away slightly, but after a brief moment, he stepped back toward me. ¡°You can hit me, but don¡¯t hit the same spot as yesterday¡¯s injury. Hit somewhere else.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    Had Alvin really turned into this clown? Or was this his way of begging for my forgiveness?

    ¡°Zoe,¡± he reached for me again, ¡°Let¡¯s start over. Or I can woo you again.¡±

    ¡°Alvin, it looks like the hit to your head really did mess with your brain. You don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re saying,¡± I pulled my hand out of his grasp.

    ¡°I know,¡± Alvin said seriously, his eyes fixed on mine. ¡°I still want to marry you. I want you to be my wife.¡±

    I sneered. ¡°Alvin, whether you¡¯re messing with me or whether you¡¯ve really lost your mind, let me make one thing clear-I

    don¡¯t do second chances

    ¡°Zoe, I know you¡¯re angry. Take your time to calm down. I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± Alvin¡¯s shameless words only made my blood boil

    further

    I bit my lip and said, ¡°By the way, Michelle didn¡¯t get the chance to tell you yet. She wants to make me her goddaughter. So, you¡¯re my brother now. How do you feel about marrying your sister?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s face immediately darkened. That¡¯s impossible. My parents only want you as a daughter-inw.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him any longer. I didn¡¯t want to hear any more of his nonsense, so I turned and walked

    away.

    As I was getting into the car, I heard him shout, ¡°Zoe, I¡¯ve rejected your resignation!¡±

    I mmed my hand against the steering wheel. He rejected my resignation? I had an interview to go to, but if he wouldn¡¯t approve my resignation, how could I even attend it?

    This was Alvin, ying the role of the clingy leech now.

    But I wasn¡¯t going to fall for it. Not anymore.

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 Be Honest 122

    I arrived at thepany for my interview at 11 a.m.

    The location was a bit out of the way. It wasn¡¯t in the CBD or downtown area, but more like a suburban office space, only about 20 minutes away from where I lived.

    I¡¯d done some research on thepany. They specialize in lighting development. They had even bid for the lighting project at the amusement park, but unfortunately, they didn¡¯t get selected.

    There had been times when I¡¯d thought of contacting them to troubleshoot the lighting when problems arose.

    These two impressions stuck with me, which is why I paid attention when they posted a job opening, and the position happened to be in marketing-exactly what I was looking for.

    So, of course, I was the first to apply, and, unsurprisingly, I was the first one they hired.

    The office wasn¡¯t exactly anything grand, rented out in a regr building, not even close to the Dolton Group¡¯s skyscraper.

    But thepany was sizable, upying three floors. I took the elevator to the designated floor and made my way to the HR office.

    As soon as I entered, a man greeted me with a smile. ¡°Miss Kemp, here for your interview, right?¡±

    I nodded with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±

    ¡°Please, take a seat.¡± He was in his thirties, with a perfectly average face-not particrly handsome, but not unpleasant

    either.

    His friendly smile, however, made him seem approachable and left asting impression.

    A smile really is the greatest kindness in the world.

    ¡°We only scheduled your interview for today,¡± he continued, which cleared up my confusion. No wonder he knew exactly who I was as soon as I walked in.

    ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± I reached out my hand. He seemed momentarily taken aback, but he shook my hand and introduced himself.

    ¡°I¡¯m Bryson Skinner, the HR Manager and VP of thepany. I¡¯ve gone through your resume, and it looks excellent. It aligns well with the position we¡¯re hiring for. Now, I¡¯d like to hear about your requirements, Miss Kemp.¡±

    When we shook hands, I noticed his name tag, so I already knew his position.

    I¡¯d be interviewing for the head of marketing, and it was no surprise that he was the one interviewing me. But the fact that I¡¯d seen him waiting for me as soon as I entered felt a bit too much.

    I assumed they must have been in urgent need of someone like me, so I didn¡¯t dwell on it. I knew he wanted to hear about my requirements, so I stated them directly, ¡°Sry, vacation time, and I¡¯d like to know about thepany¡¯s growth ns. We can discuss the first two, and once those are settled, we can talk about thest one.¡±

    Like any regr person, I cared about earning enough to live, taking breaks, and knowing my efforts wouldn¡¯t go to waste in apany that might shut down after a few months.

    Bryson set a ss of water in front of me and said, ¡°We¡¯ve seen your resume, and we know you worked as an executive assistant at the Dolton Group. We¡¯re aware of your sry there. We can¡¯t match that here, but we do offer performance-

    based bonuses.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t surprised by this. Bryson continued, ¡°Your sry would be 10,000 dors a month, with a year-end bonus of 0.3% of the annual performance. Insurance and holiday benefits follow the standard regtions. Is there anything you¡¯d like to ask?¡±

    I paused for a moment. The sry here was about 25% lower than what I made at the Dolton Group, but I agreed without

    hesitation.

    Thepany was nowhere near the scale of the Dolton Group. If they offered me the same sry, I¡¯d actually think something was off.

    Besides, I was technically an assistant there, even though everyone knew I was the future ¡°bossdy¡± and the money wasn¡¯t

    the same.

    Now, in thispany, I was just me-making money based on my abilities. That felt fair enough.

    ¡°If you have any other requests, feel free to bring them up,¡± Bryson said:

    Ìï

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    ¡°I¡¯d like to see thepany¡¯s growth ns,¡± I replied. I needed to know how viable thepany¡¯s future was. I wasn¡¯t interested in wasting time at apany that might close its doors in three months.

    Bryson walked over to the desk, grabbed a folder from the file rack, and handed it to me.

    I took about ten minutes to review the document and then said, ¡°Mr. Skinner, if you have no further objections, I¡¯m ready to join anytime.¡±

    Bryson¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Today¡¯s Thursday. How about youplete the onboarding process now, and start work next Monday?¡±

    I nodded. ¡°Sounds good.¡±

    ¡°Wee aboard, Zoe,¡± Bryson extended his hand to me, and someone led me toplete the paperwork.

    In less than half an hour, I had sessfully joined thepany.

    That¡¯s when I remembered-Alvin still hadn¡¯t approved my resignation yet. But I wasn¡¯t too worried. I could always talk to Peter, and I was sure he¡¯d approve it.

    Just as I was about to pull out my phone, it buzzed. Several missed calls-most of which I hadn¡¯t picked up because I was busy talking to Bryson.

    It was Jasmine calling.

    Where are you? I¡¯m off today, want to hang out?¡± she asked.

    It was rare for her to have a day off. Lately, with the baby boom, she¡¯d been working nonstop.

    Wait, are you entering your maternity leave?¡± I teased her.

    Yeah, everyone¡¯s having babies at the same time, and then no one wants to have kids anymore. It¡¯s like a trend now,¡± Jasmineined, and it wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d said this.

    People had be so calcted. They believed in scientific parenting, nning their kids ording to seasons and signs, as though all their children would be extraordinary.

    But they didn¡¯t realize that rarity makes things precious-soon enough, ordinary kids would be the new treasures.

    ¡®Are you home? I¡¯lle by and hang out,¡± I said. I knew she needed a break, so I didn¡¯t want her to overwork herself.

    ¡°Yeah,e on over,¡± Jasmine replied.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bring the drinks if you take care of the food,¡± I joked.

    ¡°Sounds good! I¡¯ll cook, you bring the booze,¡± Jasmine said without hesitation.

    I hung up, checked the other missed calls-probably from otherpanies I¡¯d applied to. But if they were serious about hiring me, they¡¯d call back.

    I picked up some alcohol, fruit, and a coffee machine to brew some drinks with Jasmine.

    When I got to her ce, she opened the door, took the things from my hands, and saw the coffee machine.

    She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and said, ¡°You know me so well! I¡¯ve been wanting to buy one of these, but I haven¡¯t

    had the time.¡±

    ¡°I bought it because I knew you¡¯d never find the time to use it,¡± I teased.

    Jasmine paused for a moment, then said, ¡°Time¡¯s flexible-just push a little, and you¡¯ll always find some

    I burst outughing and nced at her t chest. ¡°Well, maybe you can squeeze some time out of yours, huh?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t me poking fun at her. Jasmine was just naturally t-chested. During the summer, she often went out with just a chest sticker because it didn¡¯t matter much.

    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate my small chest. One day, it¡¯ll be a treasure for my kids. Yours might be big, but it won¡¯t be as useful as mine,¡± she said, proving she knew more than just about giving birth-she knew how to raise kids, too.

    ¡°Well, when that happens, we¡¯ll have kids together. You can nurse them both,¡± I said without holding back.

    Jasmine nudged me with her foot. ¡°Only you would think of something like that.¡±

    Iughed heartily, but just as I was about to say something else, my phone rang again. Another unknown number. I figured it was anotherpany calling, so I picked up and said, ¡°Hello, this is Zoe.¡±

    ¡°Miss Kemp, your wedding dress has arrived. Would you like to schedule a time to try it on?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± I was taken aback. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong number.¡±

    ¡®No, I don¡¯t,¡± the voice on the other end confirmed, then read out my phone number.

    It was really my number.

    But I hadn¡¯t ordered a wedding dress. So who the hell was ying this prank on me?

 Be Honest 124

    As I was still wondering who was ying this prank on me. I started receiving more calls-this time about the engagement ring and the wedding venue.

    It suddenly hit me that this wasn¡¯t just a simple prank. When I finally asked who had ordered all this, I learned just how crazy Alvin really was.

    It was all him.

    I knew Alvin wasn¡¯t the type to y childish pranks just to mess with me, but the possibility of something more serious crept into my mind. I quickly dialed his number and said, ¡°Alvin, what exactly are you trying to do? We¡¯re over, so why are you ordering wedding dresses and rings? Who are you trying to fool?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m that petty,¡± Alvin¡¯s voice came through the phone, calm but firm. You thought I didn¡¯t care about you? You doubted my love for you? Well, let¡¯s get married now. You should at least believe I just want to marry you.¡± His words made my disappointment in him deepen even further.

    ¡°Alvin, do you really think that loving someone means putting them in a wedding dress and giving them a ring? Do not get why I broke up with you?¡± I asked, my voice trembling with anger.

    Alvin paused for a few seconds, then answered with a tone that was almost too casual. ¡°Isn¡¯t it because of Thea?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± I admitted. ¡°So, what are you going to do about her, the biggest obstacle in our rtionship?¡±

    you still

    For a long moment, there was silence on the other end. Then Alvin replied. ¡®I won¡¯t have anything to do with her anymore. I¡¯ll make sure she leaves thepany. Is that okay?¡±

    He sounded reluctant, as if he was doing me some huge favor.

    ¡°And then what? Are you just going to keep her hidden away like a secret mistress? I retorted, the words sharp.

    Alvin snapped, his voice rising with frustration. ¡°Zoc, enough! How can you be this unreasonable? I told you, Thea is pregnant, and she¡¯s all alone. Don¡¯t you have any sympathy for her!¡±

    He nearly shouted, and I pulled the phone away from my car, not wanting my eardrum to explode from the force of his words.

    But even at a distance, I could hear his anger when he added, ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re a woman too. What if it were you? Like when your parents died in that car ident, and it was just you, alone in this world. If we hadn¡¯t taken you in, how desperate and hopeless would you have been?¡±

    Taken me in? Those words stabbed into my heart like a sharp knife.

    So, in his eyes, I was just some abandoned child, and his family had graciously taken me in. That was all I was to him.

    ¡°So, all the good things you did for me before were just pity, right?¡± My voice shook as I spoke.

    Alvin fell silent for a few seconds, before muttering, ¡°No, you¡¯re twisting my words.¡±

    ¡°Alvin, I don¡¯t need your pity. You can give your love and care to whoever you want. When I had nothing, and my parents were gone, you gave me your affection. But now, Thea is in the same position. Go love her,¡± I bit my lip, feeling an icy chill running through me.

    The love between us had turned into something unrecognizable. His affection had shifted into something else, and honestly. it didn¡¯t even matter anymore. But to realize that all the care he showed me was just pity? That was too much.

    ¡°Alvin, what you meant doesn¡¯t matter anymore. Please, just stop bothering me, okay?¡± I was beyond exhausted.

    The constant pulling and tugging after a breakup was draining me.

    But Alvin scoffed. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re mine. If I don¡¯t let go, you don¡¯t have the right to say no.¡±

 Be Honest 125

    Those domineering words hit me hard. It was clear now-he just couldn¡¯t ept being rejected. He couldn¡¯t handle the thought of losing me.

    But I¡¯d made it clear-I wasn¡¯t going back, no matter how much he caused a scene.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind embarrassing yourself, feel free to keep making a scene,¡± I said, before hanging up.

    Just like before, this phone call drained every ounce of energy I had left. I felt weak and trembling, unable to even notice when Jasmine hade up behind me.

    She ced a cup of coffee in front of me and said, ¡°That bastard Alvin. I didn¡¯t expect him to be this pathetic once his true face came out.¡±

    I took a couple of sips from my coffee and said, Turns out, he was just pitying me all along.¡±

    Even though I had broken up with Alvin, the memories and the good times we shared still lingered in my heart. But today, his words hadpletely torn apart the fragile, pretty illusion I¡¯d built around those memories.

    Jasmine¡¯s hand gently squeezed my shoulder, and sheforted me, ¡°It¡¯s never toote to see him for what he really is.¡±

    I didn¡¯t respond. Jasmine nudged me again. ¡°Want to get back at him?¡±

    ¡°Get back at him?¡± My mood had sunk to rock bottom.

    Alvin¡¯s words had ripped open old wounds, reminding me of the darkest, most painful time of my life.

    He was right about one thing-when my parents died in that car ident, I had been utterly alone in the world.

    I didn¡¯t even want to go home. There were times I thought about ending it all, so I could be with my parents again.

    But then Peter and Michelle appeared, took me in, and said I could live with them as their daughter. That¡¯s when I stopped being afraid.

    At that moment, they had truly been my lifeline, and I grabbed onto them with everything I had. I even thought the whole world loved me.

    That¡¯s why I misinterpreted Alvin¡¯s smile when we first met. Now, I realized it wasn¡¯t kindness, it was mockery. But I had mistaken it for the light in my life¡­

    ¡°You¡¯d better find someone to date or even get married already.¡± Jasmine said, spinning me around so I had to face her. ¡°That way, Alvin will wake up and realize you¡¯re not just ying around. You can walk away from him, and he¡¯ll see that you, Zoe, aren¡¯t some girl who can¡¯t live without him.¡±

    She dug her fingers into my shoulder, her grip tight. It was clear she was angry, furious with Alvin.

    I just gave her a bitter smile. ¡°You think it¡¯s that easy? Just start a fake rtionship out of nowhere?¡±

    TV shows are based on real life, after all. That¡¯s the only way you¡¯ll be able to break free from Alvin¡¯s grip, and really make him wake up,¡± Jasmine encouraged me.

    I lowered my gaze slightly, and Jasmine didn¡¯t let up. ¡°Josh-he¡¯s the kind of man you need,¡± she added.

    ¡°No way. He can¡¯t be the one,¡± I shook my head immediately.

    J

    didn¡¯t want to drag anyone else into this mess.

    ¡®He¡¯s the best choice, Jasmine disagreed.

    ¡°Let me think about it,¡¯ I murmured, feeling overwhelmed.

    But Jasmine waspletely fixated on the idea, insisting that it was the best n. Even after we¡¯d had some drinks, she kept pushing, saying, ¡°Just call Josh now, exin your terms¡ªthat it¡¯s just a fake rtionship. If he¡¯s not on board, then forget it.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ what if he takes it seriously?¡± I was still hesitant.

    Jasmine shot back, ¡°Maybe he¡¯d be willing to y along.¡±

    In the end, after a few too many drinks, I couldn¡¯t resist Jasmine¡¯s persistence and ended up dialing Josh¡¯s number.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± His voice was low, warm, and familiar.

    I swirled my drink in my hand, staring at the ss. ¡°Josh, would you be willing to pretend to be my boyfriend? I mean¡­ pretend, not real.¡±

 Be Honest 126

    ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± Josh¡¯s voice came through, low and smooth, after a few seconds of silence.

    ¡°Would you?¡± I didn¡¯t answer his question directly, instead pushing back with one of my own.

    ¡°Where are you?¡± Josh shot back, not answering either.

    ¡°Forget it, I know the answer already,¡± I was about to hang up, but Josh stopped me.

    ¡°Zoe, where are you? Are you at home or out?¡± His voice now had an undeniable edge to it.

    All the emotions I¡¯d been holding in suddenly exploded. ¡°Who are you to me, that you get to ask where I am? I can be wherever I want, I¡ª¡±

    Suddenly, Jasmine leaned in and said, ¡°Mr. Hayward, don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s with me. I¡¯m her best friend.¡±

    After speaking to Josh, she whispered in my ear, ¡°Now, you better behave. When you¡¯re asking for something, you need to y nice.¡±

    I pushed her yfully, but just as I was about to have some fun, Josh¡¯s voice came through the receiver again, this time even firmer. ¡°We¡¯ll talk when you¡¯re sober. Let¡¯s chat tomorrow.¡±

    He hung up, and I stared nkly at my phone for a moment. ¡°He thinks I¡¯m drunk,¡± I muttered.

    Jasmineughed, her tone light. ¡°He¡¯s probably worried that if you talk now, you won¡¯t remember it tomorrow. He knows you might not take it seriously when you¡¯re in this state.¡±

    I had been drinking, but not enough to forget what I said.

    Maybe this was just his way of rejecting me again.

    After all, he had heard me say I didn¡¯t like him, so now he probably thought I was just ying games with him, or maybe this was his form of revenge for rejecting him.

    The aftermath of the night¡¯s drinking left me hungover, and I didn¡¯t even realize when Jasmine left for work. It wasn¡¯t until my phone started ringing that I forced myself to open my eyes.

    ¡°Hello,¡± I answered without checking the number.

    ¡°Zoe, can youe to the amusement park?¡± Davy¡¯s anxious voice came through.

    I furrowed my brow. ¡°Davy, I¡¯ve quit. Didn¡¯t you get the memo? If you need something, go ask Philip¡­ Mr. Dolton.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, I¡¯m asking for you,¡± Davy¡¯s persistence made me chuckle, and it helped me fully wake up.

    I rolled over and ran a hand through my tangled hair. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°You need toe here. Once you do, you¡¯ll understand,¡± Davy teased, sounding cryptic.

    I nced at the clock-10 a.m. already-but I was still lying in bed. Honestly, thiszy feeling felt pretty good.

    ¡°I told you I¡¯ve quit. Whatever it is, it¡¯s no longer my problem,¡± I reminded him.

    ¡°Zoe,¡± Davy urged, ¡°Juste for me, please?¡±

    I pursed my lips, knowing he must be serious ¡°Okay, but you don¡¯t need to drag me to the men perk?

    ¡°Then where do you want to go?¡¯ he asked.

    It was clear he had something urgent to discuss I sighed and said, ¡°If it¡¯s that serious, past time on the phone

    When I worked at thepany, Davy was Alvin¡¯s terretary, but because of my connection to Alvin, Dery had Aways besond

    he was the one behind many of the gifts and arrangements Alvin had given m

    Compared to Alvin, Davy had done more for me

    ¡°It really has to be in person, Zoe I¡¯m sorry Davy¡¯s voice carried a sense of sorrow.

    But even with that, I couldn¡¯t be manipted. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to tell me, forget it?

    ¡°Zoe, Davy¡¯s voice softened, ¡°If you don¡¯te, I might get fired tomorrow

    I frowned, sensing where this was going. ¡°Is Alvin making you trick me intoing?

    ¡°Yeah, Davy hesitated, and I could hear the difort in his voice. ¡°Mr. Dolton wants you toe to the amusement park because he¡­ wants to propose to you¡±

    ¡°What?¡± I was stunned. Then, I couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°He¡¯s out of his mind

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 Be Honest 127

    23

    ¡°Zoe, Mr. Dolton has been a bit¡­ crazytely.¡± Davy exined, and I suddenly understood. All those wedding dresses and rings? It must¡¯ve been Alvin ordering Davy around to do those things for him.

    ¡°What does he want to do, gross me out?¡± I asked, furious.

    Davy fell silent for a moment, before quietly responding, ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know what Mr. Dolton wants, but I can tell he doesn¡¯t want to lose you. He loves you.¡±

    ¡°Davy,¡± I said, my voice sharp, ¡°I can understand when other people say that, but you, of all people-do you really believe he

    loves me?¡±

    Davy fell silent again.

    ¡°Davy, if he¡¯s gone crazy, let him. I¡¯m not going to go along with it,¡± I dered firmly.

    ¡°Zoe,¡± Davy said softly, ¡°I¡¯ve always felt guilty. If it wasn¡¯t for what happened that time¡­ you and Mr. Dolton wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this.¡±

    ¡°Davy, I¡¯m actually grateful for that,¡± I said, pausing for a moment. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for that, I wouldn¡¯t have had the courage to break up with Alvin. But I need you to understand, we¡¯re at this point not because of that incident, you should know that.¡±

    ¡°But I still feel responsible for it,¡± Davy murmured.

    ¡®I¡¯ve said what I need to. If you want to keep feeling guilty, that¡¯s up to you. But if Alvin fires you because of what happened today, just leave. You¡¯re talented, and the world is big. You¡¯ll find a better job,¡± I tried to reassure him.

    ¡®Zoe, have you found a new job?¡± Davy asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

    ¡®I¡¯m confident I can find one,¡± I replied vaguely, not wanting to cause any more trouble.

    Alvin was a maniac now, and I was worried if he found out I had a new job, he might do something even worse.

    After hanging up, I closed my eyes, trying to process everything. Alvin was really out of his mind. He actually wanted to propose to me?

    It was time to cut him off for good.

    Remembering my conversation with Joshst night, I mustered up the courage to send him a message. [I¡¯m sober now. When can we talk?]

    No reply. It was 10:30 a.m., so he was probably busy at work and hadn¡¯t seen it yet.

    I didn¡¯t wait. I just went ahead with getting ready.

    But by the time I finished showering, I got a message from Josh. [Come to the amusement park.]

    Again with the amusement park?

    Remembering Davy¡¯s words about Alvin wanting to propose, I immediately texted back: [Not going. Let¡¯s meet somewhere else.]

    Josh replied: [I¡¯m on a tight schedule.]

    Looking at his message, I was about to cave in, but then I got another one from him. [Worried about being proposed to?]

    Wait, how did he know that? Alvin must have gone all out at the amusement park.

    I replied: [I don¡¯t want to make a scene.]

    Josh said: [If you avoid this one, he¡¯ll just do it again. Come once, solve it once.]

    Josh¡¯s words made meugh. Was he really offering to be my fake boyfriend?

    Reading his message, it made sense. Jasmine had said the best way to get Alvin to stop was to show him I was with someone

    else.

    So, I replied: [Okay.]

    To look different, I borrowed a yellow spaghetti-strap dress from Jasmine¡¯s closet, let my hair down instead of tying it up. and even put on a bold red lip.

    I looked like a siren, stunning in a way I never had before.

    I had never dressed like this because Alvin didn¡¯t like it. He knew I was beautiful but didn¡¯t want other men to notice.

    When I arrived at the amusement park, I texted Josh. He replied almost immediately, and I saw him running toward me the moment I stepped out of the car.

    As soon as heid eyes on me, I could see his Adam¡¯s apple bob up and down.

 Be Honest 128

    Was Josh stunned by my appearance?

    I had always thought that his insides matched his stern exterior-straightforward, unmoved by superficial beauty.

    But now I could see that men, no matter how rigid they seem, were just like everyone else.

    I knew I had definitely caught Josh¡¯s attention, but just to tease him further, I ran my fingers through my long waves of hair. His gaze darkened instantly, and his face seemed to grow colder.

    I couldn¡¯t tell exactly what was going on in his head, nor did I care to guess. I cut straight to the point: ¡°So, Josh, are you going to agree?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± He asked, his eyes now darting away from me.

    Iughed. How did I not lose control of myself, but he seemed to have?

    Of course, I knew he hadn¡¯t¡ªthis was all an act.

    ¡°I want you to be my boyfriend-just temporarily,¡± I repeated the words I¡¯d saidst night.

    Josh didn¡¯t respond immediately, his gaze drifting over to the distance. I followed his line of sight and noticed that the Ferris wheel was at its highest point.

    I frowned, remembering what Davy had said about Alvin wanting to propose. Could it be that he nned to do it on the Ferris wheel?

    I narrowed my eyes, trying to figure out what was going on, but Josh broke the silence. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®temporarily¡±?¡±

    ¡°It means just pretending to be my boyfriend for a little while,¡± I said, unable to stop myself from feeling a bit trashy as the words left my mouth. ¡°Once Alvin¡¯s crazy phase is over, we¡¯ll go back to nothing.¡±

    I swallowed hard, then quickly tried to rephrase. ¡°It¡¯s not real. We¡¯re just putting on a show for Alvin to make him think we¡¯re together.¡±

    ¡°Why would I agree to that?¡± Josh looked at me with a mixture of disbelief and confusion.

    I couldn¡¯t bring myself to meet his gaze, ashamed. If it weren¡¯t for Jasmine¡¯s encouragementst night, and if Alvin weren¡¯t spiraling further into madness, I never would havee up with such a ridiculous n.

    A gust of wind blew past, lifting my loose hair and covering my face.

    I reached up to push it back, then said, ¡°Because you¡¯re the most suitable person, and¡­¡±

    I hesitated, not quite knowing how to finish. What I wanted to say was that he had the potential to want to marry me, and that he had feelings for me.

    But if I said that, it would change everything. Josh would think I was using him because of his feelings for me, and I couldn¡¯t

    risk that.

    ¡°Because¡­ what?¡± Josh asked when I left my sentence hanging.

    I smiled awkwardly. ¡°Nothing.¡±

    ¡°And because I like you, and I¡¯ve even told you I want to marry you, right?¡± Josh finished my sentence bluntly.

    He got it. He understood everything, so there was nothing to hide anymore. I turned to look at him and asked, ¡°So, will you

    do it?¡±

    Josh remained silent, his eyes locked on me. I felt my heartbeat speed up, a flutter of nervousness sweeping through me.

    Seconds passed, and he still didn¡¯t speak. My face flushed with embarrassment.

    So this was his silent rejection.

    I ran a hand through my hair again, trying to ease the tension, and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to agree, that¡¯s fine. Forget I said anything.¡±

    I started to turn away, but Josh reached out to stop me. ¡°I¡¯ll agree, but only if we do it for real.¡±

    I looked up, meeting his steady gaze as he looked at me with determination. ¡°Zoe, I won¡¯t be your temporary boyfriend. I want to be your real boyfriend. If we end up not being right for each other, we can break up, but I¡¯m not going to be your paper boyfriend. I won¡¯t just be some prop for you to use.¡±

 Be Honest 129

    )

    Josh had the kind of presence thatmanded respect. His words weren¡¯t just a suggestion-they were a deration, solid and unyielding.

    He was a handsome, strong-willed man, and this wasn¡¯t someone I could toy with.

    I was only looking for him to y a role, but he was talking about something much more serious, and I knew I couldn¡¯t ept that.

    I smiled and said, ¡°Josh, I made myself clear. Since our goals don¡¯t align, let¡¯s drop it.¡±

    ¡°But you need a boyfriend, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked, his voice persistent.

    ¡°Yeah, I do,¡± I replied. ¡°But not with someone like you. I can¡¯t y those games with you. I¡¯ll find another way.¡± My words. seemed to have deepened the look in Josh¡¯s eyes.

    I expected him to stop me, maybe try to convince me, but to my surprise, he didn¡¯t say anything.

    I walked toward the car, feeling like I was running away, escaping from everything.

    When I finally felt like he couldn¡¯t see me anymore, I parked and took a deep breath, suddenly regretting my impulsive actions from the night before.

    What was I thinking? I shouldn¡¯t have dragged Josh into this. I could¡¯ve asked anyone-even Oscar-to y this role, but I had to bring Josh into it.

    But what¡¯s done is done. I couldn¡¯t undo it now.

    After I calmed down, I drove to a flower shop and bought a bouquet for my parents¡¯ grave.

    But what¡¯s done is done. I couldn¡¯t undo it now.

    I hadn¡¯t been there much, except on Qingming and the anniversary of their passing. But recently, I¡¯d been dreaming about my childhood and my parents. I felt like they missed me, and I wanted to visit.

    When I arrived at the cemetery, I noticed a bouquet of flowers already ced in front of the gravestone. The flowers were wilted, indicating the visitor hadn¡¯t been by in over half a month.

    My parents had passed over a decade ago, and the only people who still remembered them were me, Peter, and Michelle. Could it have been them?

    But if it was, why hadn¡¯t Michelle mentioned it?

    I was puzzled. But then I remembered the tension between me and Alvin. Maybe Michelle had forgotten to mention it.

    I cleared the wilted flowers aside and ced my new bouquet.

    Looking at my parents¡¯ youthful faces on the gravestone, my heart ached. But I smiled and said, ¡°Mom, Dad, have you been thinking of me? I¡¯ve been dreaming about youtely.

    ¡°Mom, Dad, I broke up with Alvin. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t fulfill your wish and marry him like you wanted.

    ¡°I know you wanted what was best for me. But I¡¯m sure you¡¯d rather I be happy, right?¡±

    I sat there, talking to them for over an hour, until the sun had climbed high. Then, reluctantly, I stood up to leave.

    As I reached for the old flowers to throw them out, I realized something strange: they weren¡¯t lilies, my mother¡¯s favorite flower, but daisies-small, white daisies.

    All the years I¡¯d spent with the Doltons, the flowers Peter and Michelle always brought to my parents¡¯ grave, even Alvin and I, were always lilies.

    But this time, the flower was a daisy, not a lily. It was clear this wasn¡¯t the kind of flower they would¡¯ve sent.

    So who brought these daisies?

    I couldn¡¯t shake the suspicion. Had one of my parents¡¯ old friendse to visit?

    The thought crossed my mind but was quickly dismissed. Peter and Michelle had chosen this cemetery, and when my parents were buried, there hadn¡¯t been any other rtives around.

    Even their friends didn¡¯t know about this ce.

    Who could it have been?

    A strange feeling crawled up my spine, and I couldn¡¯t shake the uneasy sensation. Finally, I decided to call Michelle.

    ¡°Zoe!¡± Michelle answered excitedly as soon as the phone rang. ¡°I was just about to call you!¡±

    I paused, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°Michelle, is there something you need from me?¡±

 Be Honest 130

    ¡°In a few days, it¡¯ll be Peter¡¯s birthday. Are youing?¡±

    Michelle¡¯s question caught me off guard, and it hit me-Peter¡¯s birthday really was just around the corner.

    But even without her reminding me, I wouldn¡¯t forget. I had set reminders for every single birthday in the Dolton family.

    Living with them, I always tried to prepare in advance, to keep everyone happy.

    Though my life here wasn¡¯t exactly living under someone else¡¯s roof, it still felt like walking on eggshells, always worried that one misstep could turn their affection into disdain.

    I didn¡¯t answer right away, lost in thought, but Michelle continued, ¡°Zoe, you know we¡¯ve always treated you like our daughter. Every year, we get your gifts and blessings on our birthdays. If you don¡¯t show up this time, Peter will definitely be

    hurt.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t nning to go, but the gifts would be sent.

    Now that she asked me like this, I couldn¡¯t just say ¡°no¡±-especially with Alvin being as crazy as he¡¯s beentely. I was worried that if I went to the Doltons, Alvin might just barge in and drag me off to the bedroom like some kind of madman.

    But if I told Michelle I wasn¡¯t going, she¡¯d probably bombard me with excuses and reasons to change my mind, so I simply said, ¡°Michelle, of course I¡¯lle.¡±

    ¡°Good, I really was worried you wouldn¡¯t. Peter wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy his birthday without you,¡± Michelle said, and I could hear the pressure in her voice.

    I kept quiet, and she added, ¡°Has Alvin done anything crazy again? Peter and I have already had a word with him, but he hasn¡¯t bothered you, has he?¡±

    I almostughed. Clearly, Michelle didn¡¯t know what Alvin had been up totely. But were they really unaware, or were they pretending not to know?

    I didn¡¯t want to be suspicious or assume the worst about them, especially since they had always treated me well. So I said, ¡°No, he hasn¡¯t.¡±

    Even if I told her what Alvin had done, Michelle would just try tofort me over the phone, cursing Alvin, promising to deal with him.

    But Alvin was always like this-once his temper red, no one could stop him.

    Even if Michelle yelled at him, it wouldn¡¯t change anything. If I wanted Alvin to calm down, I¡¯d have to do it myself.

    But with Josh not willing to y the part of my boyfriend, this situation was getting tricky.

    ¡°Zoe, if he dares to hurt you or do anything out of line, you call me, okay?¡± Michelle¡¯s voice was reassuring.

    ¡°Okay,¡± I said, though I didn¡¯t quite believe that would solve anything.

    ¡°By the way, is there something else you need, Zoe?¡± Michelle asked, her voice suddenly shifting, probably realizing I hadn¡¯t shared everything yet.

    I looked at the wilted flowers in my hand, taking a deep breath before I asked, ¡°Michelle, did my parents ever like daisies?¡±

    ¡°Daisies?¡± she repeated, then asked, ¡°Zoe, are you nning to visit your parents? If you are, let Peter and me know. It¡¯s been a

    while since we¡¯ve been. We could go together.¡±

    Her response confirmed what I had suspected-the bouquet of daisies wasn¡¯t from them.

    I gripped the flowers a little tighter and said, ¡°Michelle, I¡¯m actually at the cemetery right now.¡±

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re there already?¡± Michelle¡¯s voice turned regretful. ¡°Peter and I were nning to go with you when you had time.¡±

    What a coincidence. But they say that coincidences are mostly just things people set in motion themselves. Maybe Michelle just went along with my lead.

    ¡°Michelle, do you know if any of my parents¡¯ old friends still remember them or might visit their grave?¡± I asked directly.

    There was silence on the other end, then Michelle spoke, her tone cautious. ¡°Zoe, did you run into anyone you knew? Why are you asking about this?¡±

    There¡¯s a bouquet of daisies in front of their tombstone. I thought someone hade to visit them,¡± I told her honestly.

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 Be Honest 132

    I went to a coffee shop at dusk.

    I was sipping my second cup of coffee when my blind date finally showed up.

    He wasn¡¯t overweight, nor was he sporting the dreaded ¡°balding man¡± look. His light blue shirt was neat and clean, no greasy vibes-just as his profile described.

    I wasn¡¯t dealing with a catfish situation, but his tardiness definitely knocked some points off my initial impression. Luckily, I wasn¡¯t actually here for a rtionship. I was just paying to rent a boyfriend to deal with Alvin.

    ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte,¡± the man said, offering a polite apology.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m not actually here for a real date,¡± I said bluntly, cutting to the chase. ¡°I¡¯m just looking to rent a boyfriend.¡±

    He froze for a second. ¡°Rent a boyfriend?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t want to get involved in a real rtionship, but my situation requires me to have a boyfriend, just temporarily,¡± I exined without hesitation.

    The man fell silent. I thought he might be offended, so I added quickly, ¡°I¡¯ll pay for it.¡±

    He squinted at me with a glint of interest in his eyes. ¡°You seem like you have a lot of money.¡±

    His response wasn¡¯t exactly what I was hoping for, but it was the kind of reaction that would help seal the deal. It seemed like he was used to this kind of thing, which, in this case, worked out in my

    favor.

    I ignored his insinuation and pressed forward. ¡°The fee can be daily or monthly, whatever you think is fair.¡±

    ¡°So, how much are you willing to pay? And is this just for show, or are we talking full service?¡± His tone had shifted from polite to a bit more professional.

    I understood immediately-he had done this before. And I was far from the first person to rent a boyfriend.

    ¡°It¡¯s just for show,¡± I rified. He seemed to have been hoping for more, but that wasn¡¯t going to happen.

    ¡°If there¡¯s any physical contact or intimacy, how does that work?¡± His voice was smooth, almost rehearsed.

    I smiled. ¡°I can tell you¡¯re a pro. What are your usual terms? I¡¯d like to know what I¡¯m working with.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m here for the same reason as you,¡± he said suddenly, his voice shifting. ¡°I¡¯m just looking for apatible woman to date seriously.¡±

    I raised an eyebrow. Was this the price hikeing?

    ¡°You can finish this transaction with me, then find the right girl for yourself. I don¡¯t think it would dy your search,¡± I said

    with a calm smile.

    He leaned in a little, clearly not getting the hint. ¡°I¡¯m really satisfied with you, Zoe. Why not let¡¯s get to know each other better? Maybe we can start as friends first-who knows, you might find a great boyfriend in the process.¡±

    His confidence was a bit much, and his approach felt eerily familiar, almost like Josh¡¯s line of thinking.

    ¡°I have my own way of doing things,¡± I replied firmly, ¡°If you¡¯re not interested, I¡¯ll find someone else.¡±

    I kept my eyes fixed on him, letting the silence hang for a moment.

    He seemed to get the message and leaned back, adjusting his approach. ¡°Alright, if you want to rent me, then it¡¯s 330 dors per day for up to a week, no physical contact. If it goes beyond a week, it¡¯s a monthly rate, no matter how many days you

    need me. That¡¯ll be 10,000 dors a month.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh internally-he¡¯d certainly priced it to sound auspicious.

    He continued, unfazed. ¡°Any physical contact will be extra. Holding hands is 100 dors per day, no matter how many times we do it. A hug is 200 dors per day, and kissing is 600 dors for one kiss. If we¡¯re talking French kissing, the price doubles.¡±

    As he spoke, I couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by how lucrative this business must be.

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    In my mind, I switched gears from a concerned customer to a marketer, and curiosity sparked. ¡°What if we went all the way?¡±

    He smirked slightly. ¡°If you want to sleep with me, that¡¯ll be 6,000 dors per session.¡±

    I raised my eyebrows. ¡°How many of these jobs do you do a year? You must be making a lot of money.¡±

    His expression didn¡¯t falter. ¡°Not too many, to be honest. My main focus is still finding apatible partner for a real rtionship.¡±

    I almostughed out loud. Compatible?

    He was clearly hoping to find someone just like him-someone who made money this way.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re only interested in being rented out, or would you consider actually dating me?¡± he asked again, sensing my hesitation.

    I stayed silent, stirring my coffee. He took a sip of his own and leaned in a bit closer. ¡°Most smart women would choose to date. No need to pay if we hit it off-if it doesn¡¯t work out, we can break up, no harm done.¡±

    I chuckled, stirring my coffee more vigorously. ¡°If everyone¡¯s doing it, wouldn¡¯t that mean you¡¯re kind of losing out?¡±

    ¡°Not everyone gets these opportunities. If the other person has certain requirements, I¡¯ll weigh their offer and see if it¡¯s worth it,¡± he exined. I understood the implication.

    He was sizing me up, seeing if I was worth the investment-or rather, the opportunity to ¡°test the waters¡± at zero cost.

    ¡°Do you offer any VIP discounts for these services?¡± I asked casually, though the prices he listed were steep.

    It cost 60 dors just to hold his hand. If I had rented him to go with me to the Dolton family, I would¡¯ve definitely had to y it up in front of Alvin.

    ¡°No discounts,¡± he replied immediately. ¡°No negotiations.¡±

    I nodded slowly. ¡°I understand everything now. I¡¯ll think it over and let you know. Meanwhile, feel free to continue taking other clients. If someone else is a better fit, I¡¯ll cancel this order.¡±

    As I said this, I realized this wasn¡¯t a blind date-it was a business transaction.

    He leaned in, his gaze serious. ¡°I genuinely want to work with you.¡±

    ¡°Your terms are reasonable, but I¡¯d like to meet a few more people first. You know, select the best option,¡± I said, channeling my inner negotiation expert.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait for your call,¡± he said, smiling as he waved for the waiter.

    ¡°Check, and add thisdy¡¯s order to mine,¡± he said, in full gentleman mode.

    I politely declined. ¡°No need, we¡¯ll go Dutch.¡±

    He didn¡¯t argue and gave me a nod and a smile as he left.

    I sat there for a moment, feeling oddly satisfied. Then, I left the caf¨¦,

    Jasmine was workingte, so I couldn¡¯t go to her ce. Instead, I grabbed a quick bite, wandered around the night market, and picked up some quirky little items. By the time I got home, it was already close to 11.

    The night felt heavier than usual-maybe it was the looming rain-but it was an unusually cold evening. As I stepped out of the car, a chill swept over me. I instinctively pulled my cor tighter, and then I felt it. Someone was watching me.

    I quickly nced around, but there was no one there.

    I brushed it off as my imagination, but the unease lingered. I quickened my pace, heading straight for the building.

    But as soon as I reached the second floor, I felt it again-the sound of footsteps following me.

    And of course, tonight, the hallway lights were out.

    I felt my scalp prickle as I hurried up the stairs, but the sound of the footsteps grew closer, too close-like someone was right behind me.

    I gripped my bag tightly, then slipped my car keys into my hand, ready to use them if necessary. If anyone was nning to hurt me, I would aim for their eyes, no hesitation.

    Just then, I paused on the stairs. The footsteps behind me stopped too.

    I took a deep breath and turned around, my voice trembling as I whispered, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±

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    There was no answer, just silence that made my skin crawl.

    But I couldn¡¯t back down now. I gathered my courage and raised my voice, demanding, ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± came the reply.

    Then I heard footsteps, followed by an exnation: ¡°Your blind date from this evening at the caf¨¦.¡±

    Him? I didn¡¯t expect it. One meeting was all it took for him to follow me here? The realization sent a chill through me. This felt even worse than I had imagined.

    The hallway was pitch ck, and though a sliver of moonlight filtered through the window, it only illuminated the space a few steps ahead. I couldn¡¯t see him yet.

    I gripped my keys tighter, ready to defend myself, and asked, ¡°What do you want following me?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. I¡¯m not trying anything,¡± he said, his tone oddly calm. ¡°I just wanted to make sure you¡¯re safe. You¡¯re a young woman, and it¡¯ste. Walking alone is dangerous.¡±

    That exnation made meugh, though not in a good way.

    He thought he was keeping me safe?

    I was terrified of him following me, and now I was supposed to feel safe? We¡¯d barely exchanged words, and now he was telling me he wanted to protect me? I wasn¡¯t a fool.

    But considering he had already followed me this far, angering him wouldn¡¯t do me any good. I held back my irritation and said, ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ve arrived home. You can go now.¡±

    Before I could even finish speaking, he appeared from around the corner of the stairs, saying, ¡°I¡¯m a bit thirsty. Can you spare me some water?¡±

    The excuse was so flimsy it was obvious he had other intentions. My grip on the keys tightened even more. I rejected him outright. ¡°It¡¯s toote. It¡¯s inconvenient.¡±

    But he continued climbing the stairs, stepping closer. ¡°You¡¯re about to date me, so what¡¯s so inconvenient?¡±

    Fear coursed through me as he drew nearer. My heart was pounding now, and I warned, ¡°Don¡¯te any closer.¡±

    He smiled in the dark, his expression turning sinister. ¡°It¡¯s just some water. Why is it such a big deal?¡±

    My hand trembled, but I was determined to defend myself. I raised my keys, ready to strike if necessary.

    Then, just as he reached thest step, I lunged at him with the keys, but before I could make contact, a cold breeze swept past my face. There was a loud crash, and the man was suddenly thrown backward, mming into the wall. He bounced off and crashed face-first into the stairs.

    I blinked in disbelief. The man crumpled into a heap, clearly dazed.

    As I turned around, a familiar voice called out, ¡°Went on a blind date?¡±

    It was Josh.

    Before I could respond, he addressed the man on the ground coldly. ¡°Get up and get out. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll report you

    for

    harassment and trespassing.

    The man stirred, barely moving at first. He seemed too beaten up to get up, but after a few seconds, he struggled to rise, his face bloodied from the fall. He nced at me for a moment.

    Without missing a beat, Josh raised his hand to cover my face and snapped, ¡°You want to lose your eyes?¡±

    The man, terrified, scrambled to his feet and bolted down the stairs without another word. I was left standing there with Josh, who hadn¡¯t moved. His hand remained over my face, and I found myself leaning against him, my thoughts scattered, speechless.

    The silence between us felt suffocating. I wanted to speak, but the words just wouldn¡¯te. Finally, Josh spoke up. ¡°A blind date, huh?¡± His tone was sharp, yet somehow, it stung.

    I¡¯d never imagined a blind date could end in danger.

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 Be Honest 135

    His cold, handsome face loomed in front of me, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of bitterness rising. ¡°Who told you to refuse me?¡± I shot back, unable to keep the edge from my voice.

    Josh didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he looked at me, waiting. I frowned. ¡°How did you find me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you,¡± he replied, his voice casual but firm.

    Of course, he had. He always had a way of finding me. He added, ¡°What was it this time?¡±

    ¡°I agreed,¡± he said. But I didn¡¯t know what he meant.

    He took a breath. ¡°I agree. I¡¯ll be your boyfriend for real. Temporary, just like you wanted.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you changed your mind?¡± I hadn¡¯t expected that.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t change my mind,¡± Josh snapped. ¡°You went on a blind date and got yourself followed? Did you think that was safe?¡± His voice carried a mixture of frustration and something I couldn¡¯t quite ce-anger, maybe?

    His tone softened slightly, but his eyes were still intense. I smirked a little. ¡°You look like you¡¯re going against your will. Wouldn¡¯t that make you unhappy?¡±

    Josh¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing my teasing. He took a step closer, and I instinctively stepped back, but the railing was right behind me. I couldn¡¯t escape.

    He leaned in, his arm stretching out to brace behind me, trapping me between his chest and the metal. My breath hitched. ¡°Josh¡­¡±

    He lowered his voice, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath on my ear. ¡°You¡¯re such an idiot for going on a blind date.¡±

    His voice was rough, but there was something undeniably tender underneath.

    I didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t speak. I just stood there, listening to his heartbeat thundering against my ear.

    Minutes passed before Josh finally pulled back, his arm dropping away from me. ¡°Coming back thiste by yourself? Not happening again.¡±

    I exhaled slowly. ¡°Okay,¡± I whispered.

    There was an awkward pause, but then I found myself saying, ¡°Thanks.¡±

    I thanked him for showing up today and saving me, and also for agreeing to be my boyfriend, so I could handle the Dolton family and Alvin.

    Josh didn¡¯t respond right away, and I wasn¡¯t sure if he was mad or just too tired to reply. I gestured to the stairs, changing the subject. ¡°I¡¯m going up now.¡±

    But as I took a step forward, Josh¡¯s voice stopped me. ¡°That guy-he might still be around.¡±

    My heart skipped. ¡®What if hees back?¡¯

    Josh spoke again, his tone more serious now. ¡°I¡¯m staying tonight.¡±

    I blinked, surprised. ¡°What? Why?¡±

    ¡°Give me the keys,¡± he said, extending his hand.

    I stared at him, wide-eyed. ¡°You¡¯re staying here?¡±

    Josh raised an eyebrow. ¡°Unless you want me to sleep in the hallway?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t argue with that logic. He continued, ¡°We¡¯ve shared a room before. This isn¡¯t a big deal.¡±

    That was truest time, everything had felt safe.

    I handed him the keys. We both went upstairs, and he unlocked the door.

    Once inside, Josh said, ¡°I¡¯ll sleep on the couch.¡±

    I nced at the couch in my living room-an old model from ten years ago, barely 5 feet long. How was someone as tall as Josh supposed to fit on that?

    There were other rooms in the house, but one of them belonged to my parents, and there was no way I could let him stay in there.

    ¡°You should sleep in my room, I¡¯ll take my parents¡¯ room,¡± I said, setting my bag down and pulling open the wardrobe. I fished out a pair of my dad¡¯s old slippers.

    It had been ten years. I wasn¡¯t sure if they were still wearable, especially since the pipes had burst a decade ago.

    Josh took the slippers without a word, and I went to my room to grab my pajamas, making sure everything was in order before I left.

    As I was about to enter my parents¡¯ room, Josh stopped me. ¡°Wait.¡±

 Be Honest 136

    I looked at Josh, and he looked back at me. The two of us, alone in my room. The atmosphere was¡­ a little too charged.

    It was ridiculous. We¡¯d shared a hotel room before, and it didn¡¯t feel like anything out of the ordinary.

    But now, in this big two-bedroom apartment, the space suddenly felt small-too small forfort, as if there wasn¡¯t enough air to breathe.

    Josh and I locked eyes for a couple of seconds, and then he spoke. ¡°I think it¡¯s better if I sleep on the couch.¡±

    I was speechless.

    ¡°Your room should be for your real boyfriend. Me¡­ I¡¯d be better off on the couch,¡± Josh¡¯s words made me feel like I was somehow doing him an injustice.

    But I knew what he was doing-he was trying to pressure me. He wanted to be my real boyfriend.

    Honestly, the scheming of nice guys ran deeper than I¡¯d thought. Maybe the whole ¡°nice guy¡± act wasn¡¯t a lie after all.

    But I wasn¡¯t about to fall for it. I shrugged and muttered, ¡°Suit yourself,¡± before quickly heading into my parents¡¯ room.

    Lying on their bed, I couldn¡¯t getfortable. My mind kept reying the events in the hallway, the fear still lingering.

    If Josh hadn¡¯t shown up, no matter how prepared I¡¯d been to defend myself, I couldn¡¯t be sure I¡¯d have seeded. The thought of what could have happened still sent chills down my spine.

    It was strange, though. It was almost as if fate had worked out perfectly-Josh hade just when I needed him.

    I found myself ncing toward the door, wondering if he was really going to sleep on the couch, or if he¡¯d sneak into my

    room anyway.

    I could hear his footsteps outside the door. Maybe he was getting ready for bed or doing something else, but one thing was clear: he hadn¡¯t gone to sleep yet.

    Listening to those sounds made me think back to when I was a child. I¡¯d always hear my parents moving around outside my room as I fell asleep, and that noise had always been afort. It made me feel safe.

    It was odd. Now, I realized, that sound felt like security, something I hadn¡¯t realized I¡¯d been missing.

    As Iy there, waiting for Josh to settle in, I soon drifted off to sleep.

    When I woke up in the middle of the night needing to use the bathroom, I suddenly remembered I was in my parents¡¯

    room.

    Josh was still here, in the house. Curious, I peeked out the door and nced at the couch. There he was, sprawled across it, his long body hanging off the edge.

    He wasn¡¯t stupid-he¡¯d dragged a chair over to rest his feet. But still, he was wrapped in my little pink nket.

    He wasn¡¯t my ¡°real¡± boyfriend, so he didn¡¯t sleep in my room. But here he was, covered with my nket.

    A surge of warmth spread through me as I realized he was willing to sleep ufortably just to keep an eye on me, to protect me. It was a strange, unexpected feeling.

    Thest few nights had been tough for me. Every time I woke up after going to the bathroom, I couldn¡¯t get back to sleep..

    There was a cold loneliness in the house without my parents. I felt abandoned, as if the world had forgotten about me. No one to care for me, no one tofort me when I wanted to cry.

    But now, in this house, there was someone-a tall man who was here for me, who would protect me if anything happened.

    With him here, I slept more soundly than I had in days, and by the time I woke up, it was already past nine.

    Iy in bed for a moment, thinking about Josh. I listened carefully for any sounds outside.

    It was quiet. Too quiet.

    I didn¡¯t have to ask-he was gone. He¡¯d probably gone back to work on the amusement park project, and I realized I hadn¡¯t even asked him how it was going or if there were any issues.

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 Be Honest 137

    I left the room and walked out into the living room. Sure enough, the couch was empty, and everything was neatly arranged as if Josh hadn¡¯t even slept there.

    I was momentarily distracted and went to the bathroom. As I looked into the mirror, I froze. There was a note stuck to the ss.

    It read, ¡°Breakfast is on the table. The lighting setup went smoothly. We can finish on time or maybe even two days early.¡±

    I stared at the note for a few seconds, and before I knew it, my eyes welled up with tears.

    I didn¡¯t even know why I was crying.

    Maybe it was because in this house where my parents weren¡¯t around, someone had taken the time to care for me again.

    Maybe Josh understood me more than I realized-he knew how much I cared about the amusement park, even though I¡¯d left it behind.

    I read the note again, holding it against my chest, and before I could stop myself, tears started rolling down my cheeks.

    Josh had made me breakfast. I wasn¡¯t about to take that gesture for granted. After I ate, I texted him: [Thank you.]

    It was simple, just two words. But I couldn¡¯t let myself take his efforts for granted.

    I sent the message and returned to the small things I¡¯d bought from the night market yesterday. I hadn¡¯t finished unpacking them when my phone rang.

    My heart skipped a beat-expecting something exciting, maybe?

    But when I saw the number, I sighed in relief. It was Davy. I picked up. ¡°Davy?¡±

    He cleared his throat and said, ¡°Zoe, did you find a new job?¡±

    It caught me off guard. ¡°Uh, yeah. Why?¡±

    He cleared his throat again before asking, ¡°Have you started yet?¡±

    I could already hear what he was trying to say. ¡°If there¡¯s something, just say it, Davy.¡±

    ¡°No, nothing¡­ just checking in, asking how things are,¡± Davy chuckled nervously.

    I scoffed lightly and said, ¡°If you¡¯re really concerned, just get to the point, Davy. No need to beat around the bush.¡±

    He fell silent. I guessed he was having an internal struggle, debating whether or not to tell me the truth.

    I wasn¡¯t in a hurry, though. I didn¡¯t push him. Instead, I patiently put the phone on speaker and went back to fiddling with my little gadget.

    ¡°Mr. Dolton knows about your new job,¡± Davy said after his internal battle, finally giving in.

    I wasn¡¯t surprised, but I knew Davy wasn¡¯t calling me just to tell me that. I stopped what I was doing and asked, ¡°What, is he nning some kind of scheme?¡±

    ¡°You really are as sharp as ever, having been with Mr. Dolton for so long,¡± Davy¡¯s words made me frown.

    I frowned. So Alvin didn¡¯t want me to settle into my new job. But I hadn¡¯t even received a call from thepany yet.

    I hadn¡¯t started working, but I had signed the contract. If they wanted to cancel, they¡¯d have to notify me.

    I wasn¡¯t angry. Instead, I gave a lightugh and asked, ¡°Let me guess. He¡¯s threatening them, telling them if they hire me, he¡¯ll make sure they vanish off the map?¡±

    Davy chuckled, confirming what I suspected.

    Alvin was the CEO of the Dolton Group. Of course, he thought he could control everything. He had that ssic ¡°alpha boss¡±plex-no one dared to challenge him, or else.

    ¡°Then he¡¯d better be ready to wipe out everypany in Seastone,¡± I shot back, a mocking smile ying on my lips.

    Davy sighed deeply. ¡°Zoe, Mr. Dolton still cares about you.¡±

    Iughed bitterly. Davy went on, ¡°You know, he was embarrassed when you didn¡¯t show up at his proposal yesterday. He threw a tantrum, but when he went back, he said something. He said if you came back, he¡¯d make Thea leave.¡±

    I stared at the screen and said, ¡°Late love is like a worthless thing-it¡¯s already toote.¡±

    ¡°Zoe¡­¡± Davy began, but I cut him off.

    I said, ¡°Davy, I have a boyfriend now.¡±

    There was a long pause on the other end. ¡°What? That quickly?¡±

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    A clean break onlyes with a sharp cut.

    I just hoped Josh could be the one to finally sever the tangled connection with Alvin.

    I hoped Josh could be that knife, severing the connection I had with Alvin once and for all. After hanging up with Davy, I resumed tidying up my little apartment. The pink nket Josh had used the night before was neatly folded and ced on

    the bed.

    I couldn¡¯t help but smile as the image of Josh wrapped in that nket shed through my mind.

    Life may be full of struggles, but there are always those little moments of unexpected joy.

    Davy¡¯s words should¡¯ve left me on edge, but for some reason, I wasn¡¯t stressed at all. I was calm, even waiting for the termination call from my new job with a quiet ease.

    I finished cleaning every corner of my little home-rearranged some trinkets, watered the nts on the balcony-yet my phone remained silent.

    By the time I brewed a pot of coffee and sat in the rocking chair on the balcony, reading, I heard voices from below.

    Curious, I peeked over the railing. It was the furniture delivery guys, along with a couple of movers.

    They were chatting and smoking, and just a few minutester, I saw Lena pull up in an electric tricycle.

    I understood immediately. They were setting up furniture for the new tenant.

    Thinking about the man Lena had mentioned, and recalling the blind date guy who¡¯d followed me the other night, I realized having a man as a neighbor wasn¡¯t such a bad thing.

    If anything dangerous happened, I could knock on his door for help.

    The thought made me smile as I settled back into my rocking chair, sipping coffee, until I heard a knock at my door.

    Opening it, I found Lena, her face all smiles. ¡°Sorry, Zoe,¡± she said, apologizing for not being able to help me secure the rental.

    I waved it off. ¡°No worries.¡±

    I looked across at the open door and the furniture already in ce. ¡°When is the new neighbor moving in?¡±

    ¡°Today, I think,¡± Lena said, shaking her head. ¡°He wasn¡¯t in a rush at first, but this morning he called and said he wanted to move in today. He asked me to get everything ready.¡±

    I nodded casually. ¡°That¡¯s fast.¡±

    Lena shrugged. ¡°You know how young people are. I can¡¯t understand them. But this one seems nice, so don¡¯t worry. I already told him he should be friendly with the neighbors.¡±

    I smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to be friendly with the new neighbor too.¡±

    ¡°By the way, Zoe, do you have a mop? I forgot mine. I just need to mop the floor and wait for the keys.¡± Lena¡¯s face flushed slightly with embarrassment.

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll get it for you,¡± I said, heading to the bathroom for the mop. When I returned, Lena had gone back inside,

    seemingly on a phone call.

    I made my way over to the neighbor¡¯s apartment. The ce was simple-fresh white walls, a bed, and a desk with a bookshelf.

    Lena finished her call and walked over to thank me, while she went on about the new tenant. ¡°He¡¯s not picky about these old things, but he insisted on a new bed and bookshelf. Can you believe it? The bed here is perfectly fine!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t agree at first, but he paid for it himself,¡± she said, shaking her head.

    I didn¡¯tment much, just nced around before excusing myself and heading back to my apartment as Lena started mopping the floor.

    The rest of the evening passed without a word from thepany about my termination. I started to wonder if my phone. was broken, so I called Jasmine to check. Everything was fine.

 Be Honest 139

    Once she knew about my experiencest night and Joshing to my rescue, Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but tease me. ¡°Zoe, you two are seriously a thing now? This guy is way too handsome. I can¡¯t wait to meet him.¡±

    I rocked gently in my chair, smiling. ¡°When we¡¯re ready to make it official, I¡¯ll introduce you.¡±

    Jasmine clicked her tongue, ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re falling for him, huh?¡±

    I looked at my feet, softly smiling. ¡°I¡¯m not blind, Jasmine.¡±

    Josh had already saved me more than once.

    ¡°I¡¯m so happy you¡¯re finally moving on from Alvin,¡± Jasmine said. Her happiness for me was genuine, and it made me feel lucky to have a friend like her.

    Just as we were chatting, I heard the sound of a door opening across the hall.

    Lena had mentioned the new tenant would be moving in today. It seemed like he had arrived.

    I asked Jasmine, ¡°Do you think I should go over and introduce myself to the new neighbor? You know, in case something happens again, it¡¯d be easier to ask for help?¡±

    Jasmineughed. ¡°Your new neighbor is a guy, right? And you¡¯re going to knock on his door right after he moves in? If he doesn¡¯t think you¡¯re a social butterfly, he might just think you¡¯re a creepy woman.¡±

    I chuckled. ¡°Do you think so?¡±

    Jasmine replied firmly, ¡°Definitely.¡±

    Well, I guess I¡¯ll just wait for a chance encounter.

    It was one of those situations where I could either bump into each other constantly or never at all.

    either.

    But I was wrong. Over the next two days, I didn¡¯t run into my new neighbor at all, and Josh didn¡¯t show up

    Apparently, ¡°heroic rescues¡± only happen once. Was I worried about that blind date guying back for revenge?

    This realization made my feelings for Josh waver.

    By the weekend, I still hadn¡¯t heard anything about being fired, so it seemed like I would be starting my new job after all.

    As I was picking out my outfit for work, Myra¡¯s call came through. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you concerned about the amusement park anymore?¡±

    ¡°Out of sight, out of mind,¡± I teased.

    But I was lying to myself. How could I not care? Josh had left me a note saying everything was going smoothly. What was there to worry about?

    That¡¯s when I realized-I trusted Josh.

    Myra made a dissatisfied sound. ¡°Zoe, Josh has really changed. He won¡¯t let us work overtime anymore.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± I was confused. The lighting setup had been tested during the day, but the final validation still had to be done at night. How could we do that without overtime?

    ¡°Myra said, Josh wants to do the initial adjustment first and then do the final validationter.¡±¡±

    I frowned. This didn¡¯t sound right.

    What if something went wrong during the final validation? Re-adjustingter could mess up everything that was already

    calibrated.

    This had been a n Josh and I had agreed upon together! Why was he changing things now?

    Even though I¡¯d just told myself not to interfere with things I wasn¡¯t involved in, I found myself calling Josh.

    I was the type of person who couldn¡¯t sit still when frustrated, and the tightness in my chest made me restless. So I stepped onto the balcony while waiting for Josh to answer.

    As I stepped out, I noticed a tall figure on the balcony across from mine. I turned to look.

    That figure quickly disappeared back inside, leaving just a fleeting profile.

    ¡®Could it be Josh?¡¯ I felt my heart skip a beat, but then I dismissed it. It was probably someone else.

    Just as I was lost in thought, my phone rang. Josh¡¯s familiar voice came through the line, ¡°Hello?¡±

    I didn¡¯t ask him about the amusement park. Instead, I asked, ¡°Where are you?¡±

    His response came after a pause. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    I took a few seconds to think, then walked out of my apartment and across to his door. I pressed the phone to my ear, saying, ¡°Open the door.¡±

    Ìï

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    ¡°Really? Who could it be?¡± Michelle sounded puzzled. ¡°Your parents have been gone for so many years. The old friends they had have long forgotten them. They don¡¯t even mention them anymore. I highly doubt anyone woulde to pay respects.¡±

    Her words made my chest ache.

    It didn¡¯t bother me much when it wasn¡¯t mentioned, but hearing Michelle say it so bluntly now left a sour feeling in my

    chest.

    ¡°Zoe, maybe someone just made a mistake and sent the wrong flowers,¡± Michelle added, trying to soothe me.

    I nced at the tombstone. It had their names and photos on it. How could anyone make a mistake?

    It was the kind of thing you¡¯d say to a child to calm them down.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± I replied, just to avoid her going on about it further.

    I knew for sure that Michelle and her family weren¡¯t behind it, and it couldn¡¯t be one of my parents¡¯ old friends either. That bouquet of flowers was definitely a mystery. I needed to figure out who sent it.

    ¡®Zoe, don¡¯t overthink it,¡± Michelle reassured me. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Peter if any of their old friends came by.¡±

    I nodded, and Michelle reminded me one more time to make sure I showed up for Peter¡¯s birthday before hanging up.

    I snapped a picture of the flowers in my hand and posted it on Instagram with the caption: Whose thoughtfulness is this?

    asmine called shortly after she saw my post. I had to admit, she seemed to have a lot more free time now. She was actually checking Instagram.

    What¡¯s going on?¡± Jasmine asked.

    exined everything to her, then muttered, ¡°I¡¯m really curious about who left those flowers.¡±

    Are you seriously going to the Dolton family? That¡¯s like sending amb into a lion¡¯s den,¡± Jasmine replied, her focus hiftingpletely from the flowers to my dilemma.

    I don¡¯t want to go, but if I don¡¯t, things could get worse. But if I do go, I¡¯m worried about what might happen,¡± I admitted, conflicted.

    Well, you need a man to go with you. That way, if anything happens, at least someone¡¯s there to protect you. Plus, it¡¯ll make Alvin and the Doltons give up on you,¡± Jasmine suggested.

    That¡¯s what I was thinking,¡± I said, already brainstorming.

    ¡®So you should just get Josh to agree,¡± Jasmine said, almost excited. ¡°Why not give him a chance? Maybe you¡¯ll end up actually falling for him, and that¡¯ll work out.¡±

    I stared out the window at the gray sky, feeling numb. ¡°I don¡¯t have the energy for that, you know?¡±

    I understood Josh¡¯s situation-he was new to dating, and if he was going to be with me, he¡¯d want tomit fully. I couldn¡¯t just give him half of myself.

    And honestly, Josh wasn¡¯t someone I could take lightly; I¡¯d known that from the first moment I met him.

    Jasmine understood me well, so she didn¡¯t press the issue. Instead, she said, ¡°Well, what now? Should Ie with you? I can¡¯t

    promise it¡¯ll stop Alvin or the Doltons, but at least I¡¯ll make sure nothing else happens.¡±

    I thought for a second and then said, ¡°I¡¯ll need to find a man.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! Hurry up and convince Josh, and then¡­¡±

    I interrupted before she could finish, ¡°Do you know any men? Can you introduce me to someone? I¡¯ll pay

    Jasmine paused, stunned. ¡°Wait, are you serious?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the best option. No drama, no strings attached,¡± I said, feeling pretty pleased with my own idea.

    Jasmine sighed. ¡°I know some guys, but they¡¯re all doctors. They probably won¡¯t be up for ying this kind of role¡­ unless¡­¡±

    ¡°Unless what?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Zoe, why don¡¯t you just go on a blind date? You know there¡¯s that matchmaker who¡¯s been getting a lot of attention online. You can go meet someone live, and then all theizens can help you promote it. That way, you won¡¯t even need to announce anything to the Doltons,¡± Jasmine suggested, though it sounded a bit far-fetched.

    It probably wouldn¡¯t work, but it did give me an idea¡­ Maybe a blind date wasn¡¯t such a bad idea after all.

    Ìï

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    There was no response on the other end of the phone, followed by the sound of a call being disconnected.

    Though the door hadn¡¯t opened yet, I knew I had been right.

    Momentster, the door swung open, and Josh appeared in front of me, dressed in gray loungewear.

    So my new neighbor was him.

    All this time, he hadn¡¯t been avoiding me-he had been living right across the hall.

    And his decision to stop working overtime? It wasn¡¯t just for work; he was living here to keep an eye on me, and he hadn¡¯t

    told me.

    He had probably decided to rent the ce across from me when he came to fix my plumbing.

    When I saw him, everything clicked into ce.

    ¡°Come in,¡± Josh said,pletely at ease, without an ounce of the awkwardness you¡¯d expect from someone caught in the act.

    It wasn¡¯t that he had done anything wrong by renting this ce-it was me overreacting-but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to greet him calmly.

    I stood still at the door, ring at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you owe me an exnation about what¡¯s going on here?¡±

    ¡°Come in, I¡¯ll exin,¡± Josh said, stepping aside.

    I clenched my teeth and walked in.

    Though I knew his intentions were likely to protect me, I was still angry. Angry that he was ying with me.

    I stepped inside, then froze. I¡¯d been here before. I remembered what the ce had looked like, but now, it was nothing like it was before.

    All the furniture was gone. The living room now only had a sofa, and it looked so empty it could have been robbed. It felt more like a ce no one lived.

    ¡°What happened to the furniture?¡± I asked instinctively.

    Josh looked at me, raising an eyebrow. ¡°You came to check the ce out already?¡±

    He always dodged my questions, and I was getting more frustrated by the second, ring at him.

    Under my gaze, he finally gestured to a room nearby. ¡°I moved everything into that room.¡±

    But really? All he needed was a sofa?

    In any normal home, there would be a TV stand, maybe a small table to put a coffee cup or phone on. If he didn¡¯t like the clutter, then why did he leave all that stuff in my parents¡¯ room in Tideport?

    But I didn¡¯t ask that question, just letting out a sarcastic one instead. ¡°Why did you choose to live across from me?¡±

    ¡°Rent¡¯s cheaper,¡± Josh replied, matter-of-fact.

    True, the rent wasn¡¯t expensive here.

    ¡°There are plenty of other apartments in thisplex. Why choose to rent the one across from me?¡± I asked, thinking back to the time I overheard Josh¡¯s phone call in his room.

    Now I realized how silly I had been. He must¡¯ve thought I was some kind of fool.

    Josh met my gaze directly, no hesitation. ¡°Because you¡¯re across from me.¡±

    He was blunt, no games.

    I snorted. ¡°You¡¯re even scarier than that blind date guy. You just moved in across from me without a second thought.¡±

    Josh frowned slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not like him. I¡¯m here to protect you, he¡¯s not.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t argue with that, but my anger red. ¡°That still sounds pretty selfish to me.¡±

    Josh fell silent for a moment, then simply said, ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Did he just admit it?

    I was stunned. He was really something-no wonder he¡¯d worn a uniform before. He could own up to anything.

    But I was so furious at this point that I snapped. ¡°Yeah? What does ¡®yeah¡¯ mean?¡±

    He looked at me, his expression calm yet unwavering. ¡°I want to be close to you.¡±

    It sounded almost poetic, and my heart skipped a beat. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before that we¡¯re not possible. If that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking, then I think we shouldn¡¯t even pretend to be a couple. I¡¯ll just find someone else.¡±

    With that, he took a step forward, his long legs closing the distance between us. ¡°Then who are you nning to find?¡±

    Ìï

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    I instinctively stepped back, but he moved forward with me, blocking my path. ¡°Are you going back to blind dates, or maybe looking for a friend?¡±

    The jealousy was thick in his voice.

    ¡°Josh,¡± I said, backing up until I had no more space. My hand instinctively came up to stop him as he approached.

    Before I could say anything else, he spoke. ¡°I have feelings for you, but you rejected me. So I won¡¯t keep pursuing you.¡±

    Now I was confused.

    Josh¡¯s sharp, handsome features were serious, his deep eyes staring straight at me. ¡°I¡¯m living across from you now, just as a normal tenant. Don¡¯t read too much into it. Nothing is going on.¡±

    I didn¡¯t know how to respond. Was he implying I was the one who was overthinking?

    Before I could figure out what to say, Josh cut in again. ¡°What was the call about earlier?¡±

    It was a perfect way to shift the conversation, and I followed his lead. ¡°What time is it? Are you off work yet? Did the amusement park tests go well?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he replied without missing a beat.

    I smirked, pulling my lips into a mocking smile. ¡°Josh, how are you off work already when the tests aren¡¯t even finished? Is this what you meant by finishing on schedule or maybe even ahead of time?¡±

    ¡°I said I¡¯d do it,¡± Josh said, confidently.

    I couldn¡¯t help but shake my head. ¡°But if you change the way the adjustments are done, what if there¡¯s an issue with the final check? That would only waste more time.¡±

    ¡°I know, but I¡¯ll handle it. If there¡¯s any problem, I¡¯ll take responsibility,¡± Josh said, with the kind of certainty that made it sound like the sky could fall and he¡¯d still stand tall under it.

    I almost wanted to ask where his confidence came from.

    But then I remembered-he was the one in charge of the lighting adjustments, so I couldn¡¯t argue.

    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, I said, ¡°Josh, even though I¡¯m not responsible for the lighting anymore, if the final result isn¡¯t what I expect, I¡¯ll never forgive you.¡±

    Josh¡¯s sharp features remained unchanged. ¡°I¡¯ll keep my word. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    What more could I say after that?

    ¡°Fine. I hope you keep your promise,¡± I muttered, turning to leave, but Josh stepped in front of me.

    I didn¡¯t know what he was nning, but I had no intention of staying. So I tried to move around him, but he mirrored my steps, blocking me again.

    Frustrated, I snapped, ¡°Josh.¡±

    ¡°I need a favor,¡± Josh said, suddenly looking vulnerable in a way I¡¯d never seen before.

    He was someone who could fix plumbing-what else could he possibly need help with?

    Curious, I asked, ¡°What do you need?¡±

    ¡°I cooked too much food. Can you help me with it?¡± For a moment, I was speechless, but then I almostughed.

    All the anger I had felt since I discovered he was my neighbor crumbled in an instant. I lifted my leg and kicked him lightly. pping him on the arm as I said, ¡°You¡¯re still messing with me, Josh. Do you think I¡¯m a child?¡±

    He let me hit him a few times before grabbing my wrist, his tone suddenly soft. ¡°New neighbor. Let¡¯s get along from here on

    out.¡±

    ¡°Josh!¡±

    He dragged me to the dining table, where four dishes and a bowl of soup were neatlyid out.

    Did he really need all that food for himself?

    Or had he already known I¡¯d find out he lived here?

    No, that wasn¡¯t it. He couldn¡¯t have nned it. He just decided that tonight, he¡¯d make sure I knew he lived here, even if I didn¡¯t identally stumble upon it.

    The realization hit me hard-he had me right where he wanted me. My anger red again, and I snapped, ¡°Josh, you¡­¡±

    Before I could finish, his deep, smooth voice cut through the tension. ¡°Zoe, it¡¯s just one small favor. Help me out, will you?¡±

    Ìï

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 Be Honest 142

    Five in the morning, I woke up, did some yoga, and prepared myself to face the new day with the best energy I could

    muster.

    By six, I had washed up, changed, and was getting ready to make breakfast when my phone buzzed.

    It was a message from Josh. [Breakfast is on the table, the key is hanging on your door.]

    I stared at the message for a few minutes before opening the door. Sure enough, the key was hanging there, and when I opened Josh¡¯s door, there was breakfast waiting for me.

    I couldn¡¯t resist his foodst night, so I ended up helping him with whatever it was he needed. But today? Was he really going to act like some kind of free live-in maid for me?

    While the idea of someone feeding me right after I woke up sounded nice, I wasn¡¯tfortable just letting it happen without questioning it.

    So I shot him a message: [What does this mean? Josh, are you trying to take on a side job?]

    Josh: [Yeah, just give me a little something for the trouble.]

    Of course, he¡¯d try to take advantage of the situation.

    I knew that wasn¡¯t his real meaning, though, so I thought for a moment before replying: [Josh, you¡¯ve crossed a line. We¡¯re just pretending to date, remember?]

    Josh: [Even though the rtionship is fake, I¡¯m still responsible for your well-being during it. If I didn¡¯t look after you, I¡¯d be a terrible fake boyfriend.]

    I hadn¡¯t asked him to look after me. So I texted back. [You¡¯re overthinking this. You¡¯re only responsible for ying the role of a boyfriend. What happens outside of that is none of your business. And as for cooking-this is thest time. If you try again, I won¡¯t eat it.]

    It wasn¡¯t that I was cold or ungrateful. I just knew I couldn¡¯t give him what he wanted, and I didn¡¯t want to enjoy his care and affection if it wasn¡¯t going anywhere. I needed him to understand that it was all just an act.

    I ate the breakfast, and it was delicious, giving me all the energy I needed for work.

    But as I walked to the office, I thought for a moment. Thepany hadn¡¯t called to fire me, so perhaps they were nning to do it face-to-face.

    The thought immediately soured my mood, but I still made my way to the office.

    ¡°Wee, Zoe,¡± Bryson was the first to appear, greeting me warmly with a handshake.

    He didn¡¯t seem like someone who was about to fire me. So I decided to cut to the chase. ¡°Mr. Skinner, I heard that my former employer tried to interfere with my hiring. Is that true?¡±

    Bryson smiled and didn¡¯t seem at all surprised. He answered openly, ¡°Yes, it is.¡±

    I looked at him, noting how friendly and sincere he looked, and said, ¡°But you don¡¯t seem to have any intention of letting me go.¡±

    ¡°Why would I fire you?¡± Bryson asked, genuinely puzzled.

    Because Alvin had pressured them. I didn¡¯t say that out loud, though. Instead, Bryson¡¯s smile faded, and his expression turned more professional. ¡°We at Bixing don¡¯t depend on anyone, nor are we afraid of anyone. We rise on our own merit, and if anyone has a problem with that, they can challenge us with their own strength. We¡¯re untouchable by petty methods.¡±

    His words struck a chord deep in me. They were like a rush of adrenaline, and suddenly, I felt an overwhelming sense of purpose. ¡°Mr. Skinner, I won¡¯t let you down.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°Even if you do let us down, it won¡¯t matter. Just go ahead and do your best.¡±

    While he sounded like he valued talent and would treat it generously, Bryson¡¯s words left me uncertain about the situation.

    He showed me around thepany, introducing me to the marketing department and specifically instructing the deputy director and manager to work with me.

    They say that new hires have to go through trials by fire before they can truly prove themselves, but I didn¡¯t feel that at all. It almost felt like I was being treated like royalty-like I was being parachuted in as a princess.

    B

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 Be Honest 143

    Chapter

    But I¡¯ve always believed in doing things with my own ability. Even when I was at the Dolton Group with the ¡°future boss¡¯s wife¡±bel, I never acted like a decorative piece.

    By the end of the week, I had reviewed all the marketing clients¡¯ information and thepany¡¯s resources. I had also familiarized myself with the work performance of every marketing employee, especially their results from the past six

    months.

    I reorganized the division and implemented a system of rewards and punishments.

    They say that new managers often start with a fiery enthusiasm to prove themselves, and while I wasn¡¯t just trying to show off, I did want to push the team to work harder, not to let themselves or thepany down. And of course, I owed it to Bryson for keeping me on despite Alvin¡¯s pressure.

    But just as I was feeling confident and ready to shine, I received a troubling report from my marketing staff. Every single one of the clients they were handling had requested to cancel their contracts. Even the ones that had seemed promising just days ago were now backing out, making all kinds of excuses.

    I knew it had to be Alvin¡¯s doing.

    He hadn¡¯t been able to pressure thepany sessfully, so now he was using underhanded tactics to try to sabotage me by stealing clients.

    This mess was my responsibility, so I reported it to Bryson. He smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. If Alvin can take those clients, then they clearly weren¡¯t meant to be ours. We¡¯ll just find new ones.¡±

    I was taken aback by his calm and nonchnt attitude. I showed him the reports, which clearly showed that Alvin had taken 80% of our clients.

    Bryson¡¯s smile never faltered. ¡°It¡¯s fine. As long as he doesn¡¯t take you, I believe that any clients we lose, you¡¯ll be able to win back.¡±

    His trust in me was more than surprising. I couldn¡¯t help but feel that he had an unusually high level of confidence in me.

    ¡°Mr. Skinner, won¡¯t you report this to the president?¡± I asked, and then quickly added, ¡°I don¡¯t mean to interfere, but I¡¯m worried that losing so many clients without reporting it could make things difficult for you.¡±

    Bryson smiled again, his expression a little mysterious. ¡°I finally understand¡­¡±

    He paused for a moment, then continued, ¡°Finally understand why Mr. Dolton was so reluctant to let you leave.¡±

    Was that really what he wanted to say?

    Bryson then added, ¡°As for the problem you¡¯re worried about¡­ I¡¯ve already reported it. From the moment Alvin interfered with your hiring, the higher-ups knew about it. These events were all expected. So don¡¯t worry too much. Everything is under control.¡±

    In other words, I was overthinking.

    With that, I had no more questions to ask. I lowered my head slightly. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to be the one who caused trouble for thepany.¡±

    Bryson waved it off. ¡°You won¡¯t cause any trouble. Don¡¯t worry, go ahead and cause as much trouble as you want.¡±

    Wait, what?

    He shed a wide grin at me, showing off his white teeth. ¡°What I mean is, we trust your abilities. You¡¯ll never let thepany down.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but crack a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m not a miracle worker.¡±

    ¡°Of course not. But you are like a goddess,¡± Bryson teased, giving me a yful wink.

    I had no words.

    Although thepany wasn¡¯t putting any pressure on me, theck of pressure made me more frustrated.

    I never thought Alvin would be so childish-putting his own selfish interests ahead of thepany¡¯s, treating the business like a game, and even jeopardizing thepany¡¯s development.

    From what I¡¯d learned about Bixing since joining, I knew it wasn¡¯t apany with a strong reputation yet, but its strength and professionalism were definitely top-tier in the industry.

    If thepany had more talent like Josh, it could easily soar to the top.

    So I couldn¡¯t let Alvin ruin it. I wouldn¡¯t let a greatpany suffer or be theughingstock of the industry because of a petty, selfish person.

    I needed to stop Alvin, and the only person who could help was his father, Peter. But this wasn¡¯t something I could discuss over the phone. I had to meet him in person.

    So, I was headed straight for the Dolton family.

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    I looked at the memo-Peter¡¯s birthday was just three days away.

    It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to bring up such matters on his birthday, so I decided to visit him beforehand, bring a gift, and spare him the need to entertain me on his special day.

    But before I could take any action, Philip showed up.

    I hadn¡¯t seen him since the amusement park, and when I firstid eyes on him, I almost didn¡¯t recognize him.

    ¡°Have I gotten so tan that you don¡¯t recognize me anymore?¡± Philip joked, breaking the silence with a self-deprecating smile.

    Looking at him like this, I couldn¡¯t help but think of Josh. I smiled faintly. ¡°If Michelle saw you now, she¡¯d definitely feel sorry for you.¡±

    ¡°No, my mom actually says I look manlier this way,¡± Philip responded, trying to get augh out of me.

    I pressed my lips together, stifling a smile. ¡°I¡¯d say you¡¯ve definitely got more of that ¡®manly¡¯ vibe now.¡±

    Philip ran a hand over his face, grinning. ¡°I thought so too.¡±

    Though he was clearly trying to lighten the mood, his words left me unsure of how to reply. I shifted the topic. ¡°So, how¡¯s Michelle? And Peter? Are they doing well?¡±

    Yeah¡­ they miss you,¡± Philip said, and I felt a pang in my chest.

    I used to go back to the Dolton family every day after work; they¡¯d see me every day. But ever since I moved out, I hadn¡¯t been back once.

    ¡®I was thinking of visiting them today,¡± I said, hesitating for a moment before adding, ¡°and speaking to Peter about something.¡±

    Philip looked at me, and I could see the curiosity in his eyes. He wanted to know what was going on. There was no point in hiding it from him, so I told him, ¡°Alvin¡¯s been aggressively trying to sabotage thepany I¡¯m working for, even going so far as to poach our clients.¡±

    Philip¡¯s face didn¡¯t show surprise, which confirmed he already knew.

    He nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already told my dad about it. As for your resignation¡­ he doesn¡¯t agree with it at all.¡±

    He paused, and then with a serious expression, said, ¡°I¡¯m here today as my dad¡¯s emissary, Zoe¡­ you should go back to thepany.¡±

    His solemn look caught me off guard, and I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°If you don¡¯t seed today, do you think Peter will punish you?¡±

    I said it jokingly, but I could see the memory sh in Philip¡¯s eyes. It reminded me of the time when Peter had sent him on a task, and Philip had failed.

    When he returned, Peter had kicked him twice, hard. It was the first time I¡¯d ever seen Peter lose his temper like that.

    Philip hadn¡¯t reacted at the time-no tears, no exnations-but when he saw me, he¡¯d looked embarrassed, his face red. I¡¯d realized then that I should¡¯ve hidden away to spare him the difort.

    ¡°Are you teasing me?¡± Philip smiled, though I wasn¡¯t sure if he was recalling that moment when he¡¯d been scolded by Peter..

    ¡°No, I¡­¡± I started, but before I could finish, Philip interrupted me.

    ¡°Look, I¡¯m not here to convince you. Even if he does go back and hit me, I¡¯m not going to try and change your mind.¡±

    I blinked at him, confused. Philip pressed his lips together, his tone soft but firm. ¡°I know why you left. You gave up even the amusement park you loved so much. How could I possibly force you to go back?¡±

    He smiled, a bright and sunny grin, ¡°And anyway, I know you wouldn¡¯t go back, so there¡¯s no point in making things

    awkward.¡±

    He knew me too well.

    Before Philip left, I had actually gotten along with him better than with Alvin in the Dolton family.

    Alvin could be kind, but he had a tendency to tease me, sometimes pulling pranks or scaring me. Philip, on the other hand, had always protected me, even scolding Alvin when he went too far. To me, he was like a big brother.

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    ¡°Does Peter support Alvin¡¯s madness?¡± I asked, recalling that Philip had mentioned Peter knew about Alvin¡¯s behavior.

    ¡°No,¡± Philip answered firmly. ¡°My dad¡¯s scolded him. He warned Alvin that if he doesn¡¯t stop, he¡¯ll be kicked out.¡±

    I believed him. Having lived in the Dolton family for so long. I knew how Peter operated.

    He was always clear about keeping personal and professional matters separate. If Alvin made a wrong decision or did something wrong, Peter wouldn¡¯t hesitate to punish him.

    Considering Alvin¡¯s ongoing sabotage, I couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°It seems Peter¡¯s warning didn¡¯t work.¡±

    Philip picked up on my tone. ¡°Is Alvin still at it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. It feels like he¡¯s trying to crush thepany I¡¯m working for,¡± I said, my voice trembling with frustration.

    I couldn¡¯t be angry anymore. Thepany was suffering because of me, even the clients were being affected. I felt responsible.

    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. I¡¯ll talk to my dad about this,¡± Philip said, his face now etched with anger.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± I replied, adding quickly, ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared a birthday gift for Peter. Let me see if he likes it.¡±

    Philip¡¯s eyes lit up. He smiled warmly. ¡°Great, today, right? We can head back together.¡±

    Seeing his hopeful expression, I pressed my lips together and said, ¡°Yes, but I¡¯m bringing someone with me.¡±

    ¡°Who? A friend?¡± he asked, still smiling expectantly.

    ¡°My boyfriend,¡± I answered without thinking. The moment the words left my mouth, I saw his smile freeze.

    His shock was instant, and the way his expression shattered-his eyes wide, his lips parted-was almost painful to witness.

    I could tell from his reaction that he had feelings for me. Michelle had hinted at it before, but now, I could see it in his face. It was better for him to face this now rather thanter.

    After a long pause, he stammered, ¡°Zoe¡­ you¡­ your boyfriend is¡­¡±

    ¡°Josh,¡± I said.

    Philip¡¯s face darkened even more. ¡°Zoe¡­¡±

    ¡°Philip, I know what you¡¯re trying to say, but I¡¯m not going to y games with my happiness, and I¡¯m not going to do anything out of spite,¡± I said, even though I didn¡¯t truly believe it myself.

    Philip¡¯s usuallyposed face now showed a hint of pain as he said, ¡°But I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d let go of your feelings for Alvin so quickly.¡±

    I almostughed at that. If he knew, why would he still be trying to make a y for me?

    Wait-did he have feelings for me even before he left for his studies abroad? Maybe he hadn¡¯te back because of me.

    Thinking about this, I suddenly felt a heaviness in my chest. I turned away, keeping my face cold. ¡°You¡¯re waste time on people or feelings that aren¡¯t worth it.¡±

    wrong.

    I don¡¯t

    I paused for a moment, then added, ¡°Besides, Josh is better than Alvin in every way. Why would I hold on to something that wasn¡¯t good for me?¡±

    I could feel Philip¡¯s gaze burning into me. I tightened my shoulders, my body tense as if to block him out.

    It was a long while before Philip spoke again, his voice unsteady. ¡°Alright. Even if you¡¯ve let go of Alvin, you¡¯ve known Josh for, what, a few days? Do you even know him?¡±

    Philip was still trying to convince me. He didn¡¯t want me to be with Josh-or perhaps he didn¡¯t want me to start a new rtionship at all. That way, even if I didn¡¯t end up with him, there¡¯d always be hope.

    But I couldn¡¯t give him that.

    I gave him a mocking smile. ¡°Does it matter? I was with Alvin for ten years. I knew everything about him-how long he took to pee, how hot he liked his shower water. Was there anything more to know? But what came of it?¡±

    Saying that, I felt a sharp ache in my chest. I had loved Alvin-really loved him. Loved him to the point that I lost myself. Maybe that¡¯s why his betrayal had destroyed me sopletely.

    ¡°Alvin¡¯s the exception. Not all men are like him,¡± Philip said, his hand unexpectedlynding on my shoulder, pulling me to

    face him.

    I stiffened, but he didn¡¯t seem to notice.

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    I stiffened for a moment, instinctively wanting to pull away from his touch, but his grip tightened, not giving me any chance

    to escape.

    The feeling of being controlled wasn¡¯t a good one, and I didn¡¯t like it. I furrowed my brows and said, ¡°Philip¡­¡±

    Before I could say anything more, he cut me off. ¡°Zoe, Alvin¡¯s my brother. I can¡¯t criticize him, but he¡¯s the exception. You can¡¯t let that make you lose sight of your own principles.¡±

    His grip on me remained firm, and I could feel the tension and tremble in his hand. His gaze locked on mine, dark and intense, his tone serious, even pleading. ¡°Zoe, finding a boyfriend isn¡¯t something to take lightly. You have to be careful, or it could ruin you.¡±

    Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, I felt a pang of guilt. Part of me wanted to tell him that Josh was just a temporary boyfriend.

    But that thought quickly vanished. I had brought Josh into this mess to make the Dolton family give up their hopes. If I told him the truth, it would just be admitting that I was using Josh as a prop, and that wasn¡¯t the point.

    ¡°Philip, I¡¯m not a little kid. I know exactly what I¡¯m doing,¡± I retorted.

    ¡°But you¡¯ve only known Josh for a few days,¡± Philip¡¯s voice dropped even lower, sounding a little angry now.

    Seeing the doubt in his eyes, I decided to throw him a bombshell. ¡°I¡¯ve known him for only a few days, but our connection was already set when I went to Tideport.¡±

    I phrased it carefully, since I considered Philip like a big brother, and I didn¡¯t want to say anything too harsh.

    Philip¡¯s expression changed in an instant. His eyes widened as if struck by a sudden realization. His hand on my shoulder tightened as if he was trying to hold me still.

    He didn¡¯t speak for a while, just stared at me with a look I couldn¡¯t ignore-disbelief, disappointment, and a deep, painful

    hurt.

    I read the depth of that look, and shifted my position slightly. ¡°Philip, some things are just meant to be. Maybe Josh and I were always meant to meet.¡±

    As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt him shudder.

    His grip on my shoulder didn¡¯t loosen, but it wasn¡¯t as tight as before.

    Just then, Bryson appeared out of nowhere, his face breaking into a radiant smile. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯ve got a guest! Why aren¡¯t you in your office?¡±

    He nced at Philip and said, ¡°Come to the office. I¡¯ll get someone to make some good coffee for you.¡±

    Philip, ever the gentleman, loosened his grip on me and said to Bryson, ¡°No need, thanks.¡±

    With that, Philip left without looking back. The sense of loss was almost suffocating.

    I stood there, frozen, for a long moment before heading back to my office. As I passed Bryson¡¯s, I was about to knock when I

    overheard his conversation.

    ¡°Bro, it¡¯s all taken care of¡­ Yeah, he left¡­ That guy¡¯s way out of your league, trust me¡­ Zoe¡­¡±

    Bryson, who had been talking on the phone, walked out of his office just as I stood at the door. He looked startled, almost

    dropping his phone.

    I wasn¡¯t sure why he seemed so shocked. I quickly reached out to grab the phone, and saw the caller ID had ¡°Bro¡± on it.

    I handed the phone back to him, noticing the slight color drain from his face as he fumbled to answer. ¡°Zoe¡¯s here, I¡¯ll call you back.¡±

    He quickly hung up and looked at me, his flustered expression obvious.

    It wasn¡¯t like he was talking about something secretive-just a phone call, right? It wasn¡¯t like I¡¯d overheard some illicit conversation or apany leak. So why was he so panicked?

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    Chapter

 Be Honest 147

    A sh of suspicion crossed my mind, and before I could voice it, Bryson broke the silence with a nervous chuckle.

    ¡°Zoe, why are you listening at the door? You gave me a heart attack,¡± he said with a grin.

    Although I could tell he was joking, I responded seriously. ¡°Mr. Skinner, don¡¯t misunderstand. I wasn¡¯t cavesdropping. I just came to find you and hadn¡¯t gotten around to knocking yet.¡±

    Brysonughed even more brightly, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m just messing with you. What¡¯s up? Why are you

    here?¡±

    He gestured for me toe inside, and I followed him.

    Although I had been working here for a few days, this was my first time in his office. The first impression was¡­ well, a little. much.

    Bryson was the VP of thepany, but since the CEO wasn¡¯t active in the business anymore, Bryson was essentially the big boss now. You¡¯d expect his office to reflect that-a more serious, professional look, maybe. But Bryson¡¯s space was theplete opposite.

    Bright, colorful sofas, even shaped like crescents; there were potted nts everywhere-real flowers, not just greenery- bursting with vibrant colors. And on his desk, a collection of quirky little knick-knacks that made it feel like a casual living room rather than a corporate office.

    If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d have thought I¡¯d walked into the wrong room.

    ¡°Like it?¡± Bryson asked, noticing me taking in the space.

    I tried to smile, but honestly, I wasn¡¯t a fan. It was a bit too entric for my taste-definitely not the kind of office I¡¯d expect a VP to have.

    But, hey, he was the boss, so he could decorate however he wanted.

    I gave him a small smile and said, ¡°Mr. Skinner, your office definitely has a unique style.¡±

    Bryson grinned, clearly pleased. ¡°I don¡¯t like things too serious. My bro says the same. By the way, he¡¯s our big boss. I was just talking to him on the phone. When you appeared at the door like that, it really startled me.¡±

    I gave a softugh, but inside I was thinking, ¡®No wonder he can call all the shots with the big boss so familiar with him.¡¯

    ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll make sure not to scare you,¡± I said with a nod, showing him I understood.

    Bryson waved his hand dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m just a little jumpy,¡± he joked.

    His easy-going, approachable attitude was refreshing. There was none of the aloofness that Alvin had.

    Back when I was at the Dolton Group, Alvin was the president. During business hours, whenever he was in the office, he was Mr. Dolton to everyone, and I was just his assistant-a regr employee.

    Looking back now, I realized the way he treated me wasn¡¯t because he was fair or just-it was because¡­ he didn¡¯t love me.

    Just thinking about it made my chest feel tight. I quickly pushed that thought away and got back to the reason I¡¯de. ¡°Mr. Skinner, I¡¯d like to request some time off this afternoon.¡±

    ¡°Time off?¡± Bryson raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got something to take care of,¡± I exined vaguely.

    Bryson nodded. ¡°Sure, sure. Don¡¯t worry about the clients, I¡¯ve already talked to the big boss. He said he¡¯ll handle it, so you can focus on what you need to do.¡±

    I blinked, surprised. How did he know the big boss would be so amodating? I¡¯d never even met the guy.

    Bryson chuckled, clearly amused by my confusion. ¡°The big boss is a good guy-handsome and kind-hearted. If you met him, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d fall for him.¡±

    Fall for him?

    Suddenly, my face felt hot. But I quickly reasoned that Bryson meant the big boss was friendly and easy-going, so I nodded along and said, ¡°A good boss like that must be loved by everyone.¡±

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    ¡°No, no, the big boss doesn¡¯t want everyone to love him. He only wants the people he loves to love him back,¡± Bryson¡¯s words echoed in my mind as I left the office.

    For some reason, I found myself strangely curious about what this elusive boss of ours looked like. What kind of nose, eyes, or face did he have?

    And what was even more puzzling was that there was absolutely no mention of him in thepany files. Could he be hiding something?

    Or was he one of those ultra-low-key bosses-so low-profile that he didn¡¯t leave a trace, not even a photo?

    As I drove to Heritage Atelier, a specialty store for writing tools, my thoughts continued to drift back to the big boss.

    I parked my car but didn¡¯t get out immediately. Instead, I dialed Josh¡¯s number.

    No answer. I figured he must be busy, so I opened WhatsApp and left him a message. [Are you free to go to the Dolton family dinner tonight?]

    People who don¡¯t answer their phones usually don¡¯t reply to messages either, so once the message was sent, I put my phone away and walked into the store.

    ¡°Miss Kemp, you¡¯re here!¡± The owner, Rogelio Lindsey, greeted me with a smile as soon as I entered.

    I was a regr at this ce, always ordering high-end writing sets every year as a gift for Peter, who loved to paint. I knew he would go through a lot of ink, so it was the perfect gift for him.

    ¡°Mr. Lindsey, do you have any new and good ink sets this year?¡± I asked as I casually browsed the shelves.

    ¡°We do, we do. But don¡¯t bother with those over there-they¡¯re not worth your time. The good stuff is over here,¡± Rogelio motioned toward a more exclusive section.

    Even though he said that, I still took a quick nce at everything on the shelves, but eventually I ended up at the cab he had pointed to.

    Immediately, my eyes were drawn to a deep green ink set. ¡°Could I take a look at this one?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Rogelio said, carefully pulling the set from the disy. ¡°This is thetest release¡ªjust came out.¡±

    It was his way ofplimenting my taste.

    I examined it carefully, impressed by the craftsmanship and material. Without hesitation, I decided, ¡°I¡¯ll take it, Mr. Lindsey.¡±

    But to my surprise, Rogelio didn¡¯t immediately agree. He hesitated for a moment, looking a little ufortable. ¡°Miss Kemp, I¡¯m afraid this set has already been reserved.¡±

    That meant there was only one avable.

    For a brief moment, I felt disappointed¡­ but then again, when in life is there no regret?

    After a quick sigh, I let go of the set, deciding to pick something else. But just as I was about to turn away, I heard footsteps approaching the door.

    ¡°Miss Kemp, take your time. I¡¯ll be right with this customer,¡± Rogelio said.

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± I replied, continuing to look at the other sets. But just as I did, I saw him walk off with the very set I had just been admiring.

    At first, I didn¡¯t think much of it, but then I heard Thea¡¯s voice from across the room.

    ¡°Mr. Lindsey, is the set I ordered ready?¡± she asked, her tone calm and collected.

    I turned to see her take the very same ink set I had wanted. I hadn¡¯t expected it to be hers.

    My first thought? She was buying it as a gift for Peter.

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    Just a few days ago, Alvin had sworn to me that he wanted Thea out of thepany, that he no longer wanted anything to do with her. But now, here she was, picking out a gift for Peter¡¯s birthday, clearly still involved with him.

    I hadn¡¯t believed Alvin¡¯s ims, and once again, my instincts proved right.

    Thea was looking at the set with a very professional air, clearly well-versed in fine writing tools. She didn¡¯t see me, and I didn¡¯t want to interact with her, so I just turned away, pretending I hadn¡¯t noticed her and continued to pick out something

    else.

    ¡°Are you sure this is the best? I¡¯m giving it to a very important elder. I don¡¯t want to embarrass myself,¡± Thea said to Rogelio, scrutinizing the set.

    ¡°Miss Mills, there¡¯s no such thing as the ¡®best.¡¯ There¡¯s always something better, right?¡± Rogelio replied with a smile. ¡°But I promise, this one will be impressive. You won¡¯t regret it.¡±

    ¡°True,¡± Thea said thoughtfully, ¡°But I want it to be perfect. I want the recipient to know I put in effort.¡±

    ¡°Looking at writing tools in Seastone, nothing beats what I have here. This set will certainly stand out,¡± Rogelio assured her, his tone confident.

    ¡°Good,¡± Thea said, a pause before adding, ¡°It¡¯s for my future father-inw.¡±

    My body stiffened at those words. Was she officially dating Alvin now?

    If that was the case, why was Alvin still undermining me at work? What was going on?

    I shook my head in disbelief. This was absurd.

    I continued browsing, but none of the other sets caught my attention.

    I was beginning to feel disheartened when something in the corner of the cab caught my eye. Without a second thought, I blurted out, ¡°Mr. Lindsey, could I see this set?¡±

    Take whichever one you like,¡± Rogelio said, clearly not concerned about my choice.

    I didn¡¯t even wait for him to fetch it and opened the cab myself. As I pulled out the set, I noticed a figure beside me.

    ¡®Are you getting this for Mr. Dolton, too?¡± Thea¡¯s voice sounded from behind me.

    Of course, my words had drawn her over. But I didn¡¯t look at her. Instead, I continued to study the set in my hands.

    It wasn¡¯t the newest model, but the materials and feel were exceptional.

    I¡¯d worked at the Dolton family for ten years, and when I first joined, Peter often asked me to keep himpany while he

    wrote.

    Over the years, I¡¯d picked up quite a bit of knowledge about fine writing tools.

    ¡°Yeah, I responded nonchntly, not offering much more.

    But then I heard her speak again. ¡°I¡¯ve already ordered the best set for Mr. Dolton. So¡­ maybe you should choose something else. It¡¯d be awkward if we both gave him the same gift. Besides¡­¡±

    She paused for a few seconds before adding, ¡°The set I got him is the best. If you choose a lesser one, Peter might think you

    didn¡¯t put in enough effort.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh inwardly. Was she really pretending to care about my feelings?

    This set was perfect for Peter¡¯s age and taste-subtle, refined, not shy, but elegant.

    It had a quiet dignity to it, just like ink itself. It didn¡¯t rely on outward beauty to impress.

    And as for Thea? I decided to make my move. ¡°Mr. Lindsey, please wrap this one up for me.¡±

    Turning toward Thea, I couldn¡¯t help but notice the shock on her face. She was clearly frustrated, even a little angry.

    ¡°Miss Mills,¡± I said coolly, ¡°You choose your gift, and I¡¯ll choose mine. As for whether it¡¯s the best or not, you don¡¯t have to worry about that. Besides¡­¡± I smiled. ¡°I think if mine is a little less impressive, it¡¯ll make you, the future daughter-inw, look even more thoughtful, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    23

    Thea¡¯s pale face flushed bright red in an instant. I knew then that her previous conversation with Rogelio had been nothing but a performance, a way for her to save face.

    B

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 Be Honest 150

    I was paying when Josh finally called me back.

    ¡°Sorry, I was busy earlier and just saw your message,¡± he exined right away.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Are you free now?¡± I asked.

    Josh replied, ¡°What time?¡±

    I thought for a couple of seconds. If I went at 6 PM, it would be dinner time. Peter and Michelle would definitely insist on having me stay for dinner. I didn¡¯t mind, but Josh might feel awkward about it.

    ¡°How about 7:30?¡± I suggested. By then, the Dolton family would have finished eating.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pick you up at 7,¡± Josh said.

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°How are you nning to pick me up? On a shared bike?¡±

    I honestly didn¡¯t mean anything by it, just teasing, but Josh¡¯s silence on the other end made me realize he might have taken it the wrong way.

    ¡°Uh¡­ I didn¡¯t mean anything by it,¡± I quickly exined. ¡°I¡¯lle pick you up instead.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be home half an hour early, so we can just leave together when it¡¯s time,¡± Josh said after a brief pause. ¡°Do you need me to bring anything, like a gift?¡±

    ¡°No need, I¡¯ve got it covered,¡± I said, then hung up. When I looked up, I found Thea staring at me.

    Ever since I could remember, whenever Thea looked at me, I could always sense envy, maybe even jealousy.

    I had nothing to say to her, so I simply walked away, carrying my things.

    Instead of heading home, I went to a men¡¯s clothing store. Tonight, I was taking Josh with me, and there was no way I was letting him wear his usual clothes. I wasn¡¯t sure if he had something suitable, but since I was asking him to y along, it was only right to buy him a proper outfit.

    By 6 PM, I had a quick meal and was waiting for Josh to return.

    But it wasn¡¯t Josh who showed up first-it was Myra calling me. ¡°Zoe, do you have time tonight? I want to chat,¡± she said.

    Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t.

    ¡°What¡¯s up? We can talk over the phone. I¡¯m heading to the Dolton family tonight,¡± I didn¡¯t hide anything from Myra.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a shame,¡± Myra sounded disappointed.

    I grabbed an apple from the table and took a bite. ¡°We¡¯ll catch up some other time. I¡¯ll take you out to dinner.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± Myra huffed. ¡°Zoe, I¡¯ve been losing my mindtely. I didn¡¯t want to bother you, but if I don¡¯t talk to someone soon, I¡¯m going to explode.¡±

    My brows furrowed. ¡°What happened? Did Josh torment you again?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s Thea,¡± Myra said, and my chewing paused.

    I had just run into her this morning, and now I was hearing about her again. Clearly, today was Thea¡¯s day to be my bad luck

    charm.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on with her?¡± I asked, taking my time.

    Myra started spilling the details. ¡°That Thea, acting all high and mighty just because she¡¯s pregnant. She¡¯s got this look, like she expects to be carried around on a sedan chair everywhere she goes. If she¡¯s so scared of something happening, why even leave the house? She should just stay in bed and rest!¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh a little. ¡°She¡¯s just trying to make money for her baby¡¯s milk.¡±

    ¡°Bull! She¡¯s showing off, making everyone think she¡¯s carrying the heir to the throne, that the baby¡¯s Mr. Dolton¡¯s,¡± Myra¡¯s words made me lose my appetite for the apple in my hand.

    ¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± I replied, casually.

    ¡°Really?¡± Myra sounded shocked. ¡°If she¡¯s really pregnant with Mr. Dolton¡¯s kid, then he¡¯s already betrayed you. That¡¯s messed up.¡±

    At that moment, I couldn¡¯t swallow the apple anymore.

    I put it down and didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s likely,¡± Myra added after a pause. ¡°If she¡¯s really carrying Mr. Dolton¡¯s child, she¡¯d be in a much better position by now. But instead, she¡¯s still stuck pretending to be some humble woman, while you¡¯re the one looking all sweet and submissive.¡±

    I shook my head, speechless. Myra was really something-insulting people while dragging me into it.

 Be Honest 151

    <b>Chapter </b><b>151 </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>You </b><b>know </b>who the father is, she should have a good idea,¡± I finally said. ¡°But if you¡¯re so curious, you could just ask her yourself¡±

    Myra scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t have the time for that. If I had the chance,

    are you just making up excuses to ck off again?¡±

    Kang et anection Josh, realized he still

    hadn¡¯te be looking

    at Josh instead.¡±

    I at the clock on the wall and asked casually, ¡°Did you finish work early today<b>? </b><b>Or </b>

    ¡°What are you talking about? Do you think I¡¯m that kind of person?¡± Myra protested. ¡°Josh is actually more considerate now. He left work earlier than usual<b>.</b>¡±

    ¡°Oh, how long ago did he leave?¡±

    ¡°About half an hour ago. I¡¯m already home, lying on the sofa,¡± Myra said as I began calcting Josh¡¯s return time. He should have been back by now, but ! hadn¡¯t heard any noise.

    ¡°Are you sure you can finish the project on time, considering how

    yearly

    u guys finished today?¡± I asked.

    There was a sound of swallowing from Myra¡¯s end, and she said, ¡°Josh says it¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°You really think so? Don¡¯t let him fool you. If the deadline isn¡¯t met, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s going to get in trouble. They¡¯ll deduct your bonus,¡± I warned

    her.

    She coughed a couple of times before replying, ¡°I think it¡¯ll be fine. We¡¯ve already finished setting up District D, and progress has been really fast. We haven¡¯t run into any new problems. We¡¯re just getting things done every day.¡±

    Myra clicked her tongue and continued, ¡°It¡¯s funny, though. When you were working here, there was always something going wrong. Josh was practically running to your office every other day to solve issues. Now that you¡¯re gone, everything¡¯s smooth sailing. I haven¡¯t had a chance to visit his office, not

    even once¡­¡±

    I could already guess where this was going¨CMyra was imagining things.

    <b>I </b>quickly shut her down. ¡°I think I¡¯m Josh¡¯s bad luck. When I worked with him, things never went well, but now that I¡¯m gone, everything¡¯s fine.¡±

    Myra disagreed. ¡°Don¡¯t act like I¡¯m dumb. I think the two of you have something going o <ol><li>on. Are you two secretly involved?¡± </li></ol>

    Hearing her bring up our fake rtionship, I felt a little guilty and immediately denied it. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Come on, you can¡¯t fool me. If something really is going on between you two, I¡¯m

    <i>not </i>

    mad,¡± Myra seemed oddly supportive.

    I shook my head, feeling embarrassed. ¡°No, don¡¯t get any weird ideas.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, Josh moved out of the hotel. I heard he rented a ce to live,¡± Myra suddenly dropped the bomb.

    I pretended to be unaware. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and I heard he¡¯s nning to stay in Seastone for a while. Apparently, he¡¯s looking into his parents¡® death,¡± Myra¡¯s voice dropped to <b>a </b>whisper, <b>even </b>over the phone. ¡°Do you know about this?<b>¡± </b>

    was taken aback. I didn¡¯t know Josh had rented a ce here, and when I asked him why, he didn¡¯t mention anything about investigating the ident.

    ¡°They say his family died in a car ident¡­¡± Myra¡¯s words hung in the air.

    I froze. My parents had died in a car ident too. The thought of it hit me like a ton of bricks.

    I had to find an excuse to end the call. Looking <b>at </b>the family photo on the wall, I found myself lost in thought.

    <b>Chapter </b>151

    <b>Was </b><b>my </b><b>parents </b>ident just a <b>coincidence</b><b>? </b>

    <b>The </b>thought lingered<b>, </b><b>but </b>I pushed it away.

    It wasn¡¯t until nearly 71

    7 PM that tried calling Josh

    again, but he

    didn¡¯t pick up.

    I <b>wasn¡¯t </b>

    sure if something had

    <i>up </i>or

    if he had changed

    his

    mind

    about

    going v <ol><li>me. </li></ol>

    <b>So</b>, I decided to head

    to the Dolton family

    on

    mmy own.

    But when

    11

    I opened

    door,

    that Josh¡¯s

    door

    Thadn¡¯t heard him.

    Confused,

    I walked over to his door

    and called

    out, ¡°Jo¡­¡±

    Before I could

    finish, 1

    froze in ce,

    <b>as </b>

    the sight

    before

    me left

    me

    speechless.

    E

 Be Honest 152

    <b>Chapter </b><b>152 </b>

    <b>I </b><b>never </b><b>expected </b><b>to </b>walk in on Josh fresh out of the shower.

    <b>And </b><b>I </b>mean fresh he was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. It covered just the essentials, leaving the rest of his <b>toned</b>, <b>sun</b>¨Ckissed skin exposed<b>. </b>

    Josh froze too, clearly not expecting me to barge in. I could see the color rising to his chest, his golden¨Cbrown skin turning pink with embarrassment<b>. </b>

    <b>We </b>stood there in silence, locked in ce, just staring at each other. Time itself seemed to pause.

    It wasn¡¯t until Josh snapped out of his daze and retreated in?

    hard to breathe.

    And then it hit me¨CI was blushing.

    the bedroom that I finally moved. I swallowed thickly, the lump in my throat <b>making </b><b>it </b>

    As Josh closed the bedroom door, I knew he was probably getting dressed. The thought of the clothes I had just bought him popped into my head<b>, </b>and I quickly blurted, ¡°Josh, don¡¯t get dressed yet, wait for me.¡±

    The words left my mouth before I had a chance to think them through, and as I turned to walk away, I suddenly realized what I¡¯d just said. Don¡¯t get dressed? Wait for me?

    In this context, those words were¡­ borderline inappropriate.

    I swear, if there was a hole in the floor, I would¡¯ve jumped right in.

    But no such luck. The moment passed, and I hurriedly grabbed the clothes from my room and rushed back <b>to </b>Josh¡¯s door. I knocked lightly and said, ¡°Josh, I got you some clothes. They¡¯re outside the door, you should wear these.¡±

    I didn¡¯t even try to exin myself¨Chonestly, it would¡¯ve only made it worse.

    As I started to ce the bag down, the door suddenly swung open. Josh was standing there, fully dressed.

    A crisp white shirt, ck suit pants, no tie, two buttons undone at the cor¨Cdressed formally, yet effortlessly stylish.

    It was the first time I¡¯d ever seen him in something like this, and to be honest, I¡¯d thought his skin tone wouldn¡¯t quite match this kind of outfit. I¡¯d imagined something more casual when I bought his clothes.

    But now, standing before me, Josh looked like he was straight out of a luxury ad. The kind of understated, low¨Ckey sophistication that was both luxurious and intimidating.

    I couldn¡¯t stop staring. I was so caught up in the sight of him that I didn¡¯t even notice he¡¯d reached out and taken the bag from my hands. He nced at

    the clothes inside and asked, ¡°You want me to wear this?¡±

    I shook my head, my voice a little too soft. ¡°No, not really¡­ You look great like this.¡±

    Josh eyed the clothes again, then said with a smile, ¡°Well<b>, </b>next time I¡¯ll wear the ones you bought me.¡±

    Without waiting for my reply, he casually took the clothes into the bedroom and ced them in the closet. I stood frozen by the door, my eyes involuntarily drawn to the bed.

    It was a small room, the bed taking up most of the space. The duvet was arranged perfectly, almost militarily so¨Cneatly tucked with no sign of a

    Something about it felt almost¡­ reverent.

    Josh came back into the living room, looking at me expectantly. ¡°Ready to go<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    I stood there for a moment, still caught up in my thoughts. And then, without thinking, I blurted, ¡°Josh, do you have OCD?¡±

    <b>13:36 </b>Wea, <b>zu </b><b>Aug </b>

    He gave me a confused look. ¡°Huh?¡±

    I pointed to the bed. ¡°You¡¯re not in the army anymore. Why do you still fold the nkets like this? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a waste of time?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a habit,¡± he replied simply.

    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°I think it¡¯s more like OCD. Habits can be hard to break, but they¡¯re usually simple things. This¡­ this is a little excessive.<b>¡± </b>

    Josh shrugged. ¡°Maybe.¡±

    As if on cue, his eyes fell on the gift bag I was holding, and he reached out for it. ¡°Let me take that.¡±

    I smiled faintly. ¡°No need, I¡¯ve got it.¡±

 Be Honest 153

    <b>I </b>was afraid <b>that </b>anything I said might upset Josh, and, truthfully, my mind wandered back to my parents. I couldn¡¯t help but think of their ident. <b>Was </b>it really just an ident¡­ or something more?

    I was too young to understand when my parents passed. Peter was the one

    who took

    care of everything.

    He probably knew the truth about what really happened that day. When I saw himter, I might just ask him.

    Josh, noticing my silence, didn¡¯t press the issue. We drove in quiet tension, heading to the Dolton family estate. My car had an automatic entry system, so we drove right into the yard without any hassle.

    Aryana, the housekeeper, spotted me and rushed over with a bright smile. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re back! Let me tell Mr. and Mrs. Dolton you¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    ¡°No need to bother them, Aryana. I¡¯ll go in myself,¡± I replied with a smile.

    Aryana nced at Josh, who was walking beside me. I knew she was curious about who he was, so I looped my arm through Josh¡¯s, giving her the answer she was looking for. ¡°This is Josh, my boyfriend.¡±

    Aryana was just a housekeeper, but she¡¯d worked with the Doltons for longer than I had. She was close with Michelle, too. So, even though she might not have been a guest at the table, she was still part of the family¡¯s world.

    Josh nodded politely at Aryana. ¡°Hi, Aryana.¡±

    ¡°Hello,¡± Aryana responded with a strained smile, her eyes clearly watching me. It was obvious that she didn¡¯t approve of the situation.

    To the people here, I was supposed to be Alvin¡¯s wife and now I was walking around with another man.

    3

    No doubt, Aryana wasn¡¯t the only one ufortable with this¨CPeter and Michelle would be, too.

    We walked past her and headed toward the living room.

    Just as we reached the door, I heard Michelle¡¯s voice, sharp and slightly irritated. ¡°You think you¡¯re such a great CEO, Peter, you can manage thousands of people, but your own sons don¡¯t listen to a word you say?¡±

    There was no response from Peter, and I could tell he was probably engrossed in his phone or a magazine, pretending not to hear.

    ¡°Peter, are you pretending to be deaf again?¡± Michelle raised her voice in frustration.

    Even though they were a loving couple, it didn¡¯t mean there weren¡¯t tensions. Today, <b>it </b>seemed like Michelle was really upset about something. But what could have gotten her so angry?

    ¡°I¡¯m not pretending. If I say something, <i>you¡¯ll </i>just keep going on,¡± Peter finally responded, his tone low.

    ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯reining about me talking too much?¡± Michelle huffed. ¡°You men have no heart. After I gave you kids and grew start finding me annoying. Peter, you jerk¡­ Ah, don¡¯t touch me, get off!¡±

    old for you, you

    When we stepped into the living room, I froze. Michelle was sitting on Peter¡¯sp, both of them in a yful but tender tug¨Cof¨Cwar. Peter was holding her tightly while she pushed him away, yet the affection was clear.

    It was rate for a couple at their age to have this kind of yful intimacy was rare.

    For a second, Josh and I stood there, unsure whether to enter or retreat.

    Most middle¨Caged couples were too caught up in the routine of life to share moments like these. It was

    a

    refreshing, almost nostalgic scene <b>for </b>me.

    <b>Honestly</b><b>, </b>I felt a bit awkward<b>¨C</b><b>we </b>were pretending <b>to </b>be a couple, and here were <b>two </b>real <b>ones </b><b>caught </b>in an <b>intimate </b><b>moment</b>, it was like walking in <b>something </b>private<b>. </b>

    But <b>before </b><b>I </b>could move<b>, </b>Michelle¡¯s little teddy dog started barking excitedly, clearly happy to see me. It was its way of weing me back.

    <b>I </b><b>had </b>spoiled <b>that </b>little dog a lot when I lived here. And now, it seemed like all that affection had paid off.

    I never expected to walk in on Josh fresh out of the shower.

    <b>And </b>I mean fresh¨Che was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. It covered just the essentials, leaving the rest of his toned, sun¨Ckissed skin exposed.

    Josh froze too, clearly not expecting me to barge in. I could see the color rising to his chest, his golden brown skin turning pink with embarrassment.

    We stood there in silence, locked in ce, just staring at each other. Time itself seemed to pause.

    It wasn¡¯t until Josh snapped out of his daze and retreated into the bedroom that I finally moved. I swallowed thickly, the lump in my throat making <b>it </b>

    hard to breathe.

    And then it hit me¨CI was blushing.

    As Josh closed the bedroom door, I knew he was probably getting dressed. The thought of the clothes I had just bought him popped into my head, and I quickly blurted, ¡°Josh, don¡¯t get dressed yet, wait for me.¡±

    The words left my mouth before I had a chance to think them through, and as I turned to walk away, I suddenly realized what I¡¯d just said. Don¡¯t get dressed? Wait for me?

    In this context, those words were¡­ borderline inappropriate.

    I swear, if there was a hole in the floor, I would¡¯ve jumped right in.

    But no such luck. The moment passed, and I hurriedly grabbed the clothes from my room and rushed back to Josh¡¯s door. I knocked lightly and said, ¡°Josh, I got you some clothes. They¡¯re outside the door, you should wear these.¡±

    I didn¡¯t even try to exin myself¨Chonestly, it would¡¯ve only made it worse.

    As I started to ce the bag down, the door suddenly swung open. Josh was standing there, fully dressed.

    A crisp white shirt, ck suit pants, no tie, two buttons undone at the cor¨Cdressed formally, yet effortlessly stylish.

    It was the first time I¡¯d ever seen him in something like this, and to be honest, I¡¯d thought his skin tone wouldn¡¯t quite match this kind of outfit. I¡¯d imagined something more casual when I bought his clothes.

    But now, standing before me, Josh looked like he was straight out of a luxury ad. The kind of understated, low¨Ckey sophistication that was both luxurious and intimidating.

    I couldn¡¯t stop staring. I was so caught up in the sight of him that I didn¡¯t even notice he¡¯d reached out and taken the bag from my hands. He nced at

    the clothes inside and asked, ¡°You want me to wear this?¡±

    I shook my head, my voice a little too soft. ¡°No, not really¡­ You look great like this.¡±

    Josh eyed the clothes again, then said with a smile, ¡°Well, next time I¡¯ll wear the ones you bought me.¡±

    Without waiting for my reply, he casually took the clothes into the bedroom and ced them in the closet. I stood frozen by the door<b>, </b><b>my </b><b>eyes </b>involuntarily drawn to the bed.

    It was a small room, the bed taking up most of the space. The duvet was arranged perfectly, almost militarily so¨Cneatly tucked <b>with </b><b>no </b><b>sign </b><b>of </b><b>a </b><b>wrinkle </b>

    Something about it felt almost¡­ reverent.

    Josh came back into the living room, looking at me expectantly, ¡°Ready to go?¡±

    I stood there for a moment, still caught up in my thoughts. And then, without thinking, I blurted, ¡°Josh, do you have OCD<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    He gave me a confused look. ¡°Huh?¡±

    I pointed to the bed. ¡°You¡¯re not in the army anymore. Why do you still fold the nkets like this? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a waste of time<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°It¡¯s just a habit,¡± he replied simply.

    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°I think it¡¯s more like OCD. Habits can be hard to break, but they¡¯re usually simple things. This¡­ this is a little excessive<b><i>.¡± </i></b>

    Josh shrugged. ¡°Maybe.¡±

    As if on cue, his eyes fell on the gift bag I was holding, and he reached

    I smiled faintly. ¡°No need, I¡¯ve got it.¡±

    2des out for it. ¡°Let me take that.¡±

 Be Honest 154

    <b>Chapter </b><b>154 </b>

    I remained silent, listening numbly, not knowing what to say.

    <b>I </b>was afraid <b>that </b>anything I said might upset Josh, and, truthfully, my mind wandered back to my parents. I couldn¡¯t help but think of their ident. <b>Was </b>it really just an ident¡­ or something more?

    I was too young to understand when my parents passed. Peter was the one

    who took

    care of everything.

    He probably knew the truth about what really happened that day. When I saw himter, I might just ask him.

    Josh, noticing my silence, didn¡¯t press the issue. We drove in quiet tension, heading to the Dolton family estate. My car had an automatic entry system, so we drove right into the yard without any hassle.

    Aryana, the housekeeper, spotted me and rushed over with a bright smile. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re back! Let me tell Mr. and Mrs. Dolton you¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    ¡°No need to bother them, Aryana. I¡¯ll go in myself,¡± I replied with a smile.

    Aryana nced at Josh, who was walking beside me. I knew she was curious about who he was, so I looped my arm through Josh¡¯s, giving her the answer she was looking for. ¡°This is Josh, my boyfriend.¡±

    Aryana was just a housekeeper, but she¡¯d worked with the Doltons for longer than I had. She was close with Michelle, too. So, even though she might not have been a guest at the table, she was still part of the family¡¯s world.

    Josh nodded politely at Aryana. ¡°Hi, Aryana.¡±

    ¡°Hello,¡± Aryana responded with a strained smile, her eyes clearly watching me. It was obvious that she didn¡¯t approve of the situation.

    To the people here, I was supposed to be Alvin¡¯s wife and now I was walking around with another man.

    3

    No doubt, Aryana wasn¡¯t the only one ufortable with this¨CPeter and Michelle would be, too.

    We walked past her and headed toward the living room.

    Just as we reached the door, I heard Michelle¡¯s voice, sharp and slightly irritated. ¡°You think you¡¯re such a great CEO, Peter, you can manage thousands of people, but your own sons don¡¯t listen to a word you say?¡±

    There was no response from Peter, and I could tell he was probably engrossed in his phone or a magazine, pretending not to hear.

    ¡°Peter, are you pretending to be deaf again?¡± Michelle raised her voice in frustration.

    Even though they were a loving couple, it didn¡¯t mean there weren¡¯t tensions. Today, <b>it </b>seemed like Michelle was really upset about something. But what could have gotten her so angry?

    ¡°I¡¯m not pretending. If I say something, <i>you¡¯ll </i>just keep going on,¡± Peter finally responded, his tone low.

    ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯reining about me talking too much?¡± Michelle huffed. ¡°You men have no heart. After I gave you kids and grew start finding me annoying. Peter, you jerk¡­ Ah, don¡¯t touch me, get off!¡±

    old for you, you

    When we stepped into the living room, I froze. Michelle was sitting on Peter¡¯sp, both of them in a yful but tender tug¨Cof¨Cwar. Peter was holding her tightly while she pushed him away, yet the affection was clear.

    It was rate for a couple at their age to have this kind of yful intimacy was rare.

    For a second, Josh and I stood there, unsure whether to enter or retreat.

    Most middle¨Caged couples were too caught up in the routine of life to share moments like these. It was

    a

    refreshing, almost nostalgic scene <b>for </b>me.

    <b>Chapter </b>154

    <b>Honestly</b><b>, </b>I felt a bit awkward<b>¨C</b><b>we </b>were pretending <b>to </b>be a couple, and here were <b>two </b>real <b>ones </b><b>caught </b>in an <b>intimate </b><b>moment</b>, it was like walking in <b>something </b>private<b>. </b>

    But <b>before </b><b>I </b>could move<b>, </b>Michelle¡¯s little teddy dog started barking excitedly, clearly happy to see me. It was its way of weing me back.

    <b>I </b><b>had </b>spoiled <b>that </b>little dog a lot when I lived here. And now, it seemed like all that affection had paid off.

    <b>AD </b>

    Comment

 Be Honest 155

    As the dog barked, Peter looked up and caught sight of <b>us </b>standing in the doorway. His face immediately furned a shade of crimson. He quickly bet gevaa Michelle, who was still scolding him.

    ¡°You¡¯re so naughty, old man,¡± Michelle muttered, yfully twisting Peter¡¯s ear.

    Peter raised an eyebrow but kept his voice low. ¡°Zoe¡¯s here.¡±

    Michelle didn¡¯t believe him at first, swatting him again. ¡°Stop trying to fool me with Zoe, I don¡¯t believe you.¡±

    ¡°Michelle.¡± I called out to her.

    Her body stiffened. When she turned around and saw me, her eyes lit up in surprise, but then quickly turned to embarrassment when she realized I had witnessed her and Peter¡¯s little intimate moment. Her cheeks flushed red.

    She quickly broke free from Peter¡¯s grip and walked over to me. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re here! Have you eaten? I¡¯ll ask Aryana to¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten, Michelle,¡± I lied. In fact, I how anything yet. It was only now that I realized I hadn¡¯t even asked Josh if he had eaten.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe home for dinner?¡± Michelle scolded yfully.

    She acted like she didn¡¯t see Josh standing beside me.

    point.

    This was her way of showing disapproval of Josh.

    Sho

    spoke only to me, intentionally ignoring him. I knew she wasn¡¯t blind¨Cshe was making <b>a </b>

    Still, Michelle was thedy of the house, so after a long pause, she finally turned her gaze to him. ¡°So, you¡¯re Zoe¡¯s friend?¡±

    1 squeezed Josh¡¯s arm gently, and he took the cue. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mrs. Dolton.¡±

    Michelle nodded. ¡°You¡¯re Zoe¡¯s friend, not an outsider. Come in,e in.¡°/

    Peter stood up and smiled at me. I walked over and handed him the gift with both hands. ¡°Happy birthday, Peter.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯re always so thoughtful,¡± Peter said, epting the gift with a grin before ncing at Josh.

    ¡°Mr. Dolton,¡± Josh greeted him politely.

    Peter gave a small nod. ¡°Take a seat.¡±

    Michelle, ever the gracious host<b>, </b>signaled to Aryana, who immediately brought coffee and fruit. As we sat down, Michelle¡¯s eyes never left me and Josh. She spoke up with a yful but pointed tone. ¡°Zoe, don¡¯t think <i>you </i>can win me over with a gift and then not show up at the party. Peter and I won¡¯t let you off that easily.¡±

    It was as if she had read my mind, and her words left me with no way out.

    I smiled back, undeterred. ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll both be there.¡±

    It was my way of saying, if <i>you </i>want me to attend, you¡¯ll have to ept Josh as well.

    Michelle¡¯s smile faltered for a split second, but then she quickly recovered. ¡°Well, there will be plenty of talented young people at the party. <b>It¡¯s </b><b>a </b>good chance for you two towork and get to know each other.¡±

    It was obvious now¨Cshe was warning Josh that there would be many wealthy young heirs there. She wanted him <i>t </i>

    to know that <b>he didn¡¯t stand </b><b>a </b><b>c </b>

    To people like them, Josh was just another regr guy working a job. And by extension, they were looking down on both him and me.

    <b>Chapter </b>155

    <b>But </b><b>i </b><b>wasn¡¯t </b><b>nning </b>on <b>defending </b><b>Josh</b>. I wanted <b>to </b>see <b>how </b>he <b>would </b><b>handle </b><b>this</b><b>¨C</b>how he would <b>assert </b>himsell <b>without </b>losing fact, in <b>Counter </b>Michelle¡¯s disdain<b>. </b>

    I nced at <b>Josh</b>, and <b>saw </b><b>that </b>he waspletelyposed. ¡°I¡¯d love to meet more of Seastone¡¯s elite, After all, I n to stay here <b>long </b><b>term</b>, h. Cr <b>with </b>a <b>calm </b>confidence.

    I <b>couldn¡¯t </b>help but smile inwardly. His subtle brilliance was undeniable.

    Michelle¡¯s smile tightened at his words, though she masked it quickly. ¡°You n to stay in Seastone?¡±

    Josh took my hand, his grip strong. ¡°Yes. Zoey is here, so I¡¯ll be here too.¡±

    Zoey again. This time, I heard him call my name clearly. The change in tone didn¡¯t escape Peter and Michelle. Their expressions froze for a <b>moment</b><b>, </b><b>as </b>though Josh had just dropped a bombshell..

    Michelle, ever so direct, shifted her gaze back to Josh. ¡°Mr. Hayward, you¡¯re with Zoe. What exactly can you offer her?¡±

    Her tone was no different from my own mother¡¯s when she questioned someone. She stared at Josh<b>, </b>waiting for him to respond.

    I looked at Josh too, suddenly curious how he would answer.

    AD

 Be Honest 156

    <b>Chapter </b><b>156 </b>

    <b>Josh </b>turned to look at me, his grip on my hand tightening noticeably. At that moment, it felt as if he had seized my very heart.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give Zoe all of me. I¡¯ll love her as I love my own life, protect her with everything I have,¡± Josh said, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity <b>that </b>made my heart race.

    His words were deep, like an ocean, and for the first time, I truly understood the meaning of that expression.

    Although our rtionship was just for show, I could feel Josh¡¯s confession, raw and real.

    This guy¡­ he¡¯s ying with me, turning our little act into something genuine.

    He spoke those words so earnestly, and I couldn¡¯t help but respond. I raised my hand to hold his, but his confession made me want to clench my teeth<b>. </b>I hadn¡¯t asked him to turn a pretend rtionship into a real one.

    Instead, I ced my hand on his face, giving it a light squeeze. He was the type of man who would feel awkward in situations like this, especially with his strong sense of integrity.

    But instead of showing any sign of embarrassment, he nuzzled my hand like a little puppy begging for affection.

    It was so shameless. And yet¡­ it was oddly endearing. I hadn¡¯t expected Josh to act this way.

    After rubbing against my hand, Josh turned back to Peter and Michelle, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll love her the way Mr. Dolton loves you, for the rest of my life.¡±

    That was his confession to me, and the rest was his subtle jab at Michelle.

    I saw Michelle¡¯s face stiffen, her smile faltering. Josh¡¯s words had left her without aeback.

    Peter, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. ¡°Zoe, let Josh have a chat with Michelle. Come with me to the study.¡±

    I could guess what Peter wanted, so I took a deep breath and followed him upstairs.

    Once we were in the study, I expected Peter to ask me something, but he didn¡¯t. Instead, he handed me the gift box I had given him earlier and said, ¡°Zoe, open it. Use your new pen and ink to write a few words with me.¡±

    It had been a long time since I had spent this kind of quiet moment with Peter.

    At least three years, maybe more. Thest time I¡¯d written with him, Michelle had mentioned that ¡°As children grow, they naturally drift away from their parents, especially when they¡¯re not their biological children.¡±

    Since then, I¡¯d only visited the study a few times, never to practice writing.

    Today, however, he was acting differently, just like when I was younger, and it made me a little uneasy.

    But I didn¡¯t ask questions. I opened the stationery I had bought, and Peter set up a sheet of paper.

    I gathered the tools, and as he examined them, he said, ¡°Did you really spend too much on this?¡±

    ¡°These tools are priceless,¡± I replied with a smile.

    Peterughed, then said, ¡°Yes, indeed. Now, let me go first. You prepare the ink, and then it¡¯s your turn. I¡¯ll help you prepare it.¡±

    It was <b>a </b>routine we used to follow, and I nodded as I began to prepare the ink.

    Peter wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He carefully readied his pen, and only after I had prepared the ink did he begin writing.

    He wrote<b>, </b>¡°Fallen leaves signal autumn,¡±

    Chapter <b>156 </b>

    Even though it was summer, his choice of words made me realize something he was telling me he understood my <b>thoughts</b><b>. </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Your turn<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Peter said, handing me the pen.

    I hesitated, looking at the pen but not immediately taking it. He smiled at me with his usual gentle expression and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are <b>you </b><b>afraid </b>to write? Forgot how?¡±

    His kindness was there, but I couldn¡¯t shake the pressure I felt. I nodded sheepishly, saying, ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡±

    <b>AD </b>

 Be Honest 157

    <b>Chapter </b><b>157 </b>

    Ever since Michelle¡¯sment, <b>I </b>hadn¡¯t been forced to write for anyone. Though I wasn¡¯t a child anymore, I was still the kind of <b>person </b>who would stacks off ifl could get away with it.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just write whateveres to mind. Don¡¯t worry about how it turns out,¡± Peter encouraged me, holding the pen in front of me.

    How could I not take it? I gripped the pen, and as soon as I did, I felt its weight. Maybe it was the ink, or maybe it was the way Peter¡¯s eyes were full <b>of </b>quiet expectation.

    He wanted me to write like I did before, when all I cared about was Alvin, when I was still the Dolton family¡¯s little girl.

    I started writing, my hand trembling. Despite my efforts, the words came out uneven,

    I knew Peter didn¡¯t care about the quality of my handwriting. He just wanted to know my heart.

    ¡°Live in the present,¡± Peter read the characters aloud, his voice soft but firm.

    He was using words to express his thoughts, and I followed suit.

    Without saying anything more, Peter nodded and looked at me with a serious expression. ¡°Zoe, I bless you.¡±

    He reached out his hand, as if to shake mine.

    But I didn¡¯t shake it. Instead, I gently embraced him and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Peter patted my back and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t discipline my son properly.¡±

    ¤¤

    Earlier, when Michelle had been scolding him, he hadn¡¯t said a word. He hadn¡¯t admitted his fault. But now, here he was apologizing to me.

    Ay that moment, tears welled up in my eyes.

    Peter seemed to sense my emotions. His big hand stroked my head, and then he pulled back to look at my red eyes. ¡°I know everything about what Alvin has done. I¡¯ve already had someone deal with it. If he dares to do it again, I¡¯ll have him out of here. He should know his limits.¡±

    I had nned toin about Alvin¡¯s behavior, but Peter had already anticipated it and said it all before I could even speak.

    He understood me. After all these years, our rtionship was no longer just that of a non¨Cbiological father and daughter¨Cit was like a bond between people who shared a deep connection, blood or not.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, bowing deeply.

    I wasn¡¯t just thanking him for supporting me, but for the love and care he¡¯d given me over the past ten years.

    Peter caught my arm before I could leave. ¡°Don¡¯t do that. Don¡¯t act like you won¡¯t be part of this family anymore.¡±

    I shook my head. ¡°You and Michelle will always be my family. My real family.¡±

    Peter smiled, ¡°Yes. And when we go downstairs, I¡¯ll tell Josh. If he even thinks about hurting you, I, Peter Dolton, will make sure he has no ce left in this world.¡±

    I had never heard him speak <i>so </i>fiercely before. The ever¨Cgentle Peter had turned into someone I didn¡¯t recognize.

    I smiled, touched by his protectiveness. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to tell him.¡±

    Peter gently ruffled my hair and said, ¡°Zoe, no matter who you choose, I only wish for one thing: your happiness.<b>¡± </b>

    At that moment, he felt like my real father.

    <b>Chapter </b>157

    Tears filled <b>my </b>eyes once again, but <b>I </b>nodded fiercely, deeply grateful for <b>everything </b><b>he </b>had <b>done </b>for <b>me</b>,

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go downstairs<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Peter said, leading me toward the door. ¡°I don¡¯t know if Michelle will give Josh a hard <b>time</b><b>, </b><b>but </b><b>she </b>just <b>wants </b>you to be daughter<b>¨C</b>inw. She won¡¯t ept anyone else.¡±

    I linked my arm with his and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Let Michelle test him. If he runs away, it¡¯ll prove he¡¯s not the one for me.¡±

    Peter smiled affectionately and led me down the stairs. Just before we reached the bottom, I stopped him. ¡°Peter, I need to ask you something¡±

    ¡°Hmm? What is it?¡±

    I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. ¡°Was the ident that killed my parents really an ident?¡±

    ¤Ê

    Why we

    NA

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    Comment

 Be Honest 158

    <b>Chapter </b><b>158 </b>

    <b>Peter </b><b>stopped </b>in his tracks. I even felt his body sway.

    <b>I </b>quickly helped him up. ¡°Sir¡­¡±

    He turned to me. ¡°Zoe. Why are you suddenly asking this¡±

    I thought of what Josh had said, but I couldn¡¯t say it to Peter. I could only say perfunctorily, ¡°I was just asking¡±

    Peter no longer had a smile on his face. He was quite scary like this.

    ¡°Zoe, your parents¡® car ident back then was an ident. I police,¡± Peter said solemnly.

    ent to the scene personally. There were also records and an appraisal report from the

    I didn¡¯t go to the scene of the car ident back then, so I didn¡¯t know what the exact situation was.

    I knew that at that time, Peter didn¡¯t let me go because he felt sorry regret.

    for me and didn¡¯t want me

    to see

    that cruel side. However, it also became my lifelong

    ¡°Zoe, if you have any doubts, you can check the records from that year.¡± Peter¡¯s face was pale. He no longer had the joy of joking with me.

    I knew that he had a deep rtionship with my father. They were like brothers. When I mentioned my parents¡® deaths, it probably reminded him of the tragedy back then. He was sad.

    I took his arm. ¡°No need. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t believe you. I¡¯m just asking.¡±

    Peter stared at me. I thought he would say something, but he didn¡¯t.

    A momentter, he sighed. ¡°Zoe, you can go down first. I¡¯ll sit here for a while.¡±

    He had wanted to go downstairs with me, but he changed his mind. My heart instantly felt heavy. ¡°Peter¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Go ahead.¡± Peter waved at me.

    I left the study and did not go downstairs immediately. Instead, I leaned against the wall and spaced out for a while.

    Peter¡¯s reaction was abnormal. I could tell that he was being honest. For a moment, I wasn¡¯t so sure.

    After a while, I went downstairs and heard Michelle chatting with Josh. I was originally worried that they would get awkward or that Josh would be troubled by Michelle. However, when I heard Michelle¡¯s asionalughter, I heaved a sigh of relief.

    I thought, ¡®What was Josh talking about that made Michelleugh?¡®

    I went downstairs suspiciously and heard Michelle say, ¡°Zoe was very naughty when she was a child. When she saw me, she called me Mom, At that time, I said that it would be great if she was my daughter. Her mother said that she could have her marry Alvin or Philip. However, Philip was a little older than her, so she decided to have Zoe marry Alvin.¡±

    This was the first time I know why I was arranged to marry Alvin.

    ¡°At that time, after Zoe¡¯s mother said this, Zoe said that she

    wanted

    to

    marry Alvin. She was not shy at all,¡± Michelle said with a smile.

    It turned out that Josh wasn¡¯t teasing her, but the other way around. What she said was probably provoking Josh.

    ¡°That¡¯s how Zoey is. She is very intimate with others.¡± Josh added.

    I was stunned. Then, I thought, ¡®Why does he sound like he knew about

    Ime when I was young? He should have deliberately said that <b>to </b>provoke Michelle<b>, </b>

    <b>Chapter </b>158

    <b>I </b><b>went </b>downstairs. Michelle and Josh looked at me at the same time. f looked back at them. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

    A momentter, Michelle said, ¡°Where¡¯s Peter? Why didn¡¯t hee down with you?¡±

    Thinking of how Peter looked just now, I said, ¡°He said he would stay up there for a while.¡±

    Michelle looked at my face and seemed to have guessed something. ¡°Zoe, he treats you as if you were his daughter.¡±

    AD

 Be Honest 159

    <b>Chapter </b><b>159 </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>Yeah</b>, I know.¡± I was feeling low.

    Josh had already stood up and walked to my side to hold my hand. I felt his gaze on me deepen. My hands were cold, and he should feel it

    ¡°Do you have anything else to say to Michelle? If not, we¡¯ll go back and stop disturbing them.¡± Josh found an excuse to leave.

    ¡°Okay.¡± I looked at Michelle. ¡°Michelle, we¡¯ll be on our way out.¡±

    Michelle seemed to have noticed that my expression was not good. She subconsciously looked upstairs. She was probably curious about what Peter <b>and </b>I had talked about, so she did not ask me to stay. ¡°Be careful on the way.¡±

    Josh and I left and got into the car. I was about to start the car when he pressed me down. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We talked about my parents.¡± I didn¡¯t hide anything from Josh.

    ¡°Are you asking them about the car ident?¡± Josh guessed it immediately.

    I smiled mockingly. ¡°I was influenced by you and wanted to rify things.¡±

    ¡°And what happened?¡± he asked again.

    Thinking of what Peter said, I started the car and stepped on the elerator. I replied to Josh, ¡°It was an ident.¡±

    When the car drove out of the Dolton family, I added, ¡°He even said that there were reports on the scene and the detailed description.¡±

    Josh didn¡¯t say anything else. At this moment, the city was already filled with colorful lights. It was bustling and lively, especially on the pedestrian

    street.

    ¡°Have you had any food?¡± I asked him, breaking the silence while we waited at a red light.

    ¡°No.¡± Josh was very honest.

    I looked at him. ¡°You have had a lot today. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± He didn¡¯t refuse.

    I found a parking space and parked the car. I <b>got </b>out of the car and looked at the lively street. I said, ¡°You can eat all the delicacies here today.¡±

    As soon as I finished speaking, I felt my body being hit. I fell to the side and instinctively reached out to grab Josh.

    When I regained my bnce, Josh was in front of me. I actually grabbed his cor.

    This posture was really something that would only happen in a television drama. The worst thing was that Josh¡¯s face was right in front of mine. The tip of his nose was pressed against mine. As long as his lips moved, they would definitely touch.

    Therefore, Josh and I did not move. In the crowded pedestrian street, this small ident instantly attracted passers¨Cby. Other than wows, there were also whistles.

    Some kids even started to cheer, ¡°Kiss, kiss, kiss..

    Amidst themotion, I blushed and quickly let go to push Josh, but I didn¡¯t push him away. Only then did I realize that Josh was hugging <b>my </b><b>waist</b>.

    Not only did he not let go of me, but he also hugged me tightly and whispered into my ear, ¡°If you feel shy, don¡¯t <b>move</b><b>. </b><b>I¡¯ll </b><b>take you </b><b>away </b>

    This time, I was obedient. I didn¡¯t push him and let him lead me through the crowd.

    13:37 Wed 201

    Chapter <b>159 </b>

    <b>Unexpectedly</b>, the onlookers refused to let us off and insisted that we kiss.

    Josh and <b>I </b>had intimate gestures like holding hands and hugging, but kissing was definitely out of the question.

    The more we wanted to break through the crowd, the louder themotion became.

    ¡°Quickly think of something, this is too much!¡± I pinched Josh.

    <b>¡°</b>There are so many people. It¡¯s not good to rush out.¡± Josh actually gave me such an answer.

    I was so anxious that my back was sweating. At this moment, Josh leaned close to my ear again. ¡°Why don¡¯t we kiss? I won¡¯t charge you<b><i>. </i></b>

    Hearing this, my eyes widened. I ignored the crowd and looked at him in shock.

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    Comment

 Be Honest 160

    <b>Chapter </b><b>160 </b>

    ording to the project, holding hands, hugging, and kissing were charged. I had previously agreed to this, and now that Josh has <b>said </b>it, he definitely

    knew about it.

    It seemed like there was more to that night after he beat up that man from the blind date, but he never told me. I really didn¡¯t know what to think about

    Josh.

    However, he didn¡¯t kiss me. Instead, he dragged me out of the crowd and ran away.

    This was my first time running in the bustling city. I was surrounded by surprised gazes. They didn¡¯t understand why Josh and I were running, but they consciously made way.

    Hence, on the crowded street, people moved aside. Josh and I ran among them. He held my hand and looked at me from time to time. This scene was beautiful and illusory, like something out of a movie.

    The wind messed up my long hair. Looking at Josh, who was pulling me and running, I suddenly felt like I was eloping with him.

    It wasn¡¯t until I was out of breath that Josh slowed down and finally stopped.

    I panted heavily, and so did Josh. We looked at each other, and his hand

    was

    still holding mine. My heart was beating faster than ever.

    It was the eleration after the sprint. It was also because Josh gave me an experience I had never experienced before. Neither of us spoke until our breathing gradually stabilized.

    However, Josh did not show any signs of letting go of my hand. I even saw his Adam¡¯s apple move again. I couldn¡¯t help but do the same. The atmosphere instantly became ambiguous.

    My heart beat faster. When I swallowed again, I broke the silence. ¡°Why are you pulling me away?¡±

    ¡°If I don¡¯t run¡­ should we kiss?¡± Josh<i>¡® </i>

    swords made me blush.

    I had nothing else to say. I could only try my best to pull my hand back<b>, </b>but Josh did not let go. I raised my leg in anger and stomped on his foot.

    He let go in pain and I quickly fled. Behind me, he chuckled, and my face burned a little hotter.

    ¡°I want <i>to </i>eat this.¡± Josh silently followed behind me. When my shyness and blush subsided, he stopped me in front of a cotton candy shop.

    I said that I was the one who treated him to whatever he wanted, so I naturally couldn¡¯t ignore him.

    I stopped and looked at the cotton candy shop. There were all kinds of cotton candy. It was really dazzling. It made me drool, too.

    I liked cotton candy, but I didn¡¯t show it. Instead, I asked Josh, ¡°Which one do you want?¡±

    ¡°What about you?¡± he asked me instead.

    I looked at it and pointed to various small cotton candies. ¡°Give me one of each of these.¡±

    Then I looked at Josh. ¡°What about you?¡±

    Josh pointed at the ssic one. ¡°I want this kind.¡±

    When we were both done, I paid. Josh did not argue paid, it would make me feel even more indebted to him.

    with

    me

    about paying. This made me feel veryfortable. I had said that I w

    <b>eat </b><b>him</b><b>. </b><b>If </b><b>he </b>

    ¡°Is yours delicious?¡± Josh suddenly asked me while I was eating happily.

    I nced at the cotton candy in his hand and saw that he didn¡¯t eat any of it. ¡°Do you want to eat mine again?<b>¡± </b>

    <b>Chapter </b><b>160 </b>

    ¡°<b>Yes</b><b>, </b>it looks <b>delicious</b><b>. </b><b>Josh¡¯s </b><b>words </b>made me want to roll <b>my </b>eyes.

    <b>thought</b><b>, </b>¡®Why <b>didn¡¯t </b>you choose this one then? Now, you want to eat it.¡®

    <b>¡°</b><b>Yours </b>should be delicious too. It¡¯s the most ssic one,¡± I coaxed him like a child.

    <b>Anyway</b>, I wouldn¡¯t trade with him. I liked to eat fruit¨Cvored cotton candy.

    <b>¡°</b>Then try it.¡± Josh raised the cotton candy in his hand to my mouth.

    I instinctively tilted my head to the side, but he raised it again as if he would stop if I didn¡¯t eat it.

    20

    <b><i>AD </i></b>

 Be Honest 161

    I could only open my mouth and take a bite of the cotton candy in his hand. It tasted sweet. It was really ssic,

    To be honest, it wasn¡¯t bad, but it wasn¡¯t as tasty as the cotton candy in my hand. It was sweet and fruity.

    However, faring the way Josh looked at me, I could only pretend that it was delicious. As I ate, I mumbled, ¡°Very good.¡±

    ¡°I want to try yours too.¡± Josh didn¡¯t eat the one in his hands and made this request instead.

    Instinctively, I hid the cotton candy in my hand behind my back like a child who was afraid that someone would snatch their candy.

    Josh smiled. ¡°I just want to taste it. It¡¯s not like I want all

    After saying that, he smiled. ¡°You¡¯re so petty.¡±

    I did feel that I was being a little petty.

    of

    them. Look at how scared you are.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Fine. It¡¯s just a cotton candy. I¡¯ll just give it to him.¡¯

    Hence, I took out the cotton candy. I had five in total, and they all had different fruit vors. ¡°Here, take your pick.¡±

    Josh didn¡¯t look at the one in my hand. Instead, he stared at the one I just tried. ¡°I want to eat this.¡±

    I thought, ¡®What? I¡¯ve put my mouth on this already!¡®

    Before I could say anything, Josh had already poked his head over and opened his mouth to bite the stick of cotton candy in my hand, taking away the small fruit in the middle.

    It wasn¡¯t until he finished eating and swallowed that I looked at the cotton candy in my hand. There was still one fruit left. I didn¡¯t know whether I should finish it or not.

    At this moment, Josh walked away. I looked at his back and then at the cotton candy in my hand. Thest fruit was a grape. It tasted fresh and sweet after being dipped in sugar. It was the best. I couldn¡¯t bear to throw it away!

    Thus, I opened my mouth and bit down on the cotton candy. Just as I was about to finish chewing and swallow it, I looked up and saw Josh turn his head. He smiled, which he had never done before.

    For a moment, I was embarrassed, and my face quickly turned red.

    ¡°It¡¯s too sweet. I want to drink some water,¡± Josh said as he pointed at a shop not far away. It helped to alleviate my awkwardness.

    ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for you,¡± I said generously.

    After the lesson I learned from the cotton candy, I didn¡¯t choose with him again. I only paid directly after he picked one.

    ¡°You¡¯re not thirsty?¡± It was unknown if Josh really did not understand or if he was doing it on purpose.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not thirsty.¡± After paying, I walked forward/

    Josh followed behind me. He didn¡¯t say anything even after walking for a long time. It made me feel like he had left.

    But every time I turned around, he would follow behind me, neither too far nor too close.

    In the end, I couldn¡¯t help but stop and ask him, ¡°Why are you following behind me? This is Seastone. What <b>if </b><b>you </b>get lost?¡±

    After saying this, I almost couldn¡¯t help butugh. He wasn¡¯t <b>a </b>child, after all.

    I can watch <b>you </b>from behind¡± Josh¡¯s reply stunned me and made me blush again.

    <b>Recently</b>, I seem to be blushing all the time, I seemed to hear someone say that this was a kind of illness, I felt that it was necessary to pelo ther

    to check on it.

    However, I didn¡¯t want Josh to see my embarrassment, so I said stubbornly, ¡°Hurry up and walk in front. Tell me what you want to eat, of there and anything to eatter¡±

    Along the way, he didn¡¯t request anything besides the cotton candy and water.

    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Josh suddenly asked me.

    Before I could reply, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll eat whatever you eat.¡±

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 Be Honest 162

    <b>Chapter </b><b>162 </b>

    I wanted frozen yogurt. It was my favorite.

    Josh frowned when he saw the frozen yogurt I ordered.

    ¡°What, you don¡¯t like it?¡± I asked him deliberately.

    ¡°It¡¯s not good for girls to eat too much of this,¡± Josh replied.

    I smiled. ¡°Josh, so you know a lot about women. Have you really never been in a rtionship before?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Josh said firmly.

    I pursed my lips, clearly not believing him.

    ¡°I have a sister, so I know a little about girls¡® physiology.¡± Josh¡¯s words made me stop eating.

    I thought, ¡®He has a sister? But he has never mentioned her.¡®

    Josh seemed to be able to read my mind and directly said to me, ¡°She is my biological sister, born by the same parents.*

    I looked away from him and took a bite of frozen yogurt. ¡°You¡¯ve never mentioned it.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t found the right moment.¡± Josh also took a bite of frozen yogurt. I clearly saw him frown.

    He didn¡¯t like it. In the past, Alvin did not like it either. He even said this kind of food was made to harm people.

    At the thought of this, I felt ufortable. ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself if you don¡¯t like it. You can order something else.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, but it¡¯s a little cold.¡± Josh looked at me. ¡°It¡¯s sote. If you eat this cold, your stomach will hurt.¡±

    I didn¡¯t reply and protested in silence. Josh seemed to have seen through my thoughts and did not say anything else. The two of us ate it in silence.

    ¡°Zoe,¡± a familiar voice behind me suddenly called out with some surprise.

    I turned around and saw Oscar. There was a girl with exquisite makeup holding his arm.

    ¡°Oscar,¡± I called.

    ¡°Did youe to eat frozen yogurt by yourself?¡± Oscar did not see Josh.

    As soon as he finished speaking, a spoon appeared in my bowl. It was Josh. He scooped away my frozen yogurt and said, ¡°It¡¯s too cold. You shouldn¡¯t have too much of it.¡±

    Oscar¡¯s eyes widened. He looked at me and then at Josh. His rolling eyes were asking me what was going on.

    Thinking of his rtionship with Alvin, the corners of my mouth curled up slightly. ¡°I¡¯m with my boyfriend.¡±

    As I spoke, I held Josh¡¯s hand. He naturally nodded at Oscar.

    ¡°So it¡¯s you?¡± Only then did Oscar seriously size up Josh and recognize him.

    They had met at the amusement parkst time. Josh nodded but did not say anything

    Oscar was very surprised. He shook his head. ¡°Zoe, what¡¯s going on with you? Tell me.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s there to say? I have a boyfriend, and we visited Peter and Michelle from the Dolton family tonight.¡± I said this to let Oscar know <b>that </b><b>it </b><b>was </b><b>true</b>,

    1

    <b>Chapter </b><b>162 </b>

    <b>¡°</b>Aren¡¯t <b>you </b>progressing it too fast?¡± Oscar seemed shocked.

    I smiled and thought<b>, </b>Alvin had already been with Thea before breaking up with me, Wasn¡¯t that faster than this?¡±

    <b>¡°</b><b>You </b>have encouraged me to do so. How could you forget?¡± I asked him.

    Oscar scratched his head and smiled. ¡°I knew you weren¡¯t as innocent as you seemed. I was

    After saying that, he looked at Josh and said to me, ¡°Well done.¡±

    I understood that he was supporting me to fight back against Alvin. In my rtionship with Alvin, Oscar had always been on my side.

    ¡°Alright, you guys eat. When you have time, bring this dude to my ce to hang out.¡± Oscar did not stay any longer. After saying that, he left <b>with </b>the woman beside him.

    I didn¡¯t ask who the woman beside him was. From her dressing and makeup, I knew that she wasn¡¯t Oscar¡¯s proper girlfriend. She was just someone he settled with for the moment.

    Oscar left. I looked at the frozen yogurt in the bowl. Josh had already finished it.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go eat something else.¡± Josh was really not being polite at all.

    I gritted my teeth and said, ¡°Okay.¡±

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 Be Honest 163

    apter <b>163 </b>

    <b>Chapter </b><b>163 </b>

    <b>Josh </b>took me to order two sandwiches. This time, he didn¡¯t snatch mine because it was hot.

    It seemed that it was not the case that he didn¡¯t like to eat frozen yogurt. He just didn¡¯t want me to have too much.

    Though he seemed mean, he really cared about me.

    After eating the sandwich, Josh and I continued forward. We saw people selling pets, as well as flowers and nts.

    In the end, I bought two pots of flowers for Josh. ¡°Your house is too tasteless. I¡¯ll give you some flowers to add some style to it.¡±

    He asked, ¡°I¡¯m a grown man. Am I not style enough?¡±

    ¡°Then I want to add some flower fragrance to you, so you may have more fortune in your life.¡± After I finished speaking, I saw Josh smile.

    I had a strong feeling that his smile was definitely not well¨Cintentioned, so before he could speak, I quickly reached out to stop him. ¡°You can¡¯t say anything.¡±

    He was very obedient and didn¡¯t say anything. Josh carried the flowers and we continued to shop until midnight. However, the entire street was still lively.

    Thinking that Josh still had to work tomorrow, I said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to shop anymore?¡± he asked me.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m sleepy,¡± I made up ame excuse.

    Josh and I walked back. He didn¡¯t say anything along the way. I was too busy looking at the delicacies and trinkets around us and didn¡¯t notice <b>him</b>.

    When I saw a beautiful ganded headdress, I mischievously took one and put it on. ¡°Does it look good?¡±

    I didn¡¯t hear any reply behind me. I turned around and saw that Josh did not look too good.

    Still, he nodded as he looked at the gand of flowers on my head. ¡°It¡¯s nice.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t look good,¡± I said as I strode up to him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?¡±

    As I spoke, I saw the thin perspiration on his forehead. It was very dense. I grabbed his wrist. ¡°Are you sick?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I¡¯m feeling a little sick to my stomach,¡± he said honestly.

    The image of him eating ice noodles shed across her mind. ¡°It¡¯s because you had too much frozen yogurt.¡±

    He hesitated and didn¡¯t answer. I grabbed his wrist and exerted force before I heard him make a soft sound of agreement.

    Hearing this, I suddenly got angry. ¡°How long has itsted?¡±

    ¡°The whole time¡­¡±

    I raised my hand to hit him, but when I saw his face, I pulled him away while saying, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡±

    Josh did not follow me. Instead, he pulled me back. By the time I reacted, he had already paid for the wreath on my head.

    Actually, I was just trying it on and had no intention of buying it. Now that he had paid, I had no choice but to wear it.

    He didn¡¯t look good, so I didn¡¯t bother to argue with him. I pulled him quickly to the hospital.

    <b>Chapter </b><b>163 </b>

    Because it was toote, I wasn¡¯t sure if I could find the right doctor, so I contacted Jasmine.

    Unfortunately, Jasmine did not pick up the call, so I could only bring him into the emergency room.

    After consultation and examination, it was diagnosed as acute gastroenteritis and could only be transfused.

    Josh was sick because of me. It was impossible for me to leave him by himself. I apanied him to the infusion room. The usually tough Josh was actually weak from the pain. It was pitiful and funny.

    I took out my phone and couldn¡¯t help but take a photo of him at that moment. Josh noticed and reached out to stop me, ¡°Stop it.¡±

    <b>¡°</b>You should stop it,¡± I said while dodging,

    Although he was having an infusion, the two of us seemed to be having fun until someone else came in.

    Both he and I stopped. When I saw who it was, the smile on my face froze.

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 Be Honest 164

    <b>Chapter </b><b>164 </b>

    Like me, Alvin stood at the door with a stiff face. Ever since we broke up, it seemed that every time we met, we would make each other enraged.-

    At this moment, I was ying andughing with Josh, while Thea was beside Alvin.

    Alvin kept saying that he had broken up with Thea, yet reality had proved him a liar.

    I was momentarily stunned before I retracted my gaze to avoid looking at him, I felt that I would lose control of myself if I kept doing so.

    Josh grabbed my hand as if he didn¡¯t see anything, but he didn¡¯t snatch my phone away. Instead, he said, ¡°I want you to take a good one of me another time.<b>¡± </b>

    These words made my imagination run wild. Moreover, it sounded like we were a couple flirting with each other.

    Alvin strode over. ¡°Zoe,e out with me.¡±

    He had amanding tone and the posture of a high¨Cranking person.

    Moreover, he had Thea with him. He did not care about her feelings <b>at </b>all.

    I didn¡¯t even look at him. I only replied, ¡°I am not avable right now.¡±

    I really was, because I had to apany Josh.

    The next second, Alvin¡¯s hand reached out, wanting to use force on me, but before he could touch me, Josh¡¯s hand went up to block him.

    No one said anything. They justpeted silently.

    However, this could not go on. Furthermore, Josh was still on an IV drip. Although he could beat Alvin up, once he attacked, he would be <b>at </b>a natural disadvantage.

    I knew I couldn¡¯t stop them. After all, I was their fuse. If I stepped in, it would only make the situation worse.

    Looking at Thea, who had a terrible expression, I snorted. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to pull him away?¡±

    Thea didn¡¯t move. I looked at her coldly. I didn¡¯t know how intimidating my gaze was, but Thea shuddered when she met my gaze.

    Without letting me speak, she obediently pulled Alvin. ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m not feeling well. Hurry up and bring me to the doctor.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Does she want medication? This is notmon for a pregnant woman. After all, any drug can cause irreversible harm to the fetus.¡®

    Just as I was feeling puzzled, I heard the nurse call out, ¡°Which one of you is here for a problem with the fetus? Hurry up ande over here.¡±

    It waste at night and there was no one in the room. Other than Thea, there could not be anyone else.

    I thought, ¡®A problem with the fetus? Is her baby in danger?¡®

    I subconsciously looked at her stomach, but Thea leaned closer to Alvin and said weakly, ¡°Alvin, the doctor is asking for me.<b>¡± </b>

    She pulled Alvin, who was staring at me, to follow.

    <b>I </b>could see that Alvin was filled with anger at this moment. He looked like he wanted to settle scores with me and fight Josh.

    However, in the end, he was still obediently dragged away because of Thea.

    Alvin was the second son of the Dolton family. He was the apple of everyone¡¯s eye and had been spoiled since he was young. He would <b>not </b><b>go </b><b>along </b><b>with </b>others. It was always the other way around. However, when he was with Thea, he had actually changed so much.

    13:38 Wed, <b>20 </b>Aug jo

    <b>69</b>%

    If he didn¡¯t love her deeply, he wouldn¡¯t be able to do this. But if it was love, he shouldn¡¯t show his jealous in front of Thea. His rtionship <b>with </b><b>Thea </b>

    really puzzled me.

    However, I didn¡¯t want to waste my time on it. After they left, I looked at Josh and said, ¡°Behave yourself.¡±

    I didn¡¯t want him to have any conflict with Alvin, even though Alvin would definitely be the one suffering in the end.

    Josh sat down and I apanied him. It was the same as before, but theughter from before was gone.

    Not far away, I could hear the nurse¡¯s question Thea. I had to listen even if I didn¡¯t want to. Those words drilled into my ears.

    18.38 Wed 20 Aug

 Be Honest 165

    <b>Chapter 165 </b>

    <b>After </b>listening to Theamunicate with the nurse, I found out that Thea had fallen at the amusement park today.

    I thought, ¡®In the end, she has harmed herself. Who could she me? She is the one who has brought this upon herself,

    Thea came over for an infusion. Alvin brought her and sat opposite me and Josh, It seemed that he would not stop until he dealt with <b>us </b>tonight.

    However, he did not say anything when he sat down. Since he decided to stay quiet, Josh and I would not spare any attention on him.

    However, Alvin was determined to cause trouble. He would not stay silent forever.

    After two minutes of silence, he questioned me, ¡°Zoe, why did you bring him home today?¡±

    Actually, before he asked this, I knew that he should have gone crazy because of what happened tonight. As expected, I was right.

    My expression was very calm as I said, ¡°It means that I¡¯m starting a new life<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    Alvin snorted and looked at Josh in disdain. ¡°With him<b>?</b>¡±

    ¡°Yes<i>, </i>with him.¡± I put my hand over Josh¡¯s as I spoke.

    Alvinughed dryly. ¡°Zoe, your ears always turn red whenever you lie since you were young. The tips of your ears are red right now<b>. </b>You can lie <b>to </b>me when you change this habit.¡±

    I¡¯d forgotten all about that if he hadn¡¯t mentioned it. Instinctively, I wanted to touch my ears<b>, </b>but I held back.

    If I revealed a guilty conscience at this moment, my act with Josh would have been in vain.

    I looked at Alvin. He looked back at me. His originally angry face suddenly revealed an evil smile.

    He was clearly saying, ¡°Zoe, I won¡¯t believe you.¡±

    ¡°Her ears also get red when she¡¯s angry,¡± Josh added.

    Alvin nced at him coldly, as if he was upset that Josh intervened.,

    Josh¡¯s words reminded me that my ears would indeed turn red when I was angry, <b>so </b>I didn¡¯t have to feel guilty at this moment.

    However, I thought, ¡®How did Josh know that? We¡¯ve known each other for days, and he already noticed that? <b>If </b>that is the case, he is really meticulous.¡¯

    ¡°My ears are red whenever I see you now,¡± I replied to Alvin calmly.

    The anger on Alvin¡¯s face was revealed again, but he did not let it out. Instead, he sneered. ¡°Are you not afraid of angering me because you know <b>I </b>can¡¯t do anything to you since you are my woman?¡±

    These words were really shameless. Moreover, his words were too explicit<b>, </b>making it easy for people to misunderstand. It could be seen from Thea¡¯s ugly expression.

    At this moment, my hand was lifted. Before I could react<b>, </b>I felt the back of my hand burn. Josh kissed the back of my hand.

    Alvin was too quick with his words, but Josh used his actions to provoke him.

    Although I knew that Josh was acting along with me, the back of my hand that he had kissed became wet and hot. <b>The </b>feeling <b>made </b><b>my </b><b>cheeks </b><b>turn </b><b>red</b>.

    Josh¡¯s kiss hadpletely enraged Alvin. He stood up, but Thea pulled him back before he could reach us. She looked at <b>him </b><b>with </b><b>teary </b><b>eyes</b>. <b>¡°</b>I <b>just </b>want to be done with this and leave. If you don¡¯t want to apany me, I won¡¯t do it anymore.¡±

    <b>Thea </b>was about to pull out the needle as she spoke when Alvin pressed her down,

    <b>Thea¡¯s </b>tears fell. <b>We </b>could almost hear the sound of <b>it </b>shattering on the ground,

    This trick was very effective. Alvin became obedient and did not do anything else. Josh¡¯s procedure finished at this time called a nurse to remover in needle for him.

    Josh¡¯s clothes were a little messed up from sitting for too long. I raised my hand to straighten it up before I thought of Alvin¡¯s covetous eyes <b>behind </b>me.

    Thinking of my goal of making him give up, I made a bold decision. I grabbed Josh¡¯s cor and pulled him down. Then, I raised my head and kissed his lips.

    *

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>166 </b>

 Be Honest 166

    <b>Chapter </b><b>166 </b>

    I <b>could </b>clearly feel Josh¡¯s body tremble. He probably didn¡¯t expect me to take the initiative to kiss him.

    However, in the next second, hisrge palm grabbed my waist. At this moment, I moved away from his lips and smiled at <b>him</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b>This is <b>the </b>award for you to behave yourself.¡±

    As I said this<b>, </b><b>I </b>suddenly recalled the scene of Alvin getting an injection when he was sick. He was thost afraid of needles, so he would <b>suffer </b><b>when </b><b>he </b>was sick instead of going to the hospital.

    To him<b>, </b>taking a needle was more like being tortured by the most frightening thing in the world. He was really like a child.

    I had to coax him for a long time every time. I would cover his eyes during the injection. I even let him bite my arm when the needle pierced his body

    So every time Alvin finished his injection, I would feel relieved as if I hadpleted a grand mission.

    He would also ask for a reward after the injection<b>, </b>such as having me dance for him or sing to him

    In any case, once Alvin got sick, he would start acting like an annoying kid.

    But today, Josh was very obedient. He didn¡¯t need me for anything. Even when the needle was being inserted, he asked me to turn my back and not look.

    He was afraid that I would be bored, so he asked me to walk around instead of sitting next to him.

    Now that I had made aparison, I realized that I had not been treated as a girlfriend by Alvin. Instead, I had been treated as a maid.

    Because of my words, Josh tightened his grip on my waist. His voice was low and hoarse. ¡°Looks like I have to get sick more often in the future.¡±

    I felt speechless. I understood what Josh meant. I did not reply to him and prepared to leave with him.

    Alvin¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Zoe, you¡¯ll feel better this way, right? We¡¯re even now.¡±

    I paused and turned to look at him.

    There was anger on his face, but his voice was calm as he repeated, ¡°Zoe, we¡¯re even.¡±

    I felt that Alvin could always show me how much lower he could go.

    ¡°Alvin, have you lost your mind?¡± I scolded him and left.

    Josh didn¡¯t let go of my waist until we left the hospital and arrived at the parking lot.

    I was about to open the door when my shoulder tightened. I was turned around by Josh and pressed against the car.

    His eyes were very deep and bright as if the starlight had fallen into them tonight.

    He didn¡¯t say anything and just looked at me. That look made my heart race so fast it almost jumped out of my throat.

    I was not stupid. I knew that kiss just now turned him on. Therefore, I had to make sure that he didn¡¯t misunderstand it.

    I immediately said, ¡°Josh, I just wanted to make Alvin give up. Don¡¯t think too much.¡±

    As soon as he finished speaking, I saw the light in Josh¡¯s eyes suddenly extinguish. His pupils constricted. ¡°You mean it¡¯s just an <b>act</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°That¡¯s right. What else could it be? We¡¯re in a fake rtionship.¡± Isneered. I didn¡¯t need to look in the mirror to see how fake my smile was.

    Josh¡¯s grip on my shoulder tightened. ¡°Your acting is quite real.¡±

    13319 Wed 20 Aug

    <b>Chapter </b>166<b>. </b>

    He wouldn¡¯t have believed it otherwise,¡± I said truthfully.

    I kissed Josh just now <b>to </b>make Alvin give uppletely. I just didn¡¯t expect Alvin to think that I was taking <b>revenge </b>on <b>him</b><b>. </b>

    I felt that I was the one who ended up losing a great deal. Especially now that Josh took it seriously. This was the biggest problem for me,

    I couldn¡¯t give Josh any false hopes. He was an honest good man. I couldn¡¯t trick him.

    Hence, I raised my hand and pushed his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t take it seriously.¡±

    Josh¡¯s expression was so ugly that I couldn¡¯t bear to look.

    /

    Comment

 Be Honest 167

    <b>Since </b>he didn¡¯t let go, I wouldn¡¯t be able to push him away. In such a confined space, I couldn¡¯t breathe properly. Just as I was <b>about </b>to escape from under his armpit, I heard him say in a low voice, ¡°If it were that man from your blind date or someone else, would you kiss them too?

    Thadn¡¯t thought about that. Then, I felt that I probably would not. After all, I hadn¡¯t kissed many people.

    Even when I was with Alvin, I only kissed him secretly when he was sick, or asleep after drinking. However, I only kissed his cheek <b>or </b>the back of his hand.

    But just now<b>, </b>my lips were pressed against Josh¡¯s. This was something that Alvin and I rarely had.

    Even when Alvin kissed me, he only kissed my cheek and forehead. He had never kissed me on the lips before.

    He had once said, ¡°Zoe, we¡¯re too familiar with each other that I can¡¯t bring myself to do you.¡±

    In the end, he just didn¡¯t love me. Someone had said that when a man and woman kissed, their lips and tongues would secrete dopamine. They <b>couldn¡¯t </b>help it. Hence, the only reason why Alvin didn¡¯t kiss me was because he didn¡¯t love me.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like hypotheses,¡± I said.

    Josh¡¯s jaw tightened and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. Then, he insisted, ¡°But I want to know.¡±

    His eyes were persistent and firm, and the pressure was heavy.

    My breathing was a little irregr. Then, Iughed mockingly. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time you¡¯ve been kissed by a girl, right? Why are you so dertermined?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it was!¡± His reply froze the smile on my face.

    A few secondster, I said something that even I felt wasme and annoying. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make it up to you.¡±

    ¡°How do you n topensate me?¡± Josh asked.

    It was clearly me who had the initiative, but at this moment, I was actually being led into a trap by him.

    Il clearly knew whatpensation he wanted the most.

    I pursed my lips and felt that there was only one way to make him give up. ¡°Josh, we agreed that it was just an act. It¡¯s the same for physical contact. If you take it so seriously, I will have to rece you.¡±

    <i>¡°</i>Are you going to change your boyfriend every day?¡± Josh¡¯s voice was as cold as ice.

    I smiled faintly, looking a little heartless. ¡°I don¡¯t want to either, but you can¡¯t afford this game. I have no choice.¡±

    Josh stopped talking. His entire body was emitting cold air, as if he wanted to freeze me.

    I endured the cold air and continued to provoke him. ¡°I know you¡¯re very innocent. Speaking of which, I would hold your hand, hug you, and even kiss you. I¡¯m indeed taking advantage of you, so let¡¯s end our fake rtionship right now.¡±

    With that, I pushed him hard again, then opened the car door and got in.

    But he stood still. I lowered the window and looked at him. ¡°You¡¯re not leaving?¡±

    He remained silent. I smirked, rolled up the window, and stepped on the gas.

    The car drove a few feet away before I looked into the rearview mirror and saw Josh standing there alone in the dark <b>night</b><b>, </b><b>as </b>if he <b>had </b><b>been </b><b>abandoned </b>by the world.

    At that moment, I suddenly felt that I was <b>a </b>terrible person/

    <i>10 </i>

    I didn¡¯t know if <b>Josh </b><b>would </b>go <b>back </b>to his apartment across the street <b>from </b><b>me</b><b>, </b>but I <b>didn¡¯t </b>want <b>in </b>go back there.

    Hence, I called Jasmine again, but she still did not answer. It seemed that she was operating surgery again in that case<b>, </b>I had no choice bir banta

    I drove the car back to my residence. Before getting out of the car, I deliberately fooked up at Josh¡¯s window.

    It was pitch ck. As expected, he did not return.

    I didn¡¯t know where he would go. I let out a long sigh of relief, got out of the car, and went upstairs.

    However, as soon as I went upstairs, I saw a person standing in the dark corridor. The scene of the man from the blind date stalking <b>me </b>suddenly surged into my mind. I immediately tensed up and stopped. Then, I turned around and ran.

    <b>AD </b>

 Be Honest 168

    <b>Chapter </b><b>168 </b>

    It¡¯s me!¡± A familiar voice echoed down the hallway.

    1 grabbed the railing abruptly and stopped, finally releasing the breath I had been holding.

    After a brief pause, I turned and walked back upstairs, spotting Josh standing in the shadows.

    Remembering the awkwardness of ourst parting, I found myself at a loss for words. However, I had been genuinely startled, so I pretended to <b>be </b>annoyed and said, ¡°Do you have any idea how terrifying you look like that?¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± he responded with that single syble again, oblivious to how cold and frustrating it sounded.

    Just as I was about to say something more, he spoke in a low voice, ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    That left mepletely speechless.

    I took out my keys and went to unlock my door. Just as I inserted the key into the lock, his deep voice sounded again as he stated, ¡°Tonight, I was overthinking things. It won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    ¡®Huh?¡® I thought, momentarily stunned.

    I turned my head, but he had already stepped through his half¨Copen door.

    As he closed it, he met my gaze and said, ¡°Goodnight.¡±

    My lips parted slightly, but his door had already shut by the time I found my voice. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®from now on¡®?¡± I asked.

    Deep down, I understood¨Che refused to end our fake rtionship.

    But I truly didn¡¯t want to continue it any longer. I couldn¡¯t afford to.

    I even began to regret asking Josh to y the role of my boyfriend.

    It wasn¡¯t that I feared he would cling to me; I was more afraid of hurting him.

    He had never been in a rtionship before, yet I had used him as a prop, taking his first hug, hand¨Chold, and kiss.

    I had beenpletely selfish..

    Cursing myself internally, I stepped into my apartment. The guilt weighed on me, making it impossible to sleep that night.

    I dreamt of Josh¨Che followed me around meekly, muttering, ¡°Why did you kiss me? That was my first kiss.¡±

    I woke up very early with pent¨Cup guilt. It was still dark outside the window.

    Checking the time, I saw that it was 4:30 AM.

    I knew Josh would already be awake by now. If I guessed correctly, he was probably out for his morning <b>run</b>.

    This was my best chance to avoid him.

    So, I got up, quickly washed up, changed my clothes, and slipped out.

    As my car drove through the dim morning light, I suddenly realized how pathetic 1 had be¨Chiding in my <b>own </b>home like <b>a </b><b>thief</b>.

    <b>To </b>avoid Josh, I left early and returnedte, sessfully dodging any encounters with <b>him</b>.

    <b>Chapter </b>168

    <b>However</b><b>, </b><b>every </b><b>night </b><b>when </b>I came <b>home</b>, I <b>would </b><b>find </b><b>a </b><b>cold </b>breakfast left <b>at </b><b>my </b><b>door</b><b>, </b><b>making </b>my guilt <b>grow </b><b>heavier </b>each <b>day</b>.

    Several times<b>, </b><b>I </b>considered messaging Josh <b>to </b>tell him not to prepare breakfast for me anymore. But I <b>was </b>afraid <b>he </b>would ask me why, sal prece <b>not </b><b>to </b>notice<b>. </b>

    I <b>thought </b>he would understand my message if he saw the untouched breakfasts.

    Sure enough, the breakfast was gone on the third day when I returned home.

    I let <b>out </b><b>a </b>sigh of relief, yet deep down, an inexplicable sense of loss crept in.

    This feeling frustrated me to no end¡­

    They say failure in love leads to sess at work. That saying was proving true. I had quickly gotten into the rhythm of my job and evert secured <b>a </b><b>major </b>deal over the phone. Now, all that remained was an in¨Cperson meeting to finalize the details.

    ¡°Zoe, I heard you¡¯ve beening to the office at six every morningtely?¡± Bryson asked with a smile when he ran into me at the coffee station.

    I nodded with a small grin and replied, ¡°I just want to get up to speed with thepany¡¯s operations as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°I get it, but you¡¯reing in way too early. You know thepany doesn¡¯t pay overtime, right?¡± Bryson joked.

    I smiled lightly in response, ¡°I¡¯m doing it willingly.¡±

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>169 </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>That¡¯s </b>exactly why you¡¯re <b>a </b>department head. If everyone worked as hard as you, Centrium Corporation would be soaring <b>to </b>new heights in <b>no </b><b>time </b>Bryson said<b>, </b>his ttery making me want tough.

    He always spoke with half¨Ctruths¨CI never took him seriously.

    ¡°That being said, thepany¡¯s sess can¡¯t rest on just your shoulders. I¡¯ve noticed your efforts and reported them to the higher¨Cups. The <b>big </b>boss has decided you¡¯re not allowed to overwork yourself like this anymore. If you get burned out, that would be a huge loss for thepany<i>,</i><b><i>¡± </i></b>Bryson added. So much for my excuse toe in early.

    But it didn¡¯t matter anymore¨CI no longer needed to avoid Josh.

    He had stopped leaving breakfast at my door for several days now. He must have finally gotten the message.

    ¡°I heard you have an important client visiting today. A big deal?¡± Bryson asked as he shifted the topic.

    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re arriving at ten¡ªjust an hour from now,¡± I replied with a smile. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, Mr. Skinner, I¡¯ll go make the final preparations.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Best of luck, Zoe,¡± Bryson said, raising his coffee cup in a toast.

    Returning to my office, I reviewed the necessary documents onest time. By 9:50, I headed to the meeting room and double¨Cchecked the setup.

    This client was crucial. If I secured the deal, it would not onlypensate for the loss of resources that Alvin had stolen but also increase our department¡¯s performance significantly.

    At exactly ten, the client arrived.

    But, the moment I saw who it was, my face darkened.

    It was Alvin.

    But I wasn¡¯t supposed to be negotiating with the Dolton Group. He was here under a different name.

    He took in my expression, a rxed smile ying on his lips. Extending a hand, he greeted me, ¡°Hello, Zoe.¡±

    I did not take his hand. Instead, I stared at his everposed face, my anger ring. But I kept it hidden, fixing him with an icy gaze and asked, ¡°Are you here for a genuine business negotiation, or are you just here to cause trouble?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m here for business. What else would I be here for?¡± Alvin responded, his demeanor both roguish and mischievous.

    This starkly contrasted with the cold and aloof man he used to be around me.

    ¡°Fine. Then let¡¯s begin our discussion,¡± I said. Even though I knew he had ulterior motives, I still underwent the proper procedures.

    I had thoroughly researched Enphase Renewable Energy Company, thepany he was using for this deal. It had promising potential and impressive growth, having been established two years ago.

    Clearly, Alvin wasn¡¯t dedicating all his efforts to the Dolton Group. The reason was obvious¨Cafter all, thatpany was his father¡¯s legacy, which <b>meant </b>he had to share it with Philip.

    Alvin cooperated and agreed to all my conditions without hesitation, making the negotiation surprisingly smooth.

    But his easypliance unsettled me¨Cthere was no way he hade just for business.

    Sure enough, when I handed him the contract to sign, he pulled me aside and said, ¡°Zoe, what¡¯s the point of being <b>a </b>department head at such a <b>small </bpany?¡±

    <b>Chapter </b><b>169 </b>

    <b>I </b><b>didn¡¯t </b><b>respond</b>, simply pressing my <b>lips </b>together and watching him.

    <b>¡°</b><b>If </b><b>you </b>stop being stubborn, I¡¯ll make you your boss. Enphase could be yours,¡± Alvin said grandly.

    <b>¡°</b><b>So</b>, Mr. <b>Dolton</b>, you didn¡¯te to negotiate¨Cyou came to poach me instead,¡± I mocked.

    <b>¡°</b>Zoe, I just want you back by my side,¡± he said, his expression uncharacteristically sincere.

    <b>I </b>stared at his thin lips. They say men with thin lips are often unfaithful¨Cperhaps there was some truth to that.

    ¡°Alvin, I don¡¯t want to keep repeating myself. You should know by now that we are never getting back together,¡± I stated firmly.

    His face darkened. ¡°I¡¯ve done all this for you, and you still won¡¯t give in<b>?</b>¡±

    ¡°I just want you to let go of the past and stop pestering me,¡± I replied, making his smile falter.

    Before he could say anything else, Bryson walked over. Standing beside me, he nodded slightly at Alvin before turning to me and said<b>, </b>¡°Zoe, <b>I </b>just <b>got </b>word from the higher¨Cups. The boss has rejected this deal.¡±

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    <b>This </b>powerful boss was as elusive as <b>a </b>shadow<b>, </b>constantly appearing and disappearing without a trace, yet he seemed <b>to </b>know everything about the <bpany</b>.

    Alvin directly shifted his anger toward Bryson and eximed, ¡°Not cooperating on this deal? Do <i>you </i>even <i>know </i>who you are talking <b>to</b><b>? </b><b>Do </b><b>you </b>know who <bm</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    At this point, Alvin was the perfect example of a nouveau riche, giving off a showy aura.

    Bryson held a water cup in his hand, adopting the demeanor of an old¨Cschool official. His face bore a smile that did not reach his eyes as he said, ¡°<b>My </b>boss is well aware of who you are¨Cthat¡¯s precisely why he refuses to do business with you.¡±

    Hearing this, I thought, ¡®He doesn¡¯t say much, but when he does, his words <b>cut </b>deep.¡¯

    Alvin was on the verge of losing control. His tone was sharp and menacing as he demanded, ¡°Who is your boss? Does he no longer wish to operate <b>in </b>

    Seastone?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, my boss said that even if he left Seastone, he still would not work with you,¡± Bryson stated. His words were not only smooth but alsoced <b>with </b>

    venom<b>. </b>

    Alvin¡¯s face visibly darkened with anger, and he threatened, ¡°Fine, fine, just you wait. And pass that message along to your so¨Ccalled boss.¡±

    ¡°Alright. My boss also asked me to pass a message to you, Mr. Dolton¨Cbring it on!¡± Bryson dered, his words sharp enough to make one cough up

    blood.

    The veins on Alvin¡¯s forehead throbbed violently. I was genuinely worried he might throw a punch at Bryson¡¯s ever¨Csmiling face.

    However, Alvin held himself back. After ring at Bryson for a few seconds, he turned to me and said, ¡°Zoe, I know you have a soft heart and hate dragging others into your problems. If <i>you </ie with me today, none of this has to happen. But if you refuse, do not me me when thispany pays the price for your stubbornness.¡±

    Since persuasion and persistence had failed, Alvin resorted to outright threats.

    I had indeed grown up in the Dolton family, eating their food, but the resilience my parents instilled in me ran deep in <i>my </i>bones.

    If I were the type to be easily intimidated, things between Alvin and me would not have reached this point. So, I replied, ¡°Alvin, if you dare to go through with this, you will be trampling over thest shred of whatever we had left.¡±

    ¡°Damn it! You don¡¯t even want me anymore¡ªwhat the hell is left between us?¡± he cursed.

    I had no desire to argue with him here, nor did I want my colleagues gossiping about it, so I directly issued an order to leave, ¡°Mr. Dolton<b>, </b>you may go

    now.¡±

    Alvin lifted his hand slightly as if he wanted to strangle me or drag me away by force.

    Bryson spoke up at the perfect moment. ¡°Zoe, if you are not going to see him off, why don¡¯t youe to my office? I have something to discuss with you.¡±

    That was a well¨Ctimed suggestion¨CI wanted to talk to him too.

    With that, I followed Bryson, ignoring Alvin, who looked as if he were ready to set the world on fire.

    <b>¡°</b>Mr. Skinner<b>, </b>who exactly is the big boss? How did he know about today¡¯s events?¡± I asked bluntly as soon as we entered Bryson¡¯s office.

    This person was not only mysterious but also seemed very protective of me. He refused to work with Alvin simply <b>because </b><b>he </b>knew who he <b>was</b>.

    That alone made <b>me </b>think more deeply about the situation.

    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>told him<b>, </b>of course. How else would he know? He¡¯s not omniscient,¡± Bryson replied, speaking with his usual yful tone.

    <b>¡°</b>Then why did he terminate the deal? Does he know Alvin?¡± I continued questioning.

    Bryson sat there grinding coffee beans, his well¨Cshaped fingers contrasting against the

    ¡°Maybe. I am not entirely sure,¡± he said, shing a smile.

    dark coffee machine. The scene was quite <b>pleasing </b>to the e

    This man had a bright and masculine aura, yet his smile carried an unexpected touch of softness.

    I pursed my lips and nced around Bryson¡¯s office but found no clues about the big boss.

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>171 </b>

    8 ????31%;

    Taking a deep breath, I asked directly, ¡°Mr. Skinner, when will the big boss visit thepany?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ that is hard to say. Maybe by the end of the year. He doesn¡¯t care much aboutpany affairs,¡± Bryson replied, and his answer made me roll my eyes internally.

    ¡®If he doesn¡¯t care, why would he personally intervene in my case?¡® I wondered.

    I let out a mocking chuckle. ¡°So, ording to you, Mr. Skinner, the big boss is just a figurehead?¡±

    ¡°More or less,¡± Bryson agreed with a nod. Then he added, ¡°But sometimes he does exercise his authority¨Cas he did today.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Skinner, do you have any information about him?¡± I asked. Even if I could not meet him, knowing his name

    would be a start.

    Bryson looked up at me and asked, ¡°Are you interested in the big boss now?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he is too mysterious. It makes me curious,¡± I admitted.

    Just then, Bryson finished grinding the coffee beans. He lifted them to his nose and took a deep whiff before

    Then he turned to me and said, ¡°Let me make you a cup.¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± I declined. I had no interest in coffee at the moment¨CI was too fixated on unraveling the mystery of this

    boss.

    Bryson held up the coffee grounds and stated, ¡°The big boss gifted these beans. Are you sure you do not want to

    try them?¡±

    ¡°Rather than drinking the coffee he sent, I would rather meet him in person,¡± I said honestly.

    Bryson merely smiled without saying a word.

    His cryptic smile confused me, so I asked, ¡°Mr. Skinner, what are youughing at? Is my request unreasonable, or do you find it amusing?¡±

    Bryson shook his head and replied, ¡°No, it is not unreasonable. I just think the big boss is too tempting. He has not even met you, yet you are already so eager to see him. What a dangerous man.¡±

    I was at a loss for words.

    But I understood that Bryson was only teasing. As he ced the coffee cup in front of me, I said directly, ¡°If you are worried about my intentions, just show me his resume. Let me at least get an idea of who he is.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I am afraid that is not possible,¡± Bryson declined without hesitation, just as I expected.

    I scoffed. ¡°And why not?¡±

    Bryson sighed dramatically. ¡°Because the big boss does not agree.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± I pressed, sensing that he was deliberately evading my questions.

    ¡°Because he is afraid people might develop a crush on him,¡± Bryson replied, as the rich aroma of coffee filled the air.

    From my years in the Dolton family, I developed a keen nose for high¨Cquality coffee, which was undoubtedly top- tier.

    Clearly, this boss was no ordinary man.

    ¡°Zoe, you do not know this, but our big boss is an absolute heartthrob. It is not just women¨Ceven I struggle to keep myself together when I see him,¡± Bryson said shamelessly.

    At this point, I understood¨CBryson was purposely dodging my inquiries. There was no way he was going to let me meet the big boss.

    I was still curious, but pressing further would be pointless.

    Besides, I did not want Bryson to think I had ulterior motives.

    ¡°Zoe, try this coffee. One sip and you will never want anything else again,¡± Bryson rmended.

    I smiled faintly. ¡°If that is the case, I better not drink it. I might not be able to afford it in the future.¡±

    Saying that, I stood up and headed for the door.

    ¡°Zoe, are you sure? This is not a coffee just anyone gets to taste. Do not regret itter,¡± Bryson called after me.

    Leaving his office, I exhaled deeply¨Cpartly from frustration with Alvin, but also because of Bryson.

    This man looked harmless with his ever¨Cpresent smile, but he was infuriating.

    Back at my office, I asked around about the big boss. However, everyone said they had only seen Bryson and never met the owner.

    This made me wonder, ¡®Could the big boss be a fabricated figure? Is Bryson just ying games with me?¡®

    Just as I was pondering this, my phone rang. Myra¡¯s panicked voice came through, nearly in tears. She cried, ¡°Zoe, something terrible has happened!¡±

 Be Honest 172

    Be Honest 172

    <b>Chapter </b><b>172 </b>

    People can truly scare each other to death.

    $31%¡ê

    Myra¡¯s words instantly made my heart leap into my throat, and I asked, ¡°What is it? Do not panic¨Cexin clearly.¡±

    ¡°Some people are at the amusement park looking for trouble with Josh. There are quite a few of them, and they

    are covered in tattoos¨Cthey look terrifying,¡± Myra replied, and her words eased my anxiety slightly.

    I had thought it was some other kind of ident, but now it seemed like someone was just looking to cause

    trouble for Josh.

    Although Myra was quite frightened, and those people indeed sounded intimidating, I was not worried because

    Josh could handle it.

    Although my inexplicable trust in him was strange, I felt that no one could hurt him.

    ¡°Did they make a move?¡± I asked.

    ¡°No, they have not found Josh yet, but they are asking around. They will be here soon,¡± Myra¡¯s voice trembled as

    she asked, ¡°Zoe, what should we do? Should we call the police?¡±

    I thought for a few seconds and answered, ¡°Find Josh first and ask him about the situation. Let him decide

    whether to call the police or not.¡±

    I was not sure why those people were looking for Josh, so it was better to let him make the decision.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Myra agreed, then asked me, ¡°Zoe, are you stilling?¡±

    Without hesitation, I said, ¡°Of course!¡±

    How could I not care when something happened to Josh?

    Besides, I suspected that this trouble had something to do with Alvin. After all, when he left earlier, he had warned me that my currentpany would pay a price. If that was the case, then Josh was likely caught in the crossfire as

    well.

    After hanging up the phone, I grabbed my bag and left. As I dialed Alvin, I passed by Bryson¡¯s office just as he stepped out. Seeing me with my bag, he immediately asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    I was waiting for Alvin to answer the call, so I did not respond to him.

    ¡°I am talking to you, Zoe. Where are you going?¡± Bryson asked again.

    Just as I was about to reply, Alvin answered the call and asked, ¡°What, have you changed your mind now?¡±

    ¡°Did you send people to the amusement park?¡± I asked directly.

    ? ? 31%¡ê

    Alvin let out a low scoff. ¡°What are you talking about? I do not understand. Who are these people?¡±

    His response caught me off guard. Aside from lying to me about Thea, he had always been someone who took responsibility for his actions. If he had sent people to threaten Josh to force me back to his side, he would not have denied it.

    That meant the people at the amusement park had nothing to do with him.

    ¡®But then who else could be targeting Josh?¡® I wondered.

    ¡°Alvin, you had better not lie to me, and you had better noty a hand on Josh,¡± I said before hanging up.

    Alvin immediately called back, but I did not answer.

    I drove straight to the amusement park. By the time I found Josh, he was already surrounded by a group of burly men. Just as Myra had described, they were obviously from the criminal underworld.

    Myra clutched my sleeve tightly and asked, ¡°Zoe, Josh does not want to call the police, but I am really worried. Should we call them anyway?¡±

    I ignored her and took a few steps forward. I overheard one of the men saying to Josh, ¡°If you want to stay alive, you had better behave yourself. You should know what you can and cannot do.¡±

    Josh¡¯s tanned face showed no trace of fear as he questioned, ¡°What is this? Someone is feeling guilty and sent you all to threaten me?¡±

    ¡°Cut the nonsense. You should know your ce,¡± the leader of the group replied. He was a bald man, and under the midday sun, his head was so shiny that a fly could probably slip if it tried tond on it.

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>173 </b>

 Be Honest 173

    <b>Chapter </b><b>173 </b>

    ¡°Since I have made my move, I have already considered the consequences. If you want <i>to </i>stop me, you will have to. kill me first. And I am not someone who goes down easily¨Cif you want a fight, then bring it on,¡± Josh replied, hismanding presence sending chills down my spine.

    But his words sounded oddly familiar. Earlier today, Bryson had said something simr¨Cor rather, he had repeated what his boss had said.

    My gaze instinctively fell on Josh¡¯s face, but based on what I knew about him, there was no way he had any

    connection to that boss.

    ¡°Oh? Acting tough, are we?¡± The bald leader sneered. ¡°Let us see if you can handle the price of being tough.¡±

    He cracked his neck, producing a sharp series of pops, then barked, ¡°Smash it all!¡±

    Immediately, his men began wrecking the amusement park. Josh did not move, and I understood why.

    He was not afraid. He just knew that if these men vandalized the amusement park, they would be crossing Alvin¡¯s

    territory, which would change everything.

    Just then, the park¡¯s security guards rushed in. They might have ignored threats against Josh, but the amusement

    park itself was off¨Climits. Their job was to protect the park.

    Although the troublemakers were strong, they were outnumbered. In no time, the security guards had them

    subdued.

    But these men were no pushovers. They would not havee to cause trouble if they were not capable.

    Suddenly, the bald leader grabbed the head of security and pressed a knife to his throat. He snarled, ¡°Let him go,

    or I will slit his throat right here!¡±

    I had not expected the situation to escte like this. I quickly signaled the security guards to let the thugs go for

    now.

    They released their grip, but the bald man did not let his hostage go. Instead, he turned to Josh and demanded, ¡°I

    know you are tough, but I enjoy breaking tough guys. Get on your knees and kowtow to me three times, and I will let him go. Otherwise, I will spill his blood.¡±

    ¡°You cannot just hurt people like this!¡± I eximed as I could not hold back any longer.

    The bald man nced at me and sneered, ¡°Oh? Where did this beautye from? Since you care so much, why note into my arms? I promise I will not hurt you¨Cor him.¡±

    The saying ¡°thugs and scoundrels¡± had never been more urate.

    He started dragging his hostage toward me, clearly intending to involve me whether I agreed or not.

    31%

    thad already made up my mind¨Cif he came near, I would not hold back.

    But just as he got closer, before I could act, Josh moved in a sh. In the next second, I saw him swing his long leg, and with a pained scream, the bald man flew backward.

    With a loud thud, he hit the ground, his head bouncing twice on impact.

    As the saying goes, ¡°Thick flesh creates great sticity!¡±

    That saying had never been more fitting.

    The other thugs froze for a moment before rushing forward, shouting, ¡°Freddie!¡±

    Freddie, who had been acting tough, suddenly turned into a coward.

    Seeing their leader in such a state, the remaining men immediately tried to attack Josh. However, before they could make a move, Josh barked, ¡°Get lost!¡± His voice was sharp andmanding.

    The men stopped in their tracks as if they had been petrified.

    A momentter, they helped their bleeding leader to his feet and hurried away. I nced at the amusement park, now inplete disarray from the fight, then turned to Josh and asked, ¡°What exactly is going on?¡±

    ¡°My father¡¯s car ident¨Cthey are trying to stop me from investigating it,¡± Josh replied without hiding the truth from me.

    I was stunned. If that was the case, then it meant his father¡¯s ident was indeed suspicious.

    Instinctively, I asked, ¡°Have you found anything?¡±

    Josh remained silent. It was only then that I realized I had been avoiding him recently, barely even seeing him. My sudden questioning must have seemed abrupt.

    I let out an awkward chuckle and said, ¡°Never mind, I¡­¡±

    Before I could finish my sentence, someone called out, ¡°Mr. Dolton!¡±

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>174 </b>

    31%

    ¡°What is going on?¡± Alvin¡¯s cold voice rang out, carrying the authoritative tone of a high¨Cranking CEO.

    There was no trace of the usual yful stubbornness he disyed with me.

    People always said women were unpredictable, but in reality, men were no different.

    The security chief, whose face had turned pale from fright, was still trembling, but he ran over quickly to report the

    situation.

    After listening, Alvin nced at Josh and asked, ¡°So this entire situation was caused by Josh¡¯s personal

    grievances?¡±

    The moment I heard those words, I knew Alvin was deliberately putting Josh in a difficult position.

    Josh did not respond, but Alvin¡¯s lips curled into a mocking smile. ¡°Josh, hmm?¡±

    ¡°That is correct,¡± Josh replied, neither denying nor defending himself.

    Alvin bent down, picked up a shattered piece of debris from the ground, and questioned, ¡°Josh, how do you think

    this matter should be handled?¡±

    ¡°What does Mr. Dolton want to do?¡± Josh replied. He was not oblivious to Alvin¡¯s intentions and countered with a

    question of his own.

    I remained silent. Speaking now would only add fuel to the fire.

    If it were not for me, Alvin would not be making things difficult for Josh over such a trivial matter. In fact, knowing his temperament, he would likely have sided with Josh instead.

    After all, this incident had happened on Dolton Group¡¯s territory, and the property that had been damaged belonged to thepany. The saying goes that even when punishing a dog, one must consider its owner. The tant disregard shown by the perpetrators today was nothing less than a p to Alvin¡¯s face.

    Alvin tossed the fragment in his hand aside, dusted off his fingers as if brushing away filth, and stated, ¡°Since Josh has personal matters to deal with, I think it is best he prioritizes them. Until he has handled his affairs, Mr. Dolton. will take over responsibilities here.¡±

    I was stunned. Alvin was essentially suspending Josh from his work.

    The lighting adjustments were already in their final stages, and there was little left to do. Whether Josh stayed or not would make little difference, making Alvin¡¯s actions a clear case of discarding someone after they had served their purpose.

    Suddenly, I thought, ¡®What if Alvin had sent those people earlier? Could this entire situation have been orchestrated to give him a reason to remove Josh?¡®

    21Aug b?

    13.01 Thu, 21 Aug

    ? 31%¡ê

    ¡°I am not one of Mr. Dolton¡¯s employees. You have no authority over my employment status,¡± Josh replied firmly.

    Alvin let out a mockingugh. ¡°Oh? Then why not try and see for yourself?¡±

    As he spoke, he pulled out his phone. I knew he was about to call Josh¡¯s superior.

    I stepped forward and interrupted, ¡°Mr. Dolton, you have not even investigated the situation, yet you are already making decisions. Do you not think that is inappropriate? Also¡­¡±

    I paused momentarily before continuing, ¡°Although the lighting adjustments are nearlyplete and <i>could </i>technically be finished without Josh, are you certain the final oue will meet expectations?¡±

    Just as I finished speaking, Philip arrived, appearing to have just heard the news. He walked over hastily.

    His first ncended on me, and I took the opportunity to speak. ¡°Mr. Philip, Mr. Alvin intends to dismiss Josh. You will be responsible for the final adjustments. Do you think you can handle it?¡±

    I had deliberately thrown the problem at Philip.

    Truthfully, it was a bit hical of me to ask such a question. I only dared to do so because I was confident Philip would take my side.

    Philip¡¯s gaze deepened slightly as he looked at me, then shifted toward Alvin. He stated, ¡°The adjustments must still undergo final testing. It would be best for Josh to remain until the final inspection.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s expression darkened instantly. The way he looked at Philip conveyed his frustration¨Che was angry that Philip was not taking his side.

    However, Alvin had already made up his mind and refused topromise. Instead, he coldly addressed Philip, his own brother, in a strictly professional tone. ¡°Mr. Philip, if you insist on keeping him, do not me me if the

    amusement park ispletely wrecked before the adjustments are even finished.¡±

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 Be Honest 175

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    Philip seemed to have a general idea of what had happened. He nced at Josh before responding, ¡°Josh will handle the matter appropriately. Personal affairs will not interfere with his work. Besides, our security team also bears responsibility for allowing unauthorized personnel inside. We cannot ce all the me on Josh alone.¡±

    Alvin¡¯s face turned livid, as though he had never expected Philip to side with Josh so tantly,pletely disregarding his authority.

    ¡°Mr. Alvin, I am currently in charge of the amusement park. Leave this matter to me,¡± Philip added, effectively implying that Alvin was overstepping his bounds.

    Alvin was so furious he was practically steaming. If it had been anyone other than Philip, his brother, he would have already thrown them out.

    ¡°Fine. If something like this happens again, you will share the responsibility with him,¡± Alvin snapped before storming off.

    Watching him leave, I let out a sigh of relief.

    Philip turned to Josh and said, ¡°Write a report detailing what happened. As for the damages, I will arrange for repairs. The cost will be covered by either you or yourpany.¡±

    His statement was professional and impartial, demonstrating a sense of fairness.

    Josh was not one to shirk responsibility. He simply responded with a single word: ¡°Understood.¡±

    Philip nodded slightly and left. He did not look at me, but I knew that if it had not been for me, he would never have sided with Josh.

    His feelings for me were both direct and restrained. He was even willing to oppose Alvin for my sake.

    Seeing him like this made me feel both guilty and powerless to repay him.

    Now that the matter was resolved, I no longer had any reason to stay. I nced at Josh before turning to leave.

    However, just as I drove out of the amusement park, Alvin¡¯s car blocked my path. He stepped out, yanked open my car door, got in, and ordered, ¡°Drive.¡±

    I had no idea what he intended to do, and I replied, ¡°If you have something to say, Mr. Dolton, just say it. I have work to get to.¡±

    ¡°I said, drive!¡± he snapped, tugging at his cor in frustration.

    He was like a lion with ruffled fur¨Cprovoking him would lead to no good. I gripped the steering wheel and asked, ¡°Where does Mr. Dolton want to go?¡±

    ¡°Just drive,¡± Alvin shouted again.

    Knowing further argument was pointless, I stepped on the gas and drove away.

    He did not say where he wanted to go, but I knew exactly where to take him¨CI headed toward the Dolton family

    estate.

    Alvin realized something was off and asked, ¡°Who said I wanted to go home?¡±

    ¡°Well, you never said you did not,¡± I countered, determined to push back.

    ¡°Zoe, are you trying to drive me insane?¡± Alvin growled. ¡°That Josh¨Cyou saw it yourself¨Che is not someone simple. He got involved with people from the underworld, people who dared to vandalize Dolton Group property. Do you have any idea how powerful they must be? Can you even imagine what else they might do?¡±

    I understood that he was warning me to stay away from Josh, fearing that I would be a target.

    ¡°Have you forgotten, Mr. Dolton?¡± I replied. ¡°Once, a girl who liked you locked me in a hospital morgue and warned me to leave you. She said if I did not, I would end up as one of the corpses. Yet I survived, and I remained your girlfriend.¡± My words made Alvin¡¯s expression turn extremely ugly.

    I looked Alvin straight in the eyes and said with unwavering determination, stating, ¡°I, Zoe Kemp, am not someone who backs down from threats. Nor do I run away at the first sign of trouble.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, do not be ungrateful!¡± Alvin roared, pulling off his tie and wrapping it around his wrist.

    ¡°Alvin, we have nothing to do with each other anymore,¡± I stated. ¡°Whether I live or die is none of your concern. You have people in your life who need you more.¡±

    Just as I finished speaking, my phone received a message. The screen shed as it connected to the car¡¯s disy.

    It was a message from Thea: [Zoe, I am waiting for you here.] Below it was a location link.

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    Be Honest 176

    <b>Chapter </b><b>176 </b>

    ¡®She¡¯s waiting for me, so I have to go?

    ¡®Who does she think she is?¡® I wondered.

    Lignored the message entirely, while Alvin stared at me intently, oblivious to the notification shing across his

    screen.

    ¡°Zoe, are you really determined not to be with me anymore?¡± Alvin asked with bloodshot eyes.

    I was tired of repeating myself, so instead of answering, I asked, ¡°Then what exactly do you want me to do for you to believe I¡¯m not joking? Marry Josh and get a marriage certificate?¡±

    I had already kissed Josh just to make him give up, yet Alvin still thought I was just ying around.

    ¡°Zoe!¡± Alvin spat my name through gritted teeth.

    This was how he always acted when he was furious. I used to fear him like this, but now, I feel nothing.

    So, this was the difference between caring about someone and not caring at all.

    I lowered my gaze slightly before looking up at him and stated, ¡°Alvin, we are truly over. How do I put this? Even if every man in the world disappeared, and you were the only one left, I still wouldn¡¯t be with you.¡±

    I admitted my words were cruel and humiliating, but I was exhausted from his relentless entanglement.

    Alvin¡¯s face contorted as if he had been struck by lightning. He was speechless, just staring at me¨Cstaring and staring¡­

    Even though I wasn¡¯t looking at him, I could feel the shift in his gaze¨Canger, resentment, frustration, and a deep sense of unwillingness and despair.

    ¡°Zoe, don¡¯t regret this,¡± he murmured.

    I gripped the steering wheel and replied, ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°And what if something bad happens to me? Would you regret it then?¡± he suddenly asked.

    1 looked at him in confusion, only to see his reddened eyes as hemented, ¡°Zoe, I know I was wrong. I know I hurt you. I¡¯ve tried everything to make you change your mind, but you refuse to give me another chance¡­¡±

    He shook his head slightly, his reddened eyes glistening, and begged, ¡°Do you want me to get down on my knees and beg you?¡±

    He truly regretted it¨CI could feel it.

    But I had known that for a long time. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have done so many out¨Cof¨Ccharacter things.

    31%

    The problem was that some mistakes couldn¡¯t be undone¨Clike spilled water that could never be gathered back.

    ¡°Alvin, I don¡¯t need you to do anything because no matter what you do, it won¡¯t change anything,¡± I said calmly.

    ¡°Ha,¡± Alvin let out a coldugh. ¡°So you¡¯re sentencing me to death¨Can immediate execution, no less.¡±

    I didn¡¯t respond, because that was exactly what I was doing.

    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± Alvin nodded and turned his face away.

    I saw him lift his hand to wipe the corner of his eye.

    ¡®Did he just cry?¡® I thought as my heart clenched for a second¡­

    ¡°Stop the car!¡± Alvin suddenly barked.

    I mmed on the brakes. As soon as the car stopped, he opened the door and left without looking back.

    I sat in the driver¡¯s seat, watching as he took off his jacket and held it in his hand, kicking at the air in frustration as he walked farther and farther away.

    At that moment, I knew my rtionship with Alvin waspletely over.

    Thea must have been growing impatient. She called me directly when she couldn¡¯t reach me and saw that I wasn¡¯t replying to her messages.

    I was already frustrated, so I declined the call. But she immediately sent another message: [Zoe, I just want to talk. I have no ill intentions. I¡¯ll wait for you.]

    Thatst sentence was nothing but pressure¨Ca veiled threat.

    I wasn¡¯t going to fall for it, and thought, ¡®If she wanted to wait, that was her problem, not mine.¡®

    I went to see Jasmine, and fortunately, she was home.

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    <b>Chapter </b>177

    ¡°Last time, you called me in the middle of the night. I was so exhausted after surgery that I never got back to you. Were you sick?¡± Jasmine asked as soon as she saw me.

    Kicking off my shoes, I stepped onto the carpet andmented, ¡°Jasmine, if I really had been sick, I would have burned to ashes by now.¡±

    Jasmine wrapped an arm around my shoulder and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you upset?¡±

    ¡°No. I know you¡¯re busy. It was nothing important,¡± I replied, not mentioning Josh¡¯s illness.

    Jasmine didn¡¯t believe me and probed, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t important, you wouldn¡¯t have called me in the middle of the

    night.¡±

    ¡°It was about Josh,¡± I finally admitted, not wanting her to worry.

    Jasmine poured me half a ss of freshly squeezed apple juice and advised, ¡°That guy is really something. Zoe<b>, </b>if

    you don¡¯t hold onto him, you¡¯ll regret it for the rest of your life.¡±

    My mind was still a mess because of Alvin. I took a sip of apple juice and muttered, ¡°Alvin and I arepletely

    done.¡±

    Jasmine scoffed. ¡°Weren¡¯t you done a long time ago?¡±

    Staring off into the distance, I replied, ¡°This time, it¡¯s really over.¡±

    Jasmine seemed to sense my mood. She clinked her ss against mine and cheered, ¡°Congrattions!¡±

    Her words made <i>me </iugh, and I asked, ¡°Alvin was nice to you, too. Why are you like this?¡±

    ¡°He could be the nicest guy in the world, but if he wasn¡¯t good to you, then it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Jasmine responded. She truly was my ride¨Cor¨Cdie.

    ¡°Come on, forget about him. Let¡¯s drink our juice, and then we¡¯ll go get some good food,¡± she added, clinking her ss against mine again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go. I¡¯m not in the mood,¡± I declined.

    But Jasmine didn¡¯t care about my protests¨Cshe still dragged me along. ¡°After dinner, we¡¯ll hit a bar and check out some hot guys.¡±

    Without her white coat, Jasmine transformed into a city vixen. The phrase don¡¯t judge a book by its cover suited her perfectly.

    She said a new French restaurant had opened, and she wanted to treat me to foie gras. As luck would have it, the restaurant was right next to the caf¨¦ where Thea had asked to meet me.

    13:0

    hu, 21 Aug

    4.31%

    I hadn¡¯t even gotten out of the car when I spotted her through the caf¨¦ window, staring nkly at something, lost in thought.

    ¡®She¡­ actually looks kind of pitiful,¡® I thought.

    It had been two hours since she messaged and called me. Apparently, when she said she would wait, she meant it.

    Herst message said she needed to tell me something. Curiosity suddenly sparked in me. More importantly, if she was going to sit there waiting for me all night, I wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy my meal in peace.

    I gestured toward the caf¨¦ and said to Jasmine, ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to her. You order the food first.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Jasmine said without stopping me.

    She knew Thea was pregnant, and her philosophy was that no matter what mistakes adults made, the child was innocent.

    When I sat down across from Thea, she blinked in surprise, as if she hadn¡¯t expected me to show up.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you noting?¡± she asked with a hint of sarcasm.

    ¡°I¡¯m only here for the baby¡¯s sake,¡± I replied bluntly.

    Thea let out a bitter smile. ¡°Sit down. Want a coffee or something?¡±

    ¡°No. Just get to the point¨CI have dinner ns,¡± I said curtly.

    A flicker of difort crossed her face. She carried herself with gentle grace, as if untouched by time, but that forced smile betrayed her pretense.

    ¡°So? What does Miss Mills want to talk to me about? Alvin?¡± I asked, cutting straight to the chase.

    She lowered her head, gazing at her belly. After a brief silence, she looked up and asked, ¡°Zoe, do Alvin¡¯s parents like children?¡±

    I froze for a moment, trying to decipher her meaning, when she continued, ¡°Do you think they would ept the child I¡¯m carrying?¡±

    Ìï

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 Be Honest 178

    <b>Chapter </b><b>178 </b>

    ¡®Is she nning to marry Alvin?

    ¡®Otherwise, she would not have asked such a question.

    ¡®But just two hours ago, Alvin was still trying to win me back,¡¯ I pondered.

    Suddenly, I recalled what Alvin had said¨Cif he ended up miserable or if something happened to him, would I

    regret it?

    I contemted, ¡®Is he really trying to make me regret it this way?

    ¡®If so, then Alvin is truly insane¨Cfoolish and childish to the extreme.¡®

    I pretended not to understand, looked at Thea, and murmured, ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°I want to be with Alvin, the kind where we get married,¡± Thea looked at me and said.

    I gave a faint smile and replied, ¡°Is that so? Congrattions.¡±

    ¡°But I am worried that Alvin¡¯s parents will not ept this child,¡± Thea said, looking deeply troubled.

    I tapped my fingers lightly on the table without responding. This had nothing to do with me, so I had nothing to

    say.

    ¡°Zoe,¡± Thea suddenly called my name with a firm tone. ¡°I know your status in the Dolton family. I also know that Alvin¡¯s parents treat you like their own daughter, so¡­¡±

    She hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, ¡°Can you help me?¡±

    She did not specify what she needed help with, but I knew.

    I did not wait for her to finish and rejected her outright. ¡°No.¡±

    Thea¡¯s face darkened further as she questioned, ¡°Why? Because you resent me for ruining your rtionship with

    Alvin?¡±

    So, she was self¨Caware. I did not deny it and said, ¡°A little.¡±

    I was human, not a saint. Thea had indeed been the trigger that caused my rtionship with Alvin to break down,

    even if she was not the root cause.

    Expecting me to hold no resentment at all was impossible.

    But in a way, I should thank her. She made me see my rtionship with Alvin clearly and allowed me to cut my

    losses in time.

    ¡°Do you really think it was because of me?¡± Thea sneered at me.

    ? .31%;

    ¡°Zoe, even without me, you and Alvin would have ended up separated,¡± Thea stated as if she understood my rtionship with him better than I did.

    I let out a dry chuckle and feigned ignorance, ¡°Oh?¡±

    Thea looked at me and continued exining, ¡°You and Alvin were together for ten years. There was affection, but not the kind between a man and a woman¨Cjust familial warmth from being together for so long. The only reason. you two became a couple was because the elders instilled that idea in you, and you went along with it.¡±

    She was not wrong. I had thought about this before.

    I had thought about why Alvin, despite being with me, had secretly kissed Thea¨Ca married woman.

    I had wondered about why leaving him did not cause his heart to tear apart.

    Because, in the end, we simply did not love each other enough. We were too familiar, so familiar that whatever love we had was devoid of passion.

    ¡°Zoe, if he truly loved you, if your love had been instant and passionate rather than something that developed over time, he would not have secretly kissed me just to seek excitement,¡± Thea added, her words sharp.

    I looked at her, the corners of my lips curling slightly. ¡°Are you saying all this to justify your role as a mistress?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Thea denied. She then added, ¡°I was never the other woman. I never seduced Alvin¨Che was the one who

    pursued me first.¡±

    Who had pursued whom? I really did not know.

    But I knew very well what she was trying to do, so I asked, ¡°So you think that just because you were not the one

    who broke up my rtionship with Alvin, I should speak up for you?¡±

    ¡°I am begging for your help,¡± Thea lowered her posture instantly and responded.

    I pursed my lips and studied Thea. She was delicate and beautiful, but not the type Michelle would like.

    Michelle had a straightforward personality and a striking, imposing appearance.

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>179 </b>

    She preferred bold, confident women. In her words, someone with a frail and dainty look likely had a weak heart.

    and a small mind.

    Judging people by their looks was not ideal, but Michelle had seen a lot in her lifetime. Her words held some truth.

    ¡°I cannot help you,¡± I stated bluntly.

    ¡°Why?¡± Thea asked, a hint of panic in her voice.

    I pressed my lips together lightly and replied, ¡°Michelle is strong¨Cwilled. No one can easily change her mind.¡±

    ¡°But she loves you. She would at least consider what you say,¡± Thea lowered her gaze, making herself look pitiful, and pleaded, ¡°You know my situation. If I lose Alvin, I do not know how I will survive.¡±

    Her husband had died, and she had not seemed worried. Yet now, because Alvin might abandon her, she suddenly

    could not go on?

    I almostughed.

    ¡°If you know how much Michelle cares about me, then you should also understand that she will never ept you,¡± I replied. Michelle had always considered me her ideal daughter¨Cinw. If it was not me, it would not be anyone.

    Thea fell silent.

    ¡°Miss Mills, if you want happiness, you have to fight for it yourself. You cannot rely on others,¡± I said, then stood up.

    Thea murmured, ¡°What if there was no child? Would his family ept me then?¡±

    Hearing this, I frowned slightly. ¡®Did I not make myself clear enough just now?¡® I thought.

    But I was too tired to continue the conversation. I simply walked away.

    When I told Jasmine about Thea¡¯s request, she shook her head and chuckled, ¡°She really is shameless.¡±

    I pouted, ¡°She might be able to be with Alvin, but getting epted into the Dolton family? That will not be easy.¡±

    I knew Peter and Michelle well. Peter cared about reputation. He did not expect Alvin to marry someone from a wealthy background, but at the very least, she had to have a clean past.

    As for Michelle, there was no way she would let her son raise another man¡¯s child,

    ¡°She knew she had no chance, so she came to you for a shortcut. You did not agree, did you?¡± Jasmine asked.

    I clinked my ss against hers andughed, ¡°Do you think I am stupid, or just heartless?¡±

    Jasmine chuckled, shaking her head, ¡°Alvin seemed like an intelligent guy, but I honestly do not know what got into him this time.¡±

    13 01 Thu, 21 Aug

    31%

    n

    ¡°Whatever happens to him is no longer my concern. Come on, let¡¯s not talk about him. It ruins the mood,¡± I said, downing my drink.

    The wine was rich and slightly bitter, warming me as it went down.

    I could hold my liquor, but after a few sses, I was still a little drunk.

    In the end, Jasmine took me home. She wanted to bring me to her ce, but I refused.

    ¡°I want to go to my own home,¡± I murmured.

    Jasmine eyed me. ¡°Do you have something on your mind? Looking for Josh?¡±

    I grinned and nodded. ¡°Mhm, but who knows if that jerk is even home?¡±

    When Jasmine dropped me off, Josh¡¯s door was closed. I walked over and knocked. ¡°Josh, open up. Stop avoiding

    me¨CI know you¡¯re in there.¡±

    ¡°He probably isn¡¯t home,¡± Jasmine noted, seeing that there was no response after a while.

    ¡°He is. He is just hiding from me. All I did was kiss him without taking responsibility, and now he is holding a grudge?¡± Iined.

    Jasmine¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement as she probed, ¡°Wait, you kissed him? Did you make the first move? Zoe, you really went for it.¡±

    ¡°It was just a kiss! If I had really gone all the way, I wouldn¡¯t be mad right now,¡± I shook my head and added, ¡°He is no fun. Too fragile.¡±

    Jasmine gasped, ¡°Zoe, do you actually have feelings for Josh?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± I hupped, emboldened by the alcohol. ¡°Jasmine, I really want to take off his tank top and feel his

    chest and abs, and¡­¡±

    Before I could finish, the door suddenly swung open. Josh stood there, towel in hand, his damp hair dripping as he

    stared at me.

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    <b>Chapter </b><b>180 </b>

    I was utterly humiliated!

    This was the second time!

    The first time, I had walked in on Josh stepping out of the shower. This time, I was fantasizing about him, and he caught me in the act.

    I thought, ¡®I suspect he did this on purpose. I knocked on that door for ages¨Cwhy did he only open it <i>now</i>?¡®

    At this moment, the only way to avoid embarrassment was to pretend I was drunk and then act like I cked out.

    That way, I would not feel embarrassed¨Cthe awkwardness would be his problem instead.

    ¡°Jasmine, someone is here. Look, he is right inside,¡± I said casually, pretending I had said nothing out of the ordinary, as I gestured toward Josh.

    Jasmine¡¯s lips twitched. She looked at Josh with secondhand embarrassment and said, ¡°She drank too much.¡±

    ¡°I am not drunk,¡± I replied, ying along with Jasmine¡¯s act.

    After all, people who are actually drunk never admit to it.

    Jasmine pinched my waist lightly and said, ¡°Oh, right. You only had a ss of red wine¨Chow could you possibly be

    drunk?¡±

    I was at a loss for words.

    A friend could stab you in the back!

    Jasmine, my most trusted and steadfast best friend, had betrayed me right in front of my face.

    I did not even dare look at Josh, but he was looking at me and asked, ¡°Did you need something from me?¡±

    ¡°N¨CNo, nothing,¡± I stammered as I turned around and pushed Jasmine toward my little door.

    ¡°I need to talk to you,¡± Josh¡¯s voice sounded behind me.

    I wanted to bury my head in Jasmine¡¯s back and disappear. Instead, I said, ¡°I feel dizzy. Whatever it is, let¡¯s talk

    tomorrow.<i>¡± </i>

    I dove straight into my small room without giving him another chance to speak.

    ¡°Look at you, such a coward,¡± Jasmineughed as soon as she shut the door.

    I red at her¨Cmy face burning with frustration¨Cwhile sheughed shamelessly. ¡°If you have the desire, you should have the courage. Now that the truth is out, the next step is easy: open both doors, share one bed, and forget about Mr. Dolton.¡±

    13:01 Thu, 21 Aug

    ? ?,31%L

    Faced with Jasmine¡¯s teasing, I pushed her away in exasperation and cried, ¡°Get out! Leave now! We are done being friends!¡±

    ¡±

    ¡°If you ever sleep with Josh, you better give me a huge gift as a thank you,¡± Jasmine said, genuinely hoping to set

    us up.

    After Jasmine left, my face still felt hot. I kept listening for any noise from the room across from mine, terrified that Josh woulde knocking.

    Actually, I hade back today specifically to find him¨Cto ask about the people who had surrounded him earlier and to check if there were any updates on his father¡¯s ident.

    But now¡­

    ¡®How could I possibly face him and ask?¡® I wondered.

    In the end, Iy down on the couch and fell asleep amid my embarrassment, anxiety, and unease.

    That night, I slept on the couch, waking up at dawn, around five o¡¯clock, to the sound of the door across the hall opening and closing.

    Josh was up. I thought, ¡®But was he leaving, or just going for a morning run?¡®

    I ran to the window and saw him outside with a backpack, riding his bike away.

    ¡®He bikes this far every day?

    ¡®This is the first time I¡¯ve noticed,¡® I thought.

    But with him gone, I breathed a sigh of relief¨Cat least I did not have to worry about running into him and facing yesterday¡¯s awkwardness.

    Around noon, just as I finished my work at the office and was about to investigate the identity of the big boss, Jasmine called me.

    Remembering how she had set me up yesterday, I clenched my teeth as I answered, ¡°Miss Glisson¡­¡±

    Before I could say another word, Jasmine cut me off and said, ¡°Zoe, Thea came in for an abortion. What¡¯s going on?¡±

    My nerves tightened, and I instantly sobered up. Recalling our conversation at the caf¨¦, I asked, ¡°Did she go through with it?¡±

    <b>Chapter </b>181

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    <b>Chapter </b>181

    ¡°Not yet. She made an appointment. Let me check the time,¡± Jasmine paused for a moment and then said,

    ¡°Eleven o¡¯clock.¡±

    I nced at the time¨Cit was already ten.

    ¡°Did she say why?¡± I asked Jasmine.

    ¡°No. She just said she did not want it anymore. She signed the papers herself. The baby is already over three

    months along, so it would require an induced abortion,¡± Jasmine exined in detail.

    I had never been a mother, but hearing that still made my heart tighten. I said, ¡°Stall <i>her </i>for now. I <i>need </i>to contact

    Alvin.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you want to get involved?¡± Jasmine asked.

    I hesitated for a moment before exining, ¡°I just saw her yesterday, and today she¡¯s getting an abortion. Who

    knows what he will think if I don¡¯t let Alvin know? Besides¡­¡±

    This child was Benjamin¡¯s only bloodline left in this world.

    I hung up on Jasmine and called Alvin.

    He did not answer. Considering how I had rejected him before, I thought maybe he would not pick up my calls

    anymore.

    Alvin finally answered just as I debated whether to hang up and try from a different number. His voice was cold as

    he spoke, ¡°Hello.¡±

    ¡°Thea is getting an abortion at Jasmine¡¯s hospital¡® I got straight to the point.

    ¡°What?¡± Alvin was clearly stunned.

    ¡°The procedure is in an hour. If you go now, you can still stop it,¡± I said before hanging up.

    Even after notifying Alvin, I still felt uneasy. So, I went to the hospital myself. Just as I parked, I saw Alvin sprinting from the parking lot toward the women¡¯s and children¡¯s clinic.

    He was clearly nervous.

    I quickly got out of my car and followed, but just as I was about to head toward the examination room, Jasmine appeared and grabbed my arm.

    ¡°Did he stop it?¡± I asked her.

    Instead of answering, Jasmine pulled me aside and said, ¡°There¡¯s drama. Listen first.¡±

    13:01 Thu, 21 Aug 9

    She dragged me to the emergency exit, where I heard Thea and Alvin arguing.

    ?31%

    ¡°Why are you aborting this child? This is Benjamin¡¯s only bloodline in the world! Who gave you the right to do this?¡± Alvin growled.

    ¡°Why am I doing this? Do you really not know? I want to be with you,¡± Thea said bluntly, her usual soft demeanor reced with directness.

    Alvin said nothing. Thea¡¯s voice softened, ¡°Alvin, I know your family will never ept me if I keep this baby, and Benjamin¡¯s parents do not acknowledge it either. So why should I keep it?¡±

    ¡°But if this baby is gone, then Benjamin will truly be gone too,¡± Alvin replied in a trembling voice.

    ¡°If I keep the baby, I can¡¯t be with you. What am I supposed to do?¡± Thea asked in a low <i>voice</i>.

    At that moment, I fully understood that people are ultimately selfish and act in their own interest.

    ¡°If you keep it, will we really be together?¡± Alvin countered.

    The emergency exit door was slightly ajar. I saw Thea reach out to grab Alvin¡¯s sleeve, but he pulled away and said, ¡°Thea, you should know who I truly want.¡±

    ¡°But you and Zoe are impossible now,¡± Thea said, her voice trembling.

    ¡°If Zoe and I are impossible, then so are you and I,¡± Alvin answered. His words made Thea¡¯s face pale.

    Her lips trembled before she cried, ¡°If you do not want me, what am I supposed to do?¡±

    Alvin sighed, ¡°Thea, I told you¨CI willpensate you for everything, except-¡±

    She cut him off, shaking her head painfully. ¡°What about a man? I need someone who will love me, who will be there to warm me in the dark. Can youpensate me for that, too?¡±

    Alvin¡¯s face stiffened. He had no words.

    ¡°Alvin, if you hadn¡¯t kissed me, Benjamin wouldn¡¯t have seen it and driven off recklessly. He wouldn¡¯t have died, and my child and I wouldn¡¯t be alone <i>now</i>. <i>You </i>ruined my happiness, so you have to make it up to me,¡± Thea used, leaving me utterly stunned.

    I thought, ¡®So, Benjamin¡¯s death was Alvin¡¯s fault.

    ¡®That was why he had been taking care of Thea all this time.¡¯

 Be Honest 182

    <b>Chapter </b><b>182 </b>

    I did not hear anything else Alvin said after that.

    This news alone was enough to leave me shaken.

    The questions that had always puzzled me finally had answers, but I never expected them to be like this.

    I was very familiar with Benjamin. He was a lean and cheerful man, <i>someone </i>who gave off the warm and approachable vibe of an older brother next door.

    Who would have thought he died because he could not ept the fact that his wife had betrayed him with his best

    friend?

    No wonder Alvin had been so devastated and tormented when Benjamin died¡­

    It was because he was the one who killed him.

    No wonder Benjamin¡¯s parents had treated Thea the way they did after his death¨Cso much so that they even

    refused to acknowledge the child in her womb.

    They probably did not believe the baby was Benjamin¡¯s.

    I had not hated Alvin much for his infidelity, but at this moment, I realized just how despicable he truly was. He had

    taken a life¨Cthe life of his closest friend.

    Jasmine noticed my unease and led me away.

    4

    Once inside her lounge, I sank into a chair and remained silent for a long time.

    I had never been particrly close to Benjamin, but thinking about the despair he must have felt in his final moments made my heart ache as if I could feel the suffocating hopelessness he had endured.

    ¡°Alvin is truly unforgivable,¡± Jasmine remarked, equally shaken and furious.¡±

    After a brief pause, she added, ¡°Now that Thea hastched onto him, even if he does not want to, he will probably have to force himself toply.¡±

    ¡°This is what he owes her,¡± I said.

    Jasmine agreed. ¡°Serves him right.¡±

    <i>¡°</i>And Thea¡­ She mes Alvin, but do you really think he would have made a move on her if she had not given him a signal first?

    ¡°It takes two to tango, yet now she is acting as if he is solely to me. And to make matters worse, just to secure her ce in the Dolton family, she even harmed the only child Benjamin left behind. She is absolutely vile!¡± Jasmine eximed as she fumed.

    13:02 Thu, 21 Aug

    I absentmindedly picked at my nails and murmured, ¡°Jasmine, find a way to save her baby.¡±

    831%?

    I knew I had no right to make decisions for Thea. But this was what she owed Benjamin. I was only speaking up for

    him.

    Jasmine gripped my shoulders and tried tofort me, ¡°Zoe, I understand how you feel. But if Thea truly does not want the child, even if I intervene, she could always go somewhere else to have the procedure done. Besides¡­¡±

    She hesitated before continuing, ¡°She has already set her sights on marrying Alvin. There is no way she will keep the baby. And even if she does, that child¡¯s future will be anything but happy.¡±

    A sudden thought struck me: ¡®No one has the right to decide someone else¡¯s life.

    ¡®Yes, I had no right.¡®

    But the baby inside Thea was already a living being. It was also Benjamin¡¯s only legacy. If the baby was gone, then Benjamin would be truly gone from this world.

    A wave of helplessness washed over me, making me feel utterly miserable.

    This feeling was even worse than when I first found out about Alvin¡¯s affair with Thea.

    ¡°If Alvin has even a shred of conscience left, he will not let Thea go through with it,¡± Jasmine added, fully aware of the significance of this child.

    I closed my eyes and sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s hope he has some conscience left.¡±

    While I was still trying to collect myself in Jasmine¡¯s lounge, my phone rang¨Cit was Alvin. He asked, ¡°Can you talk to Jasmine? Tell her not to perform the surgery on Thea.¡±

    The way he said it almost made him sound human,

    I repeated Jasmine¡¯s <i>words </i><i>to </i>him, then concluded, ¡°Alvin, Thea once used this baby to tie you down, and now, for

    your sake, she wants to get rid of it. Whether the baby stays or not¨Cit is not up to Jasmine. It is up to you.¡±

 Be Honest 183

    Alvin was momentarily stunned. Then, with a hint of surprise in his voice, he asked, ¡°You know everything?¡±

    ¡°Thea came to me earlier. She asked if your parents would ept her baby,¡± I answered honestly.

    Alvin fell silent. He must have already guessed my response.

    A momentter, he ended the call. I left the hospital soon after.

    When Oscar saw me, he did not seem surprised. Instead, he grinned and asked, ¡°Up for a few rounds?¡±

    ¡°Do you know where Benjamin is buried?¡± I asked.

    Oscar¡¯s smile froze. Then, as if testing the waters, he asked, ¡°Why are you asking about that?¡±

    ¡°I want to visit him,¡± I said frankly.

    Oscar studied me with an odd expression.

    I did not exin further, nor did I mention that Benjamin¡¯s death was tied to Alvin.

    I was certain Oscar did not know the truth¨Cif he did, he would have cut ties with Alvin already.

    ¡°Did something happen?¡± he asked, his tone filled with concern.

    I did not answer and simply said, ¡°Just take me there.¡±

    If he was worried, he could apany me.

    Seeing that something was off with me, Oscar nodded and took me to Benjamin¡¯s grave.

    By sheer coincidence, we saw Benjamin¡¯s parents as soon as we arrived. Even from a distance, we could hear his mother¡¯s wailing¨Cmixed with curses.

    I could not make out whom she was cursing, but I had a pretty good idea. It had to be Thea.

    It was not the right time for us to approach, so we waited on the side until they left.

    As they walked past us, Benjamin¡¯s father supported his frail wife. Both of them looked pale and helpless.

    His mother sobbed, and the sound tore at my heart.

    They did not even nce at Oscar and me. It was as if, in their world, nothing existed beyond their deceased son.

    Oscar watched them walk away and sighed, ¡°Benjamin really left them with nothing but pain.¡±

    His words hit me hard. I tightened my grip and said, ¡°It is not Benjamin¡¯s fault.¡±

    13:02 Thu, 21 Aug D

    8.31%¡ê

    He would never have willingly left his parents to suffer like this. It was the unbearable betrayal that shattered him, leading to his ident.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Oscar did not seem to understand what I meant.

    I did not exin. Instead, I picked up the flowers in my hands and walked toward Benjamin¡¯s grave.

    His photo on the tombstone showed him smiling radiantly as if his entire world had been filled with sunshine.

    But in reality, he had suffered the cruelest betrayal a man could endure. I could almost imagine the moment his

    world crumbled.

    ¡°Benjamin, how are you doing over there? Do they have a pool hall? Are you still ying?¡± Oscar asked.

    I remained silent. There was nothing I could say.

    Oscar finished speaking and then nced at me. When I did not respond, he spoke on my behalf and shared, ¡°Before you left, every time you saw Zoe, you would ask when she and Alvin were getting married. Well, you do not have to ask anymore. It is not happening. They broke up.¡±

    With that, he fell silent.

    I, too, said nothing. I simply stood there, staring at Benjamin¡¯s tombstone.

    The longer I looked, the more it felt like his smile had faded, reced by sadness, grief¡­ and even rage.

    My heart clenched. I instinctively reached out, but before I could touch the tombstone, someone grabbed my arm. ¡°Zoe, are <i>you </i>okay? Are you feeling dizzy? Are you unwell?¡± Oscar asked, his voice filled with concern.

    ¡°Hm?¡± I turned to him in confusion.

    ¡°You look pale. Just now, you swayed a little¨Calmost fell,¡± he exined. His words made me pause.

    ¡®Did I?

    ¡®I did not even notice,¡® I thought.

    Seeing my state, Oscar led me away. ¡°<i>You </i>shoulde here less often. ces like this are heavy with sorrow. You are already frail¨Cit is not good for you.¡±

    I said nothing.

    I was not sure about sorrow, but I did feel unwell. I sent Bryson a message asking for leave and went home.

    I slept for a long time¨Cso long that by the time I woke up, the sky had turned dark.

    As I stirred, I faintly heard a sound at my door. I got up, walked to the entrance, and opened it.

    Outside, there really was someone.

    <b>Chapter </b><b>184 </b>

 Be Honest 184

    ¡°Do you know where Benjamin is buried?¡± I asked.

    Oscar¡¯s smile froze. Then, as if testing the waters, he asked, ¡°Why are you asking about that?¡±

    ¡°I want to visit him,¡± I said frankly.

    Oscar studied me with an odd expression.

    I did not exin further, nor did I mention that Benjamin¡¯s death was tied to Alvin.

    I was certain Oscar did not know the truth¨Cif he did, he would have cut ties with Alvin already.

    ¡°Did something happen?¡± he asked, his tone filled with concern.

    I did not answer and simply said, ¡°Just take me there.¡±

    If he was worried, he could apany me.

    Seeing that something was off with me, Oscar nodded and took me to Benjamin¡¯s grave.

    By sheer coincidence, we saw Benjamin¡¯s parents as soon as we arrived. Even from a distance, we could hear his mother¡¯s wailing¨Cmixed with curses.

    I could not make out whom she was cursing, but I had a pretty good idea. It had to be Thea.

    It was not the right time for us to approach, so we waited on the side until they left.

    As they walked past us, Benjamin¡¯s father supported his frail wife. Both of them looked pale and helpless.

    His mother sobbed, and the sound tore at my heart.

    They did not even nce at Oscar and me. It was as if, in their world, nothing existed beyond their deceased son.

    Oscar watched them walk away and sighed, ¡°Benjamin really left them with nothing but pain.¡±

    His words hit me hard. I tightened my grip and said, ¡°It is not Benjamin¡¯s fault.¡±

    13:02 Thu, 21 Aug D

    8.31%¡ê

    He would never have willingly left his parents to suffer like this. It was the unbearable betrayal that shattered him, leading to his ident.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Oscar did not seem to understand what I meant.

    I did not exin. Instead, I picked up the flowers in my hands and walked toward Benjamin¡¯s grave.

    His photo on the tombstone showed him smiling radiantly as if his entire world had been filled with sunshine.

    But in reality, he had suffered the cruelest betrayal a man could endure. I could almost imagine the moment his

    world crumbled.

    ¡°Benjamin, how are you doing over there? Do they have a pool hall? Are you still ying?¡± Oscar asked.

    I remained silent. There was nothing I could say.

    Oscar finished speaking and then nced at me. When I did not respond, he spoke on my behalf and shared, ¡°Before you left, every time you saw Zoe, you would ask when she and Alvin were getting married. Well, you do not have to ask anymore. It is not happening. They broke up.¡±

    With that, he fell silent.

    I, too, said nothing. I simply stood there, staring at Benjamin¡¯s tombstone.

    The longer I looked, the more it felt like his smile had faded, reced by sadness, grief¡­ and even rage.

    My heart clenched. I instinctively reached out, but before I could touch the tombstone, someone grabbed my arm. ¡°Zoe, are <i>you </i>okay? Are you feeling dizzy? Are you unwell?¡± Oscar asked, his voice filled with concern.

    ¡°Hm?¡± I turned to him in confusion.

    ¡°You look pale. Just now, you swayed a little¨Calmost fell,¡± he exined. His words made me pause.

    ¡®Did I?

    ¡®I did not even notice,¡® I thought.

    Seeing my state, Oscar led me away. ¡°<i>You </i>shoulde here less often. ces like this are heavy with sorrow. You are already frail¨Cit is not good for you.¡±

    I said nothing.

    I was not sure about sorrow, but I did feel unwell. I sent Bryson a message asking for leave and went home.

    I slept for a long time¨Cso long that by the time I woke up, the sky had turned dark.

    As I stirred, I faintly heard a sound at my door. I got up, walked to the entrance, and opened it.

    Outside, there really was someone.

    <b>Chapter </b><b>184 </b>

    nce again, and carried me out.

    I did <i>not </i>ask where he was taking me. Somehow, no matter where he carried me, I felt no worry at all.

    Josh carried me back to his apartment, gently cing me on his sofa. Then, he went to boil some water. He

    brought over a thermometer and handed it to me, asking, ¡°Do you know how to use it?¡± <ol start="10"><li>Thu LA0 </li></ol>

    Aug

    I stared nkly at him. He ced the thermometer in my hand, and as if afraid I might drop it, he held onto my hand, speaking slowly, ¡°I cannot take your temperature for you. Do it yourself¨Cce it under your armpit.¡±

    After saying that, he let go of my hand tentatively and said, ¡°I will get you some water. Take some medicine first. If you do not feel better, I will take you to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Measure your temperature first!¡± he reminded me when I did not move.

    ¡°Oh.¡± I finally responded to him. Then, as if he were not a man at all, I casually pulled down the cor of my shirt and tucked the thermometer under my armpit.

    Josh averted his gaze. Only after I had ced the thermometer properly did he go into the kitchen. Momentster, he returned with a ss of water and a pill in his hand.

    ¡°Here, take your medicine,¡± he said, handing them to me.

    I took the pill and ced it in my mouth, then followed it with a sip of water.

    I was usually good at taking medicine, but this time, I failed to swallow it. The pill quickly dissolved in the water, spreading bitterness across my tongue. Unable to bear the taste, I opened my mouth and spat it out.

    Josh reacted quickly, catching it with his palm. The half¨Cdissolved pill, now mixed with my saliva,nded right in

    his hand.

    I froze.

    ¡°It is fine. Just drink some more water and take itter,¡± Josh said,pletely unbothered.

    ¡°Do you want some candy?¡± he asked when he saw me still in a daze.

    I did not answer. Instead, I lowered my head and drank my water.

    Josh got up and left. A momentter, he returned with a small piece of ingredient in his hand.

    ¡°Dates,¡± he said, holding it up to my lips.

    I did not open my mouth. Instead, a memory shed before my eyes¨Cwhen I was little, I wouldin about bitter medicine, and my parents would always stand by with a piece of sweet dates.

 Be Honest 185

    <b>hapter </b><b>185 </b>

    ? . 31%?

    45

    They had been strict about sweets, afraid I would get cavities, so I was never allowed to have candy. But I still craved something sweet, and when I wanted candy, they would give me a piece of dates instead.

    After my parents passed away, I neverined about bitter medicine again¨Cbecause there was no one left to give me a piece of dates. And from that day on, I never ate it again.

    ¡°It is really sweet,¡± Josh said, lifting the dates a little closer, even brushing it against <i>my </i>lips as if trying to tempt <ol><li>me. </li></ol>

    In the end, I opened my mouth. But the moment the sweetness touched my tongue<i>, </i>tears welled up in my eyes

    and spilled over.

    ¡°Why are you crying?¡± he asked softly, wiping away my tears with his hand.

    He should not have said anything. The more he spoke, the worse I felt, and the harder it was <i>to </i>stop crying.

    Josh could barely keep up with wiping my tears. Eventually, he took the ss from my hand, gently squeezed my fingers, and reassured me, ¡°If you hate the medicine that much, then do not take it.¡±

    He got up and left. I buried my face in my hands.

    After crying for a while, I felt much better. At that moment, the thermometer beeped, signaling that it had finished

    measuring my temperature.

    I took it out and it showed 38.2¡ãC.

    So I really did have a fever.

    Josh returned, holding a towel wrapped around something.

    ¡°Let us lower your temperature with ice first. Drink more hot waterter. If your fever goes down, you will not have

    to take the medicine,¡± he said, lifting my legs and easing me into a lying position on the sofa.

    He ced the ice¨Cwrapped towel on my forehead and spoke softly, ¡°Close your eyes and get some rest.¡±

    I did as he said, but before long, I heard the sound of a lighter. Then, the air filled with the scent of rubbing alcohol.

    The next moment, warmth spread across my palm. Josh was rubbing it gently. Instinctively, I tried to pull away, but he murmured, ¡°I am using alcohol to lower your temperature.¡±

    I knew this method¨Cmy dad had done the same for me when I was little.

    But it was a little scary. He had to dip his hands in heated alcohol and rub them warm.

    I stayed still, letting him rub my left palm, then my right. Just as I thought he was done, his hands wrapped around my foot.

    <b>1/3 </b>

    13:02 Thu, 21 Aug 9

    I immediately pulled my foot back and refused, ¡°That is not necessary.¡±

    ¡°What happened to your bravery? You were ready to strip me before¨Cnow you are afraid of me touching your foot?¡± Josh¡¯s words made my mind go nk.

    I wanted to y dead, to pretend I had no memory of it.

    But I knew¨Cif he could say it out loud, then he was certain I remembered everything.

    At this moment, silence was the best strategy. So I shut my eyes and ignored him.

    His hands rubbed my sole, warm and ticklish, sending heat straight to my heart.

    <b>31</b>%

    Today, Josh made me feel as if my parents were still here. He made me feel warm¨Cand also incredibly sad. Tears

    slid silently from the corners of my eyes.

    ¡°Get some rest. I made some oatmeal. Have some when you wake up,¡± he said, getting up to leave.

    ¡°Josh,¡± I called after him, watching his back. ¡°Did we know each other before?¡±

    Today, he gave me too many glimpses of my childhood. He felt like family, like a reflection of my parents taking

    care of me.

    He hesitated for a moment as if answering me¨Cbut I did not hear it.

    I fell asleep and dreamed of my parents, holding my hands, coaxing me to take my medicine, giving me dates, and rubbing my palms and feet.

    ¡°Dad¡­ Mom¡­¡± I murmured, reaching out to grab their hands.?

    ¡°Zoey, time to eat.¡± But instead of my parents¡® voices, I heard Josh¡¯s voice in my ear.

    I did not want to wake up. In my dream, I clung tightly to my parents and begged, ¡°Mom, Dad, please do not go¡­

    do not leave Zoey behind¡­¡±

    ¡°I will not. I will always stay by your side.¡± It was Josh¡¯s voice again.

    At that moment, I truly resented him. I thought, ¡®I just wanted to talk to my parents¨Cwhy did he keep interrupting?¡®

    ¡°Josh, get lost!¡± I snapped at him. And then¨CI woke up.

    My hand was tightly gripping Josh¡¯s. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and in that brief moment of eye contact, I saw the pain hidden deep within them¡­

 Be Honest 186

    <b>Chapter </b><b>186 </b>

    ? ? 32%.

    Thinking about what I had just said, my breath hitched. Just as I was about to exin, Josh, who had been half- kneeling by the couch, stood up and said, ¡°The food is ready. Get up and eat something.¡±

    As he spoke, he pulled his hand away. Only then did I realize how tightly I had been gripping him.

    Turns out, I had not been holding onto my parents in my dream, I had been holding onto Josh and I had evenshed out at him.

    Embarrassment made me let go, but the moment he lifted his hand, I saw deep marks on the back of it, left by my

    grip.

    Josh turned and walked away. I got up from the couch as well, only to feel a sticky dampness <i>on </i>my skin.

    It seemed I had sweated out the fever, and I must have recovered.

    ¡°Put this on. Do not catch another cold,¡± Josh said, bringing over a nket.

    I reached out to take it, but my fever had left my hands weak, and I failed to catch it. In the end, Josh draped it over me himself and handed me a warm, damp towel to wipe my hands.

    At that moment, I truly felt like a little girl again¨Clike when I was sick as a child and my parents took care of me.

    ¡°Can you drink this on your own?¡± Josh asked as he ced a steaming bowl of oatmeal in front of me.

    ¡®If I say no, is he nning to feed me?

    ¡®If he were really my boyfriend, I would not hold back. But he is not. And the awkwardness fromst night, when I drunkenly insulted him, has not even faded yet, I thought.

    1 hummed softly in response, picked up the spoon, and attempted to scoop up a spoonful to prove I could do it. But my hand trembled from weakness.

    He gently pressed down on my hand and said, ¡°Take your time.¡±

    ¡°<i>I </i>want some water first,¡± I said. Perhaps I had sweated too much and my body felt utterly drained.

    He handed me a cup of water as if he had already anticipated this, I took a sip and realized it was warm, of just the right temperature, and had a subtle sweetness from honey.

    It would be a lie to say I was not touched. And yet, despite the warmth in my chest, I could not even bring myself to say thank you.

    Josh¡¯s dinner was light yet nutritious. It included vegetables and prawns, stir¨Cfried mushrooms, marinated pork ribs, and a hand¨Ctossed cucumber sd.

    Every single dish was my favorite.

    13:03 Thu, 21 Aug 97

    ¡°Josh, did you investigate me?¡± I asked, unable to hold back as I enjoyed the food.

    Josh nced at me and asked, ¡°What should I investigate? What are your favorite foods?¡±

    I felt a bit awkward, but I still defended my reasoning. ¡°But everything you have given me¨Cwhether it is food, drinks, or even dates¨Cthese are all things only my closest family would know.¡±

    32%

    Josh paused slightly as he picked up some food with his utensils. After a moment, he simply said, ¡°That is what a good boyfriend should do.¡±

    ¡®Boyfriend?

    ¡®But I already said it was over.

    ¡®Did he not take it seriously?¡® I wondered.

    Still, with all this delicious food in front of me, I did not want to ruin my appetite by bringing up a tense topic.

    Besides, after all the effort he put into taking care of me¡­

    So I said nothing and quietly focused on eating.

    ¡°Did something happen to you?¡± Josh asked just as I was about to finish my meal.

    Thinking about everything that had happened today, I bit down on my chopsticks, unsure of where to begin.

    He saw that I was not answering and did not press me for details. Instead, he simply said, ¡°Next time you are sick, just say something. You cannot handle it alone. A fever can lead to serious problems¨Cyou should know that.¡±

    ¡°I did not know I had a fever,¡± I replied truthfully.

    After returning home, I had only felt exhausted and had gone straight to sleep. I had been drifting in and out of a heavy slumber, unable to fully wake up. It never even crossed my mind that I was running a fever.

    Thinking about it now, it was lucky he had opened the door, made some noise, and ultimately saved my life.

    ¡°Next time you feel unwell, call me,¡± Josh said. His tone was not a suggestion but amand.

 Be Honest 187

    I bit my lip. ¡°Okay.¡±

    After that, I remembered the thing I had wanted to ask him since yesterday and said, ¡°Those people from yesterday¨Cdid theye looking for trouble again?¡±

    As I spoke, I instinctively nced at his hands and face, checking for injuries. Fortunately, there were none.

    ¡°No,¡± Josh answered. He seemed to read my thoughts and reassured me, ¡°Even if they did, they are not my match.¡±

    How domineering,¡® I thought.

    After finishing thest spoonful of oatmeal, I asked, ¡°Did you find out anything about your father¡¯s ident? Who exactly did you uncover that made them resort to threats?¡±

    Josh looked at me and exined, ¡°They are afraid I will uncover the truth about my father¡¯s boss¡¯s death.¡±

    He was being vague again and only giving half an answer. So I pressed on, ¡°Was your father¡¯s boss some kind of big figure? Would his death have affected other people¡¯s interests?¡±

    ¡°He has been dead for over ten years. There is no more interest involved. What they are afraid of¡­ is that his children might seek revenge,¡± Josh said, and something about his words made my throat tighten.

    ¡°His boss had children? Have you met them? Do they know you are investigating?¡± I asked in quick session.

    Josh lowered his gaze and replied, ¡°She does not know yet.¡±

    For a moment, I did not know what to say. Then, after a pause, I asked, ¡°Are you going to keep looking into it?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Josh answered without a hint of hesitation.

    ¡°But¡­ it is dangerous. The people behind those men from yesterday are clearly not small¨Ctime,¡± I said, voicing my

    concerns.

    A sharp determination shed in Josh¡¯s dark eyes. He looked straight at me and asked, ¡°What? Worried about

    me?¡±

    His words carried a hint of ambiguity, but I still nodded and tried to persuade him, ¡°Josh, your father and his boss are both gone. Even if you uncover the truth, they will note back. But putting yourself in danger for it¨Cis it really worth it?¡±

    Josh¡¯s gaze deepened, and he asked, ¡°Is that what you think?¡±

    ¡°People should look forward, not dwell on the past,¡± I repeated. It was something my father had always told my mother when he was alive, and 1 had never forgotten it.

    ?.32%

    ¡°I see,¡± Josh said as he continued eating.

    I was not sure what else to say, but leaving immediately felt inappropriate. So, watching him finish off the rest of the food, I decided to offer a littlepliment in gratitude. ¡°Your cooking skills are amazing. Did you learn this in the military? Were you assigned to the kitchen or something?¡±

    Of course, he was not. He had told me before¨Che was in special forces.

    ¡°My little sister was sickly and a picky eater. I had to learn,¡± Josh said, and his words made me freeze.

    ¡°You have a sister?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Yes, my biological sister,¡± he rified, as if afraid I would misunderstand.

    I pursed my lips andmented, ¡°You never mentioned her before.¡±

    Josh paused slightly in his movements, lifted his eyes to look at me, and said, ¡°I never had the chance.¡±

    ¡°How old is she? Is she around my age? Is she studying or working?¡± I asked curiously.

    Josh tightened his grip on his chopsticks and sighed. ¡°She is not well.¡±

    I froze for a moment, suddenly realizing that I had touched a sore spot for Josh. I did not know what to say.

    ¡°A congenital heart disease,¡± Josh exined further.

    I followed his words and said, ¡°That can be treated. A heart transnt is an option.¡±

    Josh fell silent again. A thought suddenly struck me, and I blurted out, ¡°Josh, do you not have the money?¡±

    A heart transnt was a major surgery that required a significant amount of money, not to mention the annual check¨Cups and post¨Csurgery care. Josh and his sister had lost their father, and I had no idea about his mother¡¯s situation. Given his current ie, he probably could not afford the operation for his sister.

    He looked at me, his gaze making me slightly uneasy. Worried that he might misunderstand, I quickly added, ¡°If that is the case, I can lend you the money. I have enough.¡±

    ¡°I am afraid I will not be able to pay <i>you </i>back,¡± Josh sighed, responding smoothly.

    That only confirmed my guess. He really did not have the money. Wanting to help, I grinned and said, ¡°If you

    can

    Comment

 Be Honest 188

    <b>Chapter </b>188

    32%

    The words slipped out before I could stop them. I thought, ¡®What on earth did I just say?¡®

    As soon as the words were out, I realized how inappropriate they were. I was scrambling to think of a way to

    recover, but before I could, Josh surprised me by responding, ¡°Okay.¡±

    I thought, ¡®He actually agreed? Isn¡¯t he going to put up some kind of resistance, even just to save face? But then

    again, he must be desperate for the money and determined to save Molly.¡®

    The thought tugged at my heart, and I felt sympathy for him. But just as quickly, I realized something didn¡¯t feel

    right. I cleared my throat, trying to brush off the awkwardness. ¡°Has Molly seen a <i>doctor</i>? If you have her medical

    records, I can help you get a second opinion.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± he agreed without hesitation.

    With that, I had no more words to offer. I stood up and said, ¡°Thanks for everything today. I should head home

    now.¡±

    He gazed at me and said, ¡°If you¡¯re still feeling unwell, give me a call.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± I replied with a smile, but as I turned to walk away, a sigh escaped me.

    I thought, ¡®This feeling of being cared for¡­ it¡¯s strangely overwhelming.¡®

    When I got home, I leaned against the door, taking a moment to steady my breath and collect my thoughts. Just as I was starting to calm down, my phone rang. I walked to my bedroom, grabbed it, and saw that Alvin was calling.

    I had no idea what he wanted, but I didn¡¯t want to talk to him then. I thought, ¡®I¡¯m done with this.¡®

    I let the call go to voicemail, but then I noticed I had missed over twenty calls, most from Alvin, except Davy.

    I thought, ¡®Of course, Davy¡¯s call was probably at Alvin¡¯s request.¡®

    Alvin had been calling nonstop. He must have had something urgent on his mind. So when his call came through again, I finally answered, ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Zoe, where are you? I need to see you,¡± Alvin¡¯s voice was heavy with pain, and it was clear he had been drinking.

    I stayed silent, and he scoffed bitterly. ¡°Right¡­ you don¡¯t want me anymore.¡±

    I didn¡¯t respond. Alvin¡¯s voice softened, almost pleading. ¡°Zoe, are you done with me? Ten years together¡­ you¡¯ve always liked me¡­¡±

    I thought, ¡®So he knows¡­ He¡¯s always known. But did he ever care? Or was he taking advantage of my feelings for

    him all this time?¡®

    ¡°Zoe, say something. Tell me we really can¡¯t be together anymore?¡± Alvin¡¯s voice was thick with pain, and I could

    13:03 Thu, 21 Aug O

    hear things being mmed around in the background.

    32%

    It was clear he¡¯d been drinking heavily. I had no interest in listening to his rambling anymore. ¡°Alvin, I¡¯m hanging

    up.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t hang up,¡± he urged, his voice raw with emotion. ¡°Zoe, if I end up with Thea, will it break your heart?¡±

    I thought, ¡®That¡¯s a cruel question. It felt like he was twisting the knife deeper into my heart.¡¯

    ¡°Alvin,¡± I said his name firmly, my voice heavy, ¡°Is it only when I¡¯m dead, like Benjamin, that you¡¯ll feel heartache?¡±

    I thought, ¡®I knew he was still there, trapped in the silence on the other end of the line. This was the barrier he

    couldn¡¯t face, the weight on his heart he had been avoiding, and now I had torn it open, raw and exposed. He had

    to be in agony. I could almost picture him, writhing in pain. But no matter <i>how </i>much it hurt him, it couldn¡¯tpare to the pain of losing a life.¡®

    ¡°So, you knew¡­¡±

    After a long pause, Alvin¡¯s voice broke, filled with suffering. Then, the call ended.

    I held the phone in my hand, listening to the dial tone for an eternity, my heart sinking as if it had lost all its weight and was plummeting.

    That night, sleep barely came to me. Over and over, Alvin filled my dreams¨Cour past, from the first time we met to the ten years we spent together.

    It was like a movie reying in my mind, a painful shback of everything we¡¯d been through.

 Be Honest 189

    I woke up again before dawn. After a quick shower<b>, </b>I saw Josh¡¯s message, reminding me to take the breakfast he

    had left at the door.

    He didn¡¯t question why I hadn¡¯t eaten the breakfast earlier; he just kept preparing it for me.

    I didn¡¯t want to disappoint him, so I ate the breakfast before heading to the office.

    Since I was early, most of the team hadn¡¯t arrived yet. I prepared the day¡¯s n and reviewed everyone¡¯s recent performance updates. It wasn¡¯t time to start the workday when I was done.

    I pulled out my phone and started scrolling through Instagram. I thought, ¡®I knew it was a waste of time, but I had

    few friends. Through their posts on Instagram, I could still see how they were doing, <i>even </i>without calling or reaching out.¡®

    Oscar posted about an uing pool challenge, while Jasmine shared a post about the number of babies she had helped deliver¨Ctoday¡¯s count was 5,566. She had weed 5,566 little lives into the world, and if she hadn¡¯t

    kept track, she probably wouldn¡¯t have realized how many there were.

    I liked the post and sent a thumbs¨Cup emoji, then continued scrolling, stopping at Alvin¡¯stest post: ¡°For the rest

    of our lives<i>, </i>I¡¯ll take care of you.¡±

    The picture was a cartoon of a mother and child.

    In that instant, my heart tightened. I knew what it meant.

    He had chosen Thea.

    Alvin posted in the middle of the night, and already, there were dozens of likes and congrattoryments- some even from people who had no idea we¡¯d broken up, congratting Alvin and me.

    I let out a mockingugh and replied with ament: ¡°Congrattions, wishing you happiness.¡±

    After posting, I closed Instagram and didn¡¯t scroll any further.

    I set my phone down and stared at the screen of myputer, my mindpletely nk.

    At that moment, my heart wasn¡¯t in pain¨Cit just felt weighed down. The feeling was hard to put into words.

    The phone rang, and I saw it was Bryson calling. I nced at his office; he wasn¡¯t there yet.

    I picked up the phone. ¡°Mr. Skinner?

    ¡°Zoe, don¡¯te to the office for the next couple of days,¡± Bryson¡¯s voice was still thick with sleep as if he¡¯d just

    woken up.

    I wondered, ¡®He¡¯s probably still in bed.¡¯

    13:03 Thu, 21 Aug 0

    ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Skinner?¡± I asked, confused.

    32%

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it the wrong way,¡± Bryson replied. ¡°You¡¯ve been working so hardtely, so I¡¯m giving you two paid days.

    off.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Hard work? Have I been working that hard? Lately, I¡¯ve taken more time off than I¡¯ve actually worked. Is

    he trying to make a point?¡®

    ¡°Mr. Skinner, I¡¯ll try to take fewer days off in the future,¡± I said, rifying my position.

    He quickly responded, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I¡¯m genuinely giving you time off to rest. If any of our beauties need a little pampering, especially someone as stunning as you, of course, we make

    sure they get it.¡±

    I thought, ¡®I¡¯m not a child, and I¡¯m definitely not some naive young girl. There¡¯s no way he¡¯s going <i>to </i>fool me with just one sentence.¡®

    Recalling some recent events, I asked directly, ¡°Is this another order from the CEO?¡±

    There was a brief pause, followed by a cough. ¡°Do you think the CEO has that much free time?¡± Bryson replied.

    I thought, ¡®He denied it. But it was strange¨CI had no reason to be given time off.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, I¡¯m officially granting you time off. If you don¡¯t take it, it¡¯ll be considered disobedience to the CEO¡¯s orders, and you know what that means¨Cpay deduction,¡± Bryson said, using his authority to pressure me.

    After years of working, this was my first time encountering something like this.

    Since I had already wrapped up everything for the day, taking a couple of days off wouldn¡¯t be an issue. ¡°Fine,¡± I

    agreed.

    After hanging up, I went to see the department head, reviewed the n I¡¯d prepared, and pointed out the issues with each person. <i>Before </i>I left, I asked him to supervise the execution.

    Once in the car, I texted Oscar: ¡°Oscar, can you look up some information on the CEO of thepany I¡¯m working

    for?¡±

 Be Honest 190

    <b>Chapter </b>190

    As soon as I sent the message, Oscar¡¯s call came through almost instantly.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did that guyy down some unspoken rule on you?¡± Oscar asked, getting straight to the point.

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°I¡¯d love for him to, but how can he if I haven¡¯t even met him yet?¡±

    ¡°He hasn¡¯t even shown up yet? So, you¡¯re just curious and want me to look him up?¡± Oscar sounded surprised. ¡°Zoe, you don¡¯t think I¡¯ve got better things to do?¡±

    I thought, ¡®He had just posted about joining a pool challenge, <i>so </i>I knew he¡¯d be busy.¡®

    I suddenly realized how impulsive I had been. ¡°Oscar, if you¡¯re too busy, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just curious. It¡¯s not something I absolutely need to know.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re trying to make me feel bad now, aren¡¯t you?¡± Oscar teased, pretending to be annoyed.

    I chuckled. ¡°No, really, it¡¯s just curiosity. If you have time, great. If not, forget it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got time. I¡¯m never too busy for you. Let me look it up,¡± Oscar finally agreed.

    But after agreeing, he didn¡¯t hang up right away. I could tell he had something else to say rted to Alvin¡¯s public

    announcement.

    I waited quietly<i>, </i>and after a long pause, Oscar finally spoke. ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s nothing. But you know you can always reach out if you need me.¡±

    1 thought, ¡®I sighed in relief. No matter what he said, it would have made me feel awkward. His silence was honestly

    the best oue.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± I replied. Then, thinking about Oscar¡¯s uing match, I casually added, ¡°When¡¯s your match? Get me a ticket, and I¡¯lle cheer you on.¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡± Oscar replied, sounding enthusiastic.

    After hanging up, I drove home. The night before, I hadn¡¯t slept well due to the constant dreams, and I hoped to catch up on some rest. But as soon as I reached my neighborhood, I noticed a crowd at the entrance.

    I parked my car and walked over, only to find a notice on the door.

    I thought, ¡®Demolition! Seeing the word made my heart race. I had known it wasing, but seeing it in writing made it feel all too real. For others, demolition was a surprise, an opportunity to get rich overnight. But for me, it was destruction, tearing apart the happiest and warmest part of my life.¡±

    The notice read, ¡°Move out in two months. If you leave early, there¡¯s a 3 thousand dors reward.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to leave here for a long time, and now the day has finallye.¡±

    13:04 Thu, 21 Aug

    32%3

    ¡°I just signed a one¨Cyear lease with the tenant, and now I have to ask him to move out¡­ I¡¯ll probably lose money.¡±

    The crowd around me was murmuring in various tones, each person with their own opinion.

    I quietly moved away from the group, deciding not to get back in the car but to walk home instead.

    The neighborhood was old, but precisely that age gave it its charm. The old oak trees lining both sides of the street were thick and green. As a child, I remembered how Margery and the neighbors would gather to pick the flowers and make dandelion pancakes every year when the blossoms bloomed. Margery often took <i>me </i>to y beneath the summer trees, enjoying the cool shade.

    Over there was the stone garden, where I spent countless hours with my childhood friends, climbing and ying,

    our hands smoothing the rocks until they were as slick as ss.

    As I walked, I thought, ¡®One day soon, this ce would be leveled to the ground, and everything would be gone. The thought weighed heavily on me. As long as this neighborhood exists and my parents¡® home is here, I feel like they¡¯re still with me. But when it¡¯s gone, where will I put my longing? Where will I go to find their memories?¡®

    ¡°Zoe,¡± a voice called from the hallway.

    It was Lena from across the hall.

 Be Honest 191

    <b>Chapter </b><b>191 </b>

    32%

    I thought, ¡®I didn¡¯t need to ask. I knew she must have heard about the demolition ande over.

    ¡°Zoe, they¡¯re tearing this ce down. It¡¯s such a shame,¡± Lena sighed, a rare moment of sentiment from her.

    I didn¡¯t know how to respond, only offering a sad expression. Lena continued, ¡°I just spent money fixing up the ce, and it hasn¡¯t even been rented for a month yet. Now I have to ask people to move out¡­ What a loss.¡±

    I remained silent, unsure of what to say.

    3

    ¡°Zoe, I tried calling the guy who rented the ce, but he hasn¡¯t answered. If <i>you </i>see him today, can you ask him to

    call me back? Also, let him know about the demolition, so he can start looking for a new ce and pack up his things,¡± Lena asked.

    ¡°Alright,¡± I replied.

    ¡°Thanks, Zoe,¡± Lena said gratefully. Then, her tone shifted to something more casual. ¡°So, you¡¯ve met the guy who

    rented the ce, right? He¡¯seems nice, doesn¡¯t he?¡±

    I chuckled softly. ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°Zoe, you¡¯ve got high standards. That guy¡¯s so great, and you think he¡¯s just fine?¡± Lena said with augh. ¡°I don¡¯t have a daughter, but if I did, I¡¯d definitely want him to be part of the family.¡± It was clear that Lena had taken a liking to Josh.

    ¡°You could always have another one,¡± I teased.

    Usually, she might have thought I was being disrespectful, but there had been newstely about a grandmother in her sixties having a baby, and it was all over the media.

    Lena chuckled, ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of ability, so don¡¯t tease me.¡±

    I just smiled, not responding, but Lena kept going. ¡°You should start sorting through your things too. Anything you don¡¯t need, throw it out or sell it. I know a guy who buys scrap. He pays well and is a really nice person. I¡¯ll give you his number. You can sell him anything you¡¯re getting rid of.¡±

    Her enthusiasm was so warm that I felt guilty even thinking about turning her down.

    Lena left me with the number and went on her way while I headed upstairs.

    I opened the door <i>to </i>my apartment and looked around at all the memories. Suddenly, my eyes stung.

    Some things, it seemed, just couldn¡¯t be kept, no matter how desperately you wanted to.

    Eliseo had always told me that if something couldn¡¯t be held onto, I should let it go. I knew the demolition was unavoidable, so after a brief moment of sorrow, I began assessing the house and packing.

    32%

    I still needed somewhere to stay but couldn¡¯t touch my parents¡® things, so I started with the utility room.

    As I sorted through everything, I decided to buy my house as soon as possible to move my parents¡® belongings

    there.

    The old bookshelf, the tricycle I rode as a child, Eliseo¡¯s gardening tools, his fishing gear, Margery¡¯s easel¡­

    These things were worn with age, yet I couldn¡¯t bring myself to part with them.

    While packing, I realized how important it was to have my ce to keep these memories safe.

    Then, beneath everything, I found an old woven basket. It immediately brought back memories, especially since

    there was a photo of me sitting on it when I was little.

    Eliseo had told me it was the bag he carried when he left the orphanage, like a suitcase.

    I opened it and found a dark blue vest¨CEliseo¡¯s. It reminded me of the green vest Josh <i>used </i>to wear.

    5

    Underneath the vest was a small notebook with a pen clipped to it. I flipped it open and saw Eliseo¡¯s handwriting. Instantly, a familiar tightness gripped my chest, and I found breathing hard.

    Tears immediately fell, sshing onto the words Eliseo had written, smudging the ink and blurring the once¨Cclear

    script.

    Iquickly tried to wipe it away, but in doing so, the notebook slipped from my hands, and something fell out from between its pages.

    I picked it up and saw it was a contract. As I flipped through it, I froze when I reached thest page, where the signature and seal were.

    AD

 Be Honest 192

    <b>Chapter </b><b>192 </b>

    The Hawke Group and Brannon¨Cthepany name and the boldly stamped signature were all too familiar.

    This group was the Dolton Group¡¯s biggest partner, and Peter had been very close friends with Mr. Langston.

    But how could Eliseo have had a contract with the Hawke Group ten years ago? As far as I knew, Eliseo wasn¡¯t even an employee of the Dolton Group back then. What would he have needed this contract for?

    1 flipped through the contract again. It was for a partnership in renewable energy development, which now fell under the Dolton Group¡¯s umbre. The project had matured and was <i>now </i>bringing in considerable profits.

    So, in strict terms, this contract technically belonged to the Dolton Group. But what struck me as odd was that

    Peter¡¯s signature wasn¡¯t anywhere on it.

    I set the contract aside and opened Eliseo¡¯s notebook.

    It was his work journal, mostly filled with work ns and some symbols I didn¡¯t understand. I flipped to thest

    page and saw five words written: ¡°Wishing the signing goes smoothly.¡±

    After that, there was nothing. It was probably after that that Eliseo had a car ident.

    I remembered what he had said the night before his ident. ¡°Zoey, after tomorrow, I¡¯ll finally be able to build you

    that amusement park.¡±

    At the time, I cheered, hugged, and kissed him, never thinking to ask why.

    Now, it all made sense. If Eliseo had signed that contract with the Hawke Group, the development would have rivaled the sess of the Dolton Group today. He could have given me an amusement park, but more than that, he could have built an entire business empire. But after his death, it all turned into one big unanswered question.

    So, was Eliseo¡¯s car ident somehow tied to this contract? Could it be that it wasn¡¯t an ident at all? My mind instantly flooded with chaotic thoughts, and the weight of them sent a chill down my spine. I copsed to the floor of the utility room<i>, </i>unable to move for what felt like an eternity.

    Eventually, I decided to find out for myself. The only ce to start was with Brannon at the Hawke Group.

    Although I knew that meeting him out of the blue wasn¡¯t an option, I also knew Brannon had a close rtionship with Peter. I had overheard Peter and Michelle talking about him a few years ago¨Che had battled dder cancer and was now living in retirement, focusing on his health. Alvin had taken over managing thepany.

    I just needed to ask Peter¡¯s driver where Brannon lived, and then I could visit him under the pretense of checking <ol><li>in. </li></ol>

    I usually act on my thoughts without hesitation, but I knew asking the driver out of the blue would only make him suspicious. He had been with Peter for decades, longer than I¡¯d been in the Dolton family. He hadsted that long because he was reliable and, above all, discreet.

    <b>1/2 </b>

    I needed to be careful if I wanted to gather information without raising any red gs.

    n

    I researched all the integrated rehabilitation and healthcare facilities in Seastone and quickly narrowed it down to the top three. However, I still had no idea which one Brannon was staying at. That¡¯s when I realized I could still ask the driver for help, but I wouldn¡¯t need to make him say a word.

    After thinking it through, I came up with a n. I could borrow the driver¡¯s car and check the driving records to find out where he went. Peter visited Brannon monthly, so it wouldn¡¯t be hard to track. But borrowing the car wouldn¡¯t be easy. I already had a car; if I asked, Peter would give me a new one. I couldn¡¯t use that excuse.

    AD

 Be Honest 193

    <b>Chapter </b><b>193 </b>

    32%

    Philip was the only person in the Dolton family I could borrow a car from. He had just returned to the country and. didn¡¯t have his vehicle. While there were cars at the house for anyone to use, he could easily im he wasn¡¯t

    familiar with the roads and ask the driver to take him. From there, I could devise a reason to get the driver to leave

    and handle the rest.

    But then I hesitated. I knew how Philip felt about me. If I asked, he¡¯d agree, but that would mean taking advantage

    of his feelings for me. Still, I had to uncover the truth about Eliseo¡¯s death. After weighing my options, I decided to

    go to Philip, but I needed a good reason.

    While I was deep in thought, Michelle called. As soon as I answered, her furious voice echoed through the phone.

    ¡°Alvin is trying to drive Peter and me crazy. If he dares get serious with Thea, Peter and I will make sure he knows

    how serious we are.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t surprised by her reaction. I could only offer a soft word of reassurance. ¡°Michelle, please don¡¯t be upset.

    Marriage matters aren¡¯t something parents can always control.¡±

    ¡°We may not be able to control it, but if he thinks he can marry a widow, he better think again,¡± Michelle said, firm

    in her stance.

    I thought, ¡®I felt a heavy weight in my chest, unsure of how tofort her¨Cand honestly, I didn¡¯t want to. Alvin and

    Thea had wronged me, so why should I defend them? I wasn¡¯t some savior or martyr. Not making things worse for

    them was already a sign of my restraint.¡®

    ¡°Zoe, Peter is so upset he won¡¯t even eat. He¡¯s threatening to starve himself in protest. Can youe talk to him? He only listens to you,¡± Michelle said, exining the reason for her call.

    I thought, ¡®It felt like fate was on my side. If I returned to the Dolton residence, I might be able to get to Peter¡¯s car without needing Philip¡¯s help and finally uncover the information I was after.¡¯

    I agreed, and Michelle spent a few more minutes ranting about Alvin before finally hanging up.

    I thought, ¡®Even though I was entering the Dolton residence, I couldn¡¯t be sure I¡¯d run into the car. To ensure my n would seed, I decided to call Philip.¡®

    ¡°Zoe,¡± he answered, his voice as gentle and warm as ever.

    ¡°Philip,¡± I called him out of respect and as a reminder of our rtionship.

    I thought, ¡®At this moment, I realize how hypocritical and selfish I truly am. On one hand, I don¡¯t want Philip to develop feelings for me, but on the other, I¡¯ve been using those feelings to my advantage. I¡¯m nothing but the

    worst kind of woman!

    ¡°Peter¡¯s upset and refusing to eat. Michelle wants me to go back, but I think I¡¯ll need your help. Can youe with

    me?¡±

    13:05 Thu, 21 Aug

    32%

    Philip hesitated for a moment before agreeing. I thought, ¡®I could tell he wasn¡¯t surprised. Clearly, he had known this would happen.¡®

    When I arrived at the Dolton residence, Philip didn¡¯t go inside. It seemed like he was waiting for me.

    ¡°You know Peter¡¯s issues. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much we can do to change his mind,¡± Philip said when he saw me.

    Tunderstood what he meant¨CPeter still hoped I would reconcile with Alvin.

    I couldn¡¯t help but smile sarcastically. Philip didn¡¯t respond, just watching me quietly.

    When we walked in, Michelle seemed surprised to see us together. I ignored her reaction and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s

    Peter?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s in the study, refusing toe out, and won¡¯t let anyone in. He¡¯s been in there all night. If it weren¡¯t for a few knocks, I¡¯d be concerned he locked himself in to¡­ well, you know,¡± Michelle said straightforwardly.

    ¡°Michelle, Peter¡¯s not that fragile. Don¡¯t think like that,¡± Philip said, trying to reassure her.

    ¡°Michelle, I¡¯ll go check on him,¡± I said, and after Michelle reluctantly nodded, I headed upstairs.

    I knocked a few times, but there was no response. My worry grew, and I said, ¡°Peter, it¡¯s Zoe.¡±

    Finally, I heard footsteps, and momentster, the door opened. The sight that met me inside startled mepletely.

    212

 Be Honest 194

    <b>Chapter </b><b>194 </b>

    ¡°Peter¡­¡± My voice trembled with shock, barely above a whisper.

    ¡°Zoe,¡± Peter responded, forcing a smile as he called me.

    ¡°Your hair¡­¡± I reached out instinctively, wanting to touch his hair.

    He blinked in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my hair? Is it messy?¡±

    Suddenly, my tears fell uncontrobly.

    <b>32</b>%

    Seeing my tears, he looked even more startled. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are <i>you </i>crying? Did Michelle say something? Don¡¯t listen to her¨Cshe¡¯s always talking nonsense.¡±

    I thought, ¡®It seemed like Peter still hadn¡¯t realized his hair had turnedpletely white. I had seen him just a few

    days ago, and his hair was still ck, but now, while it wasn¡¯tpletely white, at least 80% of it had turned gray.¡®

    ¡®It was as if he hadpletely changed, going from a strong middle¨Caged man to someone who looked elderly. I couldn¡¯t find the words, especially since he didn¡¯t even know.¡¯

    I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around him as tears flowed freely.

    He gently patted my back. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Zoe. It¡¯s fine. I just needed some time to myself. Michelle¡¯s always bothering me, and now she¡¯s called you here.¡±

    I thought, ¡®He assumed I was crying because I was worried about him locking himself in the study all day and

    night. I shook my head against his shoulder, my throat feeling like it was being squeezed by a giant hand.¡®

    ¡°Come, let¡¯s sit inside. I¡¯ll make you some coffee,¡± Peter said, his tone lightening.

    I thought, ¡®But I knew he was just trying to hide it¡¯from me because he didn¡¯t want me to worry. His hair turningpletely white in just one night spoke volumes.¡®

    ¡°Peter,¡± I stopped him, ¡°Alvin¡­ his issues, let him deal with them. Don¡¯t worry about it, don¡¯t involve yourself.¡±

    I thought, ¡®I had never felt so much sympathy for anyone. At this moment, seeing Peter like this, I felt an

    overwhelming sense of care, as if he were my father.¡®

    Peter¡¯s eyes darkened for a moment. ¡°Alvin¡¯s disappointed me. I¡¯ve been thinking about it¡­ this is the result of all the indulgence when he was younger.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Alvin has his own mind and his own decisions to make. He¡¯s not a child anymore,¡± I said, trying

    to reassure him.

    I thought, ¡®Peter didn¡¯t respond, and I knew he hadn¡¯t listened. He was a stubborn person. Despite being calm and easygoing most of the time, especially with Michelle, he never let anything bother him.¡®

    13:05 Thu, 21 Aug 9

    ? , 32%

    But deep down, he had his convictions¨Cthings that no one could change. I never expected that Alvin getting married would make Peter this angry¨Cenough to turn his hair white in just one night.¡®

    ¡°Zoe, sit down. Let¡¯s have a cup of coffee,¡± Peter said, gently guiding me to my seat as he prepared the coffee.

    I thought, ¡®I watched him walk away and suddenly realized his posture seemed hunched. With his hair nowpletely white, he looked like an older man.¡®

    ¡°Zoe, let me make you some coffee. It¡¯s from Archer, he sent it to me a while back. I was thinking of brewing it

    for¡­¡± His voice suddenly trailed off.

    He paused, his hand hovering over the cab,pletely still.

    I sensed something was off and quickly stood up, hurrying to him. ¡°Peter¡­¡±

    I thought, ¡®I couldn¡¯t finish my sentence. I knew why Peter stopped¨Che must have seen his gray hair through the ss door.¡®

    ¡°Peter,¡± I whispered, gently holding his arm.

    He snapped out of his daze and smiled, though it was a dry, painful smile. ¡°So that¡¯s why you were crying earlier¡­¡±

    His smile pierced my heart with a dull ache. ¡°Peter, how could you¡­ how could this happen?¡±

    My voice broke again, and I couldn¡¯t say another word.

    ¡°I¡¯m over fifty. It¡¯s normal for my hair to turn gray. Now Michelle doesn¡¯t have to worry about any young girls taking an interest in me. I¡¯ve turned into an old man¨Cwho would care?¡± Peter joked, trying to lighten the mood.

    212

 Be Honest 195

    <b>Chapter </b><b>195 </b>

    But I couldn¡¯t bring myself tough. I buried my face in Peter¡¯s shoulder, quietly sobbing.

    Peter gently ced his hand on top of my head. ¡°It¡¯s okay; don¡¯t cry. Everyone grows old eventually¡­¡±

    I thought, ¡°Yes, everyone grows old. But seeing someone age overnight was truly heartbreaking. Peter still made me the coffee, but it didn¡¯t taste very pleasant as I drank it.¡±

    ¡°Take this coffee with you. You can brew it yourself¨Cit¡¯s good for your skin,¡± Peter said, wrapping up the leftover

    coffee grounds for me.

    I thought, ¡®He treats me like his daughter, and now, I could sense more guilt in his kindness toward me. I couldn¡¯t refuse, or it would make him feel even worse.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle back for more once I¡¯m finished,¡± I said lightly, hoping to ease his mood.

    ¡°Take whatever you want, Zoe,¡± Peter replied with sincerity, ¡°You¡¯re like a daughter to me, you know?¡±

    I nodded deeply. ¡°In my heart, you¡¯re like a father to me too.¡±

    I thought, ¡®Back when I was in school, mostly Peter attended parent¨Cteacher meetings. If Michelle wanted to go, he¡¯d say that because of his position, the principal and teachers would treat me with extra respect. Though my parents had passed away, Peter never once made me feel like an orphan in front of my ssmates.¡®

    Peter nodded thoughtfully. As I recalled Michelle¡¯s concerns, I nced at his hair and said, ¡°Peter, Michelle is

    worried about you. If she saw you like this¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still handsome, right?¡± Peter joked, running his fingers through his hair. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help butugh, the tears gathering in my eyes. ¡°Yes, very handsome. Peter, you¡¯re the most handsome

    no matter what.¡±

    As we wereughing, we heard footstepsing upstairs. Michelle arriv¨¦d before we even saw her. ¡°I¡¯ve finally figured it out¨Cno one can manage <i>you </i>except Zoe.¡±

    By the time Michelle finished speaking, she was at the door. Since it was open, I saw her standing there with a

    teasing smile, but as soon as she saw us, the smile faded into shock.

    She stared at Peter, her eyes flickering with disbelief. After a moment, tears began to fall.

    Peter and I both stood up. I rushed over to her, concerned she might not be able to handle it, and whispered, ¡°Michelle¡­¡±

    But Michelle didn¡¯t look at me; her gaze was fixed on Peter¡¯s hair.

    Peter walked over to her and gently wiped the tears from her cheek. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you saying I¡¯m ugly now?¡±

    13:05 Thu, 21 Aug an

    Still focused on Peter¡¯s white hair, Michelle finally raised her trembling hand. ¡°Your hair¡­¡±

    11

    ¡°I¡¯ve got white hair too, and more than you. I guess you don¡¯t need to worry about it anymore, huh?¡± Peter teased

    as he wiped her tears away.

    But Michelle couldn¡¯t stop crying. Her whole body trembled as if she was overwhelmed by the pain.

    It was the first time I had ever seen Michelle cry like this. Peter had always pampered her, and it was rare for her to shed a single tear. But now, she was sobbing uncontrobly, her hand gently brushing his hair.

    Watching this, I quietly made my way downstairs.

    Philip looked at me. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I heard Michelle crying.¡±

    ¡°Peter¡­ his hair turned white overnight,¡± I said, watching Philip¡¯s eyes widen in shock.

    After a brief pause, he lowered his head, falling silent.

    I wasn¡¯t sure how tofort him. Despite having a reason for being here, I no longer had the energy for it.

    ¡°I think I should head home now,¡± I told Philip.

    Philip nced upstairs. ¡°Let me give you a ride.¡±

    I got in the car and turned the key, but the engine wouldn¡¯t start.

    It suddenly hit me¨Cbeforeing here, I had asked the mechanic to tamper with the car so I could take Peter¡¯s.

    ¡°Is the car broken?¡± Philip asked, noticing the problem.

    Feeling guilty, I couldn¡¯t look at him and whispered, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to fix it. Tristan can take you home,¡± Philip said.

    Tristan was Peter¡¯s driver.

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 Be Honest 196

    I had worked hard to get in the car, yet it happened so easily. But finding the address I needed was still going to take some effort.

    ¡°Tristan, could you pull over? I¡¯m feeling a bit nauseous,¡± I said, feigning illness as we passed a pharmacy.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Tristan replied, ncing at me in the rearview mirror before quickly pulling over.

    Once the car stopped, Tristan turned to look at me, his face full of concern. ¡°Zoe, what¡¯s wrong? Should I take you to the hospital?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s probably from drinking Peter¡¯s coffee earlier. I think it¡¯s upset my stomach,¡± I said, pulling Peter into the conversation to make Tristan take me more seriously.

    I pressed my hand to my stomach and continued, ¡°Tristan, could you grab me some stomach medicine? Just one pill should be fine.¡±

    Tristan nodded quickly but still looked uneasy. ¡°Should we go to the hospital, though?¡±

    I thought, ¡®I didn¡¯t respond, but Tristan understood what I meant. Over the years in the Dolton family, he knew my position well. Even though I wasn¡¯t with Alvin, he wouldn¡¯t dare take me lightly.¡¯

    Tristan quickly exited the car, and I seized the moment to dy things further. ¡°Tristan, could you grab me a bottle of water as well?¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t drink anything cold. There¡¯s warm water in the car; I¡¯ll pour it for you when I get back,¡± Tristan said, looking back at me as he hurried off.

    I watched him hurry into the pharmacy, then quietly sat up and reached for the car¡¯s navigation system. My heart was pounding¨Cprobably close to 180 beats per minute.

    I kept ncing out the window, anxious he might return sooner than I expected. Luckily, the pharmacy was on the other side of a barrier, so I knew he¡¯d be there for a while.

    I quickly scrolled through the navigation history but couldn¡¯t find what I was looking for. I had already gone back to a route from a month ago. Was I doing something wrong?

    Determined, I kept searching, but Tristan was already returning the medicine when I was still empty¨Chanded.

    My heart raced again as I nced out the window at Tristan¡¯s movements, flipping through the navigation history every few moments.

    Then, suddenly, a private route appeared on the screen.

    I thought, ¡®A normal driving route wouldn¡¯t be set to private unless they didn¡¯t want anyone to know. I had a vague feeling this was the rehab center I was looking for. But since it was set to private, I¡¯d have to input a password to see it, and I didn¡¯t know the password. This was Tristan¡¯s car, did he set the password?¡®

    I thought for a few seconds, and I figured it was most likely Peter who set it, since he owned the car. Wherever they went, it was his decision; Tristan was just the one driving, following the route. With that in mind, I was about to enter the password, but I didn¡¯t want to do it unthinkingly. There were only three attempts, and if I got it wrong, the system would lock, raising Peter¡¯s suspicions. What password could Peter use?¡®

    I thought, ¡®While I was still thinking, I kept ncing at Tristan. He had crossed the barrier and was heading back. He¡¯d be back in less than two minutes, but I still hadn¡¯t figured out the password. I was sweating with panic. If I missed this chance, it would be much harder to find the information again. I decided to take a risk. Peter loved Michelle, so I immediately thought of her birthday.

    But after entering it, it showed the password was incorrect.

    I gasped, and Tristan was already less than 300 feet away.

    I thought, ¡®I closed my eyes and tried to think harder. I still believed the password Peter set must be rted to Michelle, so I decided to try their wedding anniversary. Once again, wrong. The panic in me reached a boiling point, I had only one attempt left¨Cif I got it wrong, the address would be locked, and I¡¯d lose my chance forever.¡®

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 Be Honest 197

    Aug

    <b>Chapter </b><b>197 </b>

    ¡®Tristan¡¯s already less than 150 feet away. I can almost feel his eyes on me through the tinted window<i>. </i>Then, I remembered something Alvin once said: His parents never favored him and Philip, and they even used their birthdays for the bank password. Without hesitation, I decided to try entering thest three digits of their birthdays, but then I realized that might be too obvious.¡°¡®

    33%

    Considering how much more favoritism Peter and Michelle seemed to show Alvin, I decided to input Alvin¡¯s birthday first, followed by Philip¡¯s. As I entered thest digit, my heart raced, my blood pressure surged, and it felt

    like my heart was lodged in my throat.¡¯

    Tristan was now less than 30 feet away, and I couldn¡¯t bring myself to look at him. My eyes were fixed on the

    screen.

    As the gray bar on the private route turned brighter, I saw the password had been entered correctly, revealing the facility¡¯s name: Evergreen Rehabilitation Center. I recognized it immediately¨Cone of the three rehabilitation centers I had been investigating.

    I had put so much effort into this, and now I had the answer. I sighed in relief and reached to close my search history just as Tristan opened the car door.

    His gaze locked on my hand before drifting to the screen. My hand was trembling, and I could feel sweat gathering on my back.

    ¡°Zoe, what are you doing?¡± Tristan asked, a note of suspicion in his voice.

    I swallowed the nervousness in my throat. ¡°I¡­ I was just trying to y some music, but I don¡¯t know how to work

    it.¡±

    Tristan¡¯s gaze lingered on me, filled with skepticism. It was clear he didn¡¯t believe me.

    I thought, ¡®If I¡¯m sick, how could I even think about listening to music? It doesn¡¯t make sense! This lie is falling apart, but I¡¯ve already said it. I have no choice but to keep going.¡®

    ¡°I feel terrible. I just spoke to a doctor friend of mine, and she rmended I listen to some calming music to help rx. She also wants me <i>to </i>get checked at the hospital; she suspects I might have acute gastritis or appendicitis.¡±

    I thought, ¡®This lie doesn¡¯t sit right with me. When did I be such a good liar? But I have no choice. I need to find out if Eliseo¡¯s death was an ident.¡®

    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Tristan said, handing me the medication he¡¯d bought. ¡°Let me take you to the hospital. What kind of music would you like? I¡¯ll find something for you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Tristan,¡± I muttered, epting the medication. Feeling guilty, I quickly tore open a pill and swallowed it without even taking a sip of water.

    I thought, ¡®Taking medication like this isn¡¯t ideal, but it¡¯s just a stomach¨Cprotecting pill. It won¡¯t kill me.¡®

    ? ? 33%<b>L </b>

    ¡°Zoe, here¡¯s some water. You should drink it with your pill,¡± Tristan said, offering her a cup.

    I took the medicine and quickly swallowed a couple of gulps. The bitter taste spread across my tongue, seeping into my entire mouth.

    ¡°You¡¯re in pain, aren¡¯t you? I can see the sweat on your forehead. Going to the hospital is the right thing to do,¡± Tristan said, eyeing me before quickly starting the car.

    I thought, ¡®Only when the car stopped at the hospital did my heart, which had been racing from sneaking around, finally calm down.¡®

    Tristan insisted on walking me in, worried that something might happen to me. I had no choice but to let him take me to the emergency room while I quickly messaged Jasmine to cover for me.

    I thought, ¡®Thankfully, this time she didn¡¯t have a surgery scheduled, so she arrived right away. She also helped me fend off Tristan, who seemed determined to stay with me the whole time.¡®

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Tristan. Please don¡¯t tell Peter and Michelle,¡± I told Tristan as he was about to leave.

    He nodded in response, but I knew he would report back.

    Once Tristan was gone, Jasmine turned to me, her eyes sharp with suspicion. ¡°Zoe, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    I didn¡¯t hide anything and told her everything. Her face became uncharacteristically serious. ¡°Zoe, are you sure you want to dig into this? Have you thought this through?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, confused.

    Jasmine didn¡¯t answer immediately, but I realized what she was implying after a few seconds. ¡°You¡¯re worried that I might uncover something about Peter, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    I thought, ¡®Jasmine didn¡¯t confirm or deny it, but her silence spoke volumes. My heart instantly sank. If Eliseo¡¯s death is rted to Brannon, and Brannon became one of the Dolton Group¡¯s major clients, could it be¡­? Suddenly,

    I felt a chill run through me, and I couldn¡¯t think any further.¡®

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 Be Honest 198

    Peter and Michelle had been so good to me, to the point where I would feel guilty even considering doubting them.

    But now, even Jasmine started thinking the same way. My heart felt like it was plummeting from 30,000 feet, and a deep sense of panic crept in.

    ¡°I have to investigate!¡± I shouted it out.

    The more this doubt lingered, the more I had to find the truth. For Eliseo, and to clear Peter¡¯s name.

    Jasmine understood my resolve and didn¡¯t say much, only offering, ¡°No matter what, I¡¯m always here for you.¡±

    What she said made me realize she must have known the answer all along. But I won¡¯t stop until I discovered the

    truth.

    As I left the emergency room and headed outside to grab a cab, I was surprised <i>to </i>see Tristan hadn¡¯t left yet. He was holding a bag of medicine, talking on the phone as he walked. ¡°Yeah, the disy screen in the car got activated¡­ She said she was listening to music¡­¡±

    I could feel my whole body go cold, even under the scorching sun. I didn¡¯t need to ask to know who Tristan was

    reporting to,

    But why did he need to report? And if there was nothing to hide on the disy, why did he report every little thing!

    did?

    ¡®My mind was spinning as I watched Tristan¡¯s figure disappear. I couldn¡¯t waste any time¨CI needed to get to the Evergreen Rehabilitation Center before it was toote. If I waited too long, I might miss my chance at the answers! desperately needed.¡®

    To my surprise, Evergreen Rehabilitation Center had strict security. I was stopped at the entrance and asked for the name and room number of the person I was visiting.

    I knew the name but had no idea the room number. But I couldn¡¯t risk mentioning Brannon¡¯s name. If the security calls to verify, I¡¯ll bepletely exposed.

    In the end, I imed I was there to inquire on behalf of my family, but the guard quickly declined, exining that only pre¨Carranged appointments were permitted.

    This ce wasn¡¯t just open to anyone. This high¨Cend rehab center was as exclusive as theye. I couldn¡¯t even get through the door.

    Two cars suddenly pulled up as I was thinking about how to get inside. Their windows rolled down. I instantly recognized one of the <b>men</b>¨Ca bald head shining under the sunlight.

    It was the same man who had led the group that attacked Josh just a few days ago.

    ¡°Head to Mr. Langston¡¯s,¡± the bald man said to the security guard.

    13:05

    The guard immediately opened the gate, clearly recognizing him.

    The name ¡°Langston¡± wasn¡¯tmon, and this had to be one of Brannon¡¯s people.

    He was part of the group targeting Josh, and if Josh had traced it back to Brannon, could it mean Brannon was somehow involved in Eliseo¡¯s death, too? It was too much of a coincidence to ignore.

    I never managed to see Brannon, but at least that bald guy didn¡¯t let me leave empty¨Chanded.

    After leaving the rehabilitation center, I headed home, and on the way, I received a call from Michelle. ¡°Zoe, I heard from Tristan that you¡¯re sick. How are you feeling now?<i>¡± </i>

    Her voice was hoarse, and remembering how distressed she had been seeing Peter¡¯s white hair, I could tell she¡¯d

    been crying.

    My mind was a whirlwind, full of doubts I wasn¡¯t ready to confront. I pushed them aside, trying to keep myself focused. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Michelle. Just had some stomach issues, took some medicine, and I¡¯m feeling better now.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Peter and I were worried. We were nning to visit you at the hospital,¡± Michelle said, bringing an

    unexpected guilt.

    They were hurting so much, and yet they still worried about me.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Michelle. Just take care of Peter and yourself. Try tofort him a bit as well,¡± my heart heavy as I thought about Peter and his white hair.

    Michelle sighed deeply, a sound that weighed on my heart.

    I didn¡¯t know what to say next, and the phone call fell into a long, suffocating silence.

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 Be Honest 199

    <b>Chapter </b>199

    I was about to break the silence with something to ease the tension, but Michelle¡¯s voice trembled again, ¡°It¡¯s Thea who¡¯s doing this to Peter. Because of her, I can never ept her.¡±

    Michelle¡¯s words, full of anger, were unlike anything I had ever heard from her. It sent a chill down my spine.

    There was nothing more I could say.

    ¡°Zoe,¡± Michelle said softly, ¡°Pleasee by to see Peter whenever you can. Only you can ease his heart.¡±

    The pressure of her words weighed heavily on me, but I still agreed. After hanging up, I copsed back into the car

    seat, feeling like something was pressing down on me, making it hard to move or breathe.

    When I got home, I curled up on the couch, quietly sorting through everything in my mind.

    Everything pointed toward Brannon, but his ties to Peter through business dealings and the suspiciously tight security at his rehabilitation center only made things moreplicated.

    If there was nothing to hide, why go to such lengths to keep it all secret? The more I tried to figure it out, the more

    my mind spiraled, and the pain in my head intensified.

    I grabbed a pillow and pressed my face into it, trying to block everything out.

    It was how I usually dealt with overwhelming thoughts. Just as the weight of it all felt like it might suffocate me, a

    knock at the door broke through the tension.

    At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but then I heard someone call my name.

    I pulled the pillow away and got up, heading for the door.

    Even though it was broad daylight, I was still cautious. Before opening the door, I asked, ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s me, Josh.¡±

    The answer threw me off. I thought, ¡®Why was Josh here? Did something else happen again?¡±

    I opened the door to find him standing there, wearing a ck t¨Cshirt and cargo pants, looking perfect, as always,

    <i>¡°</i>What are you doing here?¡± I asked, still in a bit of a daze.

    Before I could say anything else, I felt his warm and steady hand on my forehead, offering a sense of security hadn¡¯t expected.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine now. No fever,¡± Josh said/lifting the <b>bag </b>in his hand.

    It was filled with fresh groceries, the leafy greens indicating they were just bought.

    ¡°I was thinking of making some oatmeal, grilled chicken sd for lunch. How does that sound?¡± Josh asked,

    <b>1/2 </b>

    sounding like the most considerate husband.

    I started to protest. ¡°You don¡¯t need to go through all that trouble. I¡¯ll just order something.¡±

    Before I could finish, Josh cut me off. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t eat anything too greasy right now.¡±

    <b>33</b>%

    I wasn¡¯t sure how Josh managed to get inside, but by the time I returned to reality, he was already in the kitchen,

    busy with something.

    As the saying goes, ¡°You can¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you.¡±

    I¡¯d already epted enough from him, so I didn¡¯t bother being overly polite. I grabbed a ss of water and walked into the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe, watching him move around in his apron, busy chopping vegetables.

    ¡°You¡¯re free today? Finished with the amusement park work?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Almost done,¡± he replied, skillfully chopping the vegetables. I didn¡¯t need to look at what he was cutting¨Cjust the sound of the knife hitting the cutting board told me he knew what he was doing.

    ¡°Let me know when it¡¯s all done,¡± I added.

    Josh nodded, and as I sipped water, my gaze lingered on him, taking in every detail.

    How striking he looked¨Chandsome from every angle, with a narrow waist and broad hips¨Cmaking it hard not to let my mind wander.

    I focused on the mole at the back of his neck to keep myself from thinking I shouldn¡¯t. ¡°Josh, we didn¡¯t talk on the phone today, did we?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he confirmed.

    I pursed my lips. ¡°Then how did you know I was home?¡±

    This was something I hadn¡¯t told him, and I certainly hadn¡¯t mentioned it to Myra either. But here he was, knocking on my door and bringing vegetables. He must have known I was home.

    1

 Be Honest 200

    <b>Chapter </b><b>200 </b>

    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Josh said neatly

    However, Iughed. ¡°You didn¡¯t know but youe knocking on my door?¡±

    Josh put the chopped vegetables into a bowl forter use. ¡°Your downstairs neighbor, Sophia, told me my girlfriend hase back.¡±

    I was speechless.

    I took a sip of coffee and admired Josh¡¯s elegance. Then Josh turned around and looked at me. ¡°What are you

    suspecting?¡±

    1 smiled faintly and said, ¡°I suspect¡­ you followed me.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± He frowned slightly.

    ¡°Just kidding. I know you don¡¯t have that much free time.¡± Then I went back into the living room and sat there

    drinking coffee.

    After a few sips, I put down the cup and scrolled through my phone, but before long I felt my eyelids drooping and slowly drifted to sleep.

    1 was dreaming. I dreamed the bald man had captured me and Brannon had asked him to kill me. Seeing a long knife stabbing at me, I shook my head desperately¡­

    ¡°Zoey! Zoey, wake up¡­¡±

    I was woken up, I suddenly opened my eyes and saw Josh staring at me nervously. Hisrge hands held my head

    still.

    ¡°Did you have a nightmare?¡± His voice was low.

    <i>I </i>was still in a state of shock from my dream. My breathing was rapid, but when I thought of the bald man who attacked Josh, I grabbed Josh¡¯s hand <b>and </b>said, ¡°The bald man who cornered you that day was one of Brannon¡¯s

    men. I¡¯ve seen him.¡±

    Josh¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°How did you know?¡±

    ¡°I have seen him,¡± I said, squeezing his hand and then slowly letting go.

    ¡°Zoe, it is my business. I don¡¯t want you to interfere, understand?¡± His voice was serious, even stern.

    I wanted to say I didn¡¯t want to interfere in his business. I wanted to investigate my father¡¯s death and identally bumped into the bald man.

    However, before I could speak, Josh continued, ¡°Brannon is a dangerous man. You must do nothing, understand?¡±

    13:06 Thu, 21 Augo

    Josh¡¯s appearance made me nod dumbly. I choked back my words.

    ?33%

    He brushed my forehead with his rough fingers and wiped away the sweat that had formed on my forehead from fright. ¡°Come on, get up, drink some water, and let¡¯s eat.¡±

    He got up to leave, but I grabbed him and said, ¡°Josh, you also need to be careful.¡±

    How could I not know how dangerous Brannon was?

    He was a major client of thepany. There were also private discussions about how he had made a fortune and

    how he had developed in the past few years.

    Josh looked at me holding his hand, and his gaze softened. ¡°Yes.¡±

    My mouth moved. He bent to pick me up and sat me down. He stroked my head again.

    His movements were indulgent and gentle. It effectively calmed the panic in my dreams.

    Josh entered the kitchen again and soon brought out the dishes and the oatmeal. I picked up the water on the

    table and took two sips before standing up.

    I felt a little light¨Cheaded at that moment.

    I was sick yesterday. Today, I was running around investigating. Coupled with the nightmare, I felt like I had been

    hollowed out.

    Josh turned around and seemed to see something was wrong with me. ¡°Dizzy?¡±

    I wanted to force myself to say no, but Josh hade over to support me and led me to the washroom.

    After sending me in, he automatically left the room and instructed, ¡°I¡¯ll be outside. Call me if you need anything.¡±

    He probably thought I was going to the bathroom, but I didn¡¯t. Instead, I stood at the sink and looked at myself. I realized my face was a little pale, and I looked terrible. Even my hair was a little messy.

    I¡¯m terrible like this. I don¡¯t look like my usual beauty anymore, Josh just saw me like this. He must be disgusted

    with me, right?¡® thought I

    The thought shed through my mind. I subconsciously tidied my messy hair and rubbed my face,

    Aw

    <i>2/2 </i>

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