Mason and Zoe looked at each other intensely.He noticed she was wearing a patient’s gown and that she looked rather pale. He then realized she had a resigned look on her face as she regarded him, as if she didn’t know him at all.It wasn’t that long ago when she was lying in his arms and speaking to him tenderly.“It might take me years, even decades, to rediscover my love for you, Mason. Would you still want it then?”He meant it when he said, “I would!” However, he couldn’t deny that he did squander her love after that.They stared at each other for a long time. At last, he spoke with a trembling voice, “Zoe!” He tried to grab her hand, but she shoved him away. A hint of sadness traced her lips as she spoke sternly, “I’ve been so naive! I can’t believe I thought you were really starting to love me! To this day, you still thought I set you up that night. Just what am I to you? “I can’t believe I expected you to love me and that we’re really starting over! This is just ridi
Half an hour later, Zoe was back in the manor. She didn’t use an umbrella when she got out of the car. Instead, she let the rain fall on her and cleanse her mind as well as her heart. Stepping inside with her shoes, a pool of rainwater collected on the white carpet. The servant didn’t dare to say anything. All she could do was make some tomato soup for her to fight the cold.Zoe went upstairs and the first thing she saw was their ‘wedding photo.’ Mason wouldn’t take the picture with her back then. She was the one who shamelessly asked the studio to photoshop him into the picture and paid them eighty thousand dollars for the trouble.There was a time when she’d look at this picture and look forward to the day when Mason would love her from the bottom of his heart. However, there was nothing but irony when she looked at it now! Stomping onto the bed, she tried to take it down. She was so agitated that she accidentally cut her hand on the photo’s steel frame. It was a frightening
Mason touched the makeup table with trembling fingers.Zoe had taken the diary!All of a sudden, a burning smell came from the balcony. Something was burning there. He flinched as he realized something and dashed over there.At the next moment, he saw Zoe burning their wedding photo. Not even the diary was able to escape the same fate. She just sat there and watched quietly as if she was burning something summarily unimportant.“You’re out of your mind!”He didn’t even think twice before he dashed in to save her diary. In fact, he didn’t even bother wearing anything to protect himself. He simply tried to dig the diary out of the flames with his bare hands.He didn’t even have time to think why he was doing this. It was nothing but a diary, after all. In the end, he managed to put out the fire, but there was only half of it left. Not giving a damn about his burnt hands, he flipped open the diary hastily. It just so happened that he got the page that wrote, “Mason will never
“It makes me think about the triumphant look on your face when you hold me and watch as I fall for you! You must’ve been thinking that I’m way too easy. All you have to do is say something sweet and I’ll fall for all your lies! “I might’ve loved you in the past, Mason, but it’ll never happen again!”…Zoe was dazed as she spoke. Her heart was aching.Mason, on the other hand, was drained. He wasn’t exactly a patient man. He played nice with her but she wasn’t reciprocating. Rubbing his forehead, he asked her, “Well, what do you want? Do you want to act as if we’re strangers? Or, do you want a divorce? Let me remind you that you need Liam for your brother’s case. Can you afford to leave me?”Still burying her face in the pillow, she remained quiet. He could just guess what was going on in her mind. She wanted a divorce so she could leave him. She’d even go so far as to avoid all manner of contact with him. After all, she burned her freaking diary. Surely, she didn’t love him a
A resounding slap landed on Mason's face.Mason came to a halt, his gaze lowered to the person on the pillow. Zoe's heart surged with emotions, her silk nightgown slipping off her shoulders, revealing the delicate and rounded contours of her breasts. She exuded a fragile beauty."Getting violent now?" Mason spoke softly, his eyes carrying hidden emotions.He held onto her hand, firmly pressing it above the snowy white pillow... For a moment, he didn't make a move.Zoe's nose turned red.She looked up at Mason, her voice broken. "Mason, are you trying to rape me now? If that's not what you want, then let me go!"Mason didn't release her.He stared at her vulnerable state for a while before speaking in a hoarse voice. "When I said I wanted to start over, I meant it."Zoe turned her face away.Her face buried deep into the pillow, she murmured, "There will be no children between us, let alone anything else. I can't afford to play around, Mason. We're done!"She finished spea
"Prepare it yourself." Zoe's voice was soft and hoarse. "Mason, from now on, I won't manage your personal life. You can pay someone to tend to your clothes and accessories. Otherwise, you can bring Ava to the house and give her a raise to do it."Mason frowned, displeased. "I don't like others meddling in these private matters."Silence filled the bedroom.After a while, Zoe's voice was raspy. "Then, bear with it. I won't do it. If you think spending so much money on me is a waste, you can divorce me, Mason. I don't have to be Mrs. Lockwood."Mason stood quietly.He understood Zoe's meaning. She would stay as Mrs. Lockwood, but she wouldn't serve him anymore. She didn't even mind if Ava intervened in their lives. She really didn't see him as a husband anymore. She was thinking that since he played around with women, one more or one less didn't matter.Mason snorted. "You're quite feisty all of a sudden!" After saying that, he went into the dressing room and changed into anoth
When Mason returned to the villa, it was almost eleven o'clock.Entering the foyer, a servant approached and welcomed him softly, "Sir, you're back. Do you want to have supper?"Mason took off his coat, unbuttoned two shirt buttons, and then said calmly, "Just something plain and simple will do. Is Zoe already asleep?"The servant respectfully took his coat and whispered, "She had a little something in the evening, played the piano for a while, and hasn't come down since."Mason murmured his acknowledgment.As the servant left, he walked to the dining room. He sat down, reached for the glass door of the French window, and lit a cigarette. In the pale smoke, memories flooded back. He remembered how Zoe used to wait for him at home, preparing a table full of dishes or snacks, eagerly anticipating him trying it. Even if it was just a bite, it could make her happy for half a day.In the past, the dining table was lonely.Now, it was still lonely, but the person who felt the lonel
In the past, Zoe seldom visited those places because Mason didn't like them.Now, she no longer cared whether he liked it or not and agreed to Ella's invitation.The bar's music was deafening. Ella swayed her body, enjoying the atmosphere. She had always enjoyed the extravagant life. She ordered a bottle of red wine for Zoe, saying, "This wine won't get you drunk."Zoe pulled her to sit down and asked softly, "Why did you choose this place?"She was concerned about Ella.Unknown to others, Ella had lost her hearing in her left ear since childhood, when she was assaulted by debt collectors who were trying to force her parents to pay up. Even though Zoe got Noah to pay for her treatments later on, visiting the best ear, nose, and throat specialists all over the city, it couldn't be restored.Ella paused.Then she sat down, casually tossing her black hair and smiling. "It's an old injury. It doesn't hurt anymore! You've got to live a little. Drink that wine. Forget about Mason, L
In the presidential suite, the newlywed night was fiery, filled with affection and intimacy. The wedding banquet was still bustling with excitement.There was a special guest, who quietly arrived and hoped to leave just as quietly. He was afraid to disturb her mood and feared that if she saw him, she might not be pleased. However, despite his best efforts, they still crossed paths in the hallway.Gael stood quietly, watching Yanni. She had just taken Ella to the restroom, as she wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone. Besides Ella, there was another small girl with her, probably one of the twins she had with Keaton. The other twin was her brother.The twins were named Shay Bright and Drew Bright. Ella adored her younger siblings. Whenever she came home from school, she would always spend some time playing with them first. At night, she would sneak her little sister into her room and cuddle her to sleep, treating her like a little doll.At first, Yanni was quite worried, but she lat
In the early morning, the first rays of sunlight bathed the earth, signaling a joyous occasion at the Sanders family home. The youngest daughter of Noah and Gwynn was finally getting married. Even more delightful, she was marrying her childhood love. Dressed in a headpiece and red bridal gown, she was as beautiful as could be, the most stunning woman Zion had ever seen.The Quarto family was busy with preparations. Although they were not extremely wealthy, Jordyn was a capable family head with a good reputation. He handled both inside and outside affairs with finesse and charm. To everyone’s surprise, he got along very well with Mason.However, Noah had some reservations. “Don't you have any relatives of your own, Mason?”Mason didn’t engage with his criticism. Together with Zoe, they helped with the wedding arrangements. A traditional Chinese wedding was far more elaborate than a Western one, but thankfully, the families had enough help to avoid any chaotic moments.During the d
That night, Jamie and Paityn returned home with their daughter Carol. As soon as they arrived, Carol went to do her homework, while Paityn went to check on their youngest son, Colten Lockwood. The housekeeper was taking care of him and, upon hearing footsteps, turned her head and softly said, "Madam, you're back? He hasn't woken up at all, he's such a good boy."Paityn smiled lightly and signaled for the housekeeper to go downstairs and rest.When the door closed, she looked down at the sleeping Colten. The little one, only eight months old, resembled his father completely; almost like a miniature copy of Jamie. Even Carol, at times, would look at her brother’s face and marvel: "It’s really a masterpiece from God!"Jamie replied, "You even know what a masterpiece is?"Carol teased, "A husband’s looks are the wife’s glory!"Paityn quietly said to Jamie, “She must have seen a supermodel runway show."Jamie immediately asked, "Did she like it?"Paityn didn't answer, just smiled.
On the second floor, Gwen was trying on her wedding dress for tomorrow. Just as Zion had wished, it was a traditional Zutriysteinian wedding.The red wedding gown was crafted by the top artisans from Zutriystein, elegant and dignified. The headpiece she wore was adorned with wild pearls; each gem was carefully embedded, and the headpiece alone cost tens of millions. A substantial amount of money had been spent.The woman in the mirror was stunningly beautiful. Gwen gently touched her headpiece and muttered to herself, "Zion really doesn’t mind spending money on this little hobby of his."Gwynn, as a mother, patted her head. "This little girl really doesn’t know when to keep quiet, but luckily, she’s married well and is right here beside me..."She had given a generous wedding gift, exactly the same as when Holly got married. Like Holly, Gwen didn’t want any shares of the Sanders Group. The money that Zion earned was enough to support both of them and his small hobbies.Meanwhile
Ignacio said, "We can’t take care of both of you."Holly was at a loss for words.Lucius was at that lively age, but he was raised by his father and had good manners. When he saw Ocelotte, he respectfully greeted him, saying, "Second Uncle."Ocelotte patted his little head, thinking that the boy seemed sturdier than his own children, possibly because Molly was too fragile. He made a mental note to make sure Yeager got some extra nutrients when he went back.The black Rolls-Royce Phantom sped down the highway, getting them back to the Qiao family mansion before evening.The Sanders family’s sons had all moved out, leaving only Gwen still living at home. Holly, who rarely came back, was also staying at the house. She didn’t refuse, planning to stay for a few days before heading to Silvercrest to visit her biological parents and pay respects.The car pulled into the Sanders Residence, and the house was lit up brightly.In the courtyard parking area, luxury cars were parked everywhe
In the evening, Gwen was preparing to leave work.In the parking lot, she spotted Zion’s car, but it was empty. Just then, a school leader passed by and said to her, “Zion came to school. There’s a donation ceremony happening in the auditorium. You should go check it out. "Then, you two can head home together afterward. On a cold day like this, a nice dinner would be perfect. What a cozy idea!”Gwen playfully replied, “You really know how to enjoy life.”The leader, holding a bag of groceries, laughed, “See? Your teacher’s wife has been nagging me since morning to go home and cook while babysitting the grandkids.”Gwen smiled softly, watching him leave.In the sky, clouds glowed orange and yellow, their edges tinged with gold.She carried a thermos as she walked toward the auditorium. Along the way, a few students noticed her and started chirping excitedly, cheekily calling her “Ms. Gwen.”Gwen corrected them, “It’s Ms. Gwen.”The students laughed and teased, “Ms. Gwen! Mr. Z
Gwen stared dazedly at the man.Zion, dressed in a black coat, stood tall in the study, exuding an oppressive aura. He walked toward her and pulled the teary-eyed girl, her face streaked like a little tabby cat, into his arms. One hand gently smoothed her hair as his voice softened to the extreme, "Still saying you didn’t cry."Gwen leaned against his shoulder, mumbling, "You did it on purpose.""Are you at least a little touched?"She pounded on him twice more in response.Zion chuckled lowly, letting the girl vent while his heart ached silently.These past five years had been filled with fear and uncertainty for him. He had been afraid that before he could make a name for himself, Gwen would fall for someone else. If that happened, what could he possibly use to ask her to come back to him?The love story of a poor boy and a rich girl might've existed in novels, but the reality was often harsh.Gwen didn’t care, but he couldn’t bear to let her endure hardship.Now, as they
Zion and Gwen's marriage seemed inevitable, with no one putting up any resistance. Occasionally, Gwen even had a strange illusion.It all went so smoothly that the years of separation seemed like they had never happened, as if she and Zion had always been together. After their reunion, he didn’t even ask her about her life abroad and treated her just as he did before.She was no longer as youthful and tender, but Zion still saw her as if she were a 20-year-old girl. Gwen felt a bit dejected, thinking to herself, he must just like girls around 18-year-old.But unfortunately, the spring river flows eastward and cannot return!Zion only smiled.In winter, the days grew shorter. After work, Gwen arrived at Zion's villa, but he had not yet come home. The two housekeepers had already started preparing dinner.When Gwen got out of the car, she received a call from Zion. Her voice was soft and tender.“When will you be back?”On the other end, Zion checked the time and said, “I’ll be
Zion noticed Gwen gazing at him with those wide, expectant eyes again. With a chuckle, he reached into the pocket of his trench coat, pulled out a sleek wallet, and carefully extracted a platinum card. He placed it in her outstretched hand and said with a smile, “This is my secondary card. There’s no credit limit.” Gwen gasped softly, then teased, “Wow, aren’t you generous? Thank you, Teacher Qin.” Zion gave her a light tap on the head. Not missing a beat, Gwen wrapped her arms around his neck and grinned mischievously, “Thank you, my sugar daddy.” Zion’s response was to pull her close, cupping her cheeks as he kissed her fiercely. Though he once carried himself as an educator and now as a refined businessman, he found himself utterly smitten by her playful antics. After the kiss, Zion leaned close to Gwen's ear and murmured something uncharacteristically crude that sent a shiver down her spine. He playfully nipped her nose. “Turns out you’ve got a thing for bad boy