Chapter 79: Protecting the Couple

Zarah did not answer the question. However, she had reservations in her heart.

Her best friends decided not to ask further as they took her silence as an answer. It must be something that Zarah should decide for herself.

Zarah was still twenty years old. She was very young. They would understand if the couple would have kids in three or perhaps five years.

The twins secretly observed the sisters and they were racking their brains with ideas on how to help Hope with Zarah.

They felt pity for Hope as they could see in her eyes that she longed to be acknowledged by her sister yet she was afraid of being resented by Zarah.

They should make sure that these two would have a happy ending and not a tragic one.

"Zaza, what if you have a sister?" Olivia asked which stiffened Hope in her position.

Good thing Zarah's back was facing Hope and so she didn't see the latter's reaction after the question was asked.

'Relax Hope. You'll expose yourself.'

Much to their disappointment, Zarah only answered flatly.

"There is no what if in this world. So tell me why you asked a hypothetical question all of a sudden?"

Hope did ask her about her biological parents but no one asked her about her sister.

And so she never give that possibility a thought.

"Nothing. However, look at me and Trixie. Aren't you envious of our relationship? At least we have each other to rely on."

"As you said, it's a hypothetical question so you don't have to take it seriously."

For some reason, she found Trixie and Olivia's expressions to be suspicious.

She felt that they were hiding something from her.

She subconsciously turned her attention to Hope who was doing something on her phone.

She found nothing suspicious in her actions. Perhaps, she didn't know.

Little did Zarah know that Hope was holding back her disappointment with Zarah's answer.

Zarah did not hate the topic however she didn't say she liked it either. The uncertainty disheartened Hope a bit.

She was so eager to know as this might give her an idea of where and how to approach her. She badly wanted to open up and be reunited with her sister.

Both Olivia and Trixie could only heave a deep sigh secretly.

They still had a long way to go with this matter.

They secretly cheered Hope in their heart and commended her for having self-control.

After Olivia was done with her job, they turned off the lights and decided to binge-watch a series on Netflix.

The twins volunteered to grab some chips and drinks for their snacks.

Zarah finally turned her attention to Hope.

"How's the conversation with Cole?"

"He didn't show up. He flew back to Sterlington."

"Oh! Don't worry. If it's meant to be, then, it will happen," Zarah was positive about this.

She never believed in fancy stories about love before Xavier showed up and proved her ideals about love to be wrong.

"Do you think he will not hate me? I pretty much hurt him when I rejected him." Hope was having doubts.

She didn't want to lose the friendship they had over this.

"What's going on here?" Trixie joined in the conversation.

Hope looked shy and felt a little helpless. It was not Zarah's nature to gossip either and so she didn't say anything.

"Nothing. Hope wants to seek some advice and I gave him one," she explained so the twins would not feel excluded.

"What about?"

"Between me and Cole." Since she opened up to them, Zarah saved herself the trouble.

"He confessed but I ended up rejecting him."

"Don't you like him?"

"He's a good man and we've known each other since childhood," she tried to explain.

"Well I guess, you're confused with your feelings. You have confused the feeling of infatuation with him and your friendship."

"That was what I'm telling her," Zarah chimed in.

"The man's probably upset because of your rejection. However, if he was sincere with his intentions and feelings, he would not give up on this. Let him cool down and then you both talk," Olivia added.

Hope nodded softly.

Cole and Dylan on the other hand had just arrived at the airport. He was having a foul mood.

Had it not been because of their father's insistence, he would still stay at Oakridge City since Hope was there.

He still had to explain to Hope why he left. He wanted to express his side after his confession was rejected by her.

Yes, he was hurt by her rejection. Nonetheless, he didn't want to lose Hope, too.

If their friendship was all she could offer to him, he would accept that albeit reluctantly.

Meanwhile, Joseph Lockhart was disappointed in his youngest son for failing to persuade Xavier to change his mind. Never mind Dylan as he had firmly supported the couple over family interests.

They even dared to help the couple with their secret wedding without paying respect to their father.

This was unforgivable for him as an elder!

Had he not sought Zarah that day, he would probably be still in the dark. How was he going to explain to Chairman Timothy that he failed to stop Zarah and Xavier's marriage?

"I could not believe you didn't convince your cousin to not marry that woman. What's so good about her, though?" Joseph Lockhart asked when they were inside the car.

"Believe me, Dad. I had the same question, too. What was so good with Zarah?" Dylan answered his father.

Even though his father had no intention to listen to what he would say to him, it was a biased opinion, Dylan paid no attention and decided to continue.

"Zarah saved my cousin four years ago which earned her amnesia and they became separated. She selflessly threw herself in danger so Xavier's weak body would not suffer severe injuries from the accident. If that was not genuine care, then what was it?"

Joseph Lockhart snorted coldly. He was so proud to accept this matter.

Zarah had seen Xavier at his worst and was still willing to sacrifice herself just to lessen the blow of the accident on Xavier.

As an uncle, of course, he would be moved. However, he had to think about the welfare and future of the Lockhart Family. As an elder, that was his topmost priority.

"Nonetheless, we can compensate her with anything except allowing them to be together. Yes, our family owed her a lot. However, she's not suitable to be the future wife of the Lockhart Patriarch."

As expected, their father was blinded by their family ideals. The brothers somehow felt pity for their cousins' life.

"We've been hanging out with the couple many times and we didn't fail to observe them, Dad. Zarah makes Xavier happy. And as his cousin, I'll support my cousin's happiness. Don't you think that he deserves this after all he had been through?", Cole added.

"His strong feelings for Zarah gained him the will to overcome his disability. It's all thanks to that woman that you disparage." Dylan continued to explain.

Dylan didn't know about the secret but Cole did. However, he had no intention to tell his father about this.

It would be interesting to see their reaction when they found out that Zarah was Jacob Fisher's biological daughter.

Cole disliked the Fisher Family members except for Hope and now Zarah.

He didn't like Jacob Fisher's wife because she had no manners at all.

Perhaps because Hope was mistreated by Mrs. Fisher and so his opinion was biased against her.

Jacob Fisher's passive attitude toward Hope's mistreatment did not settle well for him either.

Felicity Fisher's attitude was even worse. She was spoilt rotten by her mother and she believed that everything in Sterlington revolved around her.

Only a few people could tolerate someone self-centered.

He was glad that Xavier had taken Hope under his wing. She was in better condition compared to when she was still living with her family.

"Dad, Zarah's a good woman. She's perfect for my cousin."

Just like Xavier, Cole was an introvert and only hang out with a few people that he was comfortable with. However, he had a better judgment of people's character.

He was better than Dylan with this matter and so Joseph Lockhart trusted his words more.

Now, Joseph Lockhart felt conflicted.

Were they only overreacting?

However, the agreement between them and the Fisher Families.

Should the Fisher Family know about this, they would surely think that the Lockhart Family only knew how to make empty promises.

They had failed to fulfill this promise for two generations now.

Should this continue, this incident would ruin their image.

People might start to doubt their words and would not take them seriously. They would become a laughingstock in Sterlington City in the future.

And this was something that should not happen.

"I know what you're thinking Dad. Xavier knew what he was doing. Although he had little regard for our family now because of what you and Grandfather had done, I know the Lockhart Family still has a place in his heart. Should something happen to us, he would not sit idly," Cole added to reassure his father.

"However, you should also consider that our Sister-in-law is his bottom line now. Should something happen to Zarah because you plotted against her, Xavier would never hesitate to abandon the little kinship he felt for our family. Don't blame me when that time comes, Dad." Dylan reminded them.

Dylan felt helpless for his father and grandfather who were still stuck in the old ideals of their Lockhart Family.

Yes, fulfilling the promise was important to their family's dignity however, it should not be at the expense of the couple's happiness.

Otherwise, they would have the lowest level of morals and values.

Since the couple was doing their best in their relationship, as their supporters, they should do their part to protect them from danger.

They finally arrived at the Lockhart family mansion and Joseph Lockhart was greeted by the head butler, Mr. Cho.

"Welcome back Master Joseph. Young Master Dylan and Young Master Cole!"

"Where's Dad, Mr. Cho?"

"He's in the drawing room with Mr. Fisher and Miss Fisher," Mr. Cho said and Joseph Lockhart hummed in response.

Joseph Lockhart thought that it was inappropriate to inform his father of the bad news in front of the other concerned party.

"He's expecting you to join them, Master Joseph," Mr. Cho added which left him without a choice but to comply.

"Lead the way then."

Dylan and Cole decided to retire to their rooms as they were exhausted from the trip.

However, a hand grabbed them both into this empty room.

Caught off-guard, they were easily pulled inside.

They dared not to fight back as they knew who their attacker was.

"Mom!" the two Lockhart sons exclaimed and then decided to hug their mother to appease her.

"Hmmph! Now you'll remember that I still exist?!" Aurora Lockhart said in dissatisfaction.

Her husband had become so busy with family affairs. Her two sons were seldom home. She was left in this mansion alone and felt miserable.

Although Chairman Timothy was also in the mansion, she dared not approach him as she feared she would do something that would upset her father-in-law.

Although she was not shunned by him, they were not close. She knew the old man tolerated her presence because she was Cole and Dylan's mother.

She was mostly kept in the dark regarding important family matters. Her opinion was unimportant. And this caused her to be depressed.

However, now that she heard from the servants that Xavier had found the woman he liked, she was hopeful.

Having a daughter-in-law to pamper was something she had been looking forward to.

At least she would have a new companion in this depressing mansion.

Also, she heard from the servants that there was a disagreement between Xavier and the two older Lockhart.

"I've heard that Xander has a woman. Have you met her? Is she good? Does she treats Xander well?"

Aurora Lockhart used Xavier's second name for his nickname.

The two brothers felt sorry for their mother.

She must be very lonely at home.

"Don't worry, Mom. Our sister-in-law treats Xavier well. Look!" Dylan said and pulled out his phone to show some pictures taken when they got together.

The photos showed Xavier and Zarah smiling at each other. Love was evident in their eyes.

"She's beautiful," Aurora Lockhart said and the two brothers could not agree more.

The last photo that Dylan showed was the couple's wedding photo.

"When was this?!" Aurora exclaimed in disappointment and dissatisfaction.

"The other day mom. Cousin had to plan a rush wedding so Dad and Grandpa would not be able to separate them." Cole explained.

"They will hold a second wedding for sure." Dylan appeased their mom and Aurora was satisfied by it.

"Hmmph! Your cousin now has a wife. When are you going to introduce me to a daughter-in-law, Dylan?" Hearing his mother's question, Dylan was rendered speechless.

***