Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

Seeing Henry's reaction, Jean couldn't help but feel devastated. She felt as though she was falling into an abyss of sorrow for her father's indifferent attitude towards their family bond.

Although all this happened inside the ward, Zed who was standing at the door knew what his wife was suffering. His eyes reflected the sadness he felt. He couldn't image how Jean lived in such an environment for over two decades. Had she ever felt any real family care and love? With feelings of hatred toward her family and sympathy for Jean in mind, he clenched his fist slightly.

However, he thought, 'Jean, just say goodbye to this heartless family. I will be your protector for the rest of your life.'

After a short while, Jean came out from the ward. She looked as though a part of her soul had died. She was so lost in thoughts of how cruel her family was and the prodigious sorrow that followed and so, she didn't hear Zed's call. Zed walked to Jean and held her shoulders with his huge and warm hands.

When she was touched, Jean was startled and trembled. Once she realized Zed was holding her, she turned and placed her head on Zed's shoulder for some comfort. Then, they left the hospital without saying another word.

Shirley, Jean's disowned sister, stood at the door of the inpatient ward. She watched Zed and Jean's interaction. Their intimacy filled her heart with envy. To evade her mixed feelings, Shirley turned back to the room.

"Mom, is it prudent to break our relationship with Jean and her husband? I know that if we sign that paper, we'll get the land we want. However, Zed is much more important to us for he is a man with great power and wealth. If we break our bond with Jean like this, we will never be able to take any advantage of Zed."

Henry, who had been busy signing the agreement to sever their relations with Jean, stopped. His hand was suspended in air as he pondered over what Shirley had said. He needed a moment to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of their actions.

Joy who had been filing her fingernails, didn't react to Shirley's question. She had her own thoughts about Zed and Jean's relationship and didn't agree with Shirley. She rolled her eyes at her daughter, Shirley and said, "The impending divorce is the only reason Jean asked for her Residence Booklet. It must be true that Zed is bound to divorce Jean. Zed is interested in Jean now because she is new to him. So Zed's care and love for Jean are only temporary. After a short period, he is certain to get tired of her. Then, he will leave Jean. We all know Zed's social status, as well as his enormous wealth. Obviously, he is not the kind of man that will be satisfied with Jean as his partner. As far as I am concerned, they are certain to fall apart within the next week or so."

After hearing Joy's explanation, Shirley moved closer to her mother. She pouted as she latched on to her mother's arm. Shirley shook her mother's arm as she spoke, "If only I had been the one to marry Zed. There would be more chances and we would have better relations with him. It is also possible that I could have manipulated Zed into giving us what we want."

Joy stood up suddenly and threw off her daughter's hand. She pointed at Shirley's head with a finger and said, "Are you insane? If you had married Zed and then divorced, you would be a second-hand woman. Who would marry you again?"

Shirley still didn't give up her fantasy. Instead she said, "In case Zed and I had married, I would be Mrs. Qi. Then, I would have had so much money that I wouldn't have been able to spend it in this life or even in the next. I'm extremely excited just thinking about it!" "Oh, come on, stop your day dreaming. Use your time better! After your father gains the land, you have to attend parties hosted by time-honored families and communities. That is the only way for you to connect with young men from rich families!"

After Jean and Zed returned to their villa, she asked him to sit on sofa so that she could talk with him about the land that her family was eager to attain. "That land..."

"That land is a present for you. I have told you this earlier. You can do whatever you want with it." Zed just replied rapidly and without hesitation even before Jean could finish speaking. Jean lifted her head as tears filled her eyes. Zed's heart broke when he saw her expression. He sympathized with Jean for the dilemma she was facing.

Zed slid forward and wrapped his arms around Jean. He pulled her closer to him and placed her head on his warm and strong chest. Jean sniffled and her body shuddered with the effort to contain her emotions. She wanted to be strong, but when she felt Zed's warmth and tenderness her resolve disappeared. Zed lifted Jean's face gently and placed soft kisses on her tear-soaked cheeks.

Jean's breath hitched. His tenderness softened her heart and gave her great support and comfort. This was a new feeling for Jean. For as long as she could remember, none of her family members had been kind or supportive. Since her mother's death, Zed was the first person to be gentle with her. His sincerity and love allowed Jean to feel as though she could finally release all the pain and suffering she had been holding on to for so long. She threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest as violent sobs escaped her. Zed sat on the sofa and held Jean the entire time that she cried. He soothed her with gentle strokes up and down her back. When that didn't work, he whispered words of comfort and assurance between soft kisses on her forehead. Jean had lost all sense of time. She had no idea how long they had been on the sofa nor how long she had cried for. The only thing she knew was that she felt so safe in Zed's arms. Listening to his steady heartbeat and enveloped by his smell, she felt that she could rest. Exhausted from her emotional turmoil, Jean closed her eyes.

Once Zed was assured that Jean had fallen asleep, he lifted her and carried her to the bedroom. He gently placed her on the soft bed so that he didn't wake her.

Many thoughts ran through Zed's mind as he watched his vulnerable wife. He bowed his head and touched her cheek softly with infinite love and care. His eyes were filled with pure love. The next day, bright sunlight outlined Zed and Jean, as well as their bed.

Although awake, Jean didn't want to open her eyes. Suddenly she felt an intense gaze. Knowing that Zed was looking at her made Jean's heart beat faster.

Unable to take the intensity of Zed's gaze, Jean's eyelashes fluttered. She rubbed her eyes before opening them. As she looked up, she met Zed's eyes, which were full of love and desire. Zed smiled when he saw Jean blushing. Jean was eluding eye contact with him, which made Zed stretch out and gently brush away the stray lock of hair on her face. "Are you awake now?"

Zed spoke in a deep husky voice. To Jean, it sounded sexy and powerful.

"Yes. I slept well. How about you?"

She pursed her lips and thought, 'How long has he been staring at me?' She pulled up the quilt to cover the lower half of her face and stuck her tongue out at Zed from behind the quilt.

Zed lowered himself and tugged at the quilt before placing a quick kiss on her lips. "Are you going to sleep more or do you plan to just stay in bed?"

Jean shook her head in a hurry. She felt as though her face was burning from embarrassment. Something had changed in their relationship. Zed was no longer leaving for office before Jean woke. It was strange to find him in bed when she awoke. The way he looked at her and their conversation made her feel as though they were a couple in love.

Jean frowned when she remembered that although they were legally a couple, they were not in love. In fact...

These mixed thoughts haunted her and made Jean uneasy. Wanting to get away from the situation and her thoughts, Jean hurriedly got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. It was perhaps her imagination that led her to believe that she saw love and adoration reflecting in Zed's eyes.

Zed put his hands behind head and closed eyes as he savored this moment quietly, While Jean frantically washed her face with cold water in the bathroom. She couldn't afford to feel like this! She just couldn't.

Jean knew that if he continued to behave like this, she would fall in love with Zed.

Jean tried to compose herself by patting her face several times before whispering to herself, "Come on, calm down, you can't be tempted by him. There will never be a happy ending to this marriage..."

The situation was challenging for Jean indeed. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Zed's handsome face. In addition, the tenderness he had shown last night and his consideration and thoughtfulness when he bought menstrual products for her brought up mixed feelings in her heart.

After calming down, she slowly walked out of the bathroom. Zed was standing in front of the closet deliberating over what clothes to wear.

Since he had removed his pajama shirt, she could see his well-muscled back. He was in such great shape. Desire overwhelmed Jean as she admired his beautiful body.

She was stunned for a short while. Then she noticed a scratch on his arm. Throwing away the towel in her hands, Jean walked toward Zed. She grabbed his arm and carefully studied the injury.

"Did I do this? Sorry, Zed, yesterday, I was kind of..... Come on, sit down, I am going to apply some medicine."

Jean turned to fetch the medical care box. She tripped as she walked past Zed. Jean tried to avoid stepping on his toes, but failed. She lost her balance and fell.

"Oh!"

At the very moment, she reached out to support herself, but managed to grab Zed instead. Not expecting her reaction, Zed lost his balance as well. They fell on the bed. When Jean's mind cleared, she realized she had fallen on top of him. Her hands were awkwardly placed on his chest.

"Sor... Sorry... Zed, I did not do that on purpose."

She moved her hands away in embarrassment.

With a sly smile, Zed rolled Jean under him. Once upright, he placed his arms on each side of Jean and gazed at her. He titled his head sideways and fixed his eyes on her lips.

Jean blushed a furious crimson. Unable to look at Zed, she shifted her gaze, only to find herself staring at his muscular chest. Every time Zed moved even the slightest, his abdomen muscles rippled. Jean found herself mesmerized and unable to control her impulse to reach out and trace his well-shaped abdominal muscles.

"Honey, you know, you have seduced me four times since you woke this morning. Are you seriously trying to make me feel bad just because you are having your menstrual period?"

Filled with desire for Jean, Zed's voice was huskier than before. Jean was so spellbound. It felt as though she had drunk a bottle of whisky.

"I have seduced you? Four times?" Jean blinked and looked at Zed innocently.

"You see that!" he exclaimed. "You are seducing me right now with your big, cute eyes. Counting this, its now five times!" The passion reflected in Zed's eyes clearly indicated his attraction toward Jean. 00000000000☐☐☐☐☐