Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

Zed looked at Jean, who crossed her arms on her chest. A wry smile formed on his face upon hearing her words before he sighed helplessly and said," Christina is just a girl who grew up in the same big yard as I was. We treated each other like siblings, so it was really a surprise for me when she confessed her love for me. When I rejected her, I didn't know it was a huge deal for her. I realized it only until I heard that she attempted to commit suicide due to the rejection."

Jean looked at Zed, her eyebrows knitted. "Did she... Was her attempt... Is she...?" She didn't know how to ask the question without sounding insensitive.

Zed noticed her hesitation, so he supplied before she could finally compose her question. "Well, her mother found her bleeding on the bathroom floor. Apparently, she cut her artery with a knife. I was told that she was already in critical condition on the way to the hospital. As soon as they arrived, she was already proclaimed dead. She was only a teenager back then. It was really a great regret not just for me but for everyone, considering how her youth was wasted. I remembered that for a while, I blamed myself for what happened to her. It was long after that incident did I really recover from the guilt."

Jean eyed Zed intently, trying to deduce if what he was saying was a cover-up to the truth. When she couldn't find any hint, she asked," Then, how is the video incident associated with her?"

Zed was surprised by Jean's question, wondering why the video incident was suddenly mentioned. After a moment of composing himself, he realized then why Jean had dropped such a question.

'Of course, Jean have heard the mention of Christina. Naturally, she also has heard the other content.

Thanks a lot, Zack. You and your loud voice just ruined my plan, 'Zed thought, mentally noting to talk to Zack about lowering his voice when talking about confidential things.

Jean frowned at Zed's inability to respond to her question right away. She immediately spoke again to show her displeasure. "What's taking you so long to answer my question? Tell me, Zed. Are you still trying to hide anything from me even now?"

Zed looked at Jean and sighed helplessly. "If I were hiding anything, it is not because I don't want to tell you. Before finding any concrete evidence, all doubts are only considered groundless. I don't think it is necessary to tell you something that I am still not certain about. This will bring you nothing but worries, and I honestly don't want you to be stressed anymore."

"But, don't you think that I will be more worried if you don't tell me? I will be bothered every time the thought of you hiding something crosses my mind. Although the video incident came to an end, I know that it is only resolved partly for the time being, and I am still aware that the real culprit behind the scenes hasn't been caught yet. To be honest, I am still worried that whoever that culprit is may set us up again any time. If that really happens, there will be more serious consequences, and for sure, it won't be as simple as the video incident that occurred previously. I am pretty definite that the culprit isn't stupid enough to commit the same mistake. Zed, I'm really frightened about the thought that we would face the worst if we directly confront the culprit without knowing who he or she is,"

Jean said with great anxiety evident on her voice.

"Oh, honey." Zed immediately tried to comfort Jean as soon as he discerned her anxiety from her voice. He embraced her and rubbed her back gently before he continued," Everything will be okay. I will absolutely not give him or her any chance to hurt us again, whoever he or she is."

Jean moved away for a bit to be able to look at Zed's eyes. "Really? In spite of this, I have asked you, and yet you still don't want to tell me. Who are you suspecting, Zed? Care to tell?"

"I will tell you once I am more certain about my guess, okay? Do you trust me, Jean?" Zed pleaded to Jean earnestly, looking at her eyes with worry and concern.

Jean took a deep look at Zed. She sighed after realizing that she had no choice but to nod at him. There was no use arguing anymore as she found out that Zed was really reluctant to tell her.

Zed kissed her forehead and hugged Jean once more, tighter this time. "Jean, I know what you are worried about. I will definitely take actions before the culprit counter attacks us as soon as I get any evidence.

I won't be lenient, and I definitely won't be merciful. Just believe in me, okay?"

"Okay. I believe you. Just please be careful," Jean said with a short nod. Deep down, however, she was sighing heavily.

She knew that Zed did all this so that he could protect her, and she didn't doubt that.

Besides, Jean was pregnant now. Naturally, Zed didn't want her to know too much, or else she would be lost in random thoughts. Stress wasn't good for the incoming baby either.

'Fine.

Perhaps I really don't have to think about some things, and just trust and let Zed handle them.

I should just enjoy myself at ease as a calm pregnant woman!' Jean thought.

Even though Jean was already smiling contently, Zed, on the other hand, was hugging Jean in his arms with noticeable signs of helplessness on his face.

Zed would like to be honest with Jean if he had choice. The reason why he decided to conceal this from Jean, was that he was very clear that Jean would think more randomly if he told her about his doubt.

At the same time, if she knew the one that Zed suspected, Jean would become more nervous and her life would be more difficult.

In consideration of all this, Zed decided to be more cruel and selfish. He made up his mind not to tell Jean anything about the suspect.

Zed and Jean stood there for a while in each other's arms, being emotionally attached to each other before they walked into the house hand in hand.

As they reached the dining room, they noticed that Jade had already prepared a big table of sumptuous food.

After Jade saw Zed and Jean come in, a smile appeared on her face, while she said," You have come back."

Jean hurriedly let go of Zed's hand to walk over to Jade with a matching bright smile. "Mother, is there anything that I can help you with?"

"No, dear. Just wash your hands and get ready to eat," Jade replied to Jean, gesturing her to go and wash.

"Will do." Jean nodded and before she headed inside to wash her hands, she gave Zed a smile, but Zed motioned for her to go ahead.

As soon as Jean was out of the room, Jade's expression turned complicated as she walked over to Zed. "Zed, where did you take Jean?"

Zed noticed his mother's expression, and ignoring her question, he asked instead. "What's wrong?" He was stunned for a moment, wondering if his mother knew something he didn't.

"A woman made a phone call to our landline number earlier. It sounded like a woman of a certain age, but it was not like Edna's voice. She repeatedly told me that she wanted to find you. What on earth is going on, Zed?" Jade said seriously. Without waiting for a reply, Jade moved closer to Zed and held his hand. "Zed, you are my son, I love you. And remember, don't take the wrong path. Let me tell you..." Before Jade could finish, Zed interrupted her and removed his hand from her grasp. "Mother, what the hell are you talking about? Wrong path, really?" Zed asked not knowing if he should cry or laugh after hearing what Jade had said.

Then again, he couldn't help but think about the woman of certain age who made a phone call to the landline number.

'That must be Joy.

What was wrong though?

It's strange why she didn't look for Jean but me. What on earth was going on?

Did she call me for things about the case?' Zed thought, wondering as well what was really happening.

As his face turned serious, Zed finally looked at Jade and said," Mother, I still have some businesses to deal with. I am going to my study first. You start eating without me. I will catch up right away."

As soon as he finished his words, Zed ran upstairs in haste without waiting for Jade's acknowledgement.

Watching Zed's hurried retreating figure, Jade couldn't help but feel more displeased.

She became more and more anxious at how Zed acted.

Jade had faith in Zed and even rested assured of him. These days, she also saw how Zed and Jean got along with each other. She found out that the two of them loved each other a lot and only had each other in their eyes, and because of that, she felt elated as well. However, this euphoria was suddenly disturbed after she heard that woman's voice on the phone. What's worse, she didn't know why she felt bothered about it.

Meanwhile, Jean came out as soon as she finished washing her hands. Her smile turned into a frown when she noticed the expression of Jade and how she stared blankly at an empty staircase alone. She walked towards her and couldn't help but ask with great curiosity," Mother, what are you looking at?" As soon as she stood beside Jade, she realized that Zed was nowhere to be found.

"Where's Zed?"

Jade finally came back to her senses. She removed her eyes from the stairs and gave Jean a weak smile. "Oh, Zed has gone upstairs. He said he had something to deal with. Don't worry, he said he would come downstairs right away," Jade explained in haste. She then moved towards the table.

"Something to deal with?" Jean asked and then nodded as soon as she remembered what she and Zed had talked about moments ago. "Oh, Mother, don't worry. It is normal for Zed to be so busy, since he manages such a big company by himself." Jean gave her a reassuring smile. Seeing that Jean was not worried at all, Jade even suddenly doubted a bit about herself.

Upon seeing Jean's reaction, she thought that the woman who made a phone call to the landline number of their family might be Zed's customer. She wondered if she had just been overthinking all these.

'Jean doesn't even doubt about Zed dealing with other women at all. Then, why on earth am I suspecting?' Jade thought, shrugging off the disturbing thought instantly.

Jade then chuckled under her breath at how ridiculous her train of thoughts were, and then asked Jean to sit.

Moments later, Moore and Zack came into the dining room to join them.

Without making it obvious at how much she was being observant, Jean noticed that Jade didn't particularly give Moore the cold shoulder. At the sight of this, she immediately heaved a sigh of relief and started to eat. However, Zed didn't come downstairs until all others had almost finished their meal.

As soon as she heard Zed's footsteps, Jean couldn't help but look at him and check if there was anything to worry about. Without discerning any other weird facial expressions on Zed's face, she went ahead with her meal.

As he sensed Jean's gaze at him, Zed smiled to her. He then joined them and sat beside Jean, attentively serving her different food.

All of them ate in a harmonious and cozy atmosphere, making Jade completely shrug off her bothersome thoughts.

After finishing their delicious meal, all of them went to the living room to have some tea.

Zack's loud voices and exaggerated gestures brought Zed's parents endless joy and laughter. He entertained not just them but also everyone in the room.

At last, Zack bid farewell to all others present. Zed stood up too and said," I have to go out as well to deal with something." Zed turned to Jean and smiled at her. "I would come back a little late, Jean. Please, go to sleep first. Don't wait for me." Zed followed Zack as soon as he finished without any other word.

Zed's words caused a surge of uneasiness in Jean. She suddenly frowned and involuntarily took several steps forward, wanting to stop Zed and make him tell her what really was going on.

But before she could say anything to him, Zed had already walked out, and she could do nothing but keep the negative feeling inside her. ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐