Chapter 193 - Katherine Quin

'Jeez... I'm pretty sure brother Zion still doesn't like Browny if he's telling it to Aunty Jean.' Zoey rolled her eyes as she shook her head while she made her way towards the garden. 

"Yet, the audacity to beg me to come here." Zoey whispered, letting out a deep exhale as one of the main reasons Zoey was attending was because of Zion Kwan. 

On a brighter note, although Zion Kwan was adamant about his opposition against Matthew Xi, he wasn't interfering anyway. Therefore, Zoey didn't have any reason to hold grudges. 

Moreover, this was actually one of her concerns as Cora Ma would be involved. So much trouble for a beauty like her. 

As Zoey approached the garden, holding on to the door's handle, she took a deep breath before pushing it open. Once she did, she was welcomed by the lively crowd of the family in a welcoming atmosphere. 

When they heard the door open, everyone instinctively turned their heads to her. "Uhm," clearing her throat, Zoey raised her chin up. "Hello my dearest family! The pretty me has arrived~!" Putting up a blinding smile, Zoey announced herself which brought forth chuckles from her relatives. 

"Yes, oh great Young Miss Kwan! But, you're late!" One of Zion Kwan's cousins, James Kwan shouted his humor. 

"Let me guess, her answer will be: keep the best for the last!" Charlotte Kwan, the younger sister of James Kwan mimicked Zoey's usual lines while chuckling. 

"You two can just say you missed her! Haha!" Another female in her late twenties chimed in. Avery Yang loved to tease her two cousins. 

"Oh, my little Zoey!" Still chuckling, an elegant woman who was in her mid 50's approached Zoey with open arms. 

"Mom," Embracing the woman back, Zoey whispered while Sarah Zeng, Zion Kwan's mother, pecked her cheeks. 

"You're late, as always!" As Sarah Zeng retracted away from her, she pouted. 

���Hehe. Got stuck in the traffic." Zoey lied since she couldn't say she was actually reluctant to come, right?

"*Sigh* You're always like this, distancing yourself, always." Sarah Zheng sighed heavily, shaking her head sideways as she tried to guilt trip Zoey. 

"Of course not! I'm just really busy with Z Image — it's been hectic." Shaking her head profusely, Zoey used her card which was her company as an excuse. 

"Dear..." Again, Sarah Zheng sighed as Zoey often used this excuse. Yet, there was no telling if that's true or not as Z Image Group was flourishing without Kwan's help. 

"Anyway, say hi to your aunties and father. He's been very grumpy since you've missed a lot of family events." Changing the subject, Sarah Zheng linked arms with Zoey as she dragged her to the bunch of middle-aged women. 

"Little Z, look at you!" The moment Sarah Zheng and Zoey entered the vicinity of the women, one of her Aunties exclaimed as her gaze scrutinized Zoey from head to toe. 

"It feels like it's been a while! No, it's really been awhile since you attended our family gatherings! This little girl!" The woman added, frowning as she complained to Zoey. 

"Aunty Carol, I was busy." Using her old excuses, Zoey pouted as she skipped to give Caroline Zheng a hug. 

"Hmp! You're always working that's why you're still single!" Slightly coaxed by Zoey's sweet tricks, Caroline Zheng harrumphed. 

"What? Who said I'm still single?" 

"Hah! Then why didn't you bring him here?" Not convinced by Zoey's misleading question, Caroline Zheng asked sarcastically. 

"Because I didn't know his presence was needed." Zoey answered as she chuckled while shaking her head lightly in Caroline Zheng's embrace. 

"Of course, we need to meet him! After all, it's your brother's engagement party!" Slapping Zoey's arm lightly, Caroline Zheng exclaimed. 

"Right, next time." Zoey chuckled awkwardly before she paid respect to her other aunties. 

As Zoey did, her gaze moved to the unfamiliar woman sitting around the table. "Uhm..." turning to her aunties and then to Sarah Zheng bearing a questioning eye, Zoey raised her brows. 

"Little Zoey, this is Katherine Quin, your future sister-in-law." Seeing the questioning eyes of Zoey, Sarah Zheng chuckled as she walked beside Zoey and placed her hands on her shoulder while introducing her son's fiancee. 

As Sarah Zheng did, Katherine Quin elegantly rose from her seat as she slightly bowed her head, a gesture of respect to her soon to be sister-in-law. 

Meanwhile, Zoey watched the beauty greet her with a delicate tone and demeanor. Obviously, Zoey knew about this engagement party. 

The main reason she had to attend — Zion Kwan was set in an arranged marriage just as he cleared his misunderstanding with Cora Ma. Perhaps, the reason for this abrupt arrangement was because Zion Kwan brought Cora Ma last month to the dinner party of the Kwan's. 

This had probably alarmed Sarah Zheng and Zachery Kwan. After all, the way Zion Kwan looked at Cora Ma was obvious that her brother liked the woman. 

"Nice to finally meet you, sister Zoey. I heard a lot about you." Still bearing her gentle demeanor, Katherine Quin struck a conversation while Zoey peered at her with a narrowed eye. 

"Z...?" After a minute of Zoey's silence, Sarah Zheng slightly tugged Zoey's shoulder as she hadn't responded to Katherine Quin. 

"Mom? Where's big brother Ion?" Instead of replying to Katherine Quin, Zoey faced Sarah Zheng and inquired about her brother's whereabouts. 

It was his engagement party and yet he was nowhere to be found.

"He's with your father in his study. They'll join us soon." Smiling gently, Sarah Zheng answered which made Zoey nod in understanding. 

Alas, Zoey figured out that Zion Kwan was not around because he was arguing with his father. He was probably against this sudden arranged marriage and was trying to buy his ticket to escape. 

"I'm sorry, Miss Quin. I was just wondering where your fiance could be in his engagement party. I mean, he should be here displaying his love for you, don't you think?" Turning to Katherine Quin, Zoey clearly distanced herself by addressing her formally in a polite way. 

"Anyway, nice meeting you. Have you met our cousin? Let me introduce you to them!" Zoey suggested excitedly to conceal her first remarks. 

"Ye —"

"Come! Let's meet them!" Halting her abruptly, Zoey skipped her steps towards Katherine Quin and dragged her with her. 

Just as she did, Zoey turned to her aunties.. "Mom, I'll be borrowing Miss Quin for a while, okay? I promise I'll behave~!" Zoey gestured a peace sign with her fingers before she chuckled and dragged Katherine Quin to a group of new generations of the Kwan's.