Chapter 521 - Not Worried At All!

"I think… I like someone else."

Zoey was rendered speechless upon hearing Cora's last remarks. She could not believe Cora, the loyal heart that loved Zion through the years was saying she liked somebody else.

"I don't know how and when but when Brother Zion confessed to me…" Cora bit her lower lip as her eyes began to well up. "I couldn't accept it!" 

Cora raised her head, tears rolling down her cheek as if she had been bottling her emotions for a long time. She mustered her courage saying this to her best friend who she could trust despite knowing that Zoey and Zion were siblings!

"Cora…" Zoey called out softly as she watched Cora cover her lips to muffle her cries. Her eyes softened as a heavy exhale escaped her lips. 

How would Zoey react to this? She knew Cora and her brother should be together. However, Cora meeting Ivan changed their destiny.

After all, Cora and Ivan shouldn't have known each other or even just meet. The two had nothing to do with each other. But, since Zoey decided to shelter Ivan, Cora and Ivan's meeting was bound to happen.

Now, they were in this situation. Zoey felt conflicted as she didn't expect this little change to affect others.

"I liked Brother Zion for a long time but…" Cora spoke through her muffled cries. "That time…" 

Cora hiccuped as she recalled the time Zion confessed to her. The time she had been daydreaming for a long time that actually happened. However, her reaction was not what she had expected.

When Zion confessed, Ivan's image flashed across her mind. The thought that Ivan was always with her and giving her security without taking any credit. It was a little creepy, but Cora knew she was safe because someone was protecting her from the shadows.

One of the reasons Cora could be reckless and got wasted that night. She knew, deep in her heart, that person whom she didn't know would look after her.

That's why she was so shocked when Zion mentioned it was Ivan who took her home. It all made sense to her as she would constantly bump into Ivan some nights, but often thought it was just her hallucinations due to the influence of alcohol.

"...that time..." Cora covered her lips as she couldn't say it out loud. What a shame to be liking someone so suddenly with a shallow reason.

"It's fine."

After a long silence, the side of Zoey's lips curled into a subtle smile. She knew Cora was in a more complicated position and she was in no position to dictate her friend's heart.

To Zoey, Cora's reason was not important. She knew her friend and it must be harder for her to accept the changes. Moreover, how could Zoey judge someone's heart's desires 

"I'm here for you." Zoey uttered as she reached her hand towards Cora and held it reassuringly. "It's your heart and your life. Although I'm rooting for you and my big brother, I can't just force it from happening, can I?"

Zoey smiled which surprised Cora slightly. She didn't expect Zoey to understand her that much as Zoey was a little biased at times. Thus, hearing these words from Zoey made her cries intensify.

"Wahh! Zoey!"

"Oy! Don't cry too loudly! You'll be fine!" As Cora's cries went louder, Zoey panicked as she didn't want the people outside to think she bullied her friend and made her cry.

After all, Cora has always been in Z Image and the employees were fond of her bubbly personality. Heck! They might revolt against Zoey if they think she bullied her only friend!

*****

Cora cried and only calmed down after twenty minutes. When she finally calmed down, she raised her head to Zoey's distressed front.

"Z, thank you for listening to me even though it's your working hour." Cora smiled, feeling the heaviness in her heart vanish after coming clean to her friend. "I know you have more important business affairs to do. So, I'm going off."

"Where are you going? Didn't you get fired from the company you're working for?" Zoey asked as she knitted her brows. Cora was always welcome in Z Image and she could stay for as long as she could to save up until she could find a job.

"Why don't you do part-time work here?"

"No," Cora shook her head lightly with a smile on her lips. "Z, I know your company is struggling and having another person to add in your payroll will be a burden. I'm just glad to be your friend."

"Huh? What are you saying?" Zoey tilted her head to the side which caused Cora's face to show a puzzled front. "Z Image is hiring and we need manpower to finish all orders in due time."

Zoey grinned as her eyes squinted into a thin happy line. "I'm becoming rich! Work part-time here until you recover and Z Image is stable."

Cora was lost for words as she stared at Zoey's front. Since it's been a while since she chatted with Zoey, Cora was not up-to-date regarding the Z Image Group's current affairs. Thus, seeing Zoey this happy, it just means her company was really progressing.

"Also, if you're here, that Ivan will surely stop slacking. Hehe!" Zoey's grinned shone, almost blinding Cora.

"Uhm, Zoey…?" Cora softly called out but Zoey was already enveloped with ominous aura as if a witch who was about to execute her plans.

****

"Achoo!" Ivan shivered as he looked around the rooftop of the building. "Gee! Why am I feeling this ominous air as if someone is scheming behind me?" 

Ivan rubbed his shoulders as he shook his head. "No, no. A lot of people are already angry at me. It'll take forever to figure out who wants to scheme against me."

He then rested his back once again as he raised his head to the clear sky. Suddenly, Cora's image from earlier this morning hovered inside his mind.

"I wonder if they got together that night?" He muttered before a heavy exhale slipped past his lips. "Man… what am I thinking?"

All of a sudden, Ivan's calm demeanor seemed annoyed as he ground his teeth and closed his eyes. "I'm not worried at all!"