CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: FEELINGS FOR HER

I looked at Leah Lane’s happy expression, and all the words got stuck in my throat. It took a while before I could squeeze out three words, "Congratulations!"

"Zoe, in a few days, would you go with me for a prenatal checkup? I haven’t gone to the hospital since I found out about the pregnancy, and I heard you need to get it recorded and all that," Leah said excitedly, talking to me about all sorts of pregnancy-related things, but my mind was filled with scenes of Connor Hawthorne and another woman flaunting their affection.

If I tell Leah the truth now, there are only two outcomes: she becomes angry and heartbroken, chooses to have an abortion, and breaks up with Connor; or she chooses to forgive Connor, either out of love or for the child.

Either way, Leah would endure significant harm.

"Okay, let me know a day in advance then." I was a bit dazed, and after agreeing casually, I stood up to leave, "Rest well, I’ve got something to do and need to head back first."

Leah pouted unhappily, "Really, you’ve only been here for ten minutes!"

"Yara, don’t tell Connor about your pregnancy yet. Let’s plan a little event to create some sense of ceremony, how about it?" I thought for a moment and added.

Leah was unsuspecting and agreed immediately, "Sure! I’ll set the time and inform you all!"

After making an "ok" gesture, I quickly left Leah’s house.

Sitting in the car, it took a while for me to calm down. Whether it’s Crystal Dawson, Tiana O’Connell, or Leah Lane, they are friends as dear as sisters to me. In my heart, they are like family, and I really can’t accept anyone hurting them.

Just as I was about to leave, Connor Hawthorne’s Chevrolet appeared not far away. He got out of the car, holding a white bag, looking a bit anxious.

"Connor!" I called out.

Seeing me, Connor was first surprised, then walked over to greet me, "Zoe, are you here to see my Yara?"

Connor actually has a nice disposition, though his family background doesn’t match Leah’s, appearance-wise, they’re well-suited, very courteous, and proper.

"Yeah, weren’t you at work? Why are you back?" I asked.

"It’s almost noon, right? I was worried Yara might not bother cooking for herself, and takeout isn’t healthy, so I came back to make some food for her. Want to join us?" Connor lifted the bag in his hand, "I’ve got beef and clams."

I was speechless, looking at Connor’s smiley face, there didn’t seem to be any pretense, and he was genuinely good to Leah, yet how could such a man be two-timing?

I couldn’t identify how I felt inside, managed a slight smile, and shook my head, "Next time, I have something to do, bye."

"Alright." Connor waved at me.

I drove away, beginning to doubt if true love really exists in this world, including with Henry Preston. I once firmly believed Azure Vaughn was his true love, but in my previous life, I died too early, without a chance to see how their story ended. What about them being together afterward? One year, two years, three years, ten years, twenty years later?

Could Henry’s love for Azure last a lifetime?

Is it possible to start deeply in love but gradually lose that feeling, ending up like most couples who become estranged and full of conflict?

With such chaotic thoughts, I drove aimlessly through the streets, eventually finding myself at the "Serendipity" café.

Azure hasn’t worked part-time here in a long time, and there was no reason for me to be here, but I still pushed open the door and ordered a black coffee.

Cradling the warm cup, I quietly gazed out at the bustling street, replaying the events that had unfolded since my rebirth. It all seemed both expected and increasingly beyond my control.

Just then, a black Bentley sped to a stop outside the café, with Henry Preston getting out of the car, making eye contact with me from inside the café.

He then had the driver leave first and walked into the café.

"A black coffee." He ordered a black coffee as he passed the counter.

Black coffee is Henry Preston’s favorite; since I met him, his taste hasn’t changed. Whether reading or working, black coffee serves well for refreshment.

"Why are you drinking coffee here?" Henry sat opposite me; today he wore a gray-white turtleneck cashmere sweater and a long black coat, his model-like figure quite pleasing to the eye.

Since he came in, several young female employees have been glancing our way, with one even starting to take stealthy photos with a phone.

I replied blandly, "Passing by, just felt like coming in for a cup."

Henry curled his lips into a smile, and his black coffee was served. We sat in silence, drinking our coffee without a word.

"If I hadn’t met you, I probably wouldn’t like drinking something so bitter and dark," I suddenly felt overwhelmingly emotional and spoke up.

"Hmm?" Henry seemed to wait for me to continue.

"Before meeting you, I loved desserts and milk tea, and later discovered you seemed to like black coffee very much, so I tried drinking it too, always thinking that sharing your preferences would close the gap between us, give us more to talk about," I reminisced about those pure and passionate days, and laughed, "Even in dressing, I imitated you, striving to make myself more compatible with you."

Henry’s eyes remained calm, seemingly unmoved by my words.

I sighed, "Sigh, ten years, it took me ten years to realize one thing, that emotions can’t be forced."

"Regret it?" Henry, for the first time, spoke with such serenity, "If you had chosen someone else, you wouldn’t have wasted these ten years."

"What is there to regret?" I replied with relief, "During the time I liked you, I also experienced joy, longing, the feeling of the world being beautiful because of someone, and finally, I learned to let go; isn’t that worthwhile?"

I was suddenly inspired and added a question, "Don’t you feel that way now chasing after that college girl? The feeling of loving someone."

The initially harmonious atmosphere was broken by my curious question, and Henry’s gaze cooled slightly, "No."

This shouldn’t be the answer! I was puzzled for a few seconds, but then realized, maybe the time hasn’t come yet. As someone involved, Henry wouldn’t have the clarity I do as an observer.

"Oh, I see," I changed the subject, "By the way, your dad said I should work for the company. I think it’s okay, can you assign me a position?"

"Join The Preston Group?" Henry furrowed his brows.

"Yeah, why, is it not okay?" I asked deliberately, not caring whether I got the job or not. I just thought what Ivan Underwood said made sense, finding something to enrich myself.

"What position do you want?" Henry surprisingly didn’t reject outright but asked instead.

I pondered for a moment, "Anything but a basic grunt doing errands, I should at least learn something."