Chapter 55 Unexpected Visitor

Chapter 55 Unexpected Visitor

Morris's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as his gaze lingered on Emily for two seconds, unable to find the appropriate form of address.

"Hello, I'm the former housekeeper for the Anderson family. My name is Emily Green." Before Morris could speak, Emily had already greeted them both with a perfectly polite smile fixed on her face.

"Former housekeeper?" Zoey Anderson's eyes instantly lit up, as if discovering a new continent as she scrutinized Emily from head to toe.

In all her years, Zoey had never seen a housekeeper this young and beautiful, let alone one who could make her germaphobe cousin Morris break his own rules by allowing her into his house. She knew visitors had to prepare disposable shoe covers in advance and never dared touch anything freely. Recalling the flash of tenderness in Morris's eyes when he saw Emily, Zoey's inner gossip instinct exploded—there had to be something between these two!

Emily felt uncomfortable under her direct gaze. "Yes, I'm going to check on Yoyo in the yard. Haven't seen him in a while."

With that, she practically fled to the yard.

Watching her disappear through the doorway, Zoey immediately sidled up to Morris and nudged him with her elbow. "Morris, not bad! Still in touch with your former housekeeper? Is Yoyo the cat you got when she was working here?"

She'd been shocked to see a cat when she arrived today, almost thinking she'd entered the wrong house. Morris with his obsessive cleanliness—how could he possibly tolerate a cat? Now it made sense—the cat must have belonged to this beautiful Emily.

Morris dropped a curt "Stop guessing nonsense" before striding toward the yard with long legs.

In the yard, Emily crouched beside the cat bed, her fingertips gently scratching Yoyo's chin. Warm golden sunlight fell across her figure, creating a scene of perfect tranquility.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and met Morris's gaze, her heart inexplicably skipping a beat.

"She's my cousin Zoey. Always been troublesome since childhood," Morris explained.

"Cousin?" Emily blinked, the inexplicable tension suddenly draining away, even giving way to a small flutter of joy.

"Yes, she's been kicked out by her family and insists on crashing at my place for the day."

"Morris! How can you tell her everything?" Zoey's voice suddenly came from behind. She stood pouting, her cheeks flushed. "Can't you leave me some dignity?"

Seeing Zoey's indignant expression, Emily couldn't help laughing, this time more naturally.

Zoey, noticing Morris's good mood, immediately seized the opportunity. "Morris, since Emily's here too, can I stay a few more days? I promise not to cause trouble, and I can even help take care of Yoyo!"

"No way," Morris refused without hesitation.

With no housekeeper around, Zoey was as domestically challenged as he was, plus she had her own issues. He had no desire to share his roof with her.

"Fine," Zoey's face fell, her voice filled with disappointment, though her eyes showed little actual dejection.

She'd known Morris would refuse. The main reason she'd hidden here was because her mother Winter Hayes and Morris were mortal enemies, and her mother would never imagine she'd take refuge with Morris.

"If there's nothing else, go home." Morris glanced at his watch, his tone growing impatient. He'd finally gotten Emily to visit, and he didn't want Zoey ruining it.

"Morris, how could you!" Zoey suddenly switched to a pitiful expression, her voice taking on a tearful quality. "You're choosing romance over me! I'm homeless now, and you're still driving me away..."

Emily quickly stood up, wanting to mediate. After all, they were cousins, and Morris's attitude seemed too harsh.

But before she could speak, she heard Morris's ice-cold voice. "Stop it."

What happened next left Emily dumbfounded. Zoey's crying stopped abruptly, and the next second her tears vanished as she winked at Emily. "Emily, did I scare you? What do you think of my acting skills? Do I have potential to be a best actress?"

Emily froze, taking a few seconds to recover. "That was a quick transformation. I almost thought you were genuinely upset."

"She's been putting on acts since childhood," Morris gave Zoey a dismissive look, his tone tinged with disdain. "If she actually had the talent to be a best actress, she wouldn't still be a nobody after years in the entertainment industry."

"Morris! Stop hitting my sore spots!" Zoey immediately flared up, reaching out to twist Morris's arm. "Your words are so venomous, I'm afraid you'll poison yourself when you lick your lips!"

Morris glanced at her contemptuously. "If anyone's dying first, you'll be the one dying of stupidity."

As Emily watched their playful bickering, her smile gradually faded and a tinge of envy rose within her. She and Jack had never shared such harmony. Most of the time, Jack bullied her, and on the rare occasions when she managed to stand up to him, her parents' slaps would follow. Over time, she and Jack were left with nothing but mutual disdain, unable to exchange even a single pleasant word.

"Emily, be the judge—is my cousin more caustic, or am I more stupid?" Zoey suddenly linked arms with Emily, swaying her arm playfully, her voice full of childish pleading.

Morris's mouth twitched, feeling his dignity draining away by Zoey's behavior.

Emily was caught between amusement and awkwardness, and quickly changed the subject. "Are you an actress? I thought you looked familiar. Did you play the high school classmate of the female lead's sister in 'Secretly Crushing on You'?"

"Yes, that's me!" Zoey instantly brightened, her eyes sparkling like stars. "I only appeared three times in that show, with less than ten lines total, and you remembered me! Emily, you're truly my kindred spirit!"

"I just have a good memory," Emily smiled somewhat self-consciously. In truth, she remembered the character only because that role shared her own experience of being overlooked and neglected at home.

"You just met her. Don't scare her off with your craziness," Morris interrupted their conversation, issuing another eviction notice. "Go home now, stop causing trouble here."

"Morris, please let me stay until tonight!" Zoey immediately switched to a pleading tone, pressing her palms together at her chest. "My mom has a dinner engagement tonight. I'll go home after she leaves, okay?"

Morris swallowed the words that had reached his lips. He remembered Zoey's situation at home—her mother Winter had placed all expectations on her, forcing her to quit the entertainment industry, study business, and fight for inheritance rights. The slightest disobedience resulted in verbal and physical abuse. Over the years, Zoey truly hadn't had it easy.

Emily, sensing Morris's hesitation, quickly chimed in. "Morris, let Zoey stay. I'm free today anyway, I can cook dinner."

Morris glanced at Emily without agreeing or disagreeing, but Zoey took his silence as consent.

"Great! Thanks, Morris! Thanks, Emily!" Zoey immediately cheered, throwing her arms around Emily. "I promise I'll leave after dinner and won't disturb you two!"

Then Zoey released her, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "By the way, Emily, are you and Morris dating?"