The Runaway Groom

Irene's heart was seized with anxiety even as she put down her phone. She had to go back as soon as she could to find out what happened to Lulu—or more specifically, Martin, that Lulu could not raise her child. However, when she opened the door, she saw Zachary standing outside, his hand raised and ready to knock.

He was caught by surprise when the door suddenly opened, though he soon came to his senses.

"Were you talking to Lulu?" he asked, and shrugged before Irene could answer. "You don't have to hide from me if you were—I'm over it, and she isn't the only woman in the world."

Irene pursed her lips, and asked, "Is that why any woman would get to bed you? Because you're over it?"

Zachary was speechless—he knew what Irene was referring to but did not deny it.

He even said, "I think this is just fine. I mean, what's the issue? With no strings attached to my relationships, I don't have to get upset.”

“You really should clean up your act. You're a father now,” Irene told him. "If your daughter—"

"Could you not talk about that?" Zachary cut her short before she could finish.

Irene frowned. "The baby—"

“Lulu's baby,” he interrupted her again.

could bite him just then. "Could

"If it's about Lulu, you don't have to tell

Irene snapped. She

"Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut. What

in his tracks. "Lulu told me that something happened to Martin, and she asked

Zachary froze.

might have misheard, he strode up and caught her arm.

turned rushed, and he asked, "Am I getting this right? That I'm raising Jean from

it

faster than Irene. "We're still in Franconia,” Irene reminded him. “You

seemed to only

I need to book a ticket to fly over," he said,

to sleep around from now on?" Zachary pouted.

need to set

“I know," Zachary replied.

just

a while," Irene told him. “I'm counting on you