Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

Ronald had everything planned out, but something had gone wrong. He felt deep regret within himself because of it. 'For me, studying was the only thing that occupied my mind, but Jean was different. She had never been interested in studying. Her family situation didn't help either.

Dating is the normal thing to do for girls who have left school and joined the workforce.

How could I have not thought it through?'

Ronald's eyes dulled. He was unable to share Jean's excitement.

He might have already missed out on the most important person in his life.

"I can't believe you have a master's degree! That's great! But from what I remember..." Jean muttered. She paused for a moment to gather her thoughts together and continued, "You didn't even like to study and your grades were average in primary school. Things have changed a lot."

"Yeah, things have changed a lot," he said. But in his mind, he wasn't only referring to his schoolwork. "After I moved to Canada, I started to concentrate on my studies,"

Ronald explained with a forced smile.

But in truth, at the beginning, Ronald struggled a lot. He found it very hard to settle in. He missed Jean a lot to the point of locking himself up in the bedroom and refusing to eat or go to classes.

He didn't want to be away from Jean. But no matter how much he fussed, he wasn't able to change anything.

After a while of fighting and struggling, Ronald had finally accepted the situation. That was when he turned things around and decided to put all of his energy into studying hard.

The thought of seeing Jean again kept him motivated and stopped him from going insane.

But now, his efforts might have been for naught. It seemed that she was not interested in him.

"That would make sense. It must have been very hard for you," Jean sighed.

"I just did what I always wanted to do," said Ronald. He looked into Jean's eyes. There were so many things that he really wanted to tell her, but those words were stuck deep inside of him. He said nothing.

Jean was too excited to realize anything, but Moore had keen eyes. He could see through Ronald's facade.

Moore took a sip from his coffee and casually mentioned, "Jean, do we need to pick Zed up when he finishes work?"

"Why would I do that?" Jean frowned irritated as she threw the question back at him.

She was clearly still upset with Moore.

It seemed that Jean didn't catch onto what Moore was trying to do, so he tried again with another hint. "Do you remember that you and Zed are going to a party of the Bai family tonight?"

'Has Jean already forgotten about the fight that she had just yesterday with Zed was because of Ronald? Oh goodness me, woman! You just can't stay away from trouble, can you? Don't you remember your purpose of meeting Ronald today?' Moore thought annoyed. Jean knew exactly what Moore was trying to do. She was just waiting for the right time.

'We are talking about studying right now. Bringing up my marriage is going to sound random and odd.

If I did, Ronald would think I'm strange.

What should I do? If I don't tell him today, he might misunderstand and think that I was leading him on. What am I going to do if Ronald sends me messages again and Zed finds out that?' Jean's mind was racing a million miles an hour, but on the outside she looked calm and composed.

She was planning on answering Moore's question. But thinking of what Moore did earlier, she put the idea away.

She appreciated Moore's friendly reminder but she was still angry with him. Moore seemed to bring the mischief out in her.

'I am not going to give you what you want!

Now is not a good time to mention my marriage.

There is nothing you can do Moore, Jean thought pleased with herself.

She gave Moore a complacent smile and said, "You are right. We will definitely go to the party. As your friends, Zed and I will be there for you."

"The Bai family? Are they the ones in the east part of city?" Ronald asked curiously.

"What do you mean by the ones in the east part of city?" Jean asked in confusion because she had no sense of direction.

Instead, Moore replied to Ronald. "Yes, they are. How did you know?" he asked, surprised.

"Oh, I've got an invitation as well. I will be there too," Ronald answered Moore with a smile.

"Wait, did you just say that you are going to the party too?" Jean finally caught up with their conversation. She had a hard time processing the information. 'What's going on?' She wondered.

"I did. My aunt Edna invited me," Ronald explained. Jean and Moore looked at each other in shock.

"Edna is your aunt. Therefore, Hanley is your cousin. Am I right?"

Jean asked.

"You are right!" Ronald nodded. "Why are you so surprised? Is it so hard to believe that I am related to the Bai family?"

Ronald questioned.

"No, it's not that. Do you have any idea who he is?" Jean asked him as she pointed to Moore.

"Jean, please don't!" Moore pleaded with Jean not to continue.

"What shouldn't I do? Not tell him who you are? You guys are family! He is going to find out sooner or later anyway," Jean said angrily.

"He is my family? Are you the Bai family's lost child?" Now it was Ronald's turn to be surprised. He stared at Moore in disbelief.

Moore nodded silently to confirm.

'The lost child? Bah! It was such a good cover-up, ' thought Moore.

The bitterness climbed in his chest and he suddenly looked grim.

Jean's anger disappeared as soon as she saw the pain in Moore's eyes.

"Tonight, the truth will come to light. You will know the story behind the lost child!" Jean sneered. She looked at Ronald and continued, "Ronald, I think it's time for us to go now. I have to prepare for the party. I'll see you tonight." Jean knew that Moore wasn't in the mood to answer any more of Ronald's questions.

"Are you... Are you leaving now? I..." Ronald stood up and tried to say something, but Jean and Moore had already left the cafe.

Ronald stared bleakly at their figures until they disappeared into the crowd. He felt helpless.

'Jean, even though you said that you and Moore weren't dating, your actions tell me otherwise, 'Ronald thought with an ironic smile as he sat back down.

'We used to take care of each other. Why have you changed?' he thought as he swallowed a lump in his throat.

He felt the barrier between them.

'Is it because of Moore?

While you were taking care of him, you forgot about me without hesitation, ' he thought bitterly.

He felt like she was drifting further away from him.

Suddenly he slammed his fist onto the table defiantly. He had made a decision. 'I will not let you leave me, Jean!

As long as you are not committed to a marriage, anything is possible!'

Moore was frowning at Jean as they walked together. "It wasn't very polite to leave so suddenly, don't you think?" said Moore.

"I don't care! He isn't important to me at all! He is just an old classmate from primary school. I didn't even recognize him yesterday! I really don't want to talk about Edna's nephew!" Jean's honesty was brutal.

"Ronald would be heartbroken if he knew how you felt. I think he has feelings for you. By the way, why didn't you tell him that you were married? Aren't you afraid of making Zed jealous again?" Moore asked her, confused. 00