Chapter 225: He Truly Loves My Mom

I shot Luke a look of contempt. “What I call him is none of your business. Don’t forget your own position!”

Luke shifted uncomfortably. Just as he was about to respond, I leaned closer, speaking in a hushed tone only we could hear. “Remember, this is all because of you. No matter how upset or regretful he was, the truth was clear: he and I were never meant to be.”

Luke paused, his mind likely drifting to the past and his actions toward me. His gaze darkened. I warned him softly, “Don’t look at me like that. Are you trying to make me die again?”

The mention of “die” seemed to stir something within him. He quickly turned away, unwilling to stay near me any longer, walking off with a glass of wine in hand, his posture miserable. But none of this was anything but the result of his own choices.

As I watched him go, Carter’s eyes turned toward me. With him, I could let go of all my worries and be as carefree as a child. I spun my gown in front of him. “Do you like it?”

“Not just like it, it’s stunning, darling.” A slight smile played on Carter’s lips. To anyone watching, it would appear as though we were an affectionate couple. Even though I was nothing like the old Zoey, it could easily be seen as a wife being doted on by her husband after marriage.

Just as I was about to say something, I spotted Nicholas in a white suit in the crowd. Considering the scale of Bill’s event, he must have been invited. He stood alone in a quiet corner, a sense of solitude surrounding him. I couldn’t imagine how he had managed to endure the past twenty years on his own. While many unfaithful husbands remarried quickly after their wives’ passing, he had never even been given a chance with Philippa. He had lived on only the memories of her all this time. He had worked his way up from an ordinary young man to the man he was now.

If only Philippa had married him, and if the Wilchers had invested in him back then, their lives would have been so much better. They would have avoided so many unnecessary struggles. But those shortsighted elders never considered the long term. They made Philippa lose her true love, leaving her to suffer all her life. Now, they were living off Bill’s success.

Today, the Wilchers arrived, all dressed up, exuding an air of elegance. To me, they were no better than parasites! They clung to their so-called pride by draining what was left of Philippa, and it sickened me.

Bill wrapped his arm around Philippa’s waist, introducing her to others, even going so far as to bring her right in front of Nicholas. Philippa’s face was filled with reluctance, but she had no choice but to maintain her composure. She couldn’t even express herself to Nicholas with a look, and it made my heart ache for her. It was like the story of Romeo and Juliet, with Bill playing the role of the disapproving family, keeping them apart and causing their separation.

Today, he and Philippa are at the center of attention, and with the upcoming union with the Boltons, the atmosphere around them is filled with excitement. I wasn’t overly excited, as it wasn’t easy to shift from sadness back to being myself. I remained by the wall, watching as Nicholas walked toward me.

“Nicholas, I’m sorry. Mom didn’t mean for this to happen,” I said, feeling guilty.

“I understand,” he replied, giving a helpless smile. “Has Philippa not been feeling well lately? She’s been avoiding talking to me, and as a man, it’s not easy for me to visit her, so I can only worry.”

“I understand. Mom is an older pregnant woman, and the effects of pregnancy can be quite strong. She’s been throwing up a lot these past few days, but she’s feeling a bit better today, though still a little tired. It should improve in a month or so.”

Nicholas let out a sigh of relief. “I noticed her face looks thinner.”

“Yes, she’s been vomiting a lot recently, enduring it for the baby. It’s a sign that the baby is strong. I had the Boltons’ family doctor come to check on her, and everything was fine. There’s no need to worry. She’ll be able to do the ultrasound test in two weeks.”

“Zoey, could I ask you a favor?”

“Of course, Nicholas. What is it?” I remarked.

“I don’t often get the chance to see her. Could you let me know when her prenatal check-up is? I won’t go near her; I just want to see her from a distance and know that she’s doing okay.”

Wow! He is such a kind man! He truly loves my mom so deeply. Tears began to well up in my eyes.

“Nicholas, can I have your WhatsApp number? If you ever need anything, feel free to ask me,” I offered.

Nicholas’ eyes brightened. “Really?” Although he was a middle-aged man, his sparkling eyes made him seem like a young boy from my school days, full of sincerity.

“Yes, you can,” I said, nodding as I pulled out my phone to save his number.

“Zoey, seeing you like this now truly makes me happy for you. I thought this marriage would bring you hardship, but it seems like you’ve been given a new life. Your health is better, and your mom’s pain has eased,” he said.

I had to put up a defense. “I was on the brink of death that day, cutting my wrist. It made me realize a lot of things. Afterward, Carter treated me with kindness, giving me a love I’d never experienced before, and I started to feel like life was improving.”

“That’s good.”

As I spoke with Nicholas, the soft melody of music drifted through the air. It was the “Spring Willow” orchestra, invited by Bill, and their performance was highly anticipated. What surprised me, though, was seeing Sadie playing the violin. She may not have been particularly talented at painting, but being Bill’s daughter, he had invested heavily in her from a young age. Her most remarkable talent, however, was her skill with the violin.

When she walked in, I could clearly see that Bill was displeased; his brow was tightly furrowed. Today, he had chosen to bring me and my mom to the event, which meant he was trying to be more careful than usual. Snowville was a new arena he wanted to conquer, and he was eager to make a strong impression on others. After all, Sadie was just an illegitimate daughter, not someone who should be present at an occasion like this. But now that she was already there, Bill couldn’t just make her leave, so he was forced to maintain a cold expression.

Philippa wasn’t in a good mood either. She despised Monica and Sadie and was ready to leave right away. Bill gently wrapped his arm around her waist and pleaded, “Darling, I really didn’t expect her to be here. Please don’t be upset. I’ll make sure she leaves as soon as she’s done playing.”

Sadie took the lead as the first violinist in the orchestra, dressed in an elegant evening gown with flawless makeup, effortlessly drawing the attention of everyone in the audience. Some people who were aware of her background clapped in appreciation of her performance.

“Ms. Gardner plays so beautifully!”

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