Zoe blushed and smiled, her curiosity piqued and she said, "Now, tell me about your boyfriend, Barbara—, I want all the juicy details."
Barbara had always been a private person. Keeping her personal life and struggle to herself, preferring to tackle her problems independently rather than confiding in others.
"Don't start your secret life with me, Barbara. You must tell me everything that has happened in your life since all those past years." Zoe said.
Barbara chuckled and said, "Of course, I'll tell you mine—, what are friends for?"
Zoe had always known Barbara as a private person who kept her life experiences and secrets closely guarded. So, she decided to discontinue telling Barbara the story of her life.
'I'll keep Michael's advances to myself for now; I don't think I need Barbara's suggestions anymore. I'll inform Bernard when the time is right.' Zoe thought to herself as she noticed that Barbara was still the old Barbara who likes keeping her life private even from her, she only talks when Zoe persuades her more.
Zoe took a deep breath. "Now it's your turn—tell me what's been going on in your life all these past year."
Barbara sighed and looked up at Zoe. "Well, nothing much has happened in my life over the past few years," she said. "I've been in a few relationships after my graduation from the university and none led to marriage"
Being a tough and independent woman had led Barbara out of many relationships, as most of the men never took her seriously.
This made her keep to herself most of the time, avoiding discussions about her life and choosing to deal with her issues on her own.
"How about your boyfriend you've mentioned earlier?" Zoe asked, tilting her head curiously.
"Yeah, we're dating, though I'm not actually too involved with him yet," Barbara said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I'm just afraid he might leave the relationship just like others did."
"I hope you don't nag," Zoe asked with a teasing smile.
"Hell no, I don't nag," Barbara replied, rolling her eyes.
"As you can see, nothing special has happened in my life," Barbara said, chuckling softly.
"Maybe, you didn't just want to tell me everything," Zoe chuckled, glancing at her wristwatch. "I think we should get going, it's running late," she added.
Barbara grinned, shaking her head. "I told you all, girl."
They both took the last drop of wine from their glasses, and Zoe stood up, picking up her bag. "Well, I hope you find love someday, girl," Zoe said gently. "And I think you need to loosen up a bit; maybe you're being too hard on yourself."
Barbara chuckled, "Okay, my best friend," she responded with a smile, getting up from her seat.
They both walked towards the exit of the restaurant and Barbara called out, "Hey Zoe, hold on, let me get my car so I can drop you off."
Zoe shook her head in response.
'Wow, so Barbara now has a car?' Zoe wondered as she stood at the corner of the restaurant, waiting for Barbara. "She must be doing well with her job." She mumbled.
As Zoe turned her head, her gaze landed on Jenna and Stanley, and their eyes met.
Stanley and Jenna had come to the same restaurant to have their dinner.
"Hey, sis, you're here! We finally met again," Jenna exclaimed. her eyes scanning Zoe from head to toe, taking in every detail of her sister's appearance and the unmistakable glow of pregnancy that surrounds her.
"Keep off from me you bunch of cheats!" Zoe responded, her voice rising in indignation as she glared at Jenna and Stanley.
The sight of Jenna and Stanley utterly revolting to Zoe, filling her with a deep-seated disgust that made her stomach churn with nausea; she never wanted to have a conversation with them or even have anything to do with them ever again, not after their brutal betrayal.
The fact that they didn't care if she
survived the ordeal or not. It only strengthened Zoe's resolve to keep them at arm's length.
Jenna chuckled and said, "it seems you haven't moved on yet, sis." Her voice laced with a hint of mockery and amusement, as she continued to scrutinize Zoe's appearance, her eyes roaming from the top of her head to her toes, before adding.
"However, what happened to you? You've gained so much weight. Are you not taking care of yourself, sis?"
Stanley cuts in, his voice dripping with condescension, as he nodded in agreement with Jenna, saying, "Yes, Zoe, you have definitely…. filled-out. His eyes roving over her as he exchanged a knowing glance with Jenna. The two of them seem to share a private joke at Zoe's expense.
To Jenna and Stanley, it seems Zoe was still stuck in the past, reeling from the pain of their betrayal, but little did they know Zoe's life had undergone a stunning transformation. Thanks to a chance encounter with a wealthy, kind-hearted man who had swept her off her feet and a precious pregnancy that had brought her immense joy.
Zoe darted her eyes at Jenna and Stanley, a mixture of amusement and triumph flashing across her face, before she burst into laughter. A deep, throaty sound that was both mocking and liberating, as if she had finally found the freedom to ridicule their petty betrayal and celebrate her own newfound happiness.
As Zoe burst into laughter, a contagious, joyful sound that filled the air. Jenna and Stanley exchanged a bewildered glance, their faces etched with confusion and surprise, as they struggled to comprehend the reason behind Zoe's sudden, uninhibited laughter, which seemed to mock their petty concerns.
"Whether or not I've gained weight is none of your business, so mind your own business, you bitches!" Zoe shot back, her voice was laced with a venomous tone that made Jenna's eyes widen in shock, as Zoe's words hung in the air like a challenge, daring Jenna to make another snide comment.