Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

"Know her clearly? It used to be clear, but it sure as hell isn't now," Zed said in a bitter tone as he gave out a cold chuckle.

"Zed, don't let your temper get the best of your relationship with Jean," Moore said in a hurried tone to calm him down. "We all know Jean. She won't just do that. She won't go ahead and accept anyone she doesn't like. As her husband, you have to put a little more trust in her. Do you even realize how much you are hurting Jean by saying all these words. She heard it all, Zed."

Jean grimaced at the mention of her name. "If he truly cared about me, he wouldn't have said something like that," she said to Moore and then her eyes shifted towards Zed. "Out of all the people I know, I never expected you to be like this, Zed!" Jean said in a hurt tone. Her eyes were red from the tears as she stared at Zed angrily.

"Jean, I..." Before Zed could say something to retort, Moore cut his words off.

"You don't believe that Jean truly turned Ronald away? Zed, when the hell did you lose faith in your wife? When did you lose your confidence?"

Moore looked intently at Zed's eyes as he asked this.

"It's not that I lost my confidence. I just felt that she was pretending to refuse Ronald in front of me," Zed said, brows furrowed.

"You and Jean already fought about Ronald last night. Did she do anything wrong other than care about what you would feel? Zed, you are the last person I expected to be this childish. Why are you so goddamn petty?" Moore said as he was stunned at Zed's words.

"Well, I..." Zed couldn't do anything but sigh remorsefully as Moore confronted him, and he then said, "I'm not petty. I just feel uncomfortable knowing that another man is admiring my wife."

"So just because you feel uncomfortable, you think it's right to vent your anger on me?" Jean, furious, stared at Zed and asked in an agitated tone. "Why would you do this? Who the hell do you think you are, Zed?" "Jean, calm down. Zed just wasn't himself because he cared about you. You should be more patient and understanding. Don't just get angry at him."

Moore offered in a futile attempt to comfort her.

"I'm not mad at him. He doubted me, Moore. I am really upset," Jean replied.

"You clearly are angry..." Moore sighed as he shook his head.

Hearing the whole exchange, Avery approached Jean and spoke softly, "Sometimes, when a man really cares about a woman, he loses himself. Jean, please forgive Zed this time! He obviously loves you very much." "Loves me?" Jean suddenly laughed, but her face relaxed, becoming more relieved.

Moore signaled Zed with a look, and Zed caught on, almost immediately. He walked towards Jean, and apologized, "I'm sorry, dear. I lost control. Jean, please stop being mad at me."

"The reason why I'm this upset is that you don't trust me. I turned Ronald away right in front of you. What more do you want? Do I look like an unfaithful woman to you?"

"Of course not." Zed laughed out bitterly. He knew he was wrong. "I just feel uncomfortable since a lot of guys look at you that way. You are my wife. It feels terrible seeing other men eyeing you."

"Terrible, you say? Have you even considered what I feel when you lash out on me? If I hadn't turned Ronald away in front of you today, that's the time you can doubt me and even get mad at me. That's only reasonable. But I..." "Alright. Stop." Moore tried to ease the growing tension in the room. "There's no reason to be like this in the relationship. Bottomline, it's all because Zed was too jealous."

"I..." Zed wanted to spit out a retort, but he knew all Moore said was the truth. He stopped himself from saying anything further and sighed deeply.

'Jealous? He's jealous?'

Jean's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to say something to ease Zed's jealousy, but shut her mouth instead.

She didn't want to forgive Zed that easily.

Seeing the couple calm down and the tension at the table start to ease, Avery felt relieved and turned to Moore. "What took you so long upstairs?"

"I had a good talk there," Moore said to comfort her. He looked at her worried expression. "I'm fine, don't worry."

"Uhm." Avery nodded.

At that moment, Hanley walked

gracefully onto center stage holding a microphone and started speaking enthusiastically, "Good evening, my honored guests. Welcome to the feast held by the Bai family. Now let's welcome on stage, the head of the family, none other than my

father, Gary Bai!"

The minute Hanley uttered his father's name, a thunderous applause rocked the hall. The sound reverberated across the structure.

Gary Bai, dressed in an immaculate dark suit, walked out with a smile on his face. Approaching center stage under the gleaming lights, he accepted the microphone from Hanley with a small bow.

Before he spoke, his eyes scanned the crowd as if searching. They finally landed on Moore, as if he acquired his target. A big, fat smile formed on his lips.

"I invited everyone here tonight to

witness the happiest and most exciting moment for our Bai family. After over ten years of searching, I have finally found my long lost eldest son, Moore Bai."

Gary Bai gazed at Moore with soft eyes and a loving look.

Hanley, who was standing by his side smiling, suddenly froze and was visibly shocked at Gary's revelation. He turned towards Gary and then to Moore in disbelief.

The whole crowd started murmuring in surprise and stared at Moore with eyes of envy. Moore separated himself from the crowd and walked towards center stage, the spotlight following him.

All color drained from Hanley's face as he watched the events unfold before him.

'What just happened? Is this really happening?

Moore just admitted to being a part of the Bai family.

Didn't he always hate Gary?"

Not only Hanley was stunned, but Jean and Avery's jaws were dropped as well. They were all astonished.

Zed watched all this unfold and looked deep in thought, as if he knew all along.

Moore's problem was finally resolved.

'It seems as though Gary had told him the truth about his past.

The question is, what exactly was that truth?

Why did Moore forgive Gary this quick?

It seemed that there could only be one answer.

Gary didn't abandon him in the past. It was someone else entirely.

Who could it be?

Who could be evil enough as to lay their hands on a small child?'

While Zed was lost in thought, Moore climbed the stage and took his place beside Gary. He faced the crowd in the hall, and said with a broad smile, "Good evening, everyone! I am Moore Bai, the lost son of the Bai family. I'm glad to meet all of you, and I'm even happier to see that my halfbrother and stepmother are also here to welcome me to the family. Our first complete family reunion."

After speaking, Moore smiled at Hanley who was standing on the other side of his father.

Hanley was visibly pale, but at the mention of him by Moore, he forced a smile in front of the guests and he eagerly held out his hands to Moore for an embrace. "Welcome home, brother!"

He gave Moore a big hug.

He embraced Moore so tightly that Moore winced.

Gary looked at Moore worriedly, but as Hanley caught him staring, he suppressed his concern. ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐