Chapter 159 - You’re Trapped With Me, My Apologies

"Yeah..." Nodding her head, the corner of her lips curled up a little as she studied his appalled front. "Come," Cocking her head towards the door, Zoey invited as she pushed the door open. 

Meanwhile, Matthew Xi couldn't bring himself to take another step. He could feel an invisible chain with a metal ball clung to his ankle, immobilizing him. 

'Make me forget... right...' He whispered internally, recalling how those soft yet desperate words had assailed his ears that night. 

The memories from that time, somehow, his opaque memory grew clearer. The initial blurriness of his vision slowly showed the woman's facial features. 

'Make me forget...' Again, those words rang inside his head, but this time, he could vividly see Zoey's image seven years ago. 

Her eyes were a little swollen, like a wounded beast trying to find shelter. Her eyes sought for a place of belonging, enthralling his drugged state. 

His heart beat slowly, albeit loudly. He could hear it, and the scent of her breath with a touch of alcohol. Alas, for him, it was sweet and arousing — waking up the sleeping beast locked within him. 

And then... as she drew closer, the world didn't matter anymore. What mattered to him was that moment — with only him and the stranger he was enthralled with the first time he laid his eyes on her. 

"Zhou Zoey..." Under his breath, Matthew Xi slowly turned his gaze towards the slightly opened door. 

Zoey was already inside, leaving the door slightly open for him. He should have listened to her. Indeed, he needed that drink earlier... no, he needed much more alcohol than she had consumed. 

"Ahh..." Tilting his head back, Matthew Xi ran his fingers through his hair as a scoff escaped his lips. 

Not many thoughts crossed his mind at that moment. The woman who claimed and got the benefit from him didn't matter at the moment, nor his wrath that night towards everyone. 

If anything, he found it ridiculous — comical. Who came up with the thought that the world was vast? No, it wasn't that vast as everyone thought it was. 

"Right..." Nodding his head, Matthew Xi exhaled heavily as he turned around and headed back to the main bar. 

Matthew Xi's steps didn't falter as he returned to the bar counter they were perched upon earlier. Gesturing the bartender, he ordered the strongest drink available to cool his head.

"Thank you," He said, chugging down his drink and asking for another one. Matthew Xi consumed five drinks consecutively. 

As he slammed down his fifth empty glass on the surface of the bar counter, Matthew Xi winced as he tilted his head back. Now, that seemed to have soothed his uncontrollable heart. 

"Great..." He muttered, the corner of his lips moulded into a smug grin as he glanced in the direction where Zoey was waiting. "Zhou Zoey..." he added, shoving his hand inside his pocket as she headed back to that private lounge. 

*****

Meanwhile, Zoey closed her eyes as she rested her temples onto the back of her hand. She didn't bother checking where he was, as she figured that he might've gone to get some drinks. 

She couldn't blame him, though. It was impossible and hard to believe — the reason Zoey held back at saying the truth. 

If not for the fact that Matthew Xi was 'bound' by a con, Zoey didn't plan on telling him about it. Actually, she planned on letting it stay in the past. After all, they were together now. 

Still, perhaps, this was a good card to play at the moment so even if their three dates were over, the truth would add some impact on him. She wasn't dealing with a jerk, but a man with principles who thought his glorious body couldn't be tainted by any mortals. 

"How long will it take?" She mumbled. 

Just then, she heard the door slowly creaked open. Zoey opened her eyes languidly and raised her gaze towards the towering figure standing on the door. 

The tip of his ear and cheeks were flushed. The evidence of alcohol was plastered across the smug smirk on the corner of his lips. 

Before her, the person standing on the door emanated an entirely different vibe than the Matthew Xi she knew. Yet, it also felt familiar; just like the person seven years ago. 

Intimidating, evil, dangerous. 

"So?" Not moving a muscle, Zoey smirked as she finally got to meet the real him. "Nice meeting you again, Mr. Xi." She muttered, watching him approach her figure. 

"I'm sorry." Alas, his first words weren't the first words she was expecting them to be. He slowly squatted down in front of her, his finger trailing her jaw down to her chin. 

"For what? For forgetting about me?" A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she bit her lower lips which seemed to entice him. 

"No," Shaking his head lightly, Matthew Xi chuckled. "My advance apologies, Zhou Zoey. I think... no, I..." Staring at her in the eyes, Matthew Xi's words halted as Zoey immediately placed her hand to cover his lips. 

"Don't say it. You don't know me, Mr. Xi. I don't even trust myself." Guessing what would be his words, Zoey shook her head. 

Not that she hated the words 'love' or 'like'. It was just that she too was afraid that once this night ends, the emotions she has for him would slowly dissolve into thin air. That once the two of them cooled down their heated and sensitive bodies, it would also vanquish the fire in her heart. 

Staring at her, Matthew Xi scoffed. He slowly held onto her wrist, slowly putting her hand away from his lips. "Bull." He hissed as he smirked. 

With that being said, Matthew Xi leaned forward as he pressed his lips against hers. Biting her soft lower lip that he desired to taste all day, he slowly broke the kiss. "You got things wrong, Miss Zhou. You don't know me — I get what I want either by hook or by crook. As for you..." Once again, Matthew Xi left a soft, gentle peck on her lips. 

"You're trapped with me, my apologies."