Chapter 136 Pre-wedding Anxiety Disorder
"I know, I know! You're the CEO of a huge corporation—so many people depend on you for their paychecks. If you weren't busy, everyone would starve," Zoey said quickly.
Charles nodded, but his hands never left the keyboard and mouse.
"I just came up to see you for a minute. I'm not asking you to entertain me or anything. I'll sit here for a bit and then leave—you just keep doing your thing," Zoey said hurriedly. She was terrified of bothering him, terrified he'd find her annoying.
Just then, Charles glanced at her. Every nerve in her body went taut.
"I—I'll leave now."
She was about to grab her purse when Charles stopped her.
"How about you wait a bit longer? We can grab dinner together when I'm done?"
It had been over a week since they'd seen each other. No calls, no texts—they didn't exactly act like people about to get married. Charles knew he'd been neglecting his little bride-to-be.
Zoey's mood instantly lifted. "Yes! Absolutely! You do your thing, I'll wait right here."
She pulled out her phone to watch her shows, feeling reassured. Worried about disturbing his work, she put in her earbuds. But she kept stealing glances at him.
He really was swamped. He never left his desk. Kai brought in another stack of documents at one point, some of them urgent. Charles spent half an hour on work calls alone.
Zoey regretted coming more and more. This waiting felt torturous. He was so busy while she just sat here watching shows—they looked like two people from completely different worlds.
Finally, quitting time arrived. Except Charles didn't have a set quitting time—he could only leave once his work was done. Which meant it was nine at night.
Charles seemed to remember Zoey's presence only then.
"Sorry to keep you waiting so long."
Zoey put on a brave face. "We're about to be married—why the formalities?"
"You must be starving. What do you want to eat?"
"You decide. I'm good with anything."
Half an hour later, they arrived at a quiet restaurant. Charles must have been famished too—he ate in big bites at first, while Zoey took dainty nibbles. This was only the second time they'd shared a meal since meeting.
Between bites, Charles asked, "You're graduating this year, right?"
"Yeah, but you can get married in college now." Zoey worried he might back out.
Charles smiled. "What are your plans after graduation?"
That was a loaded question. If Zoey said she just wanted to be a housewife, she'd sound completely unambitious. She was afraid Charles would look down on her.
"I studied medical equipment, so I'll probably work at my dad's company. Or..." She trailed off uncertainly.
When she'd applied to college, she'd been a clueless little girl with no real opinions. Her parents had filled out everything—picked schools close to home so she could stay near them. But secretly, she'd wanted to be a singer, the wandering kind. She was too embarrassed to tell anyone that.
"The family doesn't need you to work. After you graduate, just do whatever makes you happy," Charles said. Then he went back to eating.
Zoey watched him, warmth flooding through her chest. Lately she'd been an emotional yo-yo—dejected by one thing he said, thrilled by another.
"Charles, do you have plans after dinner?" Zoey asked.
"Usually just go home and sleep."
Zoey's mood deflated again. Couldn't they go on an actual date?
...
When Zoey got home, both her parents were waiting in the living room. The family used to have a rule—home by nine p.m. But knowing she was with Charles, they'd stopped enforcing it.
Seeing Zoey's unhappy expression, Mr. Turner asked, "What's wrong? You look upset."
Zoey walked over to her dad, spaced out for a few seconds, then asked, "Dad, do you think marrying Charles is the right decision?"
Mr. Turner felt her forehead. No fever.
"Why would you ask that? Marrying Charles is your dream, isn't it? That dream's about to come true."
"But I keep feeling like Charles doesn't actually like me. He's only marrying me because I seduced him that night."
Mr. Turner thought to himself: You're just figuring this out now?
"What are you thinking? Want to call it off?" Mr. Turner said. "If you want to back out, you still... have time."
Zoey said firmly, "Of course I'm not backing out! If I did, he'd become the laughingstock of all Phoenix City. He's already been let down by one woman at his age—if it happens again, he'll have to become a monk for the rest of his life."
Mr. Turner thought: You've already made up your mind, so nothing I say matters anyway.
Mrs. Turner asked, "What happened with Charles this afternoon? Why are you saying all this?"
Zoey recounted her afternoon experience.
Mr. Turner understood immediately. "Don't go to his office anymore. Men really don't like mixing business and personal life. Plus he's genuinely busy—a young girl showing up doesn't help, it just distracts him."
Zoey felt hurt. "Fine, I won't go anymore."
But if she didn't reach out to him, he wouldn't reach out to her either. Oh well—she'd just have to wait until after the wedding. At least then he'd have to come home every night, right?
...
Matilda went to the mall today. The deputy director's grandson was having a baby shower. She didn't want to bring a cheap gift, so she headed to a jewelry store to see if they had anything suitable for a baby.
While browsing, two more people walked in. Matilda didn't look up, but both of them recognized her instantly.
"Well, well, if it isn't Matilda."
"Matty?"
They spoke at the same time, in completely different tones.
Matilda turned around to find Natalia and Juliana standing there. What were they doing together?
Natalia looked at Matilda with outright hostility.
But Juliana seemed perfectly composed. She pointed at Natalia. "She's my cousin. We're shopping together today."
Ah. That explained it.
Natalia's voice dripped with sarcasm. "The great Mrs. Gonzaga, shopping at a place like this? Hasn't Wentworth bought you any jewelry?"
Matilda couldn't be bothered with her. "I'm buying my own stuff. How is that any of your business?"
She'd only used Wentworth's card once. She preferred to use her own card, shop within her own means.
Seeing how much Natalia disliked Matilda, Juliana asked, "This Wentworth you're talking about—is he the guy you've had a crush on since childhood?"
"Yup. Someone just beat me to him." Natalia stared at Matilda like she was mortal enemy.