Chapter 723 - Are You...?

Five months after the wedding…

Zoey narrowed her eyes at Matthew. After the wedding, Matthew moved his office inside her office until the renovation of the building was finished. Hence, they'd been sharing an office for the past five months.

However, everything was not as beautiful as it may sound. Matthew had become stricter. He acted more and more like her secretary, drawing a line between them inside the Z Image group.

One wouldn't even know they were husband and wife if they didn't know the two of them. That was the reason she had been very grumpy. 

"All I want is a hug and a bit of kissing." Zoey sighed, shaking her head internally.

Although they didn't have a problem before, Zoey had grown more clingy. She wanted him to treat her like a baby recently, that's all.

"Hmm…' Zoey rubbed her chin. Her husband was too busy, he wasn't even paying attention to her. 

'Alright, then.'

Zoey placed her palm against the edge of the desk, pushing herself back. As she swiveled to the side, she slowly stood up and strode towards his desk.

Whatever rules he had set between them, she'd just break all the rules. Not that there were other people inside their office.

"Hello there." Zoey slammed her palms against his desk. She sported a smile when Matthew raised his head.

With furrowed brows, he asked. "What is it, Boss Z?"

'Boss Z… heh.' Zoey maintained her smile despite her displeasure. 

"Assistant Z, you know, we have this office all for ourselves." Zoey cleared her throat, coquettishly sliding her fingers towards him. "How about we…"

"We?" Matthew raised his brows.

"Don't you like me anymore?" A scoff escaped her lips seeing him feigning innocence. "Geez! We're husband and wife but I feel like I'm sinning!"

"We're in the office. I just want to maintain your reputation." Matthew sported a polite smile, sounding distant.

Zoey clicked her tongue. Here they go again. Matthew avoided her question.

"Are you sure you're not crazy?" Zoey Zhou narrowed her eyes as she leaned closer to this imperious mien.

"Hmm?" 

"I mean, how can you not like the pretty me? Say, should we kiss and see if it will ignite some spark?" The corner of her lips curled into a grin while her brows moved up and down suggestively.

Slowly, Matthew raised his eyes to meet her playful countenance across the desk. Blinking once, his eyes traveled from her eyes down to her lips. He stared for a moment at her red, provocative lips before he opened his mouth.

"Kissing you," he said, raising his finger to point at her lips, "means your lipstick will smear on mine. I'm afraid I must refuse."

"Lame." Zoey scoffed as she drew away from the table. "I knew it. He's gay, tsk." Zoey murmured. 

Alas, right after she blurted out her last remarks, her wrist was grabbed by his huge hands and without missing a beat, Matthew pulled her back to his embrace. 

"I heard that. Do you want to confirm the validity of your claim?" His voice was deep and yet so alluring. He leaned his head closer to hers, his musky smell emanating sexiness as a glint flashed across his pair of playful eyes.

"Hehe… I knew that this would work." Zoey giggled as she brushed the apex of her nose against his. 

As their lips stretched from ear to ear, leaning closer to each other, Zoey abruptly stopped. Matthew furrowed his brows as he stared at Zoey.

"Are you okay?" He asked out of worry. But Zoey didn't answer.

Instead, she placed her fist on his chest, pushing him lightly. For a moment, she felt nauseous, which made her retch.

"Z?"

The feeling kept building up. Before she could think twice, Zoey sprinted off to the office bathroom. 

She was akin to a bolt of lightning. Without thinking, Zoey threw up in the sink. Only when she had released it all, she felt relieved. Still, she felt a little dizzy.

"Zoey," From the opened door, Matthew stood, looking at her worriedly. Before facing him and reassuring him she's fine, Zoey gargled water and washed her lips with water.

"Darling, I'm…" She trailed off as soon as she faced him. Matthew had this pale and shocked expression plastered across his face.

This reminded her of his reaction in their previous life. His exact reaction when she told him she's…

"Are you…?" Matthew's voice sounded like a whisper as he strode in. Zoey froze as he held her shoulder.

Now that she thought about it, Zoey had missed her period. She didn't think much about it since she's been very busy. How long has it been? Almost two months?

"I…" For some reason, her knees felt weak as her lower lip trembled. Her first pregnancy in their previous life instilled fear in her heart. Hence, just the thought of being pregnant again… she had mixed emotions.

Seeing her reaction was enough for him to understand. They had been avoiding the talk of having kids. Even though other people have been telling them about it, they often avoided it or diverted the topic.

Not that Matthew and Zoey were not financially ready or their love was unstable. It was just… frightening.

He didn't know what to say. But Matthew knew what to do. 

Matthew pulled her into the safety of his embrace. His hand stroked her back.

"It's alright. We still don't know. We should confirm it first and then talk about it, alright?"

Zoey bit her inner lip, not saying a word and just nodded.

"It'll be alright. I am scared too, but I know you will be a great mother." Matthew added and Zoey just remained silent.

He stroked her back in silence until Zoey drew her head back. "I think I'm pregnant."

Although without a pregnancy test, Zoey was eighty percent certain that their love created a life. She knew her body very well. She tried to ignore it, but she had already noticed the changes occurring inside her recently.

"But I'm scared… what if…"

Matthew placed his finger in front of her lips. Shaking his head lightly as he offered a gentle smile.

"I will protect you two this time. I won't leave you again." He looked at her straight in the eye, reassuring her with all his heart. "We promised, right? I will keep my word."

Zoey bit her bottom lip and nodded. Without a second hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested the side of her head against his chest.

"Don't go anywhere without me. Just to be sure." She muttered.

They had promised to move forward and forget about their first lifetime. However, this was a different case.  Zoey had lost their child the day she had lost him. Thus, this pregnancy would be a journey they must tread together.

"I won't. I promise." He whispered, embracing her with a smile. "We will see him this time and raise him or her together."