CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: THIS WEDDING IS OFF!

Someone said they saw Holly with a man at a dessert shop a few days ago, acting intimately, like he was her fiancé.

Zion Pence felt relieved that no one discovered his relationship with Holly, but it quickly turned into jealousy.

Holly actually went to a dessert shop with another man?

His things, how could they be touched by others?

The strong sense of disparity made him personally come looking for her today.

Holly stood still, coldly watching him.

After seven years together, does Zion Pence not know how much she understands him?

Clearly, she had seen a glimmer of hope in recent days, but everything was destroyed the moment he appeared...

"I’m not going back." Holly’s voice was uncharacteristically calm.

Zion frowned, as if he didn’t understand her, "What do you mean by not going back? You’ve been on leave for a long time, don’t tell me you’re quitting?"

Holly said nothing, tacitly agreeing.

Zion took a deep breath, suppressing his anger as he asked, "Holly, are you having an affair?"

The rain outside intensified, raindrops pounding against the glass.

Holly could hear her heart gradually beating faster as she stared at him, "Zion, what do you mean?"

"Who was the man with you at the dessert shop?" Zion stepped closer, his eyes dark and menacing.

"You were following me?" Holly was so angry her voice trembled.

"So you admit it? You suddenly started wearing dresses and taking time off, all because of him?"

Those strange suspicions he once had now transformed into accusations.

"What did you do on your days off? Who did you invite to your home for dinner today? Was it...that man? How far have you two gone?"

Seething with anger, Zion marched forward, gripping her shoulders so hard that she winced in pain.

Amid the sound of pouring rain, Holly could hear his increasingly heavy breathing.

How ironic.

He could fool around in their marital home with Mia Chapelle, yet she wasn’t allowed to have dessert with someone else outside.

How could he assume the worst of her so maliciously, how could he so calmly throw mud at her?

Why did she ever fall for this rotten man!

Holly pushed him away forcefully, her voice cold as ice: "Zion, don’t think of me like you."

Zion’s expression froze, remembering the recent rumors of him and Mia at the company.

"Did you hear something?"

He hurriedly denied it, reaching for her hand, "Those are just rumors, false..."

Holly scoffed, interrupting him, "Why is it that when it’s about me it’s infidelity, but when it’s about you it’s just rumors?"

Holly laughed angrily, brushing away his outstretched hand, "Listen to yourself, do you think it’s fair? Does it make sense?"

Embarrassed, Zion retorted sharply, "Holly! Don’t be aggressive!"

A flash of lightning outside illuminated Zion’s hypocritical half-face.

He loosened his tie, trying to maintain his composure, and feigned generosity, "I’ll pretend I didn’t hear any of that, but you have to come to work tomorrow!"

Holly sneered.

Zion, you still act so superior, as if your words are a gift!

Holly couldn’t hold it in any longer, "Zion, do you want me back because your clothes are uncomfortable, the food doesn’t taste right, or your files haven’t been organized?"

Zion’s pupils constricted, as if she had hit a sore point.

Holly: "Zion, do you really think of me as your maid?"

Zion’s voice rose, filled with disbelief, "Holly, do you even know what you’re saying?"

He pointed at the rain outside, "I braved this heavy rain to bring you flowers, and now you say this to me? Do I mean nothing to you?"

Holly enunciated each word: "Did I ask you to come? Did I ask you to bring flowers? Your words only touch yourself."

She glanced at the bunch of pink lychees by the entrance and suddenly found it all extremely ironic.

"Zion, didn’t you always know the difference between cappuccino and pink lychees?"

For a moment, Zion’s face showed signs of discomfort, stubbornly arguing, "Why do you always care about these trivial things?"

Holly once again admired his ability to argue.

Zion: "The two flowers are almost the same, and the cappuccino roses I chose are more expensive, doesn’t that show my sincerity? Besides, didn’t I pick one you like this time?"

"Almost the same..." Holly softly repeated the three words, finding them utterly laughable.

She looked at the man she had loved for seven years, her voice light yet inexplicably heavy:

"Zion, after you drink coffee with two servings of milk, eat dishes with cilantro, and wear linen clothes, do you still think ’almost the same’?"

Zion’s expression stiffened, his mouth opening as if to say something.

Holly took a deep breath, "It’s not them that are ’almost the same’, it’s that you think I’m ’almost the same’ and that’s enough."

She gave him a push, pointing towards the door, "My house doesn’t welcome you, get out."

Zion was thoroughly infuriated, his voice rising, "Holly! Don’t go too far! How do you plan to get married like this?"

"Then we won’t get married." Holly heard herself say.

Her tone was as calm as if she were noting that tomorrow would also be rainy.

The air instantly froze.

Zion seemed like he had been struck by lightning, staring in disbelief for a few seconds before saying angrily, "Do you know what you’re saying?"

He strode forward, his tone carrying a false sense of heartache, "Holly, lately you’ve changed so much I hardly recognize you. First resigning, now not wanting to marry, what exactly do you want? Haven’t I given you enough these years?"

He slowed his speech, almost like brainwashing:

"Think about it, over the years between us, who has put in more effort? I’ve been good to you, haven’t I? I’ve spent more time and energy on you than on my own parents. Sure, I make mistakes sometimes, but are you going to overlook everything good because of one bad thing?"

"Think again, these past few years, we’ve come so far, we’re about to get married, I hope you can understand me a bit more, be a bit more considerate. I don’t expect you to support me in my career like those wealthy daughters, just being by my side is enough."

Holly stood still, ice-cold all over, her ears ringing.

He was manipulating her again.

She looked at his opening and closing mouth, finding it utterly unfamiliar.

Seven years.

She had spent seven years, only to receive his righteous manipulation in return.

Seeing her silence, Zion thought he had convinced her, a confident smile appearing on his face.

"Holly, be good. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you said just now. If you want to rest for a few more days, that’s okay, but..."

"Get out." Holly’s voice was hoarse, holding a hint of raspiness.

Zion was taken aback, "What?"

"Get out!"

She grabbed the flowers from the entrance and threw them hard at his chest.

The wrapping paper tore apart, pink petals scattering all over the floor.

Like venting frustration, Holly started throwing anything she could get her hands on

tissues, keys, photo frames...

Zion didn’t have time to dodge, taking several hits squarely, stumbling back several steps, his leather shoes stepping on the fallen petals, grinding them into pink mush.

Finally, Zion stumbled backwards out of the door, and with a "bang", the door shut.

Shutting out his furious outburst.

The world was finally quiet.

Holly clutched the doorknob, her forehead resting against the door, gasping for air.

On the floor, rose petals lay scattered, a complete mess, like her shattered seven-year youth.

Outside, the storm raged on.

But this rain, which had lasted seven years,

had finally stopped.

After Zion left, Holly cleaned up the mess and slept until the afternoon.

When she woke up, it was after the rain had passed.

The gloom brought by the storm had cleared, the evening glow spreading from east to west.

After intense emotional upheaval, her head ached severely.

Holly rubbed her temples, reaching for her phone to check the time.

As the screen lit up, a new WeChat message popped up.

Holly’s foggy brain cleared up significantly upon seeing the sender.