"Zoe!!"
Driven by impulse, he lashed out with a swift slap that echoed through the room, landing like a blow to her heart.
Zoe lost her balance and crumpled to the floor. Evan stared at his numbed hand in disbelief; he had never laid a hand on her before.
She covered her face with her hands, motionless.
"I'm sorry." Regaining his senses, he tried to lift her off the ground.
"Get out!" Zoe screamed, struggling. "Evan, get out of my sight!"
"Don't be like this!" He yanked her up and dragged her towards the sofa.
"Get lost!" She turned, her eyes blazing red, almost frightening Evan.
His movements paused as he reached out to touch her face. "I'm sorry, I acted impulsively…"
Zoe blocked his hand, grabbing the divorce papers she had already signed from the coffee table and slamming them against his face.
Evan dodged, but swallowing his anger, he crouched down to pick up the papers.
Without even looking at them, he shredded them and tossed them aside. "Don't even think about it."
She choked back sobs, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "Why? When you don't love me anymore, can't you just let me go?"
"To let you be with someone else?" He glared at the mark on her face, taking a deep breath to control his emotions. "Zoe, listen to me. Let's try to work things out. I'll handle this, okay?"
Evan reached out, attempting to pull her into an embrace.
Zoe fought back fiercely, pushing him away. "Impossible!"
His face darkened, fists clenching. "Then calm down and think about it."
He slammed the door on his way out.
Left alone on the sofa, she felt the burning pain spread across her left cheek. In the bathroom mirror, she saw a disheveled woman with a swollen, scratched cheek, tear-streaked.
Pathetic, she thought, laughing bitterly. She scrubbed her face harshly under the tap, though it already hurt.
In the hospital, Jocelyn had lost her baby.
Evan was frustrated, not because of the loss of child itself, but because of Zoe, usually gentle, who had resorted to such extreme measures.
He lit a cigarette, ignoring the rules, until a nurse passing by reminded him, "Sir, I'm sorry, smoking isn't allowed in the hospital. Please extinguish it."
He glanced at the nurse indifferently, nodded, and put out the cigarette.
Jocelyn woke to the news and, eyes red, tried to get out of bed. "I'm going to find her!"
Evan held her back. "No, you're not."
"That was your child!" she gritted her teeth, her resentment mounting. This child was her trump card, knowing Claire wanted a grandchild.
But now, Zoe had ruined it all.
"He was never meant to be," he said coldly, towering over her. Jocelyn lowered her head, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Evan grew more annoyed seeing her cry. "If you hadn't gone to her, would this have happened?"
She fell silent.
"Don't mess with her again, or you'll regret it. Wait for my secretary to bring you food."
He stormed out.
Jocelyn gripped the sheets tightly. Zoe, you'll pay for this!
She got up, found her phone, and dialed Claire's number, exaggerating how Zoe had pushed her down the stairs. Her tearful account made her seem utterly pitiable.
Claire exploded in rage, promising to come immediately.
Jocelyn hung up, wiped her tears, and smirked triumphantly.
