Chapter 51 Jigs

<Mia>

I felt sorrow, grief, and sadness.

"Alright, I'll just wait for him," I said quietly.

It was a huge disappointment.

"Yeah, take care," he said coldly and ended the call.

"What happened, girl? Why do you look sad?" Lorena immediately asked me when I ended the call.

I didn't respond and leaned back on her violet-colored leather sofa.

I fell silent.

"He's not picking you up, right?" She teased with a wide grin.

I didn't answer.

"Elmao, Monster, he's with Fairy Godmother. Look!" She pulled me by the sleeve of my dress.

I saw on Fairy's social media that she was in a room with someone, but their faces weren't visible. I could only see food and drinks and a monitor on the wall.

My fist clenched. I would definitely confront them both when I see them together! As long as Ethan doesn't catch me, I'll cut his long cucumber!

I felt a sense of anxiety creeping in. Is this going to be my retribution? Is this my karma catching up to me?

Well, if he's going to do that to me, I won't allow it! I'll have the right mindset!

"I'm going home," I said without thinking. I didn't know where I was going. I just wanted to drive Ethan crazy and make him regret not picking me up. He'll regret it to his death!

He annoys me so much.

"Where are you going? It's late at night, and Doc Pogi might get mad at me again if something happens to you," she disagreed with what I said.

"I'm meeting Hermione," I lied. I didn't know where I was going, really. I just wanted to drive Ethan crazy and make him regret not picking me up. He'll regret it to his death!

"How about Hermione picking you up here? It's getting late," she suggested.

What are they doing in that meeting? And why are they having a meeting so late at night? What are they discussing? Their canceled wedding? I became even more nervous when I saw the next story where Ethan's grandfather was with them in a room, along with other doctors I didn't know. I was sure they were doctors.

"I'm leaving," I said firmly to Lorena.

"Okay, go ahead, Kieffer is on his way to pick me up. He's coming over, and we'll spend the night together," Lorena said, shooing me away, her attention already back to her phone screen. She was grinning widely.

"Make the most of that big smile because it's just temporary," I retorted, and she threw a pillow at me, but I dodged it.

She didn't accompany me outside because she was busy with her boyfriend. She forgot about me. I waited for a taxi and booked one.

I hopped into the taxi and asked to be taken to the Korean grocery mart. Maybe I'll go for a sentimental trip to the seaside afterward. It'll be a seaside date with myself and some spicy ramen.

I had been craving ramen.

Ethan is cheating on me.

He said he didn't like Fairy, so why are they together? And he didn't even tell me. I felt hurt and disappointed in him. I cried while eating spicy ramen.

"F*ck! Did you hear the news?! Lolo William is sending Ethan to Europe to study!" One of Ethan's cousins said angrily.

"Yeah, I heard that, and everyone knows. The other one is being favored. They're not even real family, just stepchildren, but they're luckier than us," said Bentong, another cousin who is a neurologist.

"Damn it! We weren't even given the chance to study there!" Mira said jealously. "We all know that he favors his adopted grandchildren more than us, the originals!" Mira was part of the other group.

Pepe quietly drank his coffee while the others spoke.

"I hate that old man!" Bentong said.

"What else is new that we hate? No matter how mad we get, we can't do anything. They're his favorite grandkids, and he sees them as kind-hearted," Pepe said to his cousins.

"Let's just kill the old man so we can inherit his wealth and take control of the hospital," Bentong suddenly suggested.

"You're crazy! I don't want that!" Mira said, frightened.

Bentong grinned at his cousins' reactions.

"Just let it go. Feel sorry for Ethan because he's the one with the lowest profile among us," Pepe said, laughing. "Maybe he can't even afford to pay for his own education."

The cousins laughed.

"He's being groomed to become a surgeon by the old man," Mira said bitterly.

"His credibility will increase," Bentong commented.

*

"Is it fun to love in senior high, Nate?" Moon teased, laughing.

"You idiot!" was Nate's only response as he typed on his laptop.

"It's fun to love in senior high, especially when you receive TikTok videos!" Tor laughed.

"TikTok videos?" Thunder grinned.

"Tiktik videos!" Moonraker clarified.

"You guys, get out of here! She's not a minor anymore! She's already in college and has even had her debut," Nate said irritably, pausing his work.

His friends ignored him and continued teasing him.

"Senior high love is great, especially when you receive TikTok vids," Moon joked.

"TikTok vids, huh?" Thunder grinned.

"LOL," Nate responded.

"Tiktik vids!" Moonraker continued jokingly.

"Get out of here! You guys can't relate," Nate replied.

Moonraker was holding his stomach, laughing, showing his gums and big teeth.

"Bulaga Sunog!" Someone bumped into Mia, causing her to spill the soup on her chest.

She gave a fierce look to the person responsible.

"What are you doing here?! Are you following me, you animal?!" she angrily asked.

"Wow! So posh! Just eating ramen by the seaside!" Hermoine teased her and sat next to her.

"You b*tch! That's mine!" Mia snapped as she took back the ramen she was eating and started eating it herself.

"Just buy one for yourself. I haven't eaten yet," Hermoine said, unbothered, even though the soup was hot.

"What the heck are you doing with your life?" Mia raised her voice and attracted the attention of people around them.

"You're so noisy, little burnt girl! You're so desperate for attention!"

Mia had no choice but to let the guy finish her ramen. It's been a while since she last had noodles because Ethan strictly prohibited her from eating them. He's so finicky, as if he's a billionaire.

"You're just a poor, hungry beggar!" she muttered, giving him a mean look.

He just grinned at her, which annoyed her even more.

"Do you want to see our child?" he said with a grin. Was he trying to provoke her?

I clenched my fist.

"Do you want to see her?" he asked, swallowing his food.

"Leave me alone! You're so annoying! You're not amusing at all! Because of you, I got into trouble! What else are you going to do?!" I breathed heavily after what I said. This guy just seems unfazed no matter what I say.

"I still have a lot to do. Just follow me, and you won't get into trouble," he grinned, placing the cup back beside him and looking at me.

I tightened my grip on my fist. We used to be close and not like this. Ever since he owed me money, he started blackmailing me. I'm no saint or angel to give him money.

"Relax," he said, then took another sip of soup, "life is simple, Zoey. You're making things difficult for yourself." He looked out to the sea.

He was making so much noise while eating, "and besides, does your husband know the real you?" He glanced at me.

I stepped back.

"I know nothing about what you're saying," I said coldly. "Is being in so much debt making you go crazy?" I sarcastically asked him.

"Buy me some water," he ordered in a polite tone.

"I don't want to!" I snapped. I won't let him boss me around. I won't forget what he did to me. I almost died because of him. Damn him. I'll curse him to his death.

"Okay, I'm easy to talk to. I'll send Ethan pictures and tell him we're married."

He took out his cellphone.

He is blackmailing me again.

"Fine!"

I left without buying him water. He even asked for my change.

"Such an obedient woman," he grinned while taking the bottled water from me.

"And by the way, do you have a thousand bucks with you?"

Here we go again.

I didn't say anything and turned away from him. I knew the scam he was about to pull on me. It's better for me to just leave him here.

He grabbed my hand to stop me.

I looked at him and his hand holding mine.

"Zoey." We heard a cold voice. I looked to where the voice came from and saw Ethan staring at Hermoine's hand holding mine.

Hermoine seemed alert and gave me a meaningful look.

"Bessy! Your skin looks terrible! So dry! I thought you're in air-conditioning all day? Why does your skin still look poor? Eww!" Hermoine said in a gay manner. He was pretending to be gay. I understood his game now.

"E-Ethan," I called to get his attention.

I saw behind him that he was with a small guy. Well, he's small to me, but he looks handsome in my eyes, wearing glasses too.

"H-hello!" Hermoine greeted, acting all giddy.

"You're so handsome!" Hermoine said while giggling.

"Shut up, you f*ggot!" I joined his act to make it effective. I'm afraid Ethan might get mad again if he finds out that Hermoine is actually a guy and sees us in that situation. He might explode on me again.

"Let's go home, wife," Ethan said firmly to me, and his gaze was indescribable.

Wait, who is that guy with him?