Chapter 43
Chapter 43
From inside, Lewis lowered his voice, making sure Zoe wouldn’t recognize him. “No, I don’t.”
A man like him hiding in a cramped restroom because of a woman–if word got out, it’d be ridiculous.
Lewis typed a message with one hand to Ivan: [Get her out of here now!]
But Zoe wasn’t giving up. She started banging on the door. “Lewie, do you really not want to see me?”
Moments later, Ivan pushed through the crowd and appeared, while both Lola and Doris remained utterly confused.
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Ivan ignored their curious gazes and grabbed the drunken Zoe, saying, “Zoe, stop making trouble. I called him, and he’s on his way.”
“Lewie is coming?” Zoe’s eyes lit up.
“Yes.” Ivan nodded.
Zoe looked skeptical. “No, you’re lying to me, aren’t you?”
“Go and see for yourself,” Ivan said, not changing his expression.
Zoe hesitated for a moment but still left.
If it was a lie, she would just be more disappointed and upset.
But if it was true, she would have missed the chance to see him.
She felt pathetic, unable to take the risk.
The private room quieted down, and Doris gently knocked on the bathroom door. “Are you alright?”
“My stomach feels a bit uncomfortable. Don’t worry about me,” Lewis said, pressing his right hand on his stomach, his brows furrowing slightly.
“Did you eat too much spicy food?” Doris guessed, knowing Lewis usually ate lighter than she did.
“Maybe,” he said.
“Why don’t you open the door? I’ll take you to the hospital to have a look.”
“No need, I’ll be fine after resting for a bit.”
Lewis washed his hands under the tap before coming out.
Doris looked at him with concern. Seeing his pale face, she said, “You should go to the hospital.”
“It’s an old problem. There’s stomach medicine at home. I’ll be fine after taking it,” Lewis said. His stomach pain was actually caused by Zoe’s actions. “I’ll go ask Ivan what happened earlier.”
“Go ahead,” Doris smiled.
After Lewis left, Lola looked at Doris, who was focused on eating, and said, “Doris, can’t you be more cautious?”
“Cautious about what?” Doris was lost in the deliciousness of her chicken parmesan.
“When Ms. Wilkinson was here, why didn’t your husband come out from the bathroom to meet her? Was there something
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Chapter 43
wrong” Lola speculated
He can’t handle spicy food, so his stomach hurts. It’s understandable. Plus, Ms. Wilkinson looks drunk, so it’s easy for her to mistake someone. Doris said.
“Doris Lola said seriously. “That’s your husband. With his looks and body, there won’t be a shortage of women who are interested in him. If someone else takes him, don’t come crying to me.
Lola, it’s not that I’m proud, but I trust him. After spending time together, Doris could tell that Lewis was a principled man.
He wasn’t the type to be easily seduced by women
She had tried, and it didn’t work.
Don’t trust men too much, or you’ll be the one to suffer. Lola took a sip of her wine. “Doris, if there really is a woman who likes your husband, would you care at all? Aren’t you jealous?”
Doris imagined Lewis being affectionate with another woman, and the chicken parmesan in her hand suddenly lost its appeal
Even though he was just her husband in name, and she didn’t have the right to be concerned, it still felt uncomfortable.
Lewis took the opportunity to go to room “London“, and Zoe blamed Ivan, “Ivan, why did you lie to me?”
He didn’t lie to you‘ said Lewis
Zoe looked at Lewis and happily stood up to run toward him.
Lewis took a step back, dodging her.
Texie, what are you doing?” She was hurt by his retreat.
Zoe had always addressed Lewis by Lewie to feel closer to him.
Yet it felt like there was a vast distance between them, like a galaxy separating them.
The atmosphere became awkward. Ivan gave the others a signal, and everyone silently left.
Ivan stood outside to guard the door while only Lewis and Zoe remained in the room.
“Zoe, I already know you’ve been searching for me in each private room. Is this just drunken behavior?” Lewis asked, feeling traumatized.
“I just missed you too much. Lewie, I haven’t seen you since you returned to the country. We even missed each other at the men’s store. Zoe explained. That time, she had been the closest to him but was stopped by the bodyguards.
“That means we’re not meant to be,” Lewis rejected her directly.
“No, Lewie, it was the bodyguards who stopped me. If it weren’t for them, I would have definitely seen you. It’s all their fault.” Zoe blamed the bodyguards.
“Stop making excuses. Zoe, let it go. Look around you, you’ll find someone who understands, loves, and cherishes you, but that person is not me.” Lewis rejected her straightforwardly. Tve always seen you as a sister. I’ve never had romantic feelings for you
Zoe’s face turned pale, unable to accept his words. “Lewis, no, Lewie, listen carefully, no matter what you say, I love you, only you. As long as you’re single, I have the right to pursue you!”
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Chapter 43
Zoe thought by calling him “Lewie“, she would be the special one for him.
Lewis narrowed his eyes, a sharp light flashing in them. “What if I am married?
Zoe couldn’t believe it. “In all of Hampstone, I’m the one who’s the best match for you, Lewe?
She thought of herself as superior, as though Lewis would never marry anyone else han her.
“My world doesn’t just revolve around Hampstone, Lewis said, his gaze intense
Zoe pouted and insisted, “You can’t marry anyone else, I won’t let you marry anyone chet
“I won’t marry you either. You should just give up, Lewis said coldly.
Lewis turned to leave, but fueled by alcohol, Zoe rushed at him, trying to hug him.
He skillfully dodged, and Zoe fell to the ground.
“It hurts.” Zoe acted pitifully.
Lewis walked past her with no sympathy, ignoring her tears.
Zoe confessed, her voice trembling, “Lewie, I love you!”
Lewis didn’t even seem to hear her. He didn’t stop his steps as he opened the door and walked out.
Ivan looked at Lewis’s expression. “You made yourself clear?”
“She’s been pretending not to understand,” Lewis said. He had always kept his distance from her and had said similar things before, but today was the harshest. He hoped this would wake Zoe up, to stop wasting time and emotions on him.
Ivan took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled. “Lewis, you and Ms. Reed only have a contractual marriage. There’s no real love between you two. You’ll get divorced in a year anyway.
“Zoe’s been in love with you for years. She just wants to marry you, and everyone knows it.
“In many ways, you two are the perfect match.
“Are you really not considering Zoe?”
“I never considered her before, and I’m not now. I won’t consider her in the future either, Lewis said firmly. “Even if Doris weren’t in the picture, it would still never happen.”
Ivan crushed his cigarette, understanding. “I’ll take her home now.”
Lewis nodded.
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