Chapter 706 - One Year Later

JUNE 10, 2013

One year had passed since Zoey had returned back in time. It had been months since she woke up from her coma. And yet, she had to stay in the hospital to recuperate.

"Say ahh." Cora instructed which Zoey did.

Zoey opened her mouth as Cora shoved a grape inside it. When she chewed the grape, Cora perked up, her eyes brimming with excitement.

"Is it good?" Cora inquired, blinking many times.

"Hmm!" Zoey nodded as she glanced at Zion sitting on the couch not far away. Although she had been awake for months, this was the first time that Cora visited her.

Well, not just Cora. But, only now was Zoey allowed to have visitors aside from Zion. Matthew was a bit stingy and wanted her to recover first.

"You came here with my brother?" Zoey inquired, seeing Ivan was not around. "Where's Ivan?"

Suddenly, the smile on Cora's lips faded away. Zoey arched her brow before furrowing them.

"He died, sadly." Zion answered flatly.

"What…?" Zoey muttered under her breath. Matthew had been reassuring her that everyone was fine.

"What did you…?"

"Hey hey! I brought the things --" Just then, the door opened and Ivan's voice came in.

Instinctively, Zoey turned her head towards the door. Tears already began to form in the corner of her eyes and it rolled down upon laying her eyes on Ivan.

"What the?" Ivan gasped as he glared daggers at Zion. "Did you make my sister cry?!"

"It's Cora, not me." Not taking his eyes off from the book he was reading, Zion answered nonchalantly.

"Cora?" Ivan furrowed his brows as he shifted his gaze to Cora. The latter immediately raised her brow and chin up.

"What?" Cora asked bravely.

"Uhh…" Ivan cleared his throat. "You know that my sister can't be… aish! Darn it!" 

Infuriated, Ivan clicked his tongue and ground his teeth at her. Cora scoffed and rolled her eyes at him.

Zoey who was seeing them bicker just like the first time darted her eyes from Cora to Ivan. Was she seeing this right now correctly? 

In her eyes, Cora and Ivan seemed to dislike each other again. How come that these two who were acting lovey-dovey before returned to square one?

Cora and Ivan met when Zoey was rushed to the hospital. They were bickering just like right now. However, Zoey could feel that something was different.

Still, watching them caused Zoey's lips to smile subtly. She could tell just by looking at the two that no matter how fierce they bark at each other, their eyes were just full of affection.

"Why are you two even fighting?" Zoey inquired which put the two on pause.

At the same time, they turned their heads towards Zoey, pointing at each other.

"She broke up with me for no reason!"

"He cheated on me!"

Silence. The entire room fell into nothing but silence.

Not just Zoey, but Ivan and Zion's eyes widened as they turned their heads to Cora.

"What -- what?!" Ivan exclaimed in disbelief as he couldn't believe what he had heard.

However, Cora's expression just grew fiercer. She glared at him and rolled her eyes before setting them back to Zoey.

"Don't worry, Z." Cora smiled as she reached Zoey's hand. "I cope with my heartbreak, realizing it's not worth it to cry over a cheater."

She reassured her firmly. However, Zoey tilted her head to the side. Ivan cheated? If Zoey couldn't believe the accusations, Ivan was in a more disbelief state.

"Hey, you." Ivan scoffed, rushing to Cora's side. "What kind of accusation is this, huh?!"

"My best friend needs to rest. So if you can lower your voice, please." Cora didn't even look at Ivan as she peeled another grape.

It had only been five days since Cora and Ivan broke up. Still, it was not the best break up because Cora only sent him an email and didn't go to work for the next five days.

She also didn't talk to him despite Ivan going to her apartment. She pretended not to be home and only now they were able to talk.

Thus, the explosion of frustrating emotions.

"I think you two have a misunderstanding." Zoey murmured in disbelief before shifting her eyes to Zion.

Now that Zoey thought more about it, Zion was rather calm seeing the two of them. Zion was darting his eyes from Cora to Ivan, before he sighed and shook his head.

"You!" Ivan gritted his teeth. His eyes were as sharp as ever. "Let's talk outside."

"No." Cora refused as she inhaled sharply. "It's been months since I've had a chat with Z…"

Alas, before she could finish her sentence, Ivan grabbed her wrist and dragged her out. 

"Sis, let me borrow her for a moment." Ivan uttered as he glanced at Zoey.

"Hey! Are you crazy?!" Cora yelled, pulling her hands away from him. This may not be the best place to fight and act hysterical, but Cora had been trying to move on.

She had been doing great so far. But if she talked to him, Cora was afraid he'd break all her defenses.

"Sto --" When they were by the door, Cora abruptly stopped upon looking at the two people standing outside.

Sarah and Zachery Kwan.

"Oh, auntie and uncle." Cora's tongue rolled back as she beckoned a deep bow. Meanwhile, Ivan just scanned the two nonchalantly before he continued to drag Cora outside.

Zion instantly looked at the two people outside. Upon laying his eyes on the two, he looked away emotionlessly as if he didn't have time to talk to them.

"Zoey…" Sarah whispered as she offered a subtle smile.

Zoey bit her lower lip and forced a smile on her lips. She slightly bowed her head as the two came in.

"My little girl," Sarah's eyes brimmed with affection as she rushed to Zoey's side.

Discreetly, Zoey glanced at Zachery. He was looking at her, but she thought that there was something wrong with the way he was looking at her. She couldn't see the same expression his eyes usually bore whenever he gazed at her.

But Zoey ignored it. Sarah had been kind to her. Hence, she wanted to at least apologize for making her worry.

"Mom," 

"Zoey, I was so worried --"

"Pfft--!" Surprisingly enough, before Sarah could express her heartfelt sentiments, Zion suddenly scoffed.

Zoey, who was unaware of what happened behind the scenes, furrowed her brows. She glanced at Zion who was acting strangely around his parents.

"Zion," Zachery called out in a low tone.

"I'm sorry, Mister Kwan. Although I want to leave and give you privacy, I can't trust you two around my sister." Zion smirked rudely, as if he was talking to someone else and not his parents.

"Brother?" Zoey called out in bafflement. "How can you talk to Mom like that?"

Zion just smiled at her and returned his focus towards the book. The reason these two were here was unknown. However, Zion made sure that these two suffered by letting them know that Zoey was in a coma.

It was safe to say that Vivian and Zion gave Sarah and Zachery nightmares for months. While Zoey was in Coma, they made sure that these two wouldn't have a good night's rest.

Especially, after Vivian ordered a DNA test upon Zion's approval. After seeing the results and after Zion heard Sarah and Zachery's explanation, It intensified his disgust and fury towards the both of them.

"It's fine, Little Z." Sarah squeezed Zoey's hand tightly, but not tight enough to hurt her. "Your brother has all the reasons to hate us. I mean, the two of you have all the reasons to hate us."

"Mom, what are you saying?" Zoey frowned. Sarah had been kind to her, although Zachery was a different case.

Hence, she didn't know there would be a reason why Zion would hate his mother. Zoey would understand it if this hate was directed to Zachery.

He's a scum, after all. 

"Zoey," Sarah sported a bitter smile as her eyes began to well up.

"Mom, why are you…" Zoey's words trailed off upon seeing Sarah lament. 

"I'm sorry. My daughter, please forgive your mommy. I'm sorry for not recognizing you. I wouldn't forgive myself if you didn't wake up. I'm sorry...." Sarah sobbed as she repeatedly apologized to Zoey.