Chapter 253 - Preparations

APRIL 20, 2019. 5:30 PM

It has been three days since Zoey and Matthew Xi arrived in the country. For two consecutive nights Zoey and Matthew Xi had been in an active sexual intercourse just like what a newly wedded couple would do. 

During that time, Matthew Xi proposed the withdrawal method but Zoey would still take her pills just in case. However, after a lot of thinking, Zoey was stuck staring at the pills in her hand while sitting in front of the vanity mirror. 

Since Matthew Xi had been very considerate of her emotions, he didn't stop her from taking contraceptives. Still, for some reason, at this very moment, she hesitated. 

Pursing her lips, Zoey raised her gaze and looked at her reflection in the mirror. 'Why are you hesitating?' She asked herself internally, breathing slowly as she didn't have an answer.

Considering she had been spending some time with Vivian Xi, which somewhat displeased Matthew Xi, Zoey had been secretly thinking about having a child. Although she told Matthew Xi that she wasn't emotionally ready, Vivian Xi made her feel she would do good. 

After all, somewhere along the lines, Vivian Xi told her that she always sees herself as a bad mother. Since Matthew Xi's father passed before they could have another child, Vivian Xi had poured everything she got towards her son. 

However, some occasional incidents made her question her role as his mother. After all, watching her son grow up with his attitude and aloof personality, Vivian Xi wondered where she went wrong. 

For Zoey, it was silly of Vivian Xi to question herself as a mother. Still, perhaps, taking up that big role in life was the same for every woman. 

Zoey feared being a bad mother, while Vivian Xi thought she was one. Nevertheless, that made Zoey question herself: was she just wasting her time before having a child?

After all, this was the last year of her twenties and for her age, it would be hard to bear a child. Matthew Xi might be full of vigor, but he was already in his thirties. 

In simple terms, both of them were already past their peak years. Whether or not Zoey wanted to admit it, they were already old. 

Having that thought in mind, Zoey gulped as she threw the pills into the small trash bin near her. As soon as she did, a heavy exhale slipped past her lips. 

"Doing it now or next month wouldn't actually make a difference, Z." Zoey muttered, talking to herself as she raised her brows and shrugged her shoulders. "There are still crazy nine months, after all." She added, rolling her eyes as she stated facts she must face now or a few months later. 

"What are you doing?" Coming out from the shower, Matthew Xi knitted his brows as soon as he laid his eyes on Zoey. 

She had been out of the shower since earlier and yet, she hadn't started doing her makeup or hair. They have a birthday party to attend to, not that the celebrant would complain, though. He was just simply wondering what she had been idling about. 

"Self-reflecting." Raising her gaze and looked at him through the reflection of the mirror, Zoey smiled which made him nod his head. 

With that being said, Zoey began preparing her look for tonight while Matthew Xi dressed up. Another hour had passed before Matthew Xi returned to their room where Zoey was in. 

"Ready?" He asked, his gaze travelling head to toe as she had her back facing him. 

"Almost." Putting her last piece of earring, Zoey then turned around as she looked at his russet orbs. "How do I look?" Raising her brows, Zoey's eyes sought for genuine comments. 

Normally, she wouldn't ask anybody's opinion on her look as she was confident with herself. However, this time, she was representing herself as his wife in front of the regal Xi family. 

Therefore, Zoey wanted to give a powerful impact — a good impression towards his cousins and uncle. Moreover, Vivian Xi told her she had been praising her daughter-in-law to the high heavens that they have high expectations. 

Matthew Xi narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized her heavenly beauty in admiration. "How do you look?" He arched his right brow, locking his gaze with her as he strode forward. 

"Hmm? Am I too pretty that you are stunned?" Obviously, instead of saying stuff as overdoing her makeup or attire, Zoey praised herself to boost her depleting confidence. 

He would just say yes or no, why wouldn't he? 

"Are you worried?" When Matthew Xi reached her, his hand crawled on her waist as the other traced her jawline. "Why?" His glinting russet eyes stared at her eyes. 

"Well, I want to impress your family." Averting her gaze away, Zoey pursed her lips into a thin line. "Did I overdo it?" Gulping, Zoey cleared her throat as aside from her nervousness, she could feel a different aura enveloping them. 

"Yes," Watching her express her discomfort, the corner of his lips curled into an amused smirk.

"Really? I knew wearing plain white is too plain." Her eyes glinted with disappointment, giving him a brief glance as she tried to break away from him. However, instead of escaping from him, Matthew Xi stilled her back as his other hand held onto her wrist. 

"You look perfect. I'm afraid others will snatch you away from me." As he caught her widened eyes, Matthew Xi inched closer and traced her delicate neck by the apex of his nose. 

Her faint scent of sweet vanilla wafted his nose, inciting sparks of desire within him. "Alas, you are mine... only." he whispered, leaving a soft peck on the side of her neck that made Zoey's face heat up. 

"You don't have to change, love." Before his hunger took over him, Matthew Xi decided to draw his head back before he changed his mind and the two of them wouldn't be able to make it to the party. 

"Mister Xi, stop teasing me." Zoey frowned, her hand patted her cheeks as all her needs seemed to appear on her face. 

"Can't help it." Smirking, Matthew Xi licked his bottom lip as if licking the residue of her that was left on his lips.

'He looks damn sexy whenever he does this....!' Staring at the rare specimen before her, Zoey could not help but think he was akin to a thirsty vampire staring at his prey which somehow caused her sister down there to feel thrilled.