11

It only this comic could attract a large fanbase.

Many others would envy Willow if she carried the merchandise around. More kids would be keen on seeking her out and speaking to her. Her condition might improve then.

Zane approached me and said, "If that comic gains traction and becomes a hit, selling its merchandise could be profitable."

I stared at him, wide-eyed. Maybe it had been too long since I last had a job,

I only cared that the merchandise would help Willow make new friends and improve her condition, but Zane saw a whole business opportunity. I had to admit, he was a talented businessman with an eye for the next big venture. Smiling, I said, "Indeed."

He pressed my shoulders and sat me down on the couch. His gaze bore into mine as he said, "I think I have an idea of the new business I want to set up. Give me a minute."

With that, Zane hurried back to his workstation, and his fingers flew over his keyboard the next second,

I stared at his back and combed through our conversation earlier. Nothing we had said could have inspired a business idea, but I didn't dwell on it

My plate was full now, so I returned to my workstation and continued my sketches.

Steven stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, his gaze falling upon the scenery in the distance. After a long moment of hesitation, he decided to call Jessica.

After dropping Cody off at school, Jessica headed to a nearby mall to do some shopping. She was a little surprised to receive Steven's call. "Do you need something?"

"Of course." Steven cut to the chase. "Jessica, I'd like to know what you think about what I said to you this morning"

Jessica did not answer. He had made his threat clear this morning: if she was cruel to Zachary, then he would be cruel to Cody. And now, he was asking her what she made of it.

She chose to be subservient. "I've reflected on my behavior" Steven was generous with the

allowance he gave her, and her priority now was to get back into his good graces. "And I think you were right. My emotions have been all over the place these days because of the pregnancy-Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

"Cody looked so left out that I couldn't help wanting to make it up to him. He is my son, after all. I didn't mean to sideline Zachary The process."

As she spoke, she sorted out her thoughts and added, "I felt bad that Cody was missing out on fatherly love, but I've realized that for you to love Cody as your own, I must first do the same with Zachary "You'd be kind to Cody if I were kind to Zachary, right?"

Steven heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this. "Yes."

Jessica knew he cared about her. She had expected him to forgive her unconditionally even after he caught her picking on Zachary. All she had to do was lower herself and apologize to coax him out of his anger. She couldn't describe her satisfaction with the results.

"We'll pick up Zachary and Cody from school today," Steven said. "We'll spend the rest of our days as a happy family."

Jessica answered enthusiastically, "Okay!"

When Steven hung up, she pointed at the ensembles she liked and told the retail assistant, "Ring these up for me."

Steven returned to his work desk and casually tossed his phone aside. Annalise had always loved playing hard to get. She loved him irrevocably, yet she liked to pretend she had given up on him. From now on, he would flaunt his and Jessica's relationship in front of Annalise and make her regret leaving him

The thought of vindication pulled Steven out of his bad mood.

Zane had been so tied up that he did not finish his work until one in the afternoon. He glanced at the time and came up to me, asking, Have you had lunch?