Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

Jean's smile was infectious. Beaming, sunny and wide- the moment Zed laid his eyes on her face, he too caught on to her happiness and started smiling back at her. Turning towards Moore, he said, "You and Vikki are friends, and she is hired by our company. During her stay here, our company will take full responsibility for any problems that may occur. But as a friend, I know I can count on you. So do me a favor please and take good care of her.

You know my work always keeps me busy. I don't even have much time for Jean. And with Jean being pregnant, she has become extremely sensitive to smells. I doubt she can even step into a hospital because of its strong distinct smell. Please see if you can tend to Vikki? It'll set my mind at ease, Moore,"

said Zed earnestly. How could Moore refuse Zed's simple request? It was rare that he had asked Moore something so straightforward. Knowing that he had an upper hand, Zed patted Moore's shoulder to coerce him into agreeing.

With a wry smile on his face, Moore was lost in thought. Some minutes passed by and then, it struck him. 'How could I not take Zed's hint?

Still, I'll have to decline what Jean and Zed are trying to do. Their plan to make a match between Avery and me won't go anywhere.

We are just friends and nothing more.

But how do I turn Zed down? I can't say, 'no', not after all that he has done. Anyway, my refusal will make everyone embarrassed, be it Zed, Jean, or even me, ' reflected Moore turning the thought over in his head. "Alright!" replied Moore and shrugged his shoulders. His eyes met Zed's for a brief second. Moore added, "Don't worry! I'll come to the hospital and take care of Avery."

"Wait, Moore, what do you mean by that?" uttered Jean. Seeing Moore agree to Zed's persuasion in the first go had Jean livid. Her face was seething with resentment which she couldn't contain anymore, "I've talked to you twice, but you always turned me down. Zed, on the other hand, asked you only once. And you said yes to him! Why did you do this to me? I can't be your friend anymore. Or else you tell me, Moore, are we really friends? Is this what friends do?"

"So you don't want me to promise Zed?" Moore asked back in a cool tone. He was hardly affected by Jean's words and remained calm through her tirade.

"Of course I don't mean that," replied Jean. Moore's smart comeback left Jean speechless. For a few seconds, she was silent but then quickly recovered. "I am only expressing my anger towards you. Can't you see how you've wronged me? I don't think you regard me as a friend at all......"

Moore did not know what to say, realizing that Jean was really irritated at the moment. Her anger had reached such a level that she didn't mind reproaching him this way in front of Zed. Still, Moore was quiet not betraying how nervous he had suddenly become. He looked at Zed with a helpless look on his face and shrugged.

Meanwhile, Zed nodded to Moore to mean that he understood what Moore was feeling right now. He patted Jean's shoulder to get her to mellow down and said, "All right, Jean, you take it easy on Moore. He did not mean to upset you after all. We are all friends. And you will break everyone's heart if you keep saying such a thing. Don't say anything like this that you can't be friends with Moore. You hear me?"

"Well, I did not mean to say that. But I was so angry with him just now," Jean pouted in annoyance at Zed's words. She gave Moore a loathsome look and added, "Zed, you have no idea how gorgeous Avery is. She is such a beauty and she has come to our country only for Moore. But look at him! He wouldn't even come to the hospital to take care of her. What kind of person can be so heartless? She was his classmate in college back then. I think he's just a vicious, stone-hearted monster who knows nothing about feelings......" "Jean......" shouted Zed suddenly. With his eyes fixed on Jean, he raised his pitch and scolded her in a stern tone. "Enough! You have to stop right now."

"I'm fine. I'm not going to argue with her," said Moore. After his words, he walked away towards Avery's room with a pale face. He daren't glance back at Jean anymore.

Seeing Moore resign to her harsh words, Jean felt a tinge of guilt pinch her heart. Overcome with regret, she peered into Zed's eyes helplessly.

"Don't look at me like that! I can't change anything now. What you said just now was way too much," exclaimed Zed in a displeased tone.

"I...... I didn't mean to..." said Jean looking terribly sorry. She piteously touched Zed's arm for consolation as she was about to cry any minute now.

He stretched his hand out of love and held Jean's hand lovingly. "All right, I will explain it to Moore for you later. But you must promise me that you will not hurt him again by saying such things. Jean, don't ruin your precious friendship by your unthoughtful words." "I won't," replied Jean. Assured by Zed that he'd help fix the situation with Moore, she let out a sigh of relief and enthusiastically suggested, "Then let's go and see Avery now!"

"Sure," said Zed smiling at the childlike innocence of his wife. Hand in hand, they started walking.

Just as they were about to push the ward's door, they heard Avery speaking to Moore on the other side. It seemed she was talking to Moore in a tender way. "Moore, I don't know what I would have done without you. Thank you so much..." said Avery gratefully. "Avery, please don't say that," replied Moore in a cool tone. By now Jean and Zed had opened the door. Jean noticed that Moore seemed distant in comparison to Avery's warm animated face. Moore had apparently gotten colder towards Avery simply because Jean was keenly watching him.

Jean was completely made awkward by this and stopped smiling. She hesitantly walked with Zed towards Avery.

Avery too seeing Zed approach her with Jean felt confused.

Seeing Jean holding Zed's hand, her face was a picture of confusion. Her mouth slightly opened and brows furrowed in doubt, after a moment, Avery fumbled to ask, "You... you two..." She was too surprised to finish her question.

"Avery, it's great to see you up. You scared the hell out of me just now!" Jean had missed out on the confusion that was apparent on Avery's face. To her, Avery looked just a bit pale, but overall, in good spirits. Seeing her recover and feel better, Jean felt her worries melt. "I have been feeling so bad that you fell ill just as you arrived here. But don't worry. We'll take good care of you from now on and see that you remain hale and hearty," spouted Jean excitedly.

After Jean finished, Zed smiled warmly and put his hand out to Avery, "Hi, Vikki. I'm Zed Qi, from the Qi Group. I'm sorry we met this way."

"The CEO of the Qi Group, Zed Qi?" repeated Avery as she hesitantly took Zed's hand. Amazed at meeting Zed and what she had just realized, she still looked at them and their hands clasped together to confirm what she'd been thinking. After a quick glance at Moore, finally, she looked straight into Zed's eyes and said, "You and Jean are..."

By now, Jean had caught up with what was buzzing in Avery's mind. After all, her face too made her confusion apparent. Out of the blue, Jean burst into laughter and replied before Zed could speak, "He is my husband." 'Husband...

So Zed is Jean's husband!' repeated Avery in her mind.

She suddenly exhaled deeply, relieved from the miserable thought of Jean and Moore linked in an amorous relationship. Looking brighter and glowing with a secret happiness, she warmly said to Jean, "Jean, you look so young. I did not expect you to be married already. And Zed is your husband - the CEO of Qi Group... Wow! This is really amazing!" Avery smiled sweetly looking more beautiful than before. Hearing the women talk about Zed and Jean's marriage now, Zed was confused and surprised. Certainly Avery looked ecstatic with joy but the fact that their marriage had been such a happy news to Avery raised questions in Zed's mind.

'Didn't Jean go with Moore to meet Vikki at the airport early this morning?

Why did Vikki not know about my relationship with Jean until now? Shouldn't Vikki know that I'm Jean's husband at the first meeting itself? So how did Moore introduce Jean to Vikki?

And with that smug smile on Jean's face right now, did I miss something out?

Or else is Vikki in the hospital not because of a physical ailment but something more?' wondered Zed as such questions buzzed in his mind. Still, he suppressed the urge to ask and remained calm as usual. But something told him, that maybe should ask one out loud? On the other hand, Jean was gloating with a big smile on her face. She was pleased with herself for having 'read' Avery's mind through her trick.

'The conversation that I had with Moore in the car could have revealed the truth of me being married and pregnant to Avery.

But she did not know that my husband is someone else and not Moore. And now, with her being in the throes of such happiness, in her heart, she...

Anyway the quarrel between Moore and me in the car must have led her to thinking that we are a couple.

Perhaps, she was already guessing Moore to be my husband but it was all too much for her to digest? And is this why that her fragile body suffered from gastritis, shocked as she was.

Of course, mind and body are inseparable and can affect each other in so many ways.

Avery's feelings for Moore are much deeper and stronger than I expected. Or else she wouldn't have reacted so strongly. Bodies don't tell lies, ' thought Jean in her heart.

And the thought of it made her even happier.

"I don't think my life is as dazzling as you say. But you, Avery, you really impress me with your cool career," said Jean with a smile. She kept her eyes fixed on Avery transmitting all joy. ☐☐☐☐☐