Chapter 88 - What Ifs

"Future husband?" Ezekiel Tang repeated, the side of his lips gradually stretched upward as he laughed. 

He glanced at Zoey, as if he was silently telling her it was a silly joke. However, although Zoey chuckled along, her smile didn't reach her eyes. 

"I believe you're not here just to chitchat, am I right?" As he laughed for whatever ridiculous reason, Zoey didn't go around the bush anymore. She propped her jaw by the back of her right hand as she locked eyes with Ezekiel Tang. 

"Ahh, right..." Slowly, Ezekiel Tang's laughter faded away as he nodded his head. "I heard about your situation with the Sun's. We may ended in bad terms, but if you need help — " sounding magnanimous, Ezekiel Tang said. Alas, Zoey interrupted him midway. 

"It's settled. What are you saying?" Smirking, Zoey softly chuckled. "Surely, the Sun's are fast spreading good words that favors them but wouldn't say a word when the tide turns against them." Shaking her head, she muttered at the silly habits of Richard Sun. 

"Oh? You fixed it?" Ezekiel Tang smirked, not buying her triumphant front. "How so? No offense, Z. But with your current status, do you think you stand a chance against a giant? Don't tell me you agreed being Mr. Sun's woman?" Although he didn't mean to sound harsh, Ezekiel Tang's words would still sting. That was, if he could still affect Zoey with his opinions. 

However, Ezekiel Tang had lost all the ability to affect Zoey. Be it his words or his actions, Zoey couldn't care less. 

The very reason Zoey allowed him to enter her very office. To make sure he wouldn't think she wasn't ready to face this man who gave her the greatest lesson in life and in love. 

"Haha..." Shaking her head lightly, a glint flickered across her pair of orbs. "What if I agreed to become someone's woman to settle it? I'm single, anyway." Nonchalant, Zoey shrugged as her smirk grew bigger. 

Ezekiel Tang stared at the cunning woman across her. "You did changed, huh?" He muttered, traveling his gaze from her eyes down to her exposed legs. 

He had encountered Zoey many times in the past before he went abroad. However, Zoey was never willing to interact with him and she would instinctively put up all her defenses. Reasons for him to believe Zoey was still tied down to him. 

But now, Ezekiel Tang didn't like this doubt of what he always believed. He was uncertain if she was purposely saying this to enrage him or it was the truth. After all, she changed enormously. 

Not just the way of her clothing, but everything about the Zoey he knew seemed to vanish. Hence, the smile on his lips slowly faded away. 

"Anyway, I appreciate that you invited me in your engagement party." 

"You'll come?" Arching his brows, Ezekiel Tang asked. For some reason, the air around him changed, emanating negative aura. Although he sent her the invitation, Ezekiel Tang assumed she wouldn't. 

"Why not?" Shrugging her shoulders in nonchalance, Zoey tilted her head to the side. "I'm sure we've matured and can be happy for each other. We ended in bad terms, but it's been how many years. I don't think there's a problem that I'm being supportive to what makes you happy." She added with a smile. 

"What if I'm not?" As his smile faded away, Ezekiel Tang looked at her straight in the eye. "What if..."

"What if, what? Tang Ezekiel, you can't bear making your mommy and daddy sad, can you?" Blinking her eyes once, Zoey pouted after a sigh. 

Her mocking remarks obviously made Ezekiel Tang hand ball into a fist. Tightening his jaw, he peered at Zoey's nonchalant visage. 

"Anyway, congratulations for your engagement!" Watching the slow transition of his reaction, Zoey pretended not to notice. 

It was true that she was happy for him... for the misery of a loveless marriage. It might be vicious of her to be happy for someone's misfortune. However, there was no one to blame but Ezekiel Tang. 

His situation, this upcoming engagement party, and everything was all because Ezekiel Tang was a coward. He couldn't go up against his parents, let alone fight for what he wanted. 

Zoey had already realized that long ago. Hence, for him to have a change of mind at the very last minute, Zoey could not do anything about it. 

Because... Ezekiel Tang was five years late for reconciliation. Time had flee and so was Zoey's lingering feelings for him. Right now, the only emotion Zoey has for him was pity. 

"Thank you for seeing me." His fist shook, hearing her genuine congratulatory remarks. Slowly, Ezekiel Tang stood from his seat and turned. 

Zoey watched him depart from her office. However, just as he was at the door, Ezekiel Tang halted. "I really missed you, Z." He said, before resuming in his tracks and left.

As soon as the door shut closed, the smile on Zoey's lips faded away. She stared at the door for as long as she remembered before a faint scoff slipped from her lips. 

"Don't sound so pathetic." She whispered, tilting her head back and stared at the ceiling. Zoey didn't make a sound anymore as she remained in that position. 

****

Outside the Z Image Group's office, a black sedan stopped across the building. Matthew Xi, glanced at the building and his eyes softened instantly. 

He made it back on time. No, actually, he made it back a day before their first official date. The sleepless nights he spent abroad and traveling to different places for business trips paid off. 

Hence, despite that he was exhausted, he wanted to pay Zoey a visit the moment he returned. It felt like forever being away in the country. The days he wasn't hearing her voice or seeing her, it amplified his desire to finish everything so he could return to that wild miss. 

Alas, Matthew Xi was barely acting by his instinct. He was still uncertain what Zoey's role in his life was. He just wanted to do what he wanted, especially after a hell of a week. 

Just as Matthew Xi contemplated whether to see her or just wait until tomorrow, a figure exiting the building caught his eyes. Matthew Xi stared at Ezekiel Tang for a minute. 

For some reason, there was this sudden urge in his heart that he must win. His instincts competitiveness heightened as he watched the man's figure. 

Narrowing his eyes, he saw a red sedan stopped in front of Ezekiel Tang — scratching the idea that he's Zoey's employee. After all, the ride he hitched in was a limited edition and Matthew Xi has one to his collection. 

"Zoey..." Matthew Xi whispered.. His russet eyes darkened as he wondered if Zoey was misbehaving while he was away.