Chapter 5 Guest
Zoey didn't regain her composure until the car came to a smooth stop in front of her apartment building. She quickly pushed open the car door, trying to escape, but Andrew was faster, holding the door shut. When she turned back, she met his deep, unreadable gaze.
"Thanks for the ride."
Zoey tried to keep her tone neutral, but couldn't help asking with a hint of resentment, "So, are you crashing at Emily's or heading back to the Anderson Villa?"
Andrew didn't answer. Instead, he slowly unbuttoned his suit and asked, "Why, you planning my schedule now?"
He leaned in closer, just inches away.
"Or are you hoping I'll go to her?"
Zoey's heart was pierced by his words, her ears burning with embarrassment. She quickly turned her face away.
"I was just asking."
"Just asking?"
Andrew rubbed the stubble on his chin, his fingers sliding over his shirt collar, his Adam's apple moving slightly.
"Maybe I should call her and see if she's free tonight?"
Zoey knew Andrew was deliberately misinterpreting her words, but seeing Emily's photo as his phone background still made her feel a pang of sadness.
"Go wherever you want."
She lowered her eyes, her voice almost overflowing with disappointment.
Andrew seemed to have anticipated Zoey's reaction. He nodded in acknowledgment and then looked up at the floor where Zoey's apartment was located.
"Then I'll stay here tonight."
"Why?"
"Because I'm Andrew."
His voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority.
Yes, 'because he's Andrew,' she couldn't win against him. But today was his first day back in the country. Wasn't he going to spend the night with Emily? After thinking for a moment, she said, "This is my apartment."
"It's mine too."
Andrew chuckled, leaning closer to Zoey, the car door frame enclosing them in a tight space.
"Don't forget, we're married. What's wrong with me staying here?"
Zoey felt a pang of pain at the mention of "we're married," her disappointment evident.
"But we..."
Zoey wanted to say that they were only married in name and were about to get divorced.
"But we what?"
Andrew interrupted her, his usual teasing smile on his lips, but his eyes were scrutinizing.
"Or is there someone hiding in your apartment, and it's inconvenient for me to go in? I want to see who's taken my place."
With that, Andrew abruptly opened the car door and got out.
"You're talking nonsense!"
Zoey couldn't stand being suspected, and she followed Andrew out of the car, her words becoming incoherent.
"Andrew, don't be ridiculous!"
Andrew grabbed Zoey's shoulders, their noses almost touching.
"If there's no one hiding, why are you afraid to let me upstairs?"
He then pulled Zoey's arm and headed towards the building entrance.
Zoey stumbled, nearly tripping on the steps. She bit her lip and glared at him, her suppressed anger rising to her head. But when she met his eyes, which seemed to say "I dare you to stop me," she resignedly took out her key card.
They walked into the building and then into the elevator, with Zoey remaining silent.
As soon as the door lock clicked open, a furry black shadow darted out, accompanied by deafening barking. Before Zoey could react, her adopted Border Collie, Pixel, had its ears perked up, paws on Andrew's suit pants, growling fiercely, its tail nervously tucked between its legs.
Andrew was startled by the sudden "attack," his body stiffening. He instinctively stepped back, his shoes scraping the floor, his face visibly paling.
Zoey forcefully dragged Pixel inside, not looking back.
"Come in, don't take this seriously with a dog."
Pixel's sharp teeth gleamed in the light, making Andrew's neck hairs stand on end. Only Andrew knew that he had been afraid of dogs since childhood. Zoey, of course, didn't know this secret.
Andrew suppressed his panic and looked at Zoey, raising his voice slightly to bolster his courage. "Looks like I'm not the only one unwelcome here. No hidden person, but a 'lover' dog? Zoey, your taste is getting more unique."
The word "lover" was too strange, leaving Zoey momentarily speechless. But when she saw the fleeting fear in his eyes, she realized he was trying to divert attention. Angry and anxious, she grabbed Pixel's collar.
"Pixel! Stop barking! This is... a guest."
She felt guilty even saying "guest."
Pixel didn't buy it, continuing to bark at Andrew, making his breathing quicken. He clenched his fists, ready to defend himself—afraid the dog might pounce at any moment.
But when he saw Zoey's anxious and helpless expression, he suddenly chuckled, bending stiffly to whisper in her ear, "What, afraid I'll expose your bestiality? Hiding it so well, better than hiding a man."
Zoey felt deeply insulted, her eyes filling with tears, her voice trembling.
"Andrew, you're shameless!"
Andrew acted as if he hadn't heard, straightening his suit pants that Pixel had wrinkled, and walked towards the bedroom, his steps unnaturally fast.
"I want to see how long this dog has taken my place."
He accidentally kicked a bag of dog food by the entrance, nearly tripping over Zoey's skirt.
Pixel tried to chase after him, but was held back by Zoey.
"Don't touch Pixel's things."
Zoey struggled to drag Pixel to the balcony, emphasizing the boundary.
Pixel's whimpering hit the glass, its wet eyes looking at Zoey through the railing, making her feel a pang of sadness. After all, in these years of living alone, if it weren't for Pixel's companionship, she didn't know how she would have endured the lonely and exhausting nights.
"Be good. Just for a little while."
Warm breath brushed her ear, making Zoey's ears burn again. Andrew looked at her flushed neck, his eyes devoid of humor, only wary of Pixel. He took a deep breath, cautiously following her, his gaze always on Pixel, afraid it might bite his ankle at any moment.