Chapter 406: She Had Nothing to Lose
As Yael spouted threats, Zoey interrupted him, “Regret? What the hell are you saying!” Yael was stunned by her outburst. He’d heard rumors about her being a woman supposedly unloved by her husband for years and driven to despair by Nina to the point of attempting suicide. Had she finally snapped and decided to go off the rails? Or had she been pushed into full-blown madness?
The thought that these two men were among Chloe's killers filled Zoey with anger. However, they couldn’t do anything to her in a public space. Two grown men wouldn’t resort to hitting a woman, right? Actually, she hoped they would—if they dared, she’d play dead on the spot. She’d make sure to ruin them financially and land them in prison! This was the classic scenario of someone who had nothing to lose.
While the Carlyn brothers excelled at sneaky attacks from the shadows, Zoey laid everything out in the open. “Come on, let’s hurt each other and see who comes out on top!” She had two lives, four parents, and eight grandparents—she could afford to be cocky! If she could take down these villains before her time was up, it would make her second chance at life worthwhile. For Chloe, every passing day was a countdown. But for Zoey, every day since her rebirth was a bonus. Trading one enemy for her own life was a bargain; taking out two was a steal. She had nothing left to fear. Her father had repented and would no longer harm her mother. Her mother now had children and two men who deeply loved her—she would live the rest of her life in happiness. Zoey, on the other hand, had no lover, and no dreams for the future. She feared nothing.
Taylor tried to defuse the tension, smiling diplomatically. Since they weren’t in his basement now, he had to respect the Pearsons. “Mrs. Pearson, my brother’s young and a bit overly dramatic. Don’t take it to heart.”
“Overly dramatic? This goes beyond that! ‘Mute Girl’? What’s next? Did she sell her soul to your family? I’ve seen bound feet, but never bound brains. Does she have no legs or no name?” Zoey, unsure how to respond, circled them like a predator stalking prey. “Yael, you act all weird about that woman, and as for you—your control over your fiancée is downright creepy. You two aren’t secretly trafficking people, are you?”
Taylor’s smile almost cracked. “Mrs. Pearson, you must be joking.” Zoey leaned in. “Whitney, has this guy been restricting your freedom? If so, I’ll report him right now and have him arrested.”
“No, Mrs. Pearson,” Whitney played along, “he’s my fiancé. He just worries too much about me.” Taylor smiled again. “See? No need for wild accusations.” Zoey chuckled, but her tone was firm. “Alright, then. From now on, I’ll visit Whitney every day. You have no say in it.” Taylor was at a loss for words. He felt like he had been tricked. Zoey remained carefree, utterly unbothered by the drama surrounding her. She didn’t know the missing person in question, so why should she care?
Turning to Whitney, Zoey suggested, “Whitney, we’re done here. Let’s go grab some barbecue. I saw a place nearby with amazing reviews.” Taylor opened his mouth to interject but was immediately shut down. “Hush! Let Whitney decide—does she want barbecue?” Under Taylor’s watchful gaze, Whitney nervously replied, “C—Could we not do barbecue? Anything else is fine.”
“Sure! How about pizza?” Whitney paled further, looking like she might faint. “Okay, roast chicken?” She shook her head again. “Exotic food?” Another shake. Zoey didn’t lose patience. “Alright, then how about some soup? Something light for the stomach.” This time, Whitney nodded. “Yes, soup sounds good.” Taylor hesitated but held his tongue. Zoey shot him a look. “It’s a girls’ day out. You’re her fiancé, not her shadow.” Taylor remained silent.
Just then, Harlan appeared, having heard Zoey was there. “What brings you to the show? Any plans afterward? I booked us a table at a Western restaurant—” Still fuming, Zoey snapped, “Don’t you have anything better to do? Are you a shadow too?” With that, she handed all her shopping bags to Harlan’s assistant, looped her arm through Whitney’s, and walked off without looking back.
Taylor glanced sympathetically at Harlan. “Mr. Pearson, is Mrs. Pearson always like this at home?” In the past, Harlan would have been livid. But recently, he’d developed an odd tolerance for Zoey’s antics. Instead of anger, a smile tugged at his lips. “What do you know? This is what I call fun.” Taylor was speechless. These two were insane. And now they’d taken Whitney with them.
Standing in the shadows, Yael’s expression darkened. Whitney wanted to look back, but Zoey gripped her arm and whispered, “Don’t look. Just come with me. Even if I can’t get you out of here yet, I can at least make you happy.”
“Is Chloe…”
“She’s safe, don’t worry. But what about you?”
Whitney gave a small, indifferent smile. “It’s fine. He won’t kill me.”
Outside the venue, Whitney looked up at the sun shining overhead. She smiled as its warmth enveloped her. For the first time, she felt truly alive. “Is the soup kitchen far away?” she asked. Zoey grinned. “Not at all. Just a five-minute walk.”
Zoey not only took Whitney out for a meal but also for a shopping spree. Though Whitney never lacked clothing, everything in her wardrobe had either been handpicked by Taylor or delivered by others. Most of the tags hadn’t even been removed. She didn’t have events to attend, people to meet, or any reason to dress up. Naturally, she had no desire for shopping trips, let alone visiting a mall to pick out clothes. Yet, on this day, both women seemed like teenage girls again. Zoey helped her pick out clothes. At first, Whitney seemed stiff and reserved, unsure how to act. But gradually her mood lightened and a spark of life returned to her expression. Harlan and Taylor followed closely behind, carrying shopping bags for the two of them.
Taylor couldn’t help but notice how Whitney smiled more and more as the day went on. Without a doubt, she was happy. He thought back to the day they took their wedding photos. She’d only managed a faint, reluctant smile after he threatened her. Yet now, she smiled so effortlessly. Harlan, too, found himself smiling, feeling drawn to this lively, animated version of Zoey. However, Zoey’s attitude toward him hadn’t changed one bit. She still disliked him as much as ever. When she turned and caught sight of the grin on his face, she shoved a pile of clothes into his hands and muttered, “What are you smiling about? Are you trying to be a clown?”