Zoe managed to keep her composure. Instead of answering, she countered with a question, "Why are you here? Are you not feeling well?"
This was a massive hospital. On this floor alone, aside from the obstetrics and gynecology department, there were also clinics for neurology, gastroenterology, and cardiology.
Simon Hawthorne watched her closely, studying her expression. She was much too calm. She showed no major emotional fluctuations, acting as if nothing life-altering had just happened.
He narrowed his eyes. "A client of mine fell ill. I’m here to visit."
Zoe looked surprised. "But this is the outpatient clinic. Were they admitted?"
Simon offered no further explanation, effortlessly brushing past the topic. "And you? Are you feeling unwell? Have you seen a doctor yet? What did the results say?"
Zoe’s gaze flickered. Naturally, she couldn’t tell him she was here for a pregnancy test. She figured Simon wouldn’t want to hear that anyway.
"I’ve just been having some stomach issues," she replied. "I came to get it checked out. It’s nothing serious; I just need to rest and watch my diet."
She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but after she gave her excuse, she vaguely felt the man’s aura grow even more chilling. Bitingly cold.
But in the end, Simon didn’t expose her lie. There was no point in confronting her now; time would eventually reveal the truth. Besides, asking her outright would be tantamount to admitting he had been keeping tabs on her.
"As long as you’re fine." Simon coldly withdrew his gaze and checked the time. It was the lunch hour. Since Zoe was here for medical tests, she had likely come on an empty stomach. He pursed his lips, his tone flat. "Let’s go get some food."
Zoe nodded. "Okay."
Simon shot a glance at Crystal Hayes beside her. "Do you have any dietary restrictions?"
Crystal was surprised that Simon had even considered her. By all rights, he shouldn’t be fond of her; after all, she had crossed him in the past while defending Zoe. Since he was willing to let bygones be bygones, she wouldn’t be so petty as to give him attitude now.
"I’m fine with anything," she replied.
Simon said nothing more, striding forward on his long legs. Taking advantage of the moment his back was turned, Zoe hurriedly shoved her medical report into her bag. However, Simon caught the movement from the corner of his eye. His gaze darkened, but he remained silent.
He chose a nearby Cantonese restaurant. The food was mild but highly renowned in Kingsford. If not for his elite status, they never would have gotten a table without a reservation. Money and power truly gave one free rein in this world.
Simon ordered a few dishes before handing the menu to Zoe and Crystal. Zoe glanced at his selections. He had actually ordered her favorites, which saved her the trouble of figuring out what to get.
Crystal added a few more dishes, then smiled at Simon. "Thank you for the treat, Mr. Hawthorne. I won’t hold back then."
Simon lowered his gaze and poured tea with refined, elegant movements. "It’s nothing."
His demeanor remained cold and aloof. Crystal shot a glance at Zoe. The married couple hadn’t spoken a single word since sitting down. They were the picture of an estranged couple merely going through the motions.
She knew exactly where Zoe’s head was at—trapped in unrequited love. But Simon... she couldn’t read him at all. Even so, she felt an overwhelming sense of injustice on her friend’s behalf. Her next words carried a pointed edge.
"How did you find the time to have lunch with our Zoe today, Mr. Hawthorne? Are you finally caught up on your... personal affairs?"
There was no mistaking the implication behind her words. Zoe remained silent.
Simon’s expression was a mask of cold stoicism. "Whether I’m caught up or not, I’m sitting right here, aren’t I? What is there to discuss?"
Crystal’s eyes were icy, but a sweet smile played on her lips—a true wolf in sheep’s clothing. "That’s true. You’re a master of time management, Mr. Hawthorne. You always find a way to juggle everything. It’s a good thing our Zoe has such an even temper. She never argues or makes a fuss. If you were married to any other woman, I’m sure your household would be flipped upside down by now, don’t you think?"
Simon looked at her placidly. "What are you trying to say, Miss Hayes?"
Crystal chuckled. "I’m just saying you’ve been so incredibly busy with work that you’ve been neglecting Zoe. What did you think I meant?"
Crystal’s tone was drenched in unmistakable sarcasm. She wasn’t even trying to hide her hostility. It wasn’t as if she cared about a free meal. Did he really think treating her to lunch would buy her silence?
Zoe knew exactly what Crystal was doing. But Simon was not a man to be trifled with. She shot her friend a subtle warning glance, urging her to drop it.
Crystal just shrugged in response. And Zoe’s fears were proven right.
Simon calmly placed a freshly poured cup of tea in front of Zoe. Then, as if entirely unbothered by Crystal’s jabs, he poured a cup for her as well. "Since you care so much about our marriage, Miss Hayes, I’ll offer you a word of advice, purely out of respect for your friendship with Zoe."
Crystal gave him a bewildered look.
Simon didn’t even bat an eye, yet his words were effortlessly lethal. "The Ford Family already has a prospective marriage partner lined up for Caleb Ford. They care deeply about social standing—in fact, it’s their highest priority. His engagement will likely be finalized before the year is out."
With that single, nonchalant sentence, the tables were completely turned. The atmosphere grew deathly silent and tense.
The smile on Crystal’s face vanished. She truly hadn’t known about this. But it wasn’t hard to guess, either. Caleb came from a highly prestigious background. Even if he currently worked as a lawyer, it didn’t change the fact that he was the heir to the Ford Family. When the time came, his wife would inevitably be a wealthy socialite.
As for her... she had never harbored any delusions of becoming his wife.
Reining in her emotions, Crystal took a slow sip of tea before replying. "There’s no need for you to remind me of that, Mr. Hawthorne. I have a strong moral compass. I may come from an ordinary, working-class family, but I still have my dignity. I have zero interest in playing the other woman, and I know better than to mess around with an engaged or married man. That’s a hard boundary for me. I understand the concept of basic decency perfectly well... I just wonder if certain other women understand it."
She was no pushover. Her words were as sharp as daggers.
Only then did Simon look her squarely in the eye. His gaze was glacial. He would have to be an idiot to miss the implication behind her words. She was blatantly insulting Peyton Joyce.
Zoe could palpably feel the explosive tension between them. Crystal was fiercely protective of her and harbored deep grievances against Simon. Even if Simon treated her well, it wasn’t uncommon for a woman’s best friend and her husband to butt heads. Given how aloof Simon had always been, it was only natural for Crystal to be furious on her behalf.
In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Zoe forcefully interjected with some gossip. "I wonder what Riley Lancaster was doing at the OB-GYN clinic today. Do you think she’s pregnant?"
Upon hearing this, Simon subtly narrowed his eyes.
Crystal took the out Zoe offered. "Didn’t she break off her engagement with her fiancé? Some of the wealthy wives at my agency were gossiping about it. They said Riley is a total pariah now. No respectable, affluent family would ever accept her as a daughter-in-law. She’s essentially ruined her own marriage prospects."
Zoe pondered for a moment. "Who knows? Her life is a total mess right now. Let her do whatever she wants."
Wendy Lawrence had been dead set on marrying her daughter into high society. But now, Riley had single-handedly destroyed her own future. Zoe figured this was just karmic retribution.
The rest of the meal was far from pleasant. Simon didn’t bring up her hospital visit again, which allowed Zoe to slightly lower her guard.
After lunch, Simon watched Zoe and Crystal walk away. He then pulled out a cigarette and lit it. His brow was furrowed tightly, a storm of emotions surging within him.
What exactly were the results of her test? Was she hiding it because she wasn’t pregnant, or... because she was pregnant and didn’t want to keep the baby?