So Ginny had invited escorts?
Alcohol made me bold. I tiptoed closer. "Depends if I can stand being lonely."
I walked away. Not interested—especially not in guys with obvious agendas.
Ginny hovered nearby, scurrying back to our table when she saw me.
"I'm done—too drunk, need sleep." My head throbbed. Mom would scold me if I came home wasted.
"Me too—work tomorrow, ugh." Tilly Ouyang stood, clearly not loving her job.
Ginny pouted. "It's early! Fine—let's go!"
She paid, said goodbye to the guys, and we left.
We each called drivers. Before parting, Ginny grinned mischievously. "Zoe—think Hugh Pei'll be jealous, seeing you with hot guys?"
"Don't mention him. Bad luck." I waved from the car.
"Bye!" She drove off in her BMW, giggling.
I told Leo Li to drive, closing my eyes in the backseat.
A sudden brake jolted me awake. "Leo Li? What the hell?"
"Ma'am—it's Mr. Pei's car." He pointed to a Bugatti blocking the road.
Why was Hugh Pei here? I rubbed my temples. "Leo Li, take my car home. It's late."
"Yes, ma'am." He reversed smoothly.
My house was five minutes' walk. I circled the Bugatti, heading home.
Hugh Pei got out, blocking my path—furious, fire in his eyes.
"Explain this." He showed me his Moments.
There I was—tiptoeing close to that guy outside the bathroom, looking impossibly intimate.
Ginny had posted it, caption: Plenty of fish in the sea—my Zoe's moved on.
I laughed. "Clever rhyme."
" Zoe!Xu!" Hugh Pei ground out my name, face icy.
"You said we could play separately. Why the interrogation?" I shot back.
"Separately—not broadcasted." Hugh Pei snorted.
I forgot—we shared social circles. Ginny's post would reach his friends—rivals would mock him.
Male ego. Especially his.
No wonder Ginny had smirked—she wanted to infuriate him.
"Fine. I'll tell them not to post next time." My head spun—I just wanted sleep.
I turned, but he grabbed my hand.
It hurt like hell—no fat to cushion. I yelped, "Pain..."
Then bit down on his forearm.
He froze—shocked by my audacity—letting me bite until I released. His arm bore a perfect bite mark, teeth marks clear.
He grabbed my neck, lifting me like a puppy. "Are you insane?!"
I stared at him, bitterness rising. Years loving him—never a mark on him. But Lila Wei? Hickeys all over his neck, back then.
They must've been madly in love.
A bite mark—small compensation.
"Hugh Pei, you have no right to interrogate me. How many women have you been linked to? Do you think I have no pride? No one mocks me behind my back?" I wiped my lips—faint blood. I'd bitten him hard.
Hugh Pei's voice was cold. "You asked for this. Did anyone force you to marry me, to please Grandpa?"
No. I'd have fought anyone who stopped me.
I'd dreamed of love growing over time—him finally seeing me.
"Yes, I asked for it. But people change. I'm done—tired of being trapped by my own delusions. Is that a problem?"
"Yes." Hugh Pei's answer was icy. "Wrong path—pay the price."
"Hugh Pei—bet you'll beg for divorce soon. Beg me to disappear." A year—good bet.
Hugh Pei sneered. "Zoe Xu—stop dreaming."
Petty revenge, even at his own expense.
I sighed. "Believe what you want. I'm drunk—going home. Leave."
"Sleep at Fengzhou Garden." He tossed me into his car—kidnapping me from my parents'?
"I refuse! Let me out!"
He glanced at me, ignoring protests. The car sped toward our villa.
"I forgot something!"
"What?"
"My medicine." Ridiculous—just wanted my herbal tea.
"Terminal illness?" His social skills were nonexistent. No wonder people wanted him bankrupt—especially those he'd crushed.
I smiled. "No. Too skinny—toning my stomach. Want to be curvy."
Hugh Pei's expression darkened—like he remembered something.