Chapter 1287
Only after Murray had left did Zoey, leaning against the wall, weakly close the door behind her.
Every inch of her ached, and Murray''s tantrum had only worn her out more.
Blinking away the sting in her eyes, she was grateful it was a Saturday and she didn''t have to work.
Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.
She was about to copse back into bed when her cell phone rang. It was her mother, the only family
she had left.
Zoey''s heart trembled. Her fingertips began to shake.
It took her several tries to answer the call.
"Mom," she said.
"Zoey, are you free tonight? I''d like to see you. There''s something I need to discuss with you."
This was the first time Belinda had asked to meet. Zoey was taken aback.
Back when her parents were still together, Zoey had foundfort from her father. But after the
divorce, when she was given to her mother, she never felt that warmth again.
Every time she sent money back home, Belinda''s tone softened, and Zoey clung to it, even though she
knew it was unhealthy.
It had be a habit, sending money home. Hearing words of concern from her mother''s mouth filled
her with warmth.
"Okay, Mom. Send me the address."
Belinda sent her the location, knowing she woulde.
Zoey looked at the address and crashed in her hotel room until afternoon.
It was autumn now, so she wrapped a scarf around her neck before meeting her mother.
They were meeting at a noodle shop. Belinda wasn''t willing to treat Zoey to anything too expensive.
Belinda was livingfortably off the money Zoey sent home. She was wearing a satin dress, looking
smooth andfortable.
Upon seeing the scarf around Zoey''s neck, Belinda turned solemn.
Once they had sat down, she yanked off the scarf to reveal the patchy marks underneath and pped
Zoey across the face.
"How can you have so little self-respect? You were always like this at home, flirting with men. Now
you''re selling yourself? If Murray hadn''t told me, I wouldn''t have known how far you''ve fallen!"
Zoey''s head jerked to the side from the force of the p, the corner of her mouth bloody.
Belinda''s p had been fierce, full force, and her ring had scraped Zoey''s cheek raw.
Zoey was at a loss for words, only licking her lips instinctively, trying to lick away the blood.
But Belinda reached for her again, trying to rip off her clothes in front of everyone.
"Mom!" Zoey cried, clutching her clothes tightly.
"You deserve this! You have no self-respect!"
Belinda''s nails dug into the skin of Zoey''s neck, causing her pain.
People around them were taking pictures. Afraid of having her face photographed, Zoey hastily put on
a mask from her purse and pulled on her hood.
Belinda rolled her eyes.
"Are you feeling embarrassed now? You didn''t feel that way when you were spreading your legs for
men, did you? I''m telling you, you better patch things up with Murray! He''s reliable, and it''s better than
being with those old men!"
Zoey felt drained, and didn''t know how to respond.
Because she was indeed with a man now. Although he wasn''t old, she was selling herself to him.
It was just a matter of selling herself to one person versus many.
"Mom, Murray is married. And he was the one who cheated first, falling for a rich man''s daughter."
"You said it yourself, she''s a rich man''s daughter. What do you have topare to that? It''s only
natural that Murray would want to marry her. Now that he realizes your worth, he wants to take you
back. He''s willing to keep you as his mistress. You better appreciate this and stop seeing those other
men."
Zoey blinked a few times, then took out several stacks of cash from her purse.
The money, about three thousand dors, made Belinda''s eyes gleam.
Her tone finally softened.
"If you don''t want to be his mistress, then treat him as one of your clients. Who you sell yourself to
doesn''t matter."
Zoey felt extremely ufortable hearing those words.
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, especially with everyone in the shop watching. She pushed
her hood down further.
"Mom, I need to go."
She stood up to leave, and Belinda didn''t stop her.
"Just remember to remove Murray from your cklist. He''s actually been pretty good to you, and
you''ve known each other for so long. He was with you for seven years before he found another woman.
That''s a lot better than most men."
Zoey knew what Belinda was thinking. She was just afraid that Zoey woulde home and steal her
boyfriend.
Every time Zoey mentioneding home, Belinda would blow up.
As Zoey reached the door, she heard Belinda haggling with the shop owner.
"Take off one bowl of noodles. We don''t want it."
"But we''ve already started making it, and now you don''t want it?"
"We can''t finish it. If we don''t want it, we won''t take it. We''ll only pay for one bowl. Figure it out."
The shop owner grumbled and cursed, but had no choice.