Chapter 199 - I’ll Marry You — Yes!

Meanwhile...

"Z, I'm really sorry..." As they arranged the luggage, Cora Ma turned to Zoey who was going through the closet for a new bed sheet and blankets. 

"Why?" Casting Cora Ma an indifferent look, Zoey blinked her eyes leisurely. 

"Because..." A sigh escaped Cora Ma's lips as her shoulders lowered. "I should have used my head and..."

"Do you regret it?" Interrupting her midway, Zoey arched her brows as she pressed her lips into a thin line. 

Cora Ma slightly bowed her head, biting her bottom lip. "No," shaking her head, Cora Ma raised her head again and set her apologetic eyes to Zoey. 

Mustering her courage, Cora Ma took a long deep breath, "Z, this might be a hard time but even though I'm clueless, I can't just let your brother marry someone he doesn't love. I know this is selfish of me, but I don't want to give him up either. Even if the world turns against us, then let the world be against us.�� Curling her hands into a fist, Cora Ma didn't break her eye contact with Zoey as she declared her romantic feelings for Zion Kwan. 

Indeed, she might feel sorry for troubling Zoey. However, Cora Ma was certain that even if she's well aware of Zion Kwan's parents, she would make the same choice as she did today. 

God knows how much her heart fluttered upon seeing Zion Kwan in front of her doorstep. How much her heart raced upon hearing him say "Run away with me." How her eyes stung in joy as she witnessed him smile when she agreed. 

Just witnessing that, Cora Ma's heart knew she was making the right decision. She would do it over and over again because she would always choose Zion Kwan.

Seeing the resolve in her friend's eyes, the corner of Zoey's lips hooked up. "Good." She then resumed on grabbing some new pillow sheets. 

"That's very cheesy, though." Zoey commented, shrugging her shoulders as she chuckled faintly. "If that's the case, we should rest early today and find a wedding gown tomorrow." Facing Cora Ma, Zoey strode forward and then shoved the sheets to her with a grin on her lips. 

"Huh?" Mindlessly accepting the sheets, Cora Ma's thought bubbles were filled with question marks. "Wedding, what? Z, we don't—" Just when Cora Ma could explain things to Zoey, she was interrupted midway. 

"You don't plan to get married? How naive! Since you eloped, that means you two need to get married, duh?" Zoey rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she thought this was already clear to Cora Ma. 

Alas, she thought wrong. Truly, Cora Ma was an innocent adult. On a second thought, maybe Cora Ma wasn't that innocent as Zion Kwan had already robbed Cora Ma's innocence. 

"What?" Cora Ma gasped, blinking her eyes many times as she processed everything in. "But..." Hesitant to continue, Cora Ma cast her conflicted eyes on Zoey as if asking for help. 

"Sis, how can you let my brother lick every inch of your body without thinking of marriage?" Bearing her judgemental look, Zoey snorted as she clicked her tongue, disregarding how her words made Cora Ma blush. 

"But — but, why are you letting Browny do that...?" 

Upon hearing the soft and shy Cora Ma, Zoey let out a series of coughs. 'Damn... I didn't see that coming.' She murmured internally. 

"Sis, me and my Mr. Right Now have a complicated relationship." Zoey explained vaguely, changing Matthew Xi's title from Mr. Right to Mr. Right Now.

She couldn't just say that Matthew Xi was gay and wasn't interested in bedding her, right? After all, she has an image to keep up despite that the person before her was her best friend. 

"Still..." Just as Cora Ma was about to point out more facts, the door slowly opened to reveal Zion Kwan's dashing figure. 

As he entered the room with question marks in his eyes due to the two women's gazes, Zion Kwan slightly furrowed his brows. 

'Good save!' With Zion Kwan's intrusion, Zoey heaved a sigh of relief as she found a way of escape from Cora Ma's innocent questions. 

"Well, you guys can use this room. Do whatever you want in it but remember to tone it down, okay?" Clasping her hand together, Zoey smiled at Cora Ma and then to Zion Kwan. 

Nodding in satisfaction, Zoey then skipped her steps out of the room. However, before she could completely leave the room, Zoey stopped at Zion Kwan's side. 

"Brother, me and Cora will look for a wedding dress tomorrow. Make sure to give that ring to her tonight~!" Zoey giggled, patting Zion Kwan's shoulders before she winked and left them alone. 

Upon hearing his sister's remarks, Zion Kwan suddenly froze as his gaze shifted to Cora Ma who had the same expression as him. "I... huh, she spoiled it." Thinking of words to say, Zion Kwan ended up chuckling as he scratched the back of his head. 

On the other hand, Cora Ma's heart raced, her breathing got heavier as she heard Zion Kwan's remarks. Biting her lower lip, she watched Zion Kwan raise his gentle gaze at her before he strode towards her. 

Zion Kwan stopped before Cora Ma, staring at her lovingly as if just staring at her could erase all his problems. Every millisecond that passed, his heart was slowly being invaded with warmth and nervousness. 

"I know Zoey already spoiled my plans, but..." Trailing her arms which were hugging the white sheets by the back of his hand, Zion Kwan smiled. 

"Ma Cora, I liked you the moment I laid my eyes on you and I knew I loved you when I couldn't help but stare at you secretly. I was afraid of taking a leap of faith and confess — afraid that if I do, I'll lose you completely. You don't know how you make me smile and content; how I get jealous whenever I know Zoey set you up on a date." Zion Kwan paused, trying to get himself together as he confessed his feelings for Cora Ma for the first time verbally. 

"But, more than that, you don't have an idea how much I've longed for you — I've hoped that all your smiles were for me, that your eyes only look at me. I am selfish, I know." Slowly, Zion Kwan's hand went from his back pockets as he got down on his knees. 

As she watched him do so with his moving words, Cora Ma bit her lower lip hard to suppress her tears. Alas, her eyes betrayed her as tears stained her cheeks while she kept sniffing. 

"I am not the perfect guy as everyone thinks I am. Instead, I'm a coward who wasted years to confess my feelings to the girl I want. I'm not as filial as you think I am. I'm not as much a gentleman as you may have expected because inside my mind, I want to kiss, hug, and make love with you." Admitting what Zion Kwan perceived himself, he scoffed as he realized all these things just today. 

"I am selfish, yes. I didn't think of the consequences when I drove to your place and asked you to run away with me. I didn't even consider your feelings; I am hopeless..." Pursing his lips into a thin line, Zion Kwan raised the small box slowly and opened it to reveal a sophisticated ring he had been meaning to put around her finger. 

"Yet, here I am, hopeful that you'd accept a scum like me. Ma Cora, will you marry a selfish guy like me?" Zion Kwan's eyes gleamed with hope and passion, waiting for his heart to break by her rejection or be filled with overwhelming passion if she accepted. 

Either way, Zion Kwan's heart was ready. He would totally understand if Cora Ma rejected his proposal after everything that happened. 

"Stand up..." In between her sniffles, Cora Ma wiped her tears which showed no sign of stopping. "You know you've been my crush for the longest time and this moment feels like a dream come true..." Cora Ma's muffled sniffs grew into a sob as her heart was overwhelmed.

"Of course, I'll marry you — yes!" 

When he heard her answer, Zion Kwan heaved a sigh of relief as he smiled with his teary eyes. Taking out the ring from the box, he slowly stood up and put the ring on Cora Ma. 

"I love you," He expressed, kissing the back of her hand gently. 

"I love you too," Staring at her left hand, specifically, at the ring on her ring finger, Cora Ma raised her swollen eyes to Zion Kwan as she smiled.