When she was alive, I had never interacted with her for even a single day. And yet, I am the person in this world who understands her the most, who empathizes with her the deepest. The fact that she was still alive-it filled me with immeasurable joy.


    I hugged her tightly, unwilling to let go. "Thank God! Thank God!" You''re still here.


    "Janice, who is this?" A sugary, fake-sweet voice rang out behind us.


    Other people''s family affairs aren''t my concern. But Zoey? She''s not just anyone to me.


    In the brief exchange between the three of them, I had roughly pieced together their rtionships.


    I''m Chloe Sander, 28 years old, and she''s Zoey Gardner, 20. She''s like a sister to me.


    Instinctively, I pulled her behind me, shielding her. My eyes scanned the woman who stood next to the man in the suit.


    To be fair, Han had the kind of polished charm that hides a rotten core-a handsome face with refined, aristocratic features, a tall and lean build, and a cold, distant demeanor. But if he''d done Zoey wrong, I''ll be the first to make him pay.


    "Carter, this is your wife, isn''t it?" Han started, breaking the silence.


    I nced at the woman in the white dress clinging to his arm. "Mr. Pearson, hello. And this must be Mrs. Pearson, correct?"


    That woman''s face lit up with triumph when I said that, a smug smile spreading across her lips.


    Han frowned. He was visibly displeased. "She''s not."


    I smirked and said, "Oh, my mistake. With how she''s hanging onto your arm, her chest practically glued to you, I just assumed she''s your wife. My apologies, Mr. Pearson." Though I apologized, everyone present could tell I was being deliberately snide.


    Carter coughed awkwardly and said, "That''s on me. Let me introduce everyone properly. This is Han, whom I''ve mentioned to you before. And thisdy here is his wife, Janice."


    His voice trailed off as he gestured toward the woman, clearly not nning to borate. The smug woman''s expectant expression froze in ce.


    Since Carter wasn''t going to help her out, she took the initiative and introduced herself, "I''m Nina White. My family and Han''s are old friends."


    I nodded with mock understanding. "Ah, I see. Carter, I suppose customs are different where she''s from. Where I''m from, even childhood friends understand the importance of boundaries. They don''t cling to married men so intimately. Jaford must have a particrly progressive culture."


    Then I added, "You don''t have any other childhood sweethearts or old mes like this around here, do you? Because I''m petty and couldn''t possibly tolerate a husband who doesn''t respect his vows."N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Carter knew I was being deliberately sarcastic but couldn''t refute me.


    I knew it was rude, but I couldn''t stand anyone mistreating Zoey.


    Zoey, I''ll protect you.


    Never again will I let anyone drive you to despair.


    Han''s expression darkened, clearly catching on to my jabs. Out of respect for Carter, he didn''tsh out. Instead, he withdrew his arm from Nina and turned to Janice. "Come here." Zoey was different from how she used to be. But, of course, dying once changes a person.


    Shezily nced at Han and retorted, "Are you my dad or something? Just because you call me over doesn''t mean I''lle. How embarrassing."


    The mention of Bill made me impatient; I had so many things I wanted to talk to her about.


    Han clearly wasn''t expecting her to embarrass him in front of everyone. His face turned an even darker shade.


    Carter, trying to defuse the tension, said, "Let''s all sit."


    Han pulled out the seat next to him and looked at Zoey. However, Zoey didn''t even nce at him. Instead, she plopped down next to me.


    Somehow, we ended up bing the closest of friends in that room.


    "Han, if Janice won''t sit, I''ll join you," Nina offered, trying to salvage the situation.


    I gave her a quick nce and asked, "Ms. White, weren''t you about to leave? Why sit back down?"


    Nina forced a sheepishugh and said, "I just remembered that I actually don''t have anything urgent to do."


    Han, ring at Zoey and me, asked, "You two know each other?"


    I shook my head and said, "No, but the moment I met her, I felt like she was my soulmate."


    Zoey snorted, "What does it matter to you? Shut up already."


    Han was speechless.


    During the meal, Han and Carter discussed business.


    Meanwhile, Nina, ever eager, peeled a shrimp for Han. "Han, I peeled this for you."


    As she ced the shrimp on his te, she shot a smug look at Zoey, clearly trying to provoke her.


    "Ms. White," I began, feigning innocence, "is itmon for women here to peel shrimp for men? Where I''m from, it''s the other way around."


    Carter, ying along, ced a few peeled shrimp onto my te.


    The stark contrast made Nina''s attempt at provocationughable.


    I casually ced a few shrimp onto Zoey''s te and said, "Eat up."


    She was younger than my own sister. How could I not spoil her?


    Zoey smiled sweetly, biting into one, and said, "It''s delicious."


    Carter gave Han a knowing look and suggested, "Why don''t you peel some for your wife too?"


    Han''s expression turned even icier. I couldn''t help but wonder if Zoey''s life was still miserable after her rebirth.


    Could this man be abusive?


    I was concerned that he would be able to remove Nina''s imnts with a single punch, given the way his veins bulged on his hand as he clenched his fist.


    To my relief, all he did was tear the head off a shrimp. At least it wasn''t Zoey''s head; I patted my chest in mock relief.


    Can you me me for jumping to conclusions? I''ve encountered enough wolves in sheep''s clothing to be wary of everyone.


    After all, I''ve seen my fair share of wolves in sheep''s clothing.


    It was clear he had lived a life of luxury and had never done this kind of thing before. The way he peeled the shrimp wasn''t just clumsy-it was pure chaos.


    If you knew he was peeling shrimp, you''d give him credit for trying. If you didn''t, you might think he was performing open-heart surgery on the poor creature. When he ced it in Zoey''s bowl, he barked, "Eat."


    His jaw lifted slightly, his gaze flickering to Zoey, as if waiting for her reaction.


    Ah, I see.


    He''s one of those arrogant, self-important, dominant CEO types.


    Is he expecting Zoey topliment him?


    Zoey casually tossed the shrimp back at him. "It''s hideous."


    Nina quickly snatched it up and stuffed it into her mouth, trying to salvage the moment. That''s when Zoey added, "Even a dog wouldn''t eat it."


    It rendered both Nina and Han speechless.


    The scene was absurd. Nina looked like a fool, unsure whether to chew or spit it out.


    I watched the scene unfold with amusement. Tsk, this love triangle was far more entertaining than a small-town middle-aged soap opera. Poor Carter was stuck in the middle, visibly ufortable.


    There''s always drama when women are involved. Zoey and I went all out.


    Even though it was our first time teaming up, we worked together with the kind of unspoken understanding only soulmates could have. Dinner was cut short, likely because the tension made it unbearable for them.


    Carter announced, "Let''s meet another day. We''re exhausted for now."


    "Agreed." I shot Han a grin. "Thank you for the hospitality, Mr. Pearson. This meal was very entertaining."


    Oops. Thatst part slipped out, and Han''s face darkened again.


    Zoey linked her arm with mine as we prepared to leave.


    Han gritted his teeth and said, "Janice, this is far enough. You''re my wife. Where do you think you''re going?"


    "Wife? Didn''t I already hand you the divorce papers? Isn''t the new Mrs. Pearson right beside you, waiting to step in?" "Janice, I''m warning you, ying hard to get will work on me."


    Zoey rolled her eyes and climbed into the car with me. "Call me when you''re at City Hall. I''ll be there."


    Without sparing Han another nce, she mmed the door shut. "Drive."