CHAPTER 9: CHAPTER 9: DISCOVERING HOLLY CROWE’S TRANSFORMATION

"You...?"

"...Why are you dressed like this today?"

Zion Pence’s voice paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Holly Crowe from the smog blue hem of her dress to her delicate makeup. His Adam’s apple involuntarily moved, eyes filled with a mix of confusion, but mostly amazement.

Holly stepped forward slowly, the hem of her dress swaying like a blooming blue rose.

"Isn’t it pretty?"

The rising sunlight poured through the window, casting a layer of illusionary light on the person in front of him.

In a daze, Zion Pence seemed to see the girl in a white dress running towards him seven years ago.

He recalled the words he said in the bridal chamber last night—did she really listen?

Did Holly intentionally wear a dress today to give him an out? Was she using this way to make peace with him?

Sure enough, she was giving in.

Thinking of Holly humbly seeking reconciliation in front of him, Zion Pence felt a strange sense of satisfaction surge within him, the secret desire for conquest rising again, making the anger from the DUI check dissipate more than half.

"Beautiful, of course it’s beautiful. You should have dressed like this earlier."

Zion Pence unconsciously lowered his tone, looking at Holly with his usual hypocritical smile.

He liked seeing Holly bow and comply in front of him, as if taming an obedient cat, making it impossible for her to escape his grasp.

Zion Pence: "Last night... my tone wasn’t great. Don’t take it to heart."

He deliberately lowered his voice, "But Holly, you need to understand that no matter what, I love you and everything is for our future..."

Those hypocritical, nauseating words coiled around again like a cold, venomous snake.

The current look of Zion Pence was all too familiar to her. Every time he thought he completely controlled her, he would look at her with this seemingly gentle gaze.

Did he think, in his eyes, that this was a great mercy? A great charity!

Utterly ridiculous!

Holly held back her disgust, nonchalantly stepped back half a step, and placed the folder between them, "These documents need your signature."

Zion Pence, without much thought, took the documents and affectionately touched the back of Holly’s hand.

He returned to the table and sat down, casually flipping through a few pages of the document, before taking out a pen and starting to sign after a rough glance.

Holly’s eyes followed the movements of his hands closely.

Three pages, two pages, one page.

Seeing him about to reach the resignation letter tucked in between, her heartbeat involuntarily sped up. Her palms, clenched into fists, were already sweating.

"What’s wrong with you today? Not in a good mood?"

Holly suddenly spoke.

Although she had deliberately lowered her voice, mimicking the caring tone she usually used, there was still a trace of tension that could be heard.

Fortunately, Zion Pence didn’t notice anything.

Upon hearing Holly’s words, his attention was immediately diverted.

After quickly signing his name with a few strokes, he "smacked" the documents closed and pushed them forward.

"Don’t mention it!"

Zion Pence’s expression returned to the gloominess she had seen earlier this morning.

"When I was leaving last night, I ran into traffic police and got checked!"

Saying this, he irritably loosened his tie, "Damn it, I’ve driven that road so many times and never encountered a check, but last night, after just a few drinks, I got caught."

"I spent the whole night in the police station, those people...."

When Holly heard that Zion Pence did not suspect her about the DUI check the night before, she quietly exhaled a sigh of relief.

She picked up the documents, flipped to the resignation letter page, and seeing the signed name, her turbulent heart finally calmed down.

In her ear, Zion Pence’s endless complaints continued, from the attitude of the traffic police to the cold and hard chairs in the police station, and finally to not having eaten all night, only to rush to the office when he got out....

Speaking of which, Zion Pence finally sensed something amiss.

Holly’s attitude!

Her uncharacteristic silence!

He stopped complaining, frowned, and looked at Holly standing across the table.

She seemed not to have taken his words to heart, just calmly organizing the files with an air of indifference.

Was she even listening to what he just said?

In the past, knowing he had gone through such an ordeal, Holly would have eagerly asked if he was hurt, would be more anxious than him, would worry about him not sleeping well, would feel sorry for him having not eaten, and would even offer to make porridge for him....

But why not today?

A sudden wave of panic rushed to his heart.

In a reflex, Zion Pence rubbed his slightly aching stomach. Having been tossing around the police station all night without a bite of food or a drop of water, coupled with Holly’s inexplicable attitude, made his chest feel tight.

Why did he feel like there was something different about Holly today?

Something unfamiliar.

Although she had changed her usual attire, the vibrant blue at this moment seemed to transform into an elusive, unclear mist, swirling at the edge of his heart.

He couldn’t hold onto her, could only watch her gradually drift away.

"Holly...."

Zion Pence abruptly stood up and walked to Holly.

He wanted to grab her hand, but she dodged.

Oddly persistent, Zion Pence took her hand, as if trying to prove something this way.

"I was in a bad mood last night, let’s have dinner together tonight? How about going to your favorite Vardenian restaurant?"

Holly didn’t answer, just slightly turned, retracting her hand from his grip.

She never liked Vardenian cuisine.

Too expensive and never filling.

Zion Pence’s hand was left empty, paused for a moment.

Just as he was about to say something, he heard Holly saying with concern, "You haven’t eaten all night, your stomach must be uncomfortable. Should I make you some porridge for lunch?"

There was a small kitchen next door to Zion Pence’s office, and knowing about his stomach issues, Holly often cooked him porridge and noodles there, showing more concern for his health than Zion Pence himself did.

One sentence from her was like a tranquilizing needle, instantly calming the unease in Zion Pence’s heart.

He couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, no longer bothered by Holly’s evasion earlier.

She was still herself, still the Holly who always put him first.

He must’ve just been overthinking...

Zion Pence intimately tucked her loose hair behind her ear, "Holly, thank goodness for you."

Yet again, that faux, deceitful smile.

Holly resisted the urge to swat his hand away, forcing a stiff smile, "I’ll step out now."

The moment the office door closed, Holly finally dropped the false smile.

She took out her phone, opened the food delivery app, and ordered a scallop shrimp porridge, with a note saying "Make sure it’s piping hot!"

That was Zion Pence’s favorite porridge.

He had stomach issues and when the company first started, Zion Pence was so busy with social engagements he sometimes skipped breakfast. Back then, she was willing to wake up early on cold winter mornings to make porridge for him, just because Zion Pence said, "Holly, I want your porridge."

Scallops needed to be soaked and prepared forty minutes in advance, and Holly would personally select and clean the fresh shrimp from the seafood market, removing the veins meticulously.

She had spent seven years on a man who never truly regarded her. How utterly foolish!