My Queen Of Terra 40 A FAMILIAR STRANGER

Zoe's jaws dropped open as the playful breeze stole the shawl that was veiling the lady's face. Without a doubt, it was Mrs. Gong! She thought she would not meet her again.

In a flash, she ran and tried to catch the valuable piece of cloth that was carefully protecting the elderly woman's identity. As if the mighty winds favored her, the shawl landed gently on her dainty hands.

She walked towards her to return it. As she did so, she noticed that the woman was pacing to and fro.

'She must be escaping from Lady Zhōu', she whispered as she contemplated about Mrs. Gong's agenda. It was the only probable reason she was hiding beneath that piece of cloth.

She recalled Amity Song's information about her. From what she told her, Lady Zhōu wanted her to reveal something that she was unwilling to do. As a result, she knocked her off the boat and intended to subdue her. Mrs. Gong was too weak to swim at a turbulent weather.

Zoe didn't know whether the story was fabricated or not. But what concerned her most is her optimal health. She felt that she has a duty to follow-up if she has recovered since she was the physician that resuscitated her to life.

At long last, she reached her spot and stretched her philanthropic arm to return the scarf.

"Is this yours?" She politely asked in a friendly tone.

Mrs. Gong returned the gracious favor by smiling back at her, though in a timid fashion. "Yes, I appreciate it."

"No worries, Ma'am." Zoe grinned at her. "Do you remember me somehow?"

She doesn't want her to have the notion that she knew about her squabble with Lady Zhōu. It might scare her and think that she was on Lady Zhōu's side.

Mrs. Gong looked up at her and furrowed her aging brows. In a few moments, her face lightened up and exclaimed, "Yes, I recognize you."

She bowed straight away. "Thank you again for saving my life."

Zoe responded with an enthusiastic voice. "Don't mention it. As long as you have recovered fully, I'm good."

"By the way, I'm Zoe Cheng," She extended her eager hand and properly introduced herself.

"I- You can call me Mrs. Gong," she answered as she tenderly shook her hand.

Zoe beamed at her. "Judging by your radiant beauty today, Mrs. Gong, it seems that you are," she added with a knowing wink and chuckled merrily.

"You're too kind, Doctor." Mrs. Gong laughed with her. She was being comfortable around Zoe, which is what she sincerely wants.

"I couldn't believe I would see you here today. I thought I would be lonely on this trip." She joked, hoping to lighten up the cheerful mood even more.

Mrs. Gong curved her lips upward and leaned on the rails as she gazed out into the wide sea. Zoe also did the same. They were both staring at the vast ocean without a sound. And the sea seemed to be looking back at them.

Mrs. Gong may appear like the silent type with her terse answers. But her gaunt face reveals that she was carrying a heavy burden in her anxious heart that she needed to release.

"Is it your first time to visit Ball's Pyramid?" She inquired, still staring out toward where the boat was going.

Zoe drew in a deep sigh. "To tell you the truth, I don't know. I lost my parents when I was 12."

Mrs. Gong shifted her gaze on her. "I'm sorry, my dear." She said in an apologetic tone. She was now facing her and was giving her undivided attention.

Zoe bowed down and acknowledged her kind gesture.

It is very rare for Zoe to be pleasant to strangers, with whom she would start a conversation. For her, if they don't want to talk, it's fine with her. She doesn't care.

But with Mrs. Gong, there was an innate connection with her that made her warm up. And to where she could share her memories with her, even though she met her for the first time.

"We were having a vacation on an unknown isle. I don't remember if it was this isle or not. But a horrible situation happened. It was only my uncle, me and my cousin that could escape the island."

"I'm sorry, dear child. You must have missed them terribly." Mrs. Gong responded in an empathetic voice and clasped her trembling hand firmly.

Those soft-spoken words were a piece of warm blanket that enveloped Zoe's wounded heart at that very moment. She closed her eyes as she fought the tears that craved to gush out.

Mrs. Gong's response was near to a grandmother that wished to comfort her grieving granddaughter. Zoe felt that she wanted to pour out the yearlong pains that were cemented in her soul. But she couldn't let herself get sentimental.

If she was her true grandma, she would not add to her emotional burden anymore.

She cleared her throat and pulled out her purse. She was about to show her the old picture of her parents. But she just realized that it disappeared.

'I wonder where that is,' she pondered as she searched every corner of her wallet. The last time that she remembered seeing it was during her first night at Lord Howe Island. She was staring at it until she fell asleep.

'At least I am sure that it is on this island.' She resolved to herself. Instead, she just lowered her neckline and revealed her prized jewelry.

"This was a family heirloom that my mom gave to me," she told her as she caressed the pendant affectionately.

It was a unique gold necklace with a gold branch of a tree as its pendant. Each branch has a red-orange stone that resembled as its fruit.

She pulled it out for Mrs. Gong to see. She was expecting admiration and awe in her eyes. But it was the opposite that she saw.

She dropped to her knees and cried out, "Your Highness!"  

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