Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 1636

The driver kept his eyes on the road, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror to observe the tense standoff in the backseat.

It was a familiar scene - tensions boiling over to the point where knives were sometimes drawn. He swallowed hard, feeling that this high-stress job would be the death of him.

He remembered first seeing Felix at the Miller Group. President Miller had made it clear he didn't want Felix dating his daughter. So Ms. Miller had Felix start as a grass-roots employee, but the guy was a standout.

Standout was an understatement. Within a month, Felix's boss had promoted him, breaking all the usual protocols. Looking back, it all seemed like a whirlwind, happening far too quickly.

Zoey, slumped in the passenger seat, stirred uncomfortably in her sleep, her head thumping against the windowpane with a soft whimper of pain.

The car pulled up outside her apartment, and someone was already there to help her inside. Wilma had been dropped off earlier; Mr. Colby was only interested in her, but he wouldn't dare mess with a top-tier celebrity like Wilma.

Zoey was a nobody; no fans to raise a fuss if she was wronged.

Being supported into her place, Zoey felt the room spin. She hadn't even managed to greet Carol.

In the bathroom, she tried to vomit but nothing came up.

Catching her reflection, she was startled by her gaunt appearance, only now realizing how much weight she'd lost.

She wanted to shower but her body was limp, alcohol still burning through her system. She curled up on her bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Waking up the next day with a pounding headache and a stabbing pain in her stomach, Zoey forced down a piece of toast before heading to the office.

"Elvis, lock down Shawn Walsh for the car endorsement and send the contract over to Mr. Colby."

"I thought we hadn't settled on a face for the new energy vehicle?"

"It was decided last night."

Zoey sat in her office chair, still pale. The contract reached the automotive headquarters only to find out Mr. Colby had resigned.

"No need. Just follow the procedure," Zoey hung up and then started vomiting into the trash can beside her desk, though she hadn't eaten enough to bring anything up.

Later that afternoon, a call from an unknown number came through. It was Murray.

"Zoey, I've got your mom out. You should come see her; she's not in a good place."

Hearing his voice made Zoey's stomach churn. She popped an antacid from her drawer and was about to hang up when Belinda's voice came through, "Zoey, I'm sorry. It’s all my fault."

It had been so long since Zoey had heard Belinda speak like that. All she could remember since becoming an adult were the criticisms and insults, as if she was never really her daughter, even though she was.

Zoey's lashes were lowered; she was unwilling to engage.

"I want to see you one last time. I’ll leave this place. I've finally realized I can't rely on your dad."

Zoey only felt she had illusion. After all, Belinda had always clung to her stepfather, and loved him dearly despite his worthlessness and good-for-nothing.