Chapter 717 - Closure

When Cora and Zion joined the table to eat, things remained the same. Zoey and Ivan were busy watching the clip, cackling and laughing like little devils. 

"You shouldn't be laughing at other people's misfortune." Zion shook his head as he ate.

"It's not misfortune. It's his karma!" Ivan argued as he cast Zion with a look full of disdain.

"That's right! It's his karma for bullying us." Zoey nodded in agreement.

"It's still a misfortune." Zion shrugged nonchalantly, acting righteous, knowing it would annoy the two even more.

"Darling, Paul, let's burn him!" Zoey darted her eyes from Matthew to Paul, who had "nothing" to do with this.

Seeing that the two only glanced at Zion, the latter smirked at his little sister. "Heh."

The expression on Zoey's face instantly died down at this betrayal. 

"Darling? Paul? Didn't you love me? How could you…?"

"Paul loves you?" Matthew raised his brows as he glanced at Paul.

The seemingly impenetrable Paul finally showed emotion as he coughed. "Please, Miss Z, don't do this to me."

"What?" Zoey feigned ignorance. "I'm not doing anything. I'm just saying what you told me last time!"

Although the entire dinner hall was brightly lit with a chandelier above the table, it suddenly got dark. Matthew slowly put down his glass of wine.

Run.

"Master, you don't believe your wife, do you?" Anxious, Paul chuckled awkwardly.

"Of course," Matthew glanced at Paul, which made Zoey secretly grin. "I don't."

Zoey's complexion immediately turned pale. Her gaze met Matthew's dangerous pair of russet eyes.

When Matthew offered her a smile, Zoey felt a shiver running down her spine. Did she overdo it?

"It seems you're having too much fun, love." Matthew, still bearing a smile, uttered.

"I… hehe." Zoey broke out in sweats as she discreetly pushed back her chair with her feet. "I'll show this to those partying outside."

Without a second hesitation, Zoey snatched the phone from Ivan and dashed away. She didn't even look back as she ran for her life.

"ZO. EY." Matthew stressed her name as he slowly stood up and followed her.

As the two left the dining hall, Ivan clicked his tongue while watching Zoey running for her life and Matthew chasing his prey.

"They've been married for a year, but my sister still doesn't know the limits of her husband." Ivan clicked his tongue as he let out a sigh.

"I thought that Master would kill me this time." Paul heaved a sigh of relief as he patted his chest. Zoey had gone overboard this time. "How could she tell me I said I love her when I clearly said, I respected her and my master?"

Meanwhile, Zion remained silent as a subtle smile plastered on his lips. To him, Zoey was just being Zoey. 

She didn't get to enjoy her childhood and almost her life. But around Matthew, she could be herself. She may act childish, overly clingy, or sometimes a roaring dragon breathing fire. Matthew would accept any side of her.

"By the way, Paul, can I have a moment with you?" After some time, Zion shifted his attention to Paul.

"A talk?" Paul furrowed his brows. He tilted his head a little to the side as couldn't remember he had something important to talk with Zion.

"Mhm. That thing, remember?" Zion raised his brows.

"What are you two mumbling about? What secret do you have?" Ivan narrowed his eyes, seeing that the two were talking discreetly.

Paul glanced at Ivan, and then to Zion, before he nodded in understanding. "Right."

"Let's go." Zion beckoned as he suddenly sprung up. Paul followed while Ivan raised his head at the two.

"Where are you going?" Ivan asked. "You seem to have an illegal transaction."

"Something important." Paul said before they left the dining hall.

"Something important?" Ivan murmured as he watched the two retreating.

"They're sneaking out because they thought they would give us time alone." Suddenly, Cora, who remained silent the entire time as if she wasn't there, spoke up.

"Oh." Ivan snapped as he moved his eyes towards Cora, two seats across from him. "I'm sorry, I didn't notice you."

Ivan chuckled awkwardly. He wasn't lying, though. Deep down, he knew that Cora was around the table. However, she didn't talk for the entire time and he gradually forgot that she's there… purposely.

"It's okay." Cora sported a smile. "Are you done eating?"

"Err… are you?" Instead of answering her, Ivan returned the question.

"Yes. Almost." She chuckled as she gazed down at the very few pieces of meat on the table.

"Almost? But you ate so little." Ivan frowned as he furrowed his brows.

"I thought you didn't notice I was here." 

"Ahem!" Ivan cleared his throat as he looked away, scratching the back of his head. "Well, unlike our plates, yours barely has food residue." 

Cora chuckled as she shook her head sideways. "Until now, I don't know if you're lying or just making an excuse. It sounds believable, though."

"I never lied." Ivan corrected as he slowly leaned back. "At least, not to you."

After his remarks, silence enveloped the two of them. Cora stared at her plate. She didn't have an appetite.

"About…"

"About --" 

When both of them opened their mouths, they spoke simultaneously. They both chuckled and made the same gesture. They said;

"Go ahead."

"About... what?"

Again, Cora and Ivan laughed as they spoke at the same time. Ivan shook his head, as he could not help but smile at this silliness.

Without waiting for her, Ivan took this chance to speak. "About what happened last year, I didn't… cheat on you."

"I know." Cora nodded, as she had expected him to say that. Ivan furrowed his brows upon hearing her reply.

"You knew?"

"Mhm. Katherine told me… everything. Brother Zion had his savage way to teach someone a lesson." Cora summarized and kept it short. "So, I'm sorry for accusing you."

"Ah…" Ivan awkwardly nodded, as he didn't expect Zion to do such a thing. He actually thought Zion and Cora might end up dating since he was out of the picture.