Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

We all asked in unison, our eyes turned to Janice.

Janice looked at Catherine and said, "You're talking about the moving truck accident, right? The one that caused a huge stir, had the whole town in an uproar."

Catherine jumped in, "I remember that mess. I was on the beat then. The family who hired the movers was so arrogant, and they flat-out refused to compensate. They even had the nerve to claim the old man was scamming them and ended up hurting his son. That's the one, isn't it?"

"Exactly that one." Janice nodded vigorously, "You've got a great memory."

"If I recall correctly, some big shot ordered the arrest of that employer and did that open a can of worms." Catherine finished, turning to Janice with a knowing look, "That was Baber?"

"That's him." Janice replied with a laugh, "Indeed, it was him. Who in Goldenvale Town wasn't following that story? It caught fire so quickly, that the public outrage was palpable. I kept tabs on it too, and his actions were just so satisfying."

"And then I saw the report, the man behind the desk was him. I was smitten, thinking, there's a man of justice. Having someone like that to have my back sure feels reassuring."

Catherine teased Janice, "Did you ever check if it was just another cunning move by Baber?"

I shot Catherine a glance, and she really was bold.

"Knock it off!" Janice shoved her playfully and continued, "So, after giving it a lot of thought, I called him. I was so worked up I didn't even check the time, just made the call. He picked up instantly and asked if I made up my mind?"

"I was so confused and I asked him why he knew it was me." Janice's face was full of happiness, like a girl newly in love, "He said I'm the only contact on this phone."

"God!" Catherine slumped back onto the couch, feigning heartbreak, "I'm so full of your lovey-dovey stories."

We all laughed, but I felt a pang of envy. Baber really did seem to be a catch, both emotionally and intellectually smart.

Geneva couldn't help but comment, "I have to say, Baber is quite the strategist."

"Don't be jealous," Janice waved off our envious looks, "Little did I know, he then laid out a few ground rules for being his wife." Janice's smile turned into a frown.

"What kind of rules?" Catherine asked quickly.

Geneva cut her off, "Catherine, that's too much. You shouldn't ask that."

Catherine and I both zipped our lips in understanding.

Geneva and Janice, both being politicians' wives, knew the score, and we knew better than to pry any further.

Janice gave Geneva a look and then smiled, "That's why after getting married, I seldom bother him with issues. Even with all my doubts about Janetta's case, I never pulled on his connections. If it wasn't for Irving crossing the line this time, he wouldn't have gotten involved."

"Exactly, Irving went too far last time." I chimed in, "Baber has been very restrained. Anyone else would have taken action against Irving by now."

"But I can't just let it go." Janice clenched her teeth at the mention of the incident, "Once things settle down, I'll make sure he regrets it."

"And then you married Baber?" I continued the conversation.

"Yeah. It was a whirlwind marriage, no courtship, just straight to love after tying the knot. But I must say, he really treats me well." Janice's face softened into a tender expression.

"After we got married, he took me to Zephyr Hollow. He was there for a course, and I tagged along and turned it into our honeymoon. When we got back, he'd even gotten a promotion."

"You should stop calling Baber unattractive," Geneva spoke up, "He's got a certain rugged charm about him, an aura that undoubtedly comes from years of being deep in his work.. He commands respect without even trying. Even Noah always praises Baber, saying when he speaks, people listen."

"And I've had my fair share of struggles too. Over the years, there have been times I've had to fake it till I make it. Sure, in public, I'm Mrs. Forrest, but my background can't compare to yours. Look at Aaliyah, with her strong support system and thriving business."

"And you're comparing yourself to me? I've been through the wringer more times than I can count, as you well know." I sighed heavily. "What goes down must come up." She said, looking at me, "Now that you've left that beast Jaylan, things will surely start looking up." Thinking about Janice's words, I wanted to tell her about my deal with Irving but decided against it and swallowed the words back down.