Wild Young Miss: Mister, Let's Kiss!

[YEAR 2019: ZOEY'S PREVIOUS LIFE. CORA'S WAKE]

"Madam, your food is here." From outside the door, a faint voice of a woman reached Zoey's ear.

Zoey slightly moved her arm from her eyes, her eyes had lost their life and gleam. Just like her spacious yet obscure room, her world had been grey for a long time. She's been in this world ever since he left… they left this world.

"I need more wine." Slowly, Zoey dragged her upper body up, sitting up on the king size bed that was uselessly large for her. "Get me more wine!" She ordered, raising her voice so the person outside could hear her.

"Madam Zhou, but Madam Xi said…"

"I don't care!" Within a snap of her finger, Zoey hysterically screamed. Her scream resonated across her silent room, echoing for a few times until it went silent again.

"Yes, Madam Zhou." Zoey heard the woman outside abide in fear, and then silence followed.

"Hah," Zoey scoffed, "Hahaha!" Her scoffs then grew into a batch of laughters. Zoey held her stomach, trying to restrain her laughter in. Its source was unknown, but Zoey kept laughing until her eyes welled.

"Ha ha ha…" Soon, her laughter grew into muffled cries until she burst out in tears, bawling. 

It had been months since Matthew passed on, but Zoey's heart longed for him even more. Every day she woke up, her heart ached, causing her to curse her life for waking up. The mornings that she once considered as a blessing were now akin to a curse for her.

She just wanted to die; follow her husband and child, be with them so they could be happy once again. However, there was a part of her that was holding her back. Not to mention, Vivian Xi had put her under surveillance. In that case, no matter how many times Zoey try to commit suicide, people would barge in this room to stop her.

"Damn…" Through her gritted teeth, Zoey cursed muffly. "Damn you, Vivian…" She cursed, before Zoey screamed upon the thought of Vivian Xi.

Vivian Xi, the person why she was still hurting. Indeed, Zoey knew deep down Vivian was doing her part as her mother-in-law. However, the utter pain in her heart blurred her head and eyes to see that. She was in so much pain that she couldn't see the love Vivian was giving her. Zoey just couldn't.

*Knock knock*

A little while later, Zoey heard a knock once again before the creak of the door reached her ear. Her knees bent to her chest, arms on her knees, face buried in her arms. "Put it there." She didn't bother moving from her position as she ordered.

Zoey could hear the footsteps inside the room. Next second later, Zoey heard the heavy sound of the curtain being pulled to the side. In an instant, the bright light from the outside world shone inside, giving lights to her dark, suffocatingly lonely room.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Without further ado, Zoey raised her head as she shouted. 

As soon as she did, her eyes landed on the person standing in front of the window. Vivian Xi, who was elegant and beautiful as always stood there, her arms crossed as she stared at Zoey. "Little Z, you can curse me all you want, but you can't be living like this." Firm but benign, Vivian uttered. She stared at the pitiful state of her daughter-in-law; the once lovely and cheerful Zoey was now a wasted drunkard.

"Hah!" Yet, only a mocking snicker was Vivian heard from her. 

If Vivian didn't love Zoey as her own daughter, she would let her be. After all, she's the one and only Vivian Xi; anyone who dared to offend her didn't have a pleasant end. However, the only person that could treat and curse her was not her son, but Zoey, her daughter in law.

If others heard this news, they would surely advise Vivian to let her live her life. After all, Vivian didn't have the responsibility to her. Unlike what others think, Vivian thought otherwise.

Zoey was her daughter, the only remnant of her son whom she loved for three decades and would continue to love. Her son would most certainly glare at her if Vivian wouldn't look after Zoey. Matthew would hate her if Zoey succeeded in her suicide attempts.

Moreover, Vivian wouldn't want to lose more of her loved ones. She already lost her son and grandchild… she couldn't lose her daughter either. Therefore, even though it pained her to see Zoey in such a state, Vivian remained strong -- a strong and firm pillar for Zoey to lean on until she could stand on her own again.

"Little Z…" Vivian sighed, walking towards the bed where Zoey was on. "My little girl," She called out softly upon sitting on the end of the table.

Upon closer look, Vivian noticed her swollen eyes. Zoey was indeed a beauty, but her beauty had paled in comparison to the helplessness in her eyes. It has been months, but she hasn't recovered. If anything, her world also stopped when Matthew died.

"Where's my wine?" Zoey asked, looking away at the pair of gentle and worried eyes on her. "I asked for a wine." She added, her voice cracked midway but she continued.

"Little Zoey, I made you a pudding -- your favorite." Vivian ignored her request, instead, she offered a warm smile as she informed her.

"I don't need it." Cold, Zoey rejected without batting an eye.

"Little Zoey…"

"Leave me alone, can you?" Irked, Zoey ground her teeth, her eyes piercing as she shot them to her. "You're not my mother, why are you acting like one?! You've been meddling with my business, what else do you want?!" Out of impulse, Zoey lashed out, the corner of her eyes welled up as her fist tightened.

Zoey noticed the pain that flickered across Vivian's eyes, but her countenance remained firm. Vivian took deep breaths, slowly getting back on her feet. "You won't have your wine unless you have a full course meal. You might forget that I promised to stand as your mother and hate what I think is best for you," Vivian paused, holding her tears back and taking another deep breath.

"But I won't -- I won't forget that you're my daughter. I would rather choose you hating me for life than losing you." With that said note, Vivian trudged away. 

Just as she was in front of the door,her tracks halted, slowly, she looked back at Zoey who remained unmoving. "Anyway, you've been caging yourself for a long time… your friend passed away, won't you send her off? Tell me if you want to visit her wake." As Vivian relayed this news she had been gravitating whether or not to tell her, her hand trembled. With strong will, Vivian dragged her heavy feet out as she knew this would make or break Zoey.

It was a gamble Vivian took. No one would ever know if she had regretted this decision ever.

On the other hand, when the door closed, only silence enveloped the entire room. Zoey's eyes stared blankly at the floor, Vivian's last remarks played over and over again inside her mind.

'Visit her wake…?�� Zoey asked herself, yet, she couldn't feel pain anymore as she felt numb from hurting through all these torturous months.. "Who?" Zoey mumbled, yet, silence was the answer she received.