Chapter 686 - Auction V

You should leave, Mister Xi." Zoey coldly uttered without giving him a glance. "You're wasting your time here."

Matthew remained silent as he closed the door behind him. Carefully, the faint clink of the door reached her ear as he locked the door.

"I'm not coming with you." Zoey coldly added upon hearing him lock the door. 

Yet, unlike her cold tone, her head had died. After being selfish, accepting this ending just felt right for her. 

Although it was not what she preferred, Zoey believed she had to do what was right. It may not be happily ever after, it was still acceptable than a eulogy speech.

"I went to him on my own. I will leave him on my own. So, you can't make me come with you if staying here is what I needed to be." Zoey swallowed the building up air in her throat, avoiding choking on her own saliva.

But Matthew remained silent. He didn't speak, just staring at her. Still, his silence forced her to face him.

"Are you listening…" Zoey trailed off as soon as their eyes met.

Matthew was just staring at her. His eyes were gentle, full of longing and relief. Zoey clenched her teeth tighter, holding back from rushing into his arms.

Her lips parted but no words came out. Hence, she bit her inner lip as she cleared her throat and looked away.

"You should go." She said, barely keeping herself together. But the second she heard her name slipping past his lips, Zoey felt like she was stabbed right into her chest.

"Zoey," Matthew called, marching towards her.

"Stay away." Sensing his approach, Zoey raised her hand and stepped back. Matthew stopped his hands mid air.

"Don't, Matthew. Don't." Zoey shook her head, casting him a warning look. "The second you touch me, that's the last time you'll have your fingers complete."

Painful it was, but both of them knew she's the one in pain uttering such heartless words. Yet, Zoey kept her cold countenance.

For just a little bit more, she had to keep it together. She had to keep her act together and convince him to go on his own.

"Just go. I don't need you." Zoey affirmed under her breath.

After her last remarks, silence enveloped them for a long minute. Zoey stared at him and was utterly disappointed that Matthew's expression remained the same.

"Just… listen to me --"

"Will you marry me?" Before Zoey added another word, Matthew halted her with his abrupt proposal that she didn't expect. 

"What?"

"Will you marry me?" Matthew repeated. This time, much firmer than the first. 

Matthew then put his hand inside his tux. When he took his hand out, there was this small box in between his fingers.

"I've brought a ring just in case you ask." He chuckled as if they weren't in a complicated situation where their lives were on the line.

Yes, was her answer. 

However, those words rolled back in her tongue. Zoey's jaw tightened, trying not to break down and ask him to take her away even at the cost of his -- their lives.

'I'm sorry, love.' Zoey whispered internally.

"Please go." Zoey looked away as she stepped back until her buttocks rested against the sink. Her palms on  the sink as she turned her head to him.

"Don't you have shame? You brought my brother to this place knowing how dangerous it can be? Did you really think bringing him here will make me change my mind?" 

Zoey scoffed in disappointment. Unlike her words, her mind thought otherwise. She knew Matthew always had a reason for bringing Zion in this place. 

She wouldn't fall for someone who was too simple-minded. But, whatever Matthew's reasons, they were cornered. 

All their movements were being watched and listened to by Nikolai. Ironic, Zoey thought. That she was wishing for Inigo to magically appear and just kill her.

If Inigo appeared, he would have to face Nikolai. Brothers who shared the same blood but also established each other as each other's arch-enemies.

But life was too cruel for her… or what she believed until this point. Zoey didn't hope that something so convenient would happen to her.

"You should just listen to me and go. I'm fine with Niko, we're getting --" Zoey choked, forcing herself to speak the word she was about to say.

"We're getting…" Again, Zoey had to clear her throat as it felt harder to say she's getting married with someone else infront of the man she sincerely wanted to marry.

"Zoey, don't try so hard to carry the entire world on your back." As she attempted to keep herself together, Matthew spoke.

Zoey slowly raised her gaze, furrowing her brows. His tone was cold and the expression on his face from earlier vanished.

"You know me well. No matter what you say, it's futile. If dragging you out of here is the only way to get you back, I would. If killing people is what it takes to get you out of here, I don't mind doing a genocide." Matthew paused, his glinting russet eyes never left hers.

"I'm no angel, Zoey. If loving you and fighting for you is a sin, then, I'd love you even more and become a legend in hell."

Matthew unwaveringly affirmed. He had decided and he wouldn't change his mind even if the person attempting to do so was Zoey, herself.

"Matt…" Upon his determination, Zoey's flimsy defense broke down. Her eyes pooled with tears, her heart clenching, as her lungs felt suffocated with her every breath.

She bit her bottom lip until it bled. What was she supposed to do? 

Zoey closed her eyes, thinking to forget everything and go to him. But alas, Niko… the thought of Niko slapped her back to reality.

"I love you, Zoey." Matthew spoke, but his tone was oddly cold as he took a step back instead of going forward. 

"You may have said this is where you needed to be. But, we both know this is not where you wanted to be. Still, I'll let you decide." 

Matthew then tossed the box of the engagement ring towards the sink. It landed perfectly near her side.

"I'll wait for your answer." Matthew said as he turned around.

Zoey shifted her gaze on the small box near her hand. Just when Matthew was by the door, he halted and spoke.

"If you don't play poker, bet on those who know the game." Matthew paused, holding the door still. "There's this quote I've learned playing poker with my grandfather; It says, 'Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes playing a poor hand well.'"

Upon saying his piece, Matthew opened the door.. As soon as he did, his eyes glinted with his bottled fury against Nikolai.