Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

"Hey, don't try to laugh at me!" Jean turned to Moore and added, "Remember, I'm eating for two. For myself and for the baby... What? Do you have a problem with that?" "Of course not. It's all yours. Just help yourself.

I won't fight with a pregnant woman over food." Moore moved slightly away from Jean as soon as he finished his words. He felt he needed to do that to avoid arguments.

"See? He is so mean to me," Jean touched Zed's hand as she complained about Moore. "He is mean to your wife."

"Don't mind him, honey. We will get even with him once our baby is born,"

Zed assured her with his gentle voice while he slowly caressed her hair.

"You're right. I'll teach our baby to annoy him with silly antics." Jean nodded her head to Zed. Taking advantage of the situation, she smirked as she turned to Moore and said, "You should be nice to me or else, you will suffer a lot in the future." "Didn't I treat you right? How could you say that?" Moore felt trapped and amused at the same time with her jokes.

"You were avoiding me just now. You found me distasteful because I'm pregnant. Am I not beautiful anymore? Do I look disgustingly fat to you? And to think my bump isn't even showing yet. You dislike me because I'm pregnant, is that it?" Jean ranted. She was raising her voice now and surely, her pregnancy was causing this crazy mood swings.

"I was just..." Moore stopped and couldn't think of anything to say as he was too dumbfounded by Jean's words.

'What have I said?

Oh God, let me take back my words. I didn't mean to offend her, not in any way.'

Moore asked himself as he didn't want to be teased by Jean for the rest of his life.

"Hold it, both of you. That's enough. Let's get going. Or we will be stuck in a traffic jam. It's already rush hour." Zed interrupted to stop Jean and Moore from bickering with each other.

Jean paused for a moment and glared at Moore then reached for her husband's forearm as the three of them left the restaurant, walking toward the car.

Moore was swept with his emotions and his lips formed a bittersweet smile as Jean and Zed walked away.

It seemed that the funny and lively side of Jean was back again. And indeed, he was happy that she's back to her old self.

She had been distressed for a while because of what happened to Joy and Shirley. And even after she learned that she was expecting, there was still a dark cloud over her head. Except for today, Moore could sense that the cheerful Jean was back.

As for him, he was a bit overwhelmed with all the things that happened lately.

And he knew that he couldn't quite catch up with the situation.

But if there was one thing Moore was sure of, he always felt what Jean felt.

Whenever Jean was delighted, he felt delighted too.

Whenever she turned sad, he felt more than sad.

Seeing her happy look now made his heart skip a joyful beat.

Then in no time, they all settled comfortably inside the car. Zed was driving with his complete attention on the road.

Jean felt uncomfortable with the silence. She turned to Zed and decided right away that she wouldn't interfere with his driving. Next, she turned to Moore seated at the back seat. The two men were preoccupied with their own thoughts. She wrinkled her nose and wondered what they were thinking.

"Is anything wrong? You are all so quiet." The warmth in her voice broke the awkward silence in the car. There and then, the two men snapped out from their deep thoughts.

"I am thinking about Albert." Zed then asked, "How about we go to the hospital and check on him? We can also pick Avery up from there."

"Sure!" Jean nodded her head in agreement. "That's a good idea. And besides, it's still early to get home."

Jean was so excited that she forgot she asked Zed to go home and have a rest earlier this evening.

Moore looked at her and took a deep breath. "It's up to you."

"Moore, did you think about it too?" Jean asked.

"Yes." Moore looked at Jean absentmindedly and nodded slightly.

Jean curled her lips with a smile as soon as she heard Moore's answer. "It seems that both of you are worried about Avery. She will be happy to know it." Especially with Moore. Avery would love that attention from him, though he made it clear that he didn't have feelings for her.

But now, he started to get worried about her. And that's a pleasant change.

Jean was thrilled with that thought and her smile became wider.

Moore frowned at Jean. He couldn't help but let out a silent sigh of despair as he leaned back on his seat.

He was distracted but he was definitely not thinking about Avery or Albert.

Not in a way Jean had implied.

For all its worth, it was better for Jean not to know what's on his mind or else, she wouldn't like it and that's one thing Moore didn't want to see.

He remained quiet and in a daze, he gripped his cellphone on his hand.

Noticing Moore's silence and worried look from the rear-view mirror, Zed couldn't help but ask with concern, "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Zed's question startled Moore. He turned to Zed with a stunned face and replied in haste, "Nothing... nothing serious." Puzzled, Jean turned around and saw Moore hiding his cellphone.

She snatched his cellphone from his grasp and said with a smile, "Did some girl call you just now?"

But her smile slowly faded before she finished her words.

"What's the matter?" Zed asked as he noticed Jean's expression had changed.

"Gary texted Moore and asked to see him tomorrow." She furrowed her brows into a frown as she turned to Zed.

Zed pulled the car over and turned to Moore as he asked, "Well? Are you going to see him?"

"I don't want to see him and I don't think it's necessary," Moore replied.

"Moore, do you still remember what I told you? Give him a chance to explain. Hear him out first and decide later on if you wish to join him for the feast of the Bai family on the weekend," Jean suggested.

"The feast on the weekend? So you received the invitation as well?" Zed asked Moore with a shocked look upon his face.

"No. It was Hanley who invited him." Noticing Moore's hesitance to answer, Jean explained for him.

"Hanley? He is so sneaky!" Zed mocked as he was well aware of Hanley's intention.

"Zed, what do you think Moore should do?" Jean asked.

"Well, it's all up to him." Zed took a deep breath and said to Moore, "If I were you, I wouldn't think too much. There's still time to ponder it over."

"Nah, that's okay. I don't want to see Gary anyway," Moore replied right away and sounded pretty firm over his decision.

"Listen, Moore." Jean was disappointed and added, "I just don't want you to regret this later on. It won't hurt. Just give him a chance to explain."

Jean pleaded, looking straight into Moore's eyes.

"There's really no need to do that. I've suffered so much for so long and that won't change. He abandoned me. I became homeless in a foreign country with no one to turn to. These are all facts. I never had a happy childhood, and so I won't easily forgive him," Moore explained with so much bitterness.

"What if he did that for a reason? What if he sent you away to protect you?" Jean explained as she noticed the growing sorrow on Moore's face. "Can you ever forgive him?"☐☐☐☐☐☐☐