He had never meant to marry her. Then why should he care so much whom she dated with? She was annoyed thinking about this. She tried to get rid of him, but he was holding her so tightly that she had no chance to escape. Her face went red in vexation. She had to turn to Nathan for help.

Nathan cleared his throat and summoned up his courage to look at Sam saying, “Zora just came to see me. She is free to do so. You have no right to limit her freedom.”

Sam spared a sharp glance at Nathan with a mere sneer. As usual, Sam would never spare attention to him, but he was on the spur of the moment because of Zora, so he shouted out loud at him, “Nathan Chu, are you qualified to mind my business?”

Nathan hesitated. He knew if he offended Sam, his father might be angry and stop his credit card. He was hushed. But Zora was not. She shouted loudly, “Sam, what do you mean by saying that to Nathan?” She knew Nathan was trying to help her. How could he look down upon Nathan and ignore his dignity?

Zora was so irritated that she glared at him with mixed feeling of anger, grievance and disappointment. Actually, she seized on the chance to express herself.

Sam didn’t want to waste time on it and dragged Zora out of the shop while answering randomly, “It meant literally.”

Zora tried hard to get rid of him and shouted, “Leave me alone!”

Sam gave no response. He looked gloomy and kept on dragging her strongly.

Zora’s face twisted with pain. She shouted, “Sam, who gives you the right to drag me this way? Leave me alone!” She was so angry and aggrieved that she was almost crying. It was true that she used to love Sam. But now she had decided to make a clean break with him. She was no long the little poor girl waiting for his love.

As the whole shop was ordered by Nathan, there was no one in it except three of them at the moment, so their quarrel was heard clearly. Zora gazed at Sam’s rough face by the side. It was true he was perfect in any sense, so young, so gifted and so capable that few men could compare with him in the city. Zora had loved him for long. At present she was believed to have succeeded and would marry into a wealthy and influential clan. Actually, she regretted now and wanted to escape from him.

Zora had to turn to Nathan again for help. However, Nathan returned her an expression that he was willing but unable to offer her a hand.

Zora understood him. She knew actually who could win Sam. He knew everything and he was capable. What confused Zora was whether he really took her as his future wife. Or he just felt embarrassed and irritated because she should love another man instead of him.

Zora at last made all her strength and pushed his hand away in a sudden. Sam stood there without turning around. Zora shouted at his back, “San Shen, I am not your attachment, in the past, at present or in the future.”

Facing his back, Zora was more brave, so she went on, “You don’t need to think you can control my movement. It’s none of your business whoever dates with me.”

Sam still stood there straight motionless. Zora declared to him, “Sam, I have found you out. You are bumptious, selfish and indifferent! I, Zora Qiao, have nothing to do with you!”

At last, she felt the lump in her throat disappeared, but she was not so happy as it should be. She felt empty in her heart, which was frightening.

Eventually, Sam turned around. He looked gloomy and his cold gaze froze her. Words came out from the corner of his mouth, “Originally, that’s your real thought?”

Zora was speechless. There was silence between them.

After quite some while, he frowned and gave a self-deprecating shrug. He said, “So I was actually sentimental and overbusy.”

The next day, Zora told Erin about this. Erin was touched and exclaimed, “He did say so?!” Erin was Zora’s bosom pal from young. Now she was a teacher of Chinese literature. Zora was very depressed, so she asked about her opinion, “What can I do?”

Erin was so disappointed about Zora that she pointed at her forehead and criticized her, “Don’t you love him all the time? Why do you want to make a clean break with him? You did offend him. I am sure you will cry if you are not allowed to enter the Shen’s family.”

Zora argued defiantly, “I have no intention to go to the Shen’s. Didn’t you know he monitored me? I hate being controlled.” Erin looked at her doubtfully, “Really? But before, you were eager to be close to Sam all day long. You were almost sleeping in one bed. I think it would be reasonable that he thought you monitored him.”

“That’s before.” Zora was hurt and replied immediately.

Erin smiled and followed her idea, “Ok, I won’t talk about it any more, since Zora has decided to give up Sam and will go to look for a better man.”

In fact Erin knew how Zora used to run after Sam and she also used to help her a lot in the pursuit. She was sure Zora loved Sam. Indeed, Zora asked her, “But tell me the truth. Were my words that day hurting?”