Chapter 282 - Bad News

JUNE 10, 2019

"Gosh... this is unfair. How can you still look so pretty during pregnancy?" Clicking her tongue, Cora Ma rolled her eyes as she closed the door behind her after entering Zoey's office. 

"What else can I do? I'm God's favorite child." Chuckling at the greeting remark from her best friend, Zoey shrugged her shoulders as she slowly stood from her seat. 

Zoey then trudged towards the set of sofas while Cora Ma perched on the seat across her. "Can you donate a little of your confidence to me, Z?" Humoring her, Cora Ma chuckled because Zoey never changed. 

For the past one month, Cora Ma had been busy and only met up with Zoey a few times. She had a new job in a better company — thanks to Matthew Xi's help. 

Therefore, it was safe to say that Zion Kwan and Cora Ma were in debt to Matthew Xi. Although the man often said he was just barely lessening Zoey's 'burden', they were thankful. 

They had also moved out from Zoey's place to a house that Zion Kwan and Cora Ma bought. Yes, Cora Ma had used all her savings to contribute to their house. 

"If confidence can be shared, there wouldn't be a single person with low self-esteem." In a matter-of-fact tone, Zoey shrugged her shoulder before gazing at the paper bag that Cora Ma had brought along with her. 

"What's this? A gift for me~?" Zoey assumed as her eyes lit up. Any gifts from Cora Ma, Zoey would appreciate it.

Cora Ma's gifts were not expensive or fancy. Still, the reason that Zoey was elated to receive gifts from her was because her gifts were unique. Cora Ma would personally make her gifts; be it a shirt, accessories, or poems. Those were not things that money could easily buy because what she put in them were her time, effort, and her heart. 

"No, Z. I'm sorry to break your bubble but it's not for you." Shaking her head, Cora Ma chuckled while Zoey frowned in dismay. 

"If this is for my brother, I swear I'll take this! How can he hog all the love from my best friend?!" Grinding her teeth, Zoey roared as she already set her desperate eyes on the paper bag on the table. 

"Pfft—!" Although Zoey sounded selfishly childish, that's just how sweet she was. Hence, Cora Ma could not help but laugh seeing this pregnant woman fume at the innocent Zion Kwan. 

"Don't laugh. I'm dead serious, Ma Cora." Zoey narrowed her eyes as she shifted her gaze up to Cora Ma. 

"No, it's not for your brother but for the baby." Shaking her head, Cora Ma slid the paper bag forward to appease the angry pregnant woman. "I made him a bracelet and went to the temple to have it blessed." Smiling, Cora Ma watched Zoey unwrap the gift excitedly. 

Soon, Zoey held a small bracelet up, her eyes softened at how small it was and stretchable. "Sis..." Moved, Zoey returned her gaze back to her soon to be sister-in-law bearing tears that were tempting to fall from her eyes. 

"It's so pretty..." Trying not to bawl, Zoey darted her gaze from Cora Ma to the bracelet in her hand. 

"It's a lucky charm so that the baby knows that auntie will also be there for him… or her." Pleased that Zoey liked it, Cora Ma delivered the message behind the bracelet she made. 

Cora Ma was certain that once the baby was born, everyone would get busier. There would also be the time that Cora Ma would also have to bear a child. Hence, she wouldn't have the time to make this kind of stuff more often. 

Nevertheless, that didn't mean her heart wasn't close to Zoey and Matthew Xi's child. She wanted to let them know that Cora Ma would always be open for them and could act as the second parent any time. 

"I feel so blessed. Come here." Expressing her heart, Zoey raised her arms for a hug. Obviously, Cora Ma had stood from her seat as she embraced the emotional Zoey. 

"Gosh, being pregnant made you a cry baby, huh?" Since Zoey was already crying in happiness, Cora Ma could not help but chuckle as she could not believe how much Zoey had changed. 

Although Zoey was an appreciative person, she rarely cried in the past. Even if her heart was moved, she would just pretend to cry jokingly. 

But nowadays, Zoey got too emotional even on simple things. Cora Ma also heard how she was torturing Matthew Xi with her mood swings. Good thing the man was still sane as Zoey who has an unpredictable personality got more unpredictable when she got pregnant. 

"Right, you had a family date with the Xis, right? How was it?" Changing the subject, Cora Ma slowly retracted her hand and sat beside Zoey. 

"Well, they have been very nice to me... except that Xi Ruby — I want to shave her hair off!" Wiping her tears, Zoey placed the bracelet back in the paper bag. 

"Oh? She's causing you trouble?" Aware that Ruby Xi wasn't particularly fond of Zoey unlike the other cousins of Matthew Xi, Cora Ma knitted her brows together. 

"No, she wouldn't dare. I just sense that she doesn't like me." Shaking her head, Zoey clicked her tongue as she recalled how Ruby Xi looked at her. 

"Well, she's a prideful person. Don't mind her — she'll eventually like you." Shrugging her shoulders, Cora Ma reassured although she knew deep down Zoey didn't care if she was liked or disliked. 

"Well..." Just then, Zoey heard her phone rang causing her words to trail off. Turning her attention to her phone placed on her desk, Zoey gestured to Cora Ma to wait as she slowly stood up from her seat. 

Walking towards her desk, Zoey knitted her brows to see an unknown number. At the same time, Melanie Xue knocked on the door which made Zoey turn her head towards the door. 

Gesturing her to keep silent, Zoey's gaze shifted to Patrizio Moretti standing behind Melanie Xue. Upon laying her eyes on her friend, Zoey smiled and waved her hand in. 

"Who's this?" When Melanie Xue got the permission to let the foreigner in, Zoey answered the call. 

"Hello, is this Missus Xi?" Came from the other end of the line was an unfamiliar voice. 

"Yes, who's this?" Zoey furrowed her brows, her heart somehow thumped loudly as her anxiety crept in. 

"There had been an accident on XX highway, and we are sorry to inform you that your husband couldn't be saved by the paramedics..." The words on the other end of the line trailed off as Zoey couldn't hear anything after the first sentence. 

That moment, Zoey couldn't hear anything but her own heavy breaths. 'Couldn't be saved...?' Her mind repeated, utterly confused at what it meant. 

Accident? Her husband was in an accident? And he didn't make it? He didn't survive? What did that even mean? What kind of prank call was this? It's not funny...

Zoey's hand on the phone trembled before she lost her energy to hold it up, causing it to crash on the floor. She couldn't move; she couldn't feel anything nor hear anything. 

"Zoey!!" Cora Ma whose attention was caught by the drop of the phone shouted upon seeing Zoey suddenly fainting. Fortunately, Patrizio Moretti was standing nearby and caught Zoey before she could fall. 

"Call the ambulance! Zoey! Zoey! Wake up!" Shouting and panicking, Patrizio Moretti snapped as he shook Zoey to wake up.. Meanwhile, Cora Ma rushed outside the office, screaming for help.