Chapter 518: I Don’t Think That Day Will Ever Come
That day was probably Zen’s best chance at getting away. They hadn’t expected that Christian would use such unscrupulous methods to stop her.
Zen forced a smile and shook her head. "Forget it. You saw what Christian did back there. We both know a man like him is capable of anything. Anyway, he’s right.
Without his permission, I will not be able to leave him. I cannot possibly endanger the lives of family and other innocent people to get away from him. Even if I manage to escape, my conscience will not be clear."
"Zen..." Wendy grasped Zen’s hand tightly and said regretfully, "I’m sorry, I wasn’t able to help you today."
"You tried your best." Zen knew that Wendy tried to help her wholeheartedly.
No matter how many times Zen had betrayed their friendship, Wendy still helped her without reservation.
Zen knew there was no way she could ever repay Wendy for her kindness.
"Alice Johnson..." Zen glanced surreptitiously back at Christian to make sure he was not within hearing distance before continuing, "That design was done by Alice Johnson."
"Ah?" The change in subject was too fast and for a moment, Wendy did not know what Zen was talking about.
The name that Zen suddenly threw out took Wendy by surprise.
When she finally wrapped her head around it, Wendy nodded, "I got it."
Actually, when Wendy first asked her about the design, Zen had already known that they were Alice Johnson’s.
Alice was a designer on Zen’s team whom Zen had mentored for two years while they were in Christian’s company. She was a very talented designer.
Alice was very familiar with Zen’s style and Zen was, similarly, very familiar with Alice’s style.
Right now, Alice was working for Christian.
Zen was positive that the design was something Alice had come up with by copying Zen’s design style.
Even though she had known all along, Zen had not told Wendy about it then as she had wanted to protect Christian. After all, she had loved him for so many years. She did not want any part in his plotting and she did not want to be involved in the rivalry between him and Michael.
However, she did not want to betray Christian either.
Unfortunately, Christian had personally destroyed the last bit of affection Zen had for him.
"Actually, I envy you sometimes Wendy," Zen said with a smile.
Even though she was smiling, tears still rolled down her cheeks.
Choking up, she said, "It’s been so many years since you met Michael. Even though there were many trials and tribulations along the way, the two of you ended up together in the end. Michael now treats you better than he treats himself. I had hesitated and not wanted to leave Christian in the past because I had hoped that one day, I will have a happy ending like you. Unfortunately, life is not fair. I do not have as good a life as you do, and I don’t think that day will ever come."
"Christian is not worth your time." Wendy’s heart ached as she regarded Zen. She said, "Don’t give up. We will take Christian down ultimately. I believe that day will come soon. When he falls, no one will threaten you anymore. Take care of yourself and your baby while you are with him. Wait for us, we will get you out."
Zen smiled and nodded. However, her expression was filled with helplessness and despair.
Taking a deep breath, Zen said, "Okay, we better stop. Christian will get suspicious if we take too long."
She then turned and walked back towards Christian.
...
The instant Zen turned away from Wendy, her tears began to fall in torrents.
She looked toward Christian, but her vision was blurred by her tears.
Slowly, with much difficulty, Zen made her way to Christian. Coming to a stop next to him she made herself smile and say, "Let’s go."
Her tone was calm, almost lifeless. It was as if nothing had happened earlier.
Wendy had followed Zen. Glaring at Christian, she warned, "Christian, if you are a man, don’t hit Zen again. She’s pregnant with your baby. Whether you want it or not, that’s your flesh and blood in her belly. If you hit her again, I will come for you."
"You will come for me?" Christian seemed particularly interested in her words. "It seems I can make you come to me of your own accord by hitting her."
"You..." Wendy was repulsed and disgusted by Christian’s words.
Michael heard him and stepped toward them. Before Christian realized what Michael was going to do, Michael threw a punch straight at Christian’s face. "Christian, watch your mouth!"
Christian sniggered. He reached out to wipe the blood off his cut lip. "I will let this one punch go. If you..." Before he could finish his sentence, Michael slugged him in the face again.
Michael had no interest in Zen’s problems but she was, after all, Wendy’s friend.
Besides, Christian behavior that day had disgusted Michael.
He had thought that he was a horrible person in the past. He hadn’t expected Christian to be even more so.
"You’re asking for it!" Christian raised his fist and was about to punch Michael back when Zen spoke up.
"Are we leaving or not?"
Christian’s hand froze in midair at Zen’s voice.
Turning around, Zen glared at Christian. Through clenched teeth, she gritted, "If you’re not leaving, I am."
Then, one hand clutching her belly, Zen took several laborious steps away from Christian towards the side.
Christian took one last look at Wendy and Michael but did not say anything else.
Wendy looked at the retreating backs of Christian and Zen and could not help but frown.
With a sigh, Wendy said, "I had wanted to help Zen, but it seems I didn’t manage to help her at all."
Michael put his arm around Wendy’s shoulder reassuringly. He consoled her, "We tried our best. Zen just has to hang on for a little while more. When we take Christian down. She will regain her freedom."
"That’s what I think too. I’m just afraid she might not be able to hold out till then."
Wendy said worriedly, "You didn’t see the bruises all over her body...inflicted by Christian. I never expected Christian to hit a woman, much less a woman who is carrying his baby."
"Christian rushed here today to stop Zen from leaving. Perhaps he will not hit her anymore after this." Michael said this to comfort Wendy, but he had no confidence that it would be so.
In the past, he had thought he knew Christian pretty well. Now, he realized that he had not known him at all. In the least, Michael had not expected Christian to be so cold-blooded.
"I hope so." Wendy sighed and said, "Oh, by the way, I need you to check someone out for me."
"Who?" asked Michael.
"Alice Johnson. Zen told me just now that Alice Johnson drew the design Christian posted online by copying her style." Wendy continued, "We just have to find her and make her publicly admit that she drew that design. That way, Christian’s story will fall through."
...
"Okay." Michael nodded, immediately took out his cellphone, and then called Mr.
York.
Once the call connected, Michael instructed curtly, "Look into a designer called Alice Johnson immediately. Once you find her, keep tabs on her."
Wendy watched as Michael quickly settled the matter then looked in the direction that Zen and Christian had gone.
"Let’s go." Michael ended his call and reached out to hold Wendy’s hand before heading for their car.
As they walked, Wendy noticed that the ground where Zen had gotten into Christian’s car was freshly stained with blood.
She stared at the blood on the ground with wide eyes. Pointing at it, she said, "Michael, look."
"Blood?" Michael frowned.
"Could this be Zen’s blood?" Wendy’s eyes snapped to the car that was almost out of sight in the distance and fretted, "Zen looked terrible earlier, and she was clutching her stomach the whole time. I thought she was just feeling uncomfortable and did not pester her about it. Now, it seems as though the baby..."
"Don’t worry. It might not be Zen’s blood."
Michael tried to reassure her.
"There were other people who were injured earlier too. It might be their blood."
"Impossible." Wendy shook her head.
"Christian’s car was parked here earlier and the only people in the car were Christian and Zen. Besides, the casualties are still over there. Christian was injured when you punched him, but it was just a split lip he would not be bleeding badly enough to get it all over the ground."
Wendy’s worry grew as she spoke. She hurried to their car and urged Michael, "Let’s catch up with them and find out how she is. I hope nothing bad happened."
Michael nodded and got into the driver’s seat.
...
That was indeed Zen’s blood. Her face was pale and bloodless.
From the time she got off the bus, she felt her belly hurt. The pain was almost intolerable.
Her health was not great and there were episodes of pain in the past, but it had never hurt so badly before. This was different.
This pain was more intense and the baby in her belly seemed exceptionally active.
Slowly, the baby’s movements stopped.
Zen gritted her teeth, bore the pain, and took step after painful step until she got into Christian’s car.
The driver was silent as he drove. Christian sat beside Zen in the back.
If this were in the past, Zen would have been over the moon to be so near to Christian. She’d probably have tried to get closer.
Now, she sat as far away from him as possible, shrinking against the door.
Her hands tightly clutched her unbearably painful belly.
She knew she was bleeding profusely. Her hands were all sticky with blood.
Beads of perspiration covered her forehead. For an instant Zen wished that Christian would notice that she was bleeding and in pain and be concerned.
Sadly, the first thing Christian said to her when they got into the car was, "What did you and Wendy talk about?"
"Ha-ha..." Zen’s lips curled back in a bitter laugh.
As she laughed, tears started rolling down her cheeks.
It was all just wishful thinking on her part.
"What are you laughing about?" Christian frowned and asked suspiciously.
He did not understand how Zen could be laughing at a time like this.
"Christian, did you ever love me? Even a little bit at any point in time..." Zen asked, her eyes bloodshot and her voice choked with emotion.
"Zen, why are you asking such a stupid question at this time?" Christian asked with a mocking laugh. "Know your place!"
"Yeah, why am I asking such a stupid question at this time?" The smile on her face grew inexplicably as her vision became even more blurry.
