?Chapter 1427:


    Belinda agreedpletely.


    As their food arrived, she waved off the topic. “Enough of that. Let’s eat.”


    Midway through the meal, Bethany stepped away to the restroom. When she returned, her brows were furrowed, her mind clearly elsewhere.


    “What’s wrong?” Belinda asked, noticing her distracted look.


    Bethany blinked, snapping back to the moment. “Belinda, you won’t believe who I just saw together.”


    “Zoie and Johnson’s mother!” Bethany said. “They were chatting andughing as they went into one of the private dining rooms together.”


    Belinda’s brow creased. “Those two together?”


    Bethany gave a firm nod. “Yeah, Zoie was practically glued to Ste’s arm, all warm and chummy. I couldn’t hear what she said, but Ste wasughing so hard she could barely catch her breath. They looked really close, like they’ve got a genuine bond. It’s obvious Ste is very fond of Zoie.”


    Her brows knitted tighter as she mumbled, “What’s Zoie scheming? Is she trying to turn her fake rtionship with Johnson into something real?”


    Belinda’s face hardened. She said, “We need to let Johnson know about this. He deserves a heads-up.”


    “Absolutely!” Bethany said, nodding in agreement.


    Belinda pulled out her phone and dialed Johnson.


    Johnson quickly answered the call. “Hello.”


    “Johnson, are you free to talk right now?” Belinda asked, putting the call on speakerphone.


    “Sure, what’s up?” Johnson responded.


    Belinda’s voice grew somber. “What’s the deal with you and Zoie these days?”


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    Belinda’s sudden mention of Zoie took Johnson by surprise.


    “There’s nothing between us,” he replied after a pause, his tone casual. “We just have a rtionship of mutual convenience, that’s all. Why do you ask?”


    Belinda exchanged a knowing nce with Bethany before continuing, “A rtionship of mutual convenience? I’m not so sure about that.” She leaned back slightly. “Bethany and I are having dinner together right now. Just a moment ago, she saw Zoie and your mother dining here together. The two of them seemed quite chummy,ughing and chatting. It doesn’t take a genius to see that your mother already considers her your future wife.”


    At those words, Johnson’s expression darkened, his brows knitting tightly together.


    “I had just spoken to Zoie about this,” he said, his voice clipped with frustration. “I told her clearly to stop meeting my mother in private. She promised she would stop. And now, she’s doing the exact opposite…”


    Belinda paused, then let out a soft, sardonic chuckle. “Seems Bethany’s instincts were dead on. Zoie might be trying to turn her fake rtionship with you into something real. There are two possibilities here. The first is that she entered this arrangement sincerely, intending only to keep her family at bay. But over time, something changed—maybe she saw your charm and fell for you.”


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