Love’s Change of Heart novel Chapter 384

Leanna hadn't considered such a thing, but now that Zoe had brought this up, she recalled that their initial purpose when they set up the studio, was to create their own brand. They only decided to accept custom orders in the beginning as a way to promote their items.

They would have misplaced their priorities if they continued accepting custom orders and missed an opportunity like this.

"You're right," Leanna said. "I'll think this over carefully at home."

Zoe patted her shoulder in reassurance. "I'm glad you can think this way. I'm going home now. See you tomorrow."

Leanna nodded and worriedly watched as Zoe staggered out of the car and asked, "Should I accompany you upstairs?"

"It's okay. I'm already in the lobby and will reach my apartment after taking the elevator." Then, she closed the car door and cheerfully waved at her. "Go home quickly and give me a call when you're home."

"Okay."

When Zoe disappeared from her sight, Leanna looked away and drove off.

Meanwhile, Zoe reached the elevator, pushed a button, and waited for it to arrive. While she stared at the changing numbers signifying the elevator's current floor, her vision gradually became blurry.

A few seconds later, she couldn't help but burp, and right then, she suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind her.

She instinctively turned to look over her shoulder, but before she could get a good look at the person, she was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace.

Suffice to say, she was caught off guard and struggled to break free. Just as she was about to start screaming, she heard a familiar husky voice asking, "Are you still mad at me?"

"Huh?" she blurted. Am I so drunk that I'm hallucinating?

Weirded out but drunk enough that her rationality was taking a temporary backseat, she reached out tentatively and pinched the man's waist. Her actions earned her a pained grunt.

Oh, this isn't my imagination.

Once that thought registered, she shoved him away and berated, "What's wrong with—"

Daniel looked at her earnestly. "I'm sorry. It's my fault, and I promise I won't do it again."

While Zoe was still confused about what he was up to, the elevator doors slid open at this time. As she didn't want to deal with him any second longer, she marched into the elevator with a disgruntled face. To her dismay, he followed her like a duckling chasing after its mother.

She felt her lips pulling down to a frown and was about to lash out at him when another man joined them in the elevator. Unfortunately, she wasn't that drunk that she was about to air out their grievances with an audience around. Thus, she could only force the bubbling tirade down her throat.

It didn't help that Daniel stood behind her the entire time, either tugging at the strap of her handbag or the hem of her clothes as though they were very close.

Zoe was already frustrated, but she couldn't give voice to it. Hence, she could only express her anger by clutching her bag to her chest and tugging her shirt away from his grasp before sticking herself to one corner of the elevator.

When she lifted her head after she was satisfied that Daniel couldn't pester her any longer, she accidentally met the eyes of the stranger. When the man noticed this, he merely looked away nonchalantly.

The frown on Zoe's face deepened. Although she only met his eyes for a brief second, she felt even more disgusted by the emotions she caught sight of in his eyes. The revulsion she felt for that stranger was stronger than that she had for Daniel.

The moment the elevator reached her floor, she quickly stepped out. But, just as she thought he would, Daniel followed after her, and so did that stranger, who then pretended to be looking for his keys near them.

Zoe's hand paused momentarily as she considered her options. Both of them seem like trouble. Will anything happen to me if I open the door now?

While she was hesitating, Daniel said, "Baby, I came here especially to apologize to you. Let me in, okay?"

When she heard him call her 'baby', goosebumps formed all over her body. Yet before she could voice her protest, their eyes met, and he signaled her by narrowing his eyes and nodding softly.

Spinning her head around, she saw the man standing not far off, and she quickly unlocked the door and went in before Daniel.

After the door closed with a click, the stranger finally stopped moving his hands and stared at the closed door, approaching it slowly.

In the apartment, Zoe picked up the baseball bat next to the doorway she had previously bought for self-defense and pointed it at Daniel. "Stay where you are, and don't move!"

Daniel raised both hands in surrender and showed that he had no ill intentions, but she remained cautious.

"What's wrong with you? And what about that person—"

The sounds of footsteps outside the door made Daniel place a finger to his lips, and he gestured for her to remain silent.

Zoe glanced at the door and directly tossed a slipper at it.

Perhaps he wasn't expecting her to do something like this, so he clicked his tongue and dodged swiftly. The slipper struck the door, startling the man on the other side and he hurriedly pulled away, forcibly stopped from eavesdropping.

Zoe stomped into the living room, baseball bat in hand, stopped by the kitchen entrance and said expressionlessly, "You can speak now."

"Okay, I apologize for earlier. That man has been following me, and I have no other way but to—"

"You're the one he's following. What has that got to do with me? Why did you drag me into this?"

He chuckled sheepishly, "They're probably trying to find out why I opened up a store next to your studio."

"Yeah, why?" she asked, equally puzzled.

"I…" Daniel looked at her and continued, "The reason doesn't matter, but after this, I may need your help to put up an act with me."

She didn't hesitate to decline, "I refuse."

Daniel had no choice but to bait her into it. "Things are too complicated, so I don't know how I'm supposed to explain this whole mess to you. But based on the current situation, Miss McKinney is in danger right now."

For a moment, Zoe didn't understand what he was saying. Why is his problem suddenly connected to Leanna?

When he saw her confusion, he explained patiently, "There's only you and Miss McKinney in the studio. So I have to show up because of one of you, right?"

"There are many young girls in our studio as well," she mumbled under her breath.

Daniel didn't expect such a retort, but he composed himself and continued, "I'm serious."

Zoe organized her thoughts and said, "In other words, you set up a store next to us because of Nana?"

He gave her a nod in admittance.

"Why? You know that she—"

"All I can tell you is it's because we have the same enemy. I only did that because I want to protect Miss McKinney, nothing else."

Zoe slowly lowered the baseball bat in her hands and placed it on the floor with a firm thunk. "So, what's your plan?"

A smile broke out on his face. "Let's date."

The muscles on her face froze, and she picked up the baseball bat again.

Daniel hurriedly exclaimed, "I mean, fake a relationship! We just need to convince them that I'm there because of you. It won't harm Miss McKinney in any way, and once this act is over, I promise I won't pester you and stay far away from you."