Standing at the door of her apartment, Zoey's fingers unconsciously tightened around the handle. Her mind replayed the conversation she had earlier that afternoon at the fertility clinic with Linda.
"According to this report, your HCG levels are low," Linda, a gynecologist and Zoey's close friend, said as she glanced at the test results. "Zoey, you're not pregnant."
"Linda, if I want to get pregnant as soon as possible, what can I do?" Zoey asked.
Linda frowned. "You're not even married yet, and you've already decided to have a child? Why?"
"Because my mom just recovered from her illness, and she wants me to settle down soon," Zoey murmured, lowering her head. "But Daniel's mother still doesn't approve of us getting married."
"So you're planning to have a baby to change her mind?" Linda fell silent for a moment before looking Zoey in the eye. "Zoey, trying to tie a man down with a child is never a good idea. I just hope you truly want to be a mother—not for any other reason."
Zoey nodded. "And I just got an offer from Henderson Real Estate Group. Daniel works there too. The benefits are excellent. Even if I raise the child alone, I won't have any financial worries."
"You're ovulating today," Linda finally gave in. "If you're serious about this, now's the time. Go make that baby with your boyfriend."
Zoey blinked. "Now?"
"The sooner, the better," Linda said firmly. "Biologically speaking, today is your best chance."
The memory faded.
Zoey took a deep breath. "Alright, Zoey. Get dressed up. When Daniel gets home, we'll do it."
She inserted the key and turned it. The door clicked open.
As she stepped into the living room, a strong perfume scent hit her—definitely not hers.
High heels, slacks, and a dress shirt were strewn across the floor, leading a messy trail all the way to the bedroom door.
A knot of dread twisted in Zoey's stomach. She quickened her pace toward the bedroom.
She pushed the door open and froze.
The first thing she saw was Daniel's bare back. And in his arms—Karen Black, her former college classmate and longtime rival.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Zoey roared.
They finally noticed her. Slowly, reluctantly, they pulled apart. Karen clutched the sheets to cover herself.
Daniel didn't even bother to hide. He shrugged and said blandly, "Since you've already seen it, I won't bother hiding it anymore. Karen and I are together."
Karen curled up in his arms like a pampered kitten, her smile smug and satisfied.
Zoey's chest burned with fury, her voice trembling. "I worked two jobs, slaving from dawn till dusk just to pay off your JD tuition! And this is how you repay me?!"
Daniel said nothing. Karen tilted her head, sneering. "That's all you were good for, wasn't it? Now that the tuition's paid, you can get lost. Did you really think Daniel's mother would ever accept some broke girl with a sick mom? Wake up, Zoey. Daniel and I are a perfect match."
Zoey's gaze snapped back to Daniel, disbelief choking her. "That's it? We were supposed to have a baby—to convince your mother to accept us! I even fought for that Henderson Group offer just so we could work together—"
But before she could even start her new job, he had already betrayed her. Her throat tightened as emotions surged—she couldn't go on.
Daniel's expression remained indifferent, utterly shameless. "The baby was your idea, not mine. And don't act like working together matters. Karen's already my colleague—we get along just fine. You're not losing out. Our company pays top-dollar."
Zoey's eyes reddened, but she held back the tears. Instead, she let a bitter smile stretch across her lips.
"I got it," she said coldly. "Daniel Wagner, we're done."
With that, she turned around and stormed out of the apartment like a whirlwind.
Zoey stumbled out of the apartment, her steps unsteady as she made her way to the street corner.
Neon lights flickered in the night, and a bar sign glared brightly through the darkness.
Without thinking, she pushed the door open and walked in.
The air inside was thick with alcohol, smoke, and the pulse of electronic music. Zoey headed straight for the bar and rasped to the bartender, "Give me your strongest drink."
The bartender gave her a quick glance and slid over a glass of deep amber liquid. "Bourbon. It'll hit hard."
Zoey downed the bourbon in one go.
The burn seared down her throat like fire, making her cough, but her mind began to float, light and untethered.
"Drinking alone? That's no fun," a man sidled up beside her, his greasy smile curling under dim lighting. He wore a wrinkled shirt, reeked of cheap cologne, and his eyes roamed over her with unwelcome interest.
Zoey frowned but said nothing.
The man didn't get the hint. He reached out, trying to touch her shoulder. "Let me buy you another round—"
"Back off!" Zoey snapped, slapping his hand away. Her voice was shaky from the alcohol, but her tone was sharp and clear.
The man's expression darkened. He grabbed at her arm. "Bitch, I'm being nice here—"
"She's with me."
A deep, magnetic voice cut through the noise.
The man froze and turned toward the source. A tall figure in a charcoal gray coat was approaching, his stride calm but powerful.
Broad shoulders, sharp gaze—those cold eyes fixed squarely on him.
"S-Sir, I didn't know she was yours. I'm sorry…" The creep stammered, quickly backing away before bolting out of the bar.
Zoey stood still, clutching her dizzy head. She mumbled, "I'm not his anything…"
She turned, trying to get a clearer look at her so-called savior.
Under the bar's dim golden lights, she saw a face that made her breath hitch—
a straight nose, sharply defined jawline, lips set in a cool, unreadable line, and those ocean-deep blue eyes that once haunted her teenage dreams.
Zoey froze.
It was him.
Roman Reyes.
Her high school's star quarterback.
The campus heartthrob.
The boy every girl once dreamed of.
Roman had vanished right after graduation, and Zoey hadn't seen him in nearly a decade.
She never imagined the next time they met would be here—
in a bar, on the worst night of her life.