Chapter 3 The Beginning of Premeditation

It was rare for Zoe to see both her father and her brother at home.

"What's going on?" Back then, they had never interfered with her relationship with Randal. Why would they want to see him today? Plus, they were dressed so formally at home. Zoe stared at her father as if she was looking at a stranger.

"Have a seat," Paul said gently. He didn't really bother to retort at Zoe for her attitude. He had been used to it.

"You've already been dating for a period of time, right? I think it's about time that you settled down."

The couple froze.

Zoe was the first one to react. Her shoulders trembled violently as she bit back a bitter laugh. "No wonder you decided to show up. It's not because you cared about me, but it's because you wanted me to settle down. That way, I wouldn't be troubling you, is that right?" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe then you can enjoy your time with your lovers, but don't even think that I'll let you get away with it! I still remember how my mother died." Despair etched itself across her face.

"Zoe!" Zack snapped, stopping her. "Randal's here."

"Oh, please! There's no point in hiding such a thing from him. Besides, the old man has the guts to do it, but he doesn't have the nerve to let anyone know? Shameless!" Zoe cried out, pointing at her so-called father.

"Enough! Don't say another word." The seriousness in Zack's tone made her face fall completely.

"So, I'm guessing you agree with him? That you think I'm just trouble in this household? Well, so be it!" Not giving them another chance to convince her otherwise, Zoe stalked out of the house.

Randal wanted to chase after her, but Zack had already requested that someone else would follow his sister. Seeing this, the man leaned back against the couch.

"I'm sorry, Randal," Paul apologized. Although he had been used to his daughter's hatred, her words still stung.

"It doesn't matter. I know that Zoe could be a little bit overbearing, but why did this come up?" Randal actually liked Zoe, but he could tell that something was off about the sudden engagement. His instinct told the right story.

Zack turned to look at Randal. He was several years younger than him, but he was also two years older than Zoe. "I think you already know what has happened. Although the Mu Group has an influential position in this city, things have changed. Now, we're suffering from cash flow problems."

Randal understood what was going on. After all, the Shen Group and the Mu Group had some partnerships together. He knew that the Mu Group's development over the years had been stunted, but it still held an important position in the business circle. "What's going on?"

"Our funds are being roped in banks both locally and internationally," Zack said honestly.

"Who did it?" Randal asked in disbelief. If their capital was being roped in, then it meant that the Mu Group had been set up.

"Mo Group!" Zack spat.

Hearing this, Randal frowned. Although he had never met the Mo Group's CEO, he knew that the Mo Group was also a family enterprise like the Mu Group. The Mo Group had expanded more and more ever since Larry Mo took over. The man was definitely not someone to be trifled with. Even then, there seemed to be no involvement or competition within the two groups, so why would he do such a thing? "Is it..."

Zack nodded. He still remembered the frivolous look on the man's face when he caught sight on him. Larry promised that he would give the Mu Group's money back if he could get Zoe. The determined smile on the man's face stunned Zack.

Larry had taken over the Mo Group for just three years. He was an admirable and ambitious man. Some might say he was a good match for Zoe. Zack thought that they had no conflict with the Mo Group, but Larry told him there were many stories happening between their families, flashing a cold sneer. Zack couldn't figure out what his family had done to offend him, but there was something in Larry's eyes that demanded vengeance. He was sure that he wanted Zoe not because he liked her but because he wanted to take advantage of his sister. Zack couldn't just hand off her sister like a pig for slaughter, but no matter what he did, it seemed that he just underestimated Larry at the end of the day.

"I'll talk to her," Randal said.

"There's still a wound in Zoe's heart regarding our mother, but I trust that you'll take care of her," Zack explained. Paul simply listened quietly. He didn't behave like the head of the family in front of Zack because he owed the two too much.

Originally, Zoe wanted to call Bella or Daisy, but considering her situation, she didn't want to burden them with her troubles.

"I want somewhere I could drink," she ordered her driver. Surprisingly, he stopped by the doors of the Dark Night. What a coincidence!

The same manager she had spoken to last night came up to greet her, "Miss Mu, what brings you here?"

"I want to drink," she snapped.

"You came here alone, Miss Mu?"

"Is there any problem?" She cocked up an eyebrow, and the manager shrank under her gaze.

"Of course not. Take Miss Mu to the private room." Zoe followed the waiters in front of her.

Once she was out of sight, the manager quickly called up Zack to tell him of his sister's location.

Zack simply nodded. He also had the same resentment against his father after what had happened three years ago, but unlike his sister, he just wasn't vocal about it.

"I heard that the Mu Group is going to unite with the Shen Group by marriage," Nathan said.

"Do they really think it's that easy to get rid of me?" Larry snorted. There was no way he was going to release his stronghold around the Mu Group. He would let them starve little by little until they had no other choice but to give up. Thinking of that, he allowed a smile to carve the corners of his lips.

Zoe didn't know how she got back. When she woke up, she found that she was already in her room. She frowned and winced from the headache. Just as she was about to head to the kitchen, Kate blocked her way. She had a bowl of soup in her hands.

"Kate."

She gazed at Zoe coldly before placing the bowl of soup in her room. "You're already an adult. Don't let your brother worry about you like this in the future."

"I'm sorry," Zoe apologized, lowering her head.

"Just drink the soup. Your brother and father are simply doing what's best for you. There are just some things that you can't judge based on what you know."

Hearing that, Zoe was stunned and didn't say anything. She was obedient in front of Kate.

"Did you say anything to her?" Just as Kate walked downstairs, Zack met up with her.

"What else can I say?" She sighed. "If you just told her the truth, then she might be able to understand more."

"If we tell her that the company is being threatened by Larry Mo, what do you think she is going to do?" Zack countered, sighing.

"When Zoe was ten years old, she witnessed our mother's death. Although she's cold and indifferent, she's still traumatized by what had happened." There was guilt laced in his voice. Zack hated that he couldn't help her.

"I know, but you shouldn't spoil her too much." Kate placed a hand on his shoulder. "She's an adult. She should know about these things."

Zack was afraid that his sister would bear all the losses in the end, so he let Randal take care of her. In his opinion, the younger man would be able to protect Zoe. Unfortunately, Zack had been too simple-minded, and he had to pay the price in the end.