Chapter 330: Something Doesn’t Seem Right
Wendy looked at Todd’s back as he walked away. She felt rather helpless at the situation. She knew that Todd was intentionally avoiding talking about the topic with her. Wendy wasn’t a fool. Todd had had feelings for her for so long, yet he’d decided to confess his feelings for her now. His intentions were obvious.
Regardless, Todd had helped Wendy out a lot. Wendy couldn’t embarrass Todd in front of so many people.
Wendy then let out a sigh and followed Todd.
It was getting late so the guests were gradually taking their leave. As Wendy returned to the party, she heard what the guests were saying to Todd before they left.
"Congratulations, Mr. Lewis. Your efforts finally paid off."
"Mr. Lewis, remember to invite us when you get married."
"Mr. Lewis, don’t expect a present for your wedding. I have been working hard to bring the two of you together so many times."
Wendy stood by the side. Hearing what they said, she felt awkward.
Todd only smiled, nodding in response but he didn’t say much.
Most of the guests left. There were only Timothy and his wife, Todd, Christian, Michael, and Zen left in the hall, as well as Wendy and her two children.
Wendy glanced at Christian and Michael but didn’t say anything.
Todd stood in front of them and spoke coldly yet courteously, "The two Mr. Lucases should have already made arrangements for your accommodations, yes? There’s no need for us to take care of it, right?"
"It’s not necessary. My flight is later tonight," Christian replied. He didn’t intend to stay any longer. He’d merely come to join the fun.
Christian looked at Zen standing at one side. He walked towards her, saying overbearingly, "Follow me back."
Zen shook her head in fear. She quickly hid behind Wendy. "I am not going back. I’ve already handed in my resignation letter. I am no longer your employee."
"I did not approve your resignation. In other words, you are still my employee," Christian said coldly.
"No, I will not go back with you," Zen said.
"What else can you do here if you don’t follow me back? You can’t be thinking that your best friend can protect you." Christian questioned, looking at Wendy.
At first, Wendy didn’t find it strange. But what Christian said made her frown.
She suddenly recalled that Zen had exhorted her not to let Christian know that she was there. Now, Christian was asking if Zen was trying to seek protection from Wendy.
"It’s none of your business. I will not go back with you," Zen repeated.
Todd and the others didn’t know what was going on. On top of that, Zen was supposed to be on Christian’s side so they didn’t want to get involved.
Todd came forward and told Wendy softly, "Let’s make a move. They can suit themselves."
Wendy nodded in reply. She took Jake and Leah’s hands, one on each side, intending to leave.
Zen quickly caught up with her, pleading, "Wendy... Can I leave with you?"
Wendy looked at Zen, and then at Christian. Zen was supposed to be on Christian’s side. Wendy wasn’t sure what they were up to.
But Zen had once betrayed her for Christian. Hence, Wendy couldn’t help but be guarded against Zen.
"Rheinsville is not mine. You’re free to go wherever you want. But if you wish to follow me home, I hope you can give me a reason as to why I should let you," Wendy said calmly.
"I..." Zen bit her lips. She looked down, not daring to look Wendy in the eye.
She didn’t say anything for quite a while.
"If you want to stay in Rheinsville, book yourself a hotel. There are many fun places to visit in Rheinsville. I can bring you around tomorrow," Wendy said.
Wendy made her stance clear that she wouldn’t let Zen follow her home. She and Zen were no longer the best friends they used to be. But her offer to bring Zen around meant that she still saw her as a friend, though just a normal friend.
"Do you see that? You have nowhere to go in Rheinsville. Follow me back. As long as you obey my instructions, you are still the person in charge of the design department in DR," Christian said.
"But I no longer need the position," Zen said, shaking her head determinedly.
Christian let out a cold laugh. "You will regret this, Zen."
Then, Christian turned to look at Michael and asked, "How about you, Michael? Do you want to go together? Or do you plan to find a hotel and stay behind for a few days?"
Michael looked at Wendy, and then at Todd. He was actually worried that Wendy might really get together with Todd. But since Christian was here, his best option would be to leave with Christian.
Before Michael left, he took a few steps forward and stood before Wendy. He spread his arms and said to Wendy, "Give me a hug before I go, will you?"
Wendy wanted to reject him, but Michael didn’t give her a chance to do so.
He walked forward and pulled her into his embrace. Wendy tried to push Michael away. Then, a familiar request resounded in her ear, "Remember this, Wendy. Half a year’s time."
A short and simple sentence. Then, Michael let go of Wendy, who gave him a death stare in return.
Leah was reluctant to part with Michael. Tears welled up in her eyes as she said, "Daddy, do you have to go too?"
Michael squatted down to hug Leah. He kissed her cheek and said, "Yes, Daddy’s flight is tonight."
Christian knew that Michael had bought the same flight as him.
"But I don’t want you to go. Why don’t you stay with us for another day? I’m not going to school tomorrow. Can you stay with us for another day?" Leah pleaded.
"But Daddy has work to do and I have to go back to Lake City. I will come to Rheinsville to see you again when I am free. Okay?" Michael consoled her.
"You really can’t stay for another day?" Leah was so upset that tears were flowing down her cheeks.
Michael was scared of Leah crying the most.
"Daddy, didn’t you ask me what my birthday wish is? I want you to spend another day with me," Leah said, wailing in tears.
"I..." Michael didn’t know what to do then.
Needless to say, Wendy didn’t want Michael to stay a moment longer. But she didn’t have the heart to say anything, seeing how sad Leah was.
"Please, Daddy. Please," Leah pleaded sweetly, acting spoiled.
Michael couldn’t stand when Leah cried or acted like a spoiled child.
In the end, he nodded. Christian was the only one who left. Both Zen and Michael followed Wendy home. Wendy felt helpless, looking at the two of them.
"Todd, go ahead and head home first. Thank you for today." Wendy told him.
"There’s no need to say ’thank you’ between us," Todd replied. He glared at Michael with hostility.
"Turn in earlier and rest up," Todd exhorted before he turned to leave.
"As for you two..." Wendy pursed her lips, "I don’t have enough room at my house. How about you get a room at the hotel?"
"But mommy, we do have an empty room at our place," said Leah, "you have your room, aunt Zess has a room, my brother and I each have our own rooms, and there’s one empty room."
Wendy met the innocent gaze of her daughter and tried to maintain a gentle tone, "That room hasn’t been cleaned. It’s not fit for anybody to stay in."
"But mommy..." Leah wanted to say something else but her mother quickly pulled her into a hug saying, "If mommy says it’s not fit to live in, it’s not fit to live in."
Leah blinked her large eyes and could only nod her head. Suddenly she thought of something, "Mommy, could I stay over at daddy’s place tonight?"
Wendy saw the glimmer of expectation in her daughter’s eyes and couldn’t find it in herself to refuse. Michael, who had been watching, placed his hand on Leah’s shoulder nodding, "Let’s go."
Once Michael left with Leah, the only other person remaining was Zen. Wendy saw that she had no intention of leaving. She asked, "What about you?"
"I..." Zen bit her lip as she grabbed Wendy’s hand. Expectation filled her eyes, "Wendy, can I stay at your place for a while?"
Wendy had already guessed what Zen was going to say. She had tagged along the entire way there and was not willing to leave. There was no doubt that Zen wanted to stay at her place.
"I already told you, give me a reason to let you stay." Wendy continued, "If you can’t give me a good enough reason, I’d rather you find yourself a room at a hotel. I can even help you book a room."
"I..." Zen breathed in deeply before speaking, "I’m pregnant."
Wendy was shocked at the news. She managed to put on a smile, "Congratulations."
"The child is Christian’s but he doesn’t want it." said Zen, "I came to Rheinsville City because I wanted to celebrate the children’s birthdays and I wanted to stay at your place for a while. You know how cruel Christian is. If he says he doesn’t want this child, then he really means it.
"What’s the use of staying with me?" Wendy shook her head, "It’s not like Christian will listen to me. Anyway, I can’t help you either."
"I don’t have anywhere else to go. Lake City is Christian’s territory. If I go back, he’ll force me to get rid of the child." As Zen kept talking, her voice became choked with emotion, "Wendy, I know Christian isn’t a good person but I loved him all these years. I know you’re the only person he’ll ever love. I don’t dream of marrying him. I just want to keep this child. I probably won’t marry anybody else for as long as I live. Wendy, you’re also a mother. I thought you could understand how I feel. Christian’s influence hasn’t extended into Rheinsville City yet. With you here, he’ll at least be less likely to take any action. I know I’ve hurt you countless times because of him. But I’ve already resigned from my position at DR Group. I won’t be in your way anymore. Please just let me stay. I can help around the house, cook, clean, anything."
Zen latched onto Wendy’s hand as if it was her one and only lifeline.
"How do you know Christian won’t do anything if you stay here?" A shiver ran down Wendy’s spine as she remembered the time she saw Christian in the elevator.
"As Christian loves you, he won’t dare come after me while I’m with you. He also has no power or authority in Rheinsville City. You have Mr. Woods and Mr. Lewis here to help you. Christian doesn’t have any means to stir up trouble here." Zen didn’t want to face up to reality, she went on saying as if to convince herself, "It’s safer for me to stay here with you. I don’t know anybody in Rheinsville City. I only have you."
Wendy couldn’t disagree with Zen’s conclusion - that Christian loved her.
The things he did to her were far from normal, nor could they be rationally justified.
But if that was his way of loving her, then, Christian’s love could only be defined as twisted.
However, Zen was right.
Aside from Wendy, she did not know anybody else. If she extended her stay in Rheinsville City, Zen would have nowhere else to go.
A long-term stay at a hotel was certainly inconvenient.
It’s just that Wendy no longer trusted Zen the way she used to.
"You don’t believe me, Wendy, do you?" Zen took out a file from her purse, "I’m really pregnant. It’s already the fourth week."
Wendy glanced at the paper but didn’t take it.
It wasn’t that she suspected Zen of faking her pregnancy.
She could not fake her pregnancy forever; at some time, the truth would come to light.
"Wendy..." Zen flung herself down to her knees in tears, "I’m begging you, help me this one time. I don’t care about myself; I just want to keep this child. When Michael forced you to get rid of your child, you also refused. You should understand how I feel. If I can’t keep this child, what’s the point of living?"
Wendy shut her eyes. Zen’s words had conjured up memories of those dark times.
"Help me, Wendy," Zen pleaded with her, desperately clutching at her pant leg.
"Let’s get you up." Wendy got ready to help Zen to her feet.
"If you don’t promise me, I won’t get up." Zen shook her head, "I came to you only to ask for help."
"Fine, I’ll let you stay," Wendy’s yielded to her pleas, "but I don’t know if I can help you. You know quite well what type of person Christian is. If he is bent on dragging you back, I’m afraid I won’t be able to help you."
"It’s good enough to just let me stay," Zen released a sigh in relief after hearing Wendy’s reply, "If that’s the way things will end, then luck is simply not on my side."
Wendy sighed and guided her into the house.
She pointed to a room saying, "That room’s empty. It only has a small window, though, so the air might circulate poorly."
"That’s fine. I’m just happy that you’re willing to let me stay." Zen quickly thanked her, "Thank you, Wendy."
"Over there is the bathroom. I’ll tell Zess to get you a new set of toiletries," said Wendy.
"Thank you so much." Zen thanked her once more.
"It’s nothing." Wendy sighed.
Zen stayed over, just as she had wanted to all along.
As Wendy was taking a bath, one thought continuously flashed through her mind. Something didn’t seem right. But when she thought about the whole matter, all the facts seemed to match up.
Christian didn’t love Zen. So, once she became pregnant, he forced her to undergo an abortion. Meanwhile, Zen refused, deciding to run away and seek Wendy’s help.
There didn’t seem to be any issues with her story. Wait...
Even if Christian didn’t want the child, wouldn’t he have had ample opportunity to force Zen to undergo an abortion when they were in Lake City?
According to Zen, Christian knew about the child.
But he couldn’t have only just found out about it once Zen reached Rheinsville.
Furthermore, Zen was adamant about staying with Wendy to protect herself from Christian.
Wendy shut her eyes as chaotic thoughts raced through her mind.
