Obviously, she had heard their conversation. Zoe Lancaster stopped in her tracks, looking at the frail, delicate woman before her with her guard up.
Peyton Joyce glanced toward the balcony and said, "Simon is stubborn and hates being defied. You just happened to step on his toes, which is why he’s dragging this out with you. If this keeps up, neither you, nor he, nor I will get what we want."
She was laying all her cards on the table. Zoe’s lips curved slightly. "You’re certainly being straightforward now, Miss Joyce." In the end, Peyton was only looking out for her own interests.
Peyton naturally heard the sarcasm in Zoe’s voice. She frowned, but the expression was fleeting. "I can find a way to get you out of here, and I can get Simon to sign the papers. It works out perfectly. You go to Portellis and out of Simon’s sight. Once he calms down, he’ll figure things out. It’s a win-win, isn’t it?"
Zoe was undeniably tempted. Right now, she had no way to contend with Simon Hawthorne, let alone escape his grasp. She didn’t want to drag the people around her into the vortex of their war, so she refused to ask them for help. But if it was Peyton Joyce...
Since Peyton had her own agenda and wished for nothing more than Zoe’s permanent disappearance from Simon’s life, she would naturally do everything in her power to help. Zoe’s mother’s condition couldn’t wait, and Zoe was burning with anxiety. Since Peyton had extended an olive branch, she might as well give it a try.
"Okay," Zoe answered decisively. She didn’t want to waste any more time. Without knowing her mother’s condition, she would be on pins and needles every day. She had absolutely no interest in fighting with Peyton over a man. She didn’t want him anymore; Peyton could have him.
Peyton breathed a sigh of relief. With a final glance at Zoe, she walked out and headed straight for Simon on the balcony. Seeing the man’s deeply furrowed brows, her chest tightened as a terrifying suspicion surfaced in her mind. Could it be that Simon actually had feelings for Zoe?
She forcefully suppressed the thought and forced an unnatural smile. "Simon, the conflict between you and Zoe really isn’t that complicated. Women just need some coaxing. If you keep giving her the cold shoulder like this, she’ll only get angrier. How about this? Grandmother is going to the temple for a meditation retreat tomorrow. Why don’t you have Zoe go back to the Hawthorne Residence to visit her? It would be a good way for her to relax."
Simon exhaled a puff of gray smoke, his thin lips pressed together as he cast a sidelong glance indoors. Zoe had indeed been depressed these past couple of days. Returning to the Hawthorne Residence would keep her under his watchful eye while allowing her to unwind a bit. At this thought, his Adam’s apple bobbed. "Fine."
Peyton’s eyes flickered, and she lowered her head.
The next day, Zoe was woken up by Mrs. Lewis. The housekeeper took meticulous care of her, picking out an ink-green Suzhou embroidery qipao paired with a cream-white knit shawl that perfectly accentuated her figure.
Zoe breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She was only a little over a month pregnant and naturally slender, so her stomach was still completely flat. Otherwise, the fitted dress would have given her secret away. The qipao was beautiful, but it felt a bit restrictive to wear.
A Rolls-Royce Phantom waited downstairs. The door was open, and Simon sat inside with an air of aristocratic elegance. He turned his head slightly to look at her, his eyes as deep and unreadable as a dark sea.
Zoe unconsciously curled her fingers. He was giving her a chance to relax, completely unaware that she was already planning how to leave him.
After she got into the car, his large, warm hand reached over and enveloped her slightly cold one. "You look good in a qipao. It will probably rain again today, so put on a coat later."
It sounded like genuine concern. A wave of bitterness washed over Zoe’s heart. Unfortunately, he was a master at putting on an act, and she could never tell what was real and what was fake with him. She didn’t pull her hand away; she simply turned her head to look out the window. It was indeed a cloudy day, with dark clouds looming overhead, creating an unspeakable sense of oppression.
It was nearly noon by the time they arrived at the Hawthorne Residence. Peyton was waiting in the main hall. Seeing the two walk in hand-in-hand, her expression shifted slightly before settling back into a calm facade. "Grandmother and the others went up the mountain first thing this morning. It’s my fault for forgetting to tell her yesterday. I didn’t expect her to leave so early this year."
They had missed their window. Simon didn’t react much. He turned to look at Zoe. "There aren’t many people at the Hawthorne Residence today. You always liked the greenhouse here, so why don’t you look around?"
The drive up the mountain from the estate took nearly two hours. Because of the weather, the old lady had likely arranged to head to the temple early. If they set out now, they risked getting caught in a torrential downpour, making the mountain roads incredibly treacherous.
Zoe shot Peyton a thoughtful glance.
Peyton merely offered a gentle smile. "Yes, there are plenty of fun places at the Hawthorne Residence. Staying here is nice, too. Plus, Grandfather stayed behind because he’s severely ill, so we can keep him company."
Zoe had no idea what Peyton had planned, but since she suggested it, Zoe raised no objections.
She wasn’t very familiar with the Hawthorne Residence. She only came here occasionally to keep up appearances and had never explored the entire estate. After all, the household had a litany of strict rules and ancestral teachings. The younger generation didn’t dare overstep their boundaries easily. Even an arrogant and spoiled young lady like Mercy Hawthorne had to restrain herself when she returned, terrified of making a mistake and being subjected to the family’s harsh disciplinary measures—let alone an outsider like Zoe.
Although she had returned to the Hawthorne Residence today, the bodyguards had followed them. Zoe couldn’t see any chance to escape to freedom.
The Hawthorne Residence estate was massive. The front was dedicated to residential courtyards, while the rear boasted a golf course, a shooting range, and an elegant greenhouse. It was the height of luxury. An entire afternoon wouldn’t be enough to properly tour the grounds.
Perhaps due to her pregnancy, Zoe felt unusually prone to fatigue. As she walked out of the golf course, her legs felt swollen, and she had to stop to massage her calves.
Simon stopped and looked back at her. He had noticed that her physical condition seemed different lately. His brows furrowed slightly as he turned and walked toward her. Without hesitation, he bent down and scooped her up into his arms. "You need to exercise more. Your stamina is too weak."
Zoe jumped in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. When she belatedly tried to let go, he shot her a faint look, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Hold on tight. If you fall, you’re the one who’ll get hurt."
Terrified that something might happen to the baby, Zoe hurriedly clung to him.
Feeling her soft, warm body pressed against his, a strange emotion flashed through his dark eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he carried her toward the golf cart.
Watching their retreating backs, Peyton’s eyes couldn’t help but redden. She consoled herself. No, Simon would never fall in love with Zoe. After today, everything would return to its rightful place.
They returned to the main hall. Just as they sat down, a light drizzle began to fall outside. Watching the rain from the veranda had a certain charm to it.
Peyton checked the time and said, "Zoe hasn’t gone to see Grandfather yet, right? Since she finally came back for a visit, she should go see him."
Simon remembered that the old man had never liked Zoe as a granddaughter-in-law, so he stood up and said, "I’ll go with you."
Naturally, Peyton couldn’t let Simon accompany her. She said, "Simon, wouldn’t you going with her just make Grandfather feel like Zoe is putting on airs? Grandfather is so amiable; it’s not like he’s going to eat her."