Katherine pursed her lips, trying to keep her brave surface. Still, the slightest change in her expression already gave the honest answer Zoey sought.
"I do!" Katherine denied. "I just like you and want to be your friend. What's so wrong about it?"
"And if I don't want to? Will you force me?" Zoey was quick to rebut as this has become a silly talk for her.
"You don't like me because you think I'm not fun. Don't judge the book by its cover. You don't even know me, yet you don't like me already." Katherine mumbled, wanting to complain more as Zoey seemed like she had decided.
Katherine wasn't the type of person who gives up easily. Especially, if she set her mind into it, she would go for it. Not to mention, she really liked Zoey and wanted to be friends with her.
What's so wrong about it?
"If I'm judging you by your appearance, I will be friends with you knowing how influential the Quin Family is." In a matter-of-fact tone, Zoey explained. "I'm judging your actions. Don't forget you barged in here and just exploded like a psycho. I can't believe someone in the Quin Family is this tactless."
As usual, Zoey didn't hold back and purposely hit a nerve with this lady. Zoey was uninterested in Katherine's upbringing and her personal issues. However, since the Kwan and the Quin's stood on the same ground, marriage between Katherine and Zion would eventually happen.
"Oh, now that I think about it…" Zoey murmured, narrowing her eyes as her mind flew elsewhere.
In her previous life, the only reason Zachery and Sarah set Zion in an arranged marriage was because of Cora. That time, Cora and Zion were already dating. Hence, arranged marriage was the Kwan parents' way to stop Cora and Zion's relationship.
But now that things had changed, Zoey doubted Zachery would do something that would enrage his son. Zion was their beloved son, and they promised he could choose a wife of his liking.
Obviously, Zoey was aware that promise only had effect if Zion fancies an elite. In other words, if Zion ended up liking an ordinary woman, Katherine would be one of the candidates who would be offered for this marriage.
"Interesting…" Zoey whispered, smirking as she raised her gaze back to Katherine.
"It's okay if you think I'm tactless and not suited to be part of the Quin Family. I'm not like them, anyway." Katherine shrugged, didn't take offense at Zoey's blunt remarks.
"You don't like your family?" Zoey asked, intrigued to know more about this lady.
It was best to cancel Zion's engagement if Katherine would be on her side beforehand. No one knew what tomorrow brings, after all.
Even if it won't be about Zion, Katherine could be helpful in other things. A girl like her could be useful, anyway.
"Do I look like I do? If I do, then why am I here partying with those two?" Katherine softened, picking up her glass of wine and chugged it inelegantly.
"Partying and spending is my only escape."
She added after swallowing the wine. Zoey nodded in understanding.
'Rich people are truly the best in terms of family drama.' Zoey thought internally, having a good grasp of what kind of situation Katherine had in their own household.
"At the very least, you have an escape." Zoey commented, shrugging her shoulders as she sipped from her glass of champagne.
"You have money to spend, a roof to shelter you, and luxury clothes and bags to use." Zoey added, glancing at Katherine's expensive-looking party dress.
"Well, that's my father's responsibility. I never asked to be born." Katherine argued nonchalantly, not accepting that she should be thanking her family for the life she was living.
"It's his fault for having me." She added in a matter-of-fact tone.
Upon hearing her argument, Zoey nodded in understanding. "Now, I like you."
Zoey smirked, winking at Katherine as she raised her glass of champagne. Zoey could relate to some parts of Katherine's claims.
Just like Katherine, Zoey despised her parents and biological father. She lived a miserable life, met the bad crowd -- who were literally terrifying people, and tainted her own hands, all because of Zachery.
If Zachery didn't kill Zoey's parents and left them alone… Zoey would probably be dead. Or she would be living her life differently if she got lucky. If only that incident didn't happen, Zoey wouldn't meet Nikolai nor would she ever know Inigo.
All Zoey's current problems started when Zachery tried to kill her in the past. Therefore, Zoey blamed it all on Zachery.
"You don't seem the type to rebel against your parents." Katherine arched her brow, casting Zion a glance. "Your brother reminds me of my ever-so-perfect brother whose only flaw is his lack of human emotions."
"I don't know about your perfect brother, but I never rebel against my parents. They're dead." Zoey calmly replied, catching the latter's attention.
"What? Mine too. I consider them dead!"
"I'm adopted unofficially." Zoey explained briefly with not enough emotion to convey as it was not a big deal to her.
The last thing Zoey wanted was to change her surname to Kwan. Although her biological father was Zachery, Zoey wanted to keep her mother's surname.
This was to remind herself that she would prove to her late mother that the Zhou Zoey she had maltreated would reach heights, her mother couldn't have even imagined. It was a reminder to Zoey that she wouldn't be like the Zhou who mistreats her children or gets abused by anyone.
Zoey wanted to prove that she's different despite the overflowing hate she received from her biological mother and father.
"What?" Taken aback, Katherine leaned closer as her eyes twinkled.
"There's nothing to be surprised about that. I just do…" Just as Zoey was about to explain it was not a big deal, she moved her sharp gaze to the door.
A faint knock from outside the door reached Zoey's ear even though the VIP lounge they were in was loud. Zion and the two were too loud, laughing like bestfriends.
Yet, the sense of danger wafted in Zoey's nose.
Soon, the door opened and there stood at least three men in suits. "Girl, tell me they are your bodyguards."
"Well, I haven't seen them before." Katherine shrugged.
When the door opened, Zion, Kenneth, and Enzo stopped from their conversation and turned their attention to the opened door.
"Miss Quin, your father wants you to return to your house." The men bowed and announced professionally.
Katherine rolled her eyes but didn't move an inch. Kenneth glanced at Katherine and said, "How many bodyguards has he given up on you? These are surely new faces again."
"Kath, you should go." Enzo chimed in, nodding at Katherine who didn't seem like she wanted to go.
Katherine scoffed but when she glanced at Zoey, she cleared her throat and rolled her eyes. "Fine!"
Reluctantly, Katherine stood from her seat and slipped her hand inside her purse. Taking out a calling card, Katherine slid it towards Zoey.
"Big sis, we should go shopping sometimes." With that, Katherine pranced towards the bodyguards.
The bodyguards in uniformed suits stepped aside, making way for her. When she exited the room, they bowed their head to the people left in the lounge and closed the door behind them.
"I can't even count how many times she changes bodyguards in a year." Kenneth shook his head and heed it no mind.
Meanwhile, Zoey tapped her fingers on the table as her eyes stared at the calling card. After a second, Zoey took the calling card and stood up.
"Brother, I forgot to say something to that girl. I'll be back." After saying so, Zoey didn't wait for Zion's reply and walked away.
Zion and the two others glanced at each other in puzzlement.. Little did they know that Zoey's eyes glinted with killing intent as she departed.