CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58: IS HE HOLLY CROWE’S HUSBAND?

The few people who were just chattering away suddenly had their mocking expressions freeze at the sight of the person at the door.

Zion Pence, who had just walked in with Mia Chapelle from the banquet hall entrance, happened to clearly hear what Celia Stiles said.

His hand hanging at his side subconsciously clenched into a fist, his gaze firmly locked onto Holly Crowe’s face, his eyes swirling with hidden tides.

Holly had gotten married?

When did it happen?

All these emotions were caught in Mia’s eyes. Her smile didn’t falter, yet she bit down hard on her back teeth.

Mia had changed out of the pink dress she wore earlier and was now in a dark champagne-colored fitted gown that perfectly showed off her pregnant belly.

Suddenly, the people around became subtly intrigued, their gazes shifting back and forth between Mia’s belly and Holly’s calm face.

There was curiosity, sympathy, and even a sense of watching a spectacle.

Mia exhaled softly, gently taking Zion’s arm, and said coquettishly, "Zion, the principal just mentioned wanting to take a photo with you. Let’s go over quickly."

As she spoke, her eyes flicked toward Holly with a look of challenge before walking away with Zion, arm in arm, past her.

Celia, watching from the side, frowned deeply, muttering criticisms about Mia.

Once the two of them had walked away, she leaned closer to Holly and whispered, "Senior, don’t you think... Mia’s face looks a bit weird?"

She smacked her lips, "I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s a familiar strangeness about it, like I’ve seen it somewhere before, yet it also feels completely unfamiliar."

Holly remained silent. In fact, she felt the same way the last time she saw Mia at the Pence family.

It was clearly a familiar face, yet it always carried an inexplicable feeling of incongruity, very strange indeed.

She replied calmly, "Perhaps it’s because she’s pregnant now, so she looks different from before."

Celia nodded with a mix of understanding and confusion.

Just then, her college roommate approached, and after exchanging greetings with Holly, Celia left.

After Celia left, Holly sat alone in the corner of the foyer, intending to leave after staying a bit longer.

The mingling scents of perfume, alcohol, and voices in the banquet hall stifled her, making her feel uneasy.

Holly set down her glass and walked out onto the outer balcony for some fresh air.

The evening breeze brushed her cheeks with a coolness. Just as she sighed in relief, she heard footsteps behind her.

Instinctively she turned around and met a pair of familiar eyes.

Zion Pence was leaning against the balcony entrance, one hand in his pocket, his gaze fixed directly on her, his eyes complex, with a stubbornness she couldn’t quite understand.

Holly’s heart sank abruptly, and she turned to leave, but her wrist was suddenly gripped.

"Let go of me!"

She used too much force, and after breaking free, stumbled back a few steps due to inertia, luckily steadying herself against the doorframe just in time.

She looked at Zion warily, her gaze icy.

Zion’s gaze lingered on her face for a long time.

It had only been a few days since he’d last seen her, and it felt like she had changed, yet she hadn’t.

The brightness in her eyes was just like when they’d first met, but it was a brightness he hadn’t seen in years.

Zion’s heart ached involuntarily.

In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Earlier... what did you mean when you said you got married?"

Holly rolled her eyes, too tired to make any additional expressions, just wanting to leave quickly.

Zion’s veins pulsed with anger at her attitude, "Can you not be like this?"

Holly glanced at him, her eyes nearly overflowing with sarcasm.

Zion took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger, and softened his tone, "I know you said you got married in a fit of anger. I’ve already discussed with my family that once Mia gives birth, I’ll divorce her."

He stepped forward, "I originally intended to announce our engagement at the gala. The video was an accident, marrying Mia was just a means to an end. Just wait for me for one year, Holly, after a year I promise I’ll marry you."

Upon hearing this, Holly seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Zion Pence, haven’t you got something confused? We’re long over. Who you want to marry or divorce has nothing to do with me."

"Holly..."

"Don’t call me Holly! You didn’t hear wrong earlier, I really am married."

Zion froze for a moment, then let out a low chuckle, his eyes filled with disbelief, "I don’t believe you. Holly, after seven years, how can you just move on? You can’t fool me."

Holly found his self-deceiving appearance absurd and pitiful, "Believe what you will. Consider those seven years a waste on a dog."

Zion’s smile stiffened instantly.

He hadn’t expected to hear such heartless words from Holly, the pain in his chest overwhelming.

His fist clenched so tight that his knuckles turned white. He stepped forward, but Holly recoiled as if avoiding a monster.

"Don’t come any closer!" Her voice carried a warning, "My husband would be angry if he knew."

"Enough!"

Zion couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted.

"Stop saying things like that, it pains me to hear."

Holly looked at him speechlessly.

Talking sense to him was like playing a lute to a cow.

At least a cow would moo, while he would just go mad.

Not wanting to waste any more words, Holly seized the moment he was distracted and swiftly walked away.

As soon as she returned to the banquet hall, her phone vibrated.

It was a message from Blake Sinclair: [The flowers have arrived.]

Holly paused slightly, replying: [But I’m not at home right now.]

He almost instantly responded: [At the south gate of the hall.]

Holly was stunned. How did he know she was here?

Wondering, a new message popped up: [The college anniversary live stream was pushed to my phone, I saw you in it.]

So that’s how it was.

Holly wondered why Blake, who wasn’t from their school, would come across this live stream?

Just as she was thinking, her phone rang, it was the florist saying they were at the south gate of the hall.

Holly hurried towards the entrance.

Not far behind her in a corner, Mia watched her retreating figure, glancing at the direction of the balcony.

Her chest felt like it was stuffed with a sponge, an unnameable fire flared up, almost suffocating her.

She had clearly heard the earlier conversation; Zion hadn’t let go of Holly after all this time!

Watching the vanishing figure around the corner, Mia made up her mind and followed.

Under the streetlamp by the south gate of the hall stood a man in a gray work jacket holding a bouquet of flowers.

Mia inched closer, hidden under the trees by the south gate, watching Holly run over and joyfully take the flowers from the man’s hands.

She unconsciously widened her eyes.

Holly was really married?

She moved a little closer, examining the man under the streetlight.

His features were unremarkable, his clothes plain and ordinary, nothing about him stood out. He could hardly catch a second glance in a crowd.

She involuntarily sighed in relief, but the corners of her mouth still turned downward.

To have settled on such mediocrity, was it to provoke Zion?

Her mind turned to worry.

If Holly was coaxed back by a few words from Zion, all her efforts would be wasted, wouldn’t they?

No! She absolutely couldn’t allow such a thing to happen.

Watching Holly carry the flowers towards the parking lot, Mia squinted slightly, a meaningful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

The banquet was nearing its end.

Holly sat in a corner, looking at the chat history on her phone.

She had just texted Blake Sinclair: [Received the flowers.]

Yet there was no reply from his side.

She checked the time, deciding to leave early.

But just as she reached the banquet hall entrance, she ran into Zion Pence and Mia, surrounded by a group of people walking out.