Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

Jean rolled over to face Zed and said, "Then, what would you like to talk about?"

"I have something to tell you and it's bad news. I hope you can prepare yourself before I tell you. No matter what you hear next, just be calm. Promise me, for the sake of our baby." Zed pleaded with Jean as he looked at her with anxious eyes.

Jean was taken aback. She had thought that Zed would never agree to tell her this deep-buried secret. After a while, with her voice full of doubt, she asked, "Are you sure you are ready for it? You have been dithering over whether to tell me this the whole night. If you haven't decided yet, don't push yourself. Don't make a compromise just because I want to know it. Honey, you don't have to tell me if you think I'm gonna overreact. I can understand. It's our baby first."

Zed was staring at Jean in wonder. He had thought Jean would be upset about his hiding such an important part of the truth from her. So he instinctively asked, "Don't you want to know what happened?"

"Yes, I'm curious about what you have hidden from me. I want to know. But, if I can't control my emotions after I get to know the truth, I'd rather not be told. The baby's heath is a top priority for me. My curiosity can wait. Now, it's the baby over everything," Jean said and looked at Zed with a firm look.

Zed was tongue-tied as Jean's words sunk in. He looked at Jean in disbelief.

He had been tossing and turning over this confession for the longest time and by now, persuaded himself to tell Jean. But he never thought that this was how Jean saw the whole situation. After studying her glowing but sleepy face, Zed concluded that she meant every bit of her words.

"I'm glad that you see it this way, Jean," Zed said looking relieved. Giving her hands a warm squeeze as a faint smile played on his lips, he said, "Since you too think that our baby is of utmost importance right now. I think you will know how to react once you hear my news." He drew a long breath in and said, "So, I have decided to tell you, Jean."

"Hmm. What is it then?" Jean looked at Zed and asked calmly.

"Well, it's about Joy." Zed said it in a measured tone, adding, "She called me before supper and said that she has lung cancer. It's terminal. And she just has a few months to live. I confirmed this with her doctor after she hung up."

"What?" Jean was stunned and looked at Zed in disbelief.

Inwardly, Zed had butterflies in his stomach. This is precisely what he was trying to avoid - an upset Jean. He immediately said this to reassure her, "Be relaxed, honey. Don't get distressed."

"Why will I be? I'm not the one who is ill," Jean retorted and gave Zed a dirty look. She closed her eyes to mull over what Zed had finally blurted out to her. After a few minutes, she explained, "I was just surprised by the news. I've forgiven her for what she has done. However, God does punish evil people with what they deserve. Nothing arises on its own."

Zed was dumbfounded by seeing Jean take it this way.

He widened his eyes, and scanned her face carefully in silence. He had never expected Jean to reflect on things like this.

"Why are you staring at me? Wait! Is this the news you have been hiding from me?" Jean's suspicion was roused looking at Zed gaping at her.

Jean's words stirred Zed into responding promptly. He nodded in agreement and explained, "Well, I thought you will be upset with the news. Which, of course, is neither good for you nor our baby."

Again, Jean looked at him in annoyance. Puffing herself just a bit, she said, "There are four unavoidable sufferings: birth, old age, sickness and death. The first thing we have to learn is to accept them. What make you think I will be upset about Joy's illness?"

"You are right, Jean. Your words make sense. But we still have a problem here." Zed shrugged his shoulders and raised his palm skywards to show that he was wrestling with a dilemma he didn't know how to solve.

"What's that?" Jean asked and furrowed her eyebrows.

She realized that the purpose of Joy's call was not that simple. Joy called Zed not just to tell him that she got cancer. She must have made some demands.

"Joy wants me to help her to get out of prison. You know, she has terminal lung cancer. She hopes to live her remaining life comfortably outside jail. Jean, I will let you make the final decision. If you don't think we have to help her, I will call and tell her right this minute." Zed looked at Jean waiting for her decision.

Jean frowned, lost in thought. Chewing the inside of her cheeks, she asked Zed, "What's your advice? Is it possible for a criminal to escape punishment just because he or she has cancer. Does that give the prisoner some sort of right to choose the kind of life they should lead till their last breath?"

"I mean if you want to help her, I will have to figure this out. Of course, it will be strictly an under-the-table dealing." Zed concluded with a bitter smile on his face.

"Well, Zed. What you last did for Shirley was also under the table, right? You have done it once. Aren't you afraid that someone will investigate it some day? Aren't you afraid that you will be exposed one day? Can you make sure that no harm comes to you?" Jean had launched a barrage of questions at Zed. She was greatly worried about him.

Zed realized the source of Jean's worries and said looking downcast,"I don't know how to tell you, Jean. It's complicated."

Hearing Zed say this, Jean nodded at the hidden meaning behind them and said,"Okay, forget it."

Jean's curt reply worried him.

"I want to tell you the truth, Jean. But it's not that simple. I can't, Jean. Don't be upset," Zed explained frantically holding her face in his hands.

"I'm not, Zed. I don't blame you for this." Jean reassured him with a warm smile, "Thank you for what you have done for Shirley and Joy. I appreciate it, honey. I know, you are not just a businessman. I know you are more than what you let us know. Don't be alarmed, honey. I will not ask you to reveal your identity until you think it's time for me to know."

"Darling..." Jean's compassionate words deeply moved Zed. He rolled his tongue over his teeth, bracing himself to tell her the all-important truth. Then he said, "You are right, Jean. I have another identity except the CEO of the Qi Group. I'm ..."

"Don't say it, Zed," Jean butted in before Zed could reveal it.

"I have to, Jean. You are my wife. It's time to tell who I am," Zed shook his head and said.

"Zed..." Jean was ill at ease after seeing Zed so determined to confide in her. She again stopped Zed from saying, "I don't want to know who you are and what you are doing. The only thing I know is that you are my husband."

Though Zed might have prepared himself to reveal his true identity to Jean, she wasn't ready to listen to it, yet...

After a moment's pause, Zed too had second thoughts about it. He said, "Well, since you don't want to know at this moment, I will tell you when the time is right."

Jean sighed and her tense shoulders relaxed as the climax was averted for today.

A faint smile crept on her face. She gazed at Zed and said, "Thank you. I'm afraid that when I get to know your true identity, I won't be able to face you this easily. Even if you haven't told me, I already have some clues, Zed. So, don't tell me. Promise me to let it be, okay?" "I promise, honey." Zed was nonetheless pleased at the love Jean and he shared. He felt warm and cherished after seeing Jean be so considerate of the secrets he hid from her. He scooped Jean into his arms and held her tightly. After some time, he cleared his throat and softly asked, "What do you want to do about Joy? If you still hate her, you can let her rot in prison."

"I don't hate her any more, Zed. But I'm afraid to put you in a difficult situation just to help her. This doesn't deserve your efforts," Jean said with a painful smile.

"I will not, Jean. It's not a big problem for me. Once her medical certificate is in place, it won't be hard to get her out." Zed blinked his big brown eyes at Jean and continued, "Jean, you know, I kept on wondering whether I should tell you about Joy being sick. I was afraid that you would be anxious about it. Well, it turns out you are not. I even thought about drinking wine with Zack to get some courage before I could say it out!"☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐