Way Back Into Love (Essie)

When Zac finally knew that something was up, it was already too late. The moment he swallowed the cabbage, it felt as if his whole mouth was burning. He coughed with great force, trying to get rid of the

spice.

Essie had put a whole bottle of wild pepper into the pot without anyone noticing.

Seeing his face flushed and sweaty as he ran to the kitchen to get some water, Essie was in a good mood. She picked up the chopsticks and began to eat slowly. A smile was playing on her lips.

When he returned to the table, Zac smiled bitterly. "Are you feeling better now? Do you want to punish me again?"

Essie snorted in disgust. In fact, she was far from done yet. As long as she continued to think of Zac 'cheating' on her, her anger continued to spread like wildfire.

"You better clean your room today. I swear, don't you even think about catching infectious diseases?" she snapped. She had always thought that Zac was a clean freak. It seemed, however, that sex was his exception.

Zac took a deep breath. He knew that if he didn't explain his situation as soon as possible, his life with her would be a living hell.

His lips twitched. "Honey, nothing happened."

'Nothing happened? His entire bed was shaking that anyone would think that an earthquake was coming,' she thought incredulously.

"Look, you're free to do whatever the hell you want, and I don't care. Since you already have a girlfriend, then we better keep our distance from each other, all right?"

She slammed the tableware onto the counter before turning back to her room. At this point, he had already ruined her appetite.

He stood up and hugged her from behind, placing his chin on top of her shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing? Let me go!" Essie tried to kick him in the leg, but he still didn't loosen his grip. In a rage, she turned her head and bit his arms.

Zac groaned and winced, but he still didn't let go. Instead, he leaned closer and said hoarsely, "Mindy is just an actress. I paid her a lot of money to pretend that she was my girlfriend. You're my wife. Do you think I'll cheat on you?"

Stunned, she loosened her bite almost immediately. "What did you say?" She was afraid that she had misheard him.

He sighed. "All you care about is friendship. You treat me like a gift that you'll never open," he explained. "I have to at least know if you still have feelings for me." Zac's helpless voice pulled on her heartstrings. Her gaze swept over his bleeding arm as guilt rose up in her chest. "Do you really not like Mandy?"

"Well, I have to keep my integrity for my wife, don't I?"

he joked.

"Your wife? I don't know who she is." Essie pouted adorably. All the sadness and despair that she had felt the night before had vanished. Now, she looked like a kid who was told that Christmas came early. She couldn't help but feel strange about it all. What were her feelings towards Zac?

Although she didn't sleep well last night, she slept like a baby today. In fact, she didn't even wake up until dawn.

She was awakened by her phone ringing out. When she saw that it was her mother, she answered drowsily.

"Essie, are you still sleeping?"

Lucy's voice was soft and kind.

"Yes," she mumbled.

"Your father and I are downstairs at your apartment. Ask the security to open the door," she advised.

What?

Essie almost rolled off the bed in shock.

"Wait, where are you?" she repeated as her eyes widened.

"Your apartment."

"Mom, why didn't you tell me that you'll come here?" Essie's forehead was already drenched with cold sweat as she thought of all the possibilities that could run her over.

Lucy burst into laughter. "We wanted to surprise you, silly."

It was a surprise, all right. It was going to be her surprise funeral. Essie didn't take another minute as she jumped out of bed and put on her clothes. She rushed into Zac's room. Her face was flushed. "It's over," she said quickly. "My parents are here."