The Runaway Groom
Chapter 1008

Irene was frowning, but she lowered her voice. "Lulu is not telling youbecause she has her reasons—"

"What reasons could she have? She chose the wrong man and refusesto admit it. She's afraid to say it, to let others know that she was blind,"Zachary huffed, upset at Lulu's silence.

She just had to say that Martin messed up, and he would stand up forher and beat Martin up for her!

Even if they were not lovers, they could be family—he could at least dothat much for her.

On the other hand, Irene was watching Lulu, who kept her headlowered as she held Jean in her arms.

Irene could sense that Lulu did not want to part with her baby, that shewas compelled to leave Jean in someone else's care.

While Zachary was not exactly a stranger, Lulu was still the one whocarried Jean for ten months, and they were dearest to each other.

As a mother, Irene understood that feeling.

Rising to her feet then, she said, “I'm hungry. I'm going to get somefood."

Irene was sure that although Lulu had told her to raise Jean, Luluactually wanted to give the baby to Zachary. Lulu probably did not wantto say it directly and would have other things to say.

That was why Irene ought to give them some space.

As she left the apartment, she closed the door behind her.

Zachary used to yearn to be alone with Lulu, but the only thing thatconnected them was Jean.

No matter how deep a bond there had been between them, it had longsince faded.

In fact, he had no idea what to say to Lulu when it was just them alone—he was quite eloquent when Irene was with them, and the room wasimmediately silent once she left.

Unable to stay seated, Zachary strode off to stand out at the balcony.Both him and Lulu remained silent, and the stalemate lasted until Jeanstarted crying.

Zachary returned inside to Lulu, lowering his gaze on the baby whenLulu said, "Hold her."

Zachary reached out to take Jean, his movement rigid but extremelycareful.

Lulu left to heat up some milk, and after testing that the temperaturewas good, she handed Zachary the bottle.

Zachary remained stiff—feeding a baby was yet another first.

"Just put it in her mouth,” Lulu told him.

Zachary did as Lulu said, and Jean quickly stopped crying.

Zachary's heart felt warm and fuzzy even as he watched her.Eventually, he said, “Thank you for giving her to me."

Lulu said nothing, and he continued, "If you don't want to talk about it, Iwon't ask. I let my emotions get the better of me—I'm sorry.”

“It's not your fault,” Lulu said.

At the very least, this was not his fault.

"Her name is Jean," she said, pausing before adding, "We haven'tregistered her birth yet."

In other words, Lulu was saying that Jean could use his last name—hewas Jean's father, after all.

Zachary understood and nodded.

"You can leave when Irene returns,” Lulu added.

It was clear from her tone that she would like them to leave quickly.Zachary looked up at her. "Do you really not need anything from us?"“No, you won't be able to help,” Lulu said, shaking her head. "Just takecare of Jean."

Zachary lowered her head again to look at Jean. “It's all my fault. If Ihadn't—"

"The past is the past, Zachary. We shouldn't keep obsessing over it,"Lulu said, stroking Jean's tender cheeks just then. "Just promise me totake care of our child."

"I will," Zachary nodded.

"Having a child if you're going to marry might be inconvenient,” Luluthen said. "So you could let Irene do it. We go way back, so she'll raiseJean as her own—"