Chapter 403

Victor got back late last night. Zoe kept throwing her spoiled rich girl tantrums—she was so high-maintenance. By the time he found her and got her settled, it was really late.

Victor had thought about going to explain things to Alaricka, but he figured she’d already be asleep at that hour. So he crashed without even showering.

When he woke up this morning, he headed straight for the shower and washed his hair, too.

Towel-drying his hair, Victor walked to the sofa. He bent down to pull the hairdryer from the cabinet. “What did the property manager want?”

Zoe’s eyes darted sideways as she made something up. “Just asking if you wanted to join the Residential Neighborhood event. I know you never bother with that stuff, so I said no for you.”

Victor clicked the hairdryer on, grunted, and didn’t ask further.

Victor was naturally good-looking—handsome face, great build. Even in shapeless pajamas, he looked sharp; broad shoulders, long legs. His head tilted slightly, jawline clean, features deep-set. His knuckly fingers raked through damp hair. Maybe it was the shower, but his knuckles still held a pinkish tint, veins standing out on his hands. You could imagine how nice those hands would feel to hold.

Zoe watched, cheeks flushing, heart racing.

Over the hairdryer’s drone, she walked over and sat beside him. Her arm looped naturally around his. “Want me to dry your hair?”

Victor tsked, switching off the hairdryer. He pulled his arm free. “Zoe, keep your distance. You’re not a kid anymore.”

He turned the dryer back on. “Don’t bother. I’ve got it.”

Zoe frowned, hurt. “What’s that supposed to mean? We’re getting engaged! Why are you acting like this?”

Victor shut off the dryer again, brow furrowed. “What engagement? What did my family tell you now? I’ve already said—I only see you as a sister. Nothing more. Don’t even think about it.”

Zoe’s eyes widened, tears welling instantly. “Why are you yelling? If you don’t like me, why give me your pajamas? Last night you were so worried! You chased after me! Brought me home! What’s that if not liking me?”

Victor’s brows knotted. He set the dryer aside and shifted away, putting space between them.

He sighed, frustration tightening his features. “Get this straight—those pajamas were brand new, never worn. And you insisted on wearing pajamas. What else could I give you? What’s that supposed to prove? If I’d let a girl run out alone last night and didn’t go after her, Grandpa would’ve broken my legs.”

Tears spilled down Zoe’s cheeks. “So you’re saying you won’t marry me? There’s someone else, isn’t there? Grandpa told me! You have a girlfriend! You’re dumping me!”

“You’re just gonna love ‘em and leave ‘em!”

Victor scowled deeply. “'Love ‘em and leave ‘em'? There was never anything between us. Stop making things up.”

Zoe glared. “You didn’t deny it! So Grandpa Shi was right—you really have a girlfriend out there!”

Shi Yao suddenly raised an eyebrow, his eyes flickering with something indescribable. A smile—or perhaps a hint of spring—played at his lips.

He truly hadn’t denied it.

Zoe felt tears welling up.

Just yesterday, she’d rushed over after hearing Grandpa Shi mention Shi Yao’s girlfriend, desperate to hear it from him directly. But the moment she arrived, she saw him standing in his residential neighborhood’s parking lot… with another woman.

What did that mean? It meant he’d brought her home. They were already at that stage.

And that woman had come to his place early in the morning—who knew what they were up to?

Zoe trembled with rage. “Was it that woman from the parking lot?"