“You’re out of your mind, Mason!” She tried to shake him free to no avail.He pulled at her gently. Then, she fell into his arms unwittingly. They were so close to each other that she could smell the odor of smoke as well as the aftershave off of him.“How are things lately?”Leaning over, he snuffed out the cigarette. His voice was gentle. She didn’t respond to him. Her eyes turned red and she asked, “What do you think you’re doing, Mason? We're divorced. You have no right to treat me this way!”He stared at her. It was impossible to tell what he was feeling through his black eyes.Then, he loosened his grip on her wrist.Just as she thought he was about to let go, he pinned her to the wall, held the back of her neck, and lifted her head forcefully. Then, he lowered his head and closed his lips on hers.Needless to say, she wouldn’t have any of it, but he was pressing against her. His body felt so hot that it could swallow her whole and melt her from within.“Mason…“Don’t…
Zoe rushed back home. True enough, Sherry wasn’t feeling well. It hadn’t been eating for the whole day. Not even its favorite snack or toy could lift its spirits.Mia was wracked with worry. “Is it sick? I’ll get changed and go to the vet with you. I’m afraid it’ll get worse if we drag this out.”She carried the puppy, thought about it, and said, “Given Dad’s condition, we can’t afford to leave him alone. I’ll run Sherry by the vet myself! I’m thinking about hiring a private nurse. That’ll make your life easier, too, Mia.”Mia pondered on it and said, “That’s a good idea! It’s late, so watch out and stay safe.”Gordon came out of his room just as she was going out and rubbed the puppy’s head. He said to Mia when his daughter had left, “You’ve always given that puppy the stink eye, but you’re more concerned about it than the rest of us when something happens!”She went to the kitchen to pour him a glass of water and medicine. Moments later, he heard her voice from the kitchen, “Loo
Mason got out of the car and walked into the pet shop.He came out of the pet shop in less than five minutes and put the dog diapers into the trunk. He even petted Sherry when he got back into the car, but his words were directed to Zoe instead, “I bought the Extra Small diapers. Put them on for Sherry when you’re back home!”She nodded and turned her head to the side to watch the views out the car window.He started the engine and chatted with her casually, “Why did Rosemary tell me you’re setting up a business? Is it because you need more money? You could’ve just told me that.” The tone was gentle, but the hint of condescension was unmistakable. That made her slightly uncomfortable, “Stop finding out stuff about my life, Mason.”“I’m just expressing concern!”There was a traffic light up front. He stopped the car and leaned over to look at her. His voice was very soft when he said, “We might be divorced, but we’re still technically family! All I want is to care about you the w
Zoe went into her apartment and found that Mia hadn’t slept. She was waiting for her stepdaughter to come home. She was dumbfounded when she heard Sherry was having a period. “I didn’t know dogs get periods!”Zoe tore up the diaper bag and put one on Sherry. It fit well! Sherry probably felt much better after putting on the diaper. It proceeded to eat some food and drink some water before falling asleep on her chest.The lights were turned off but she found it hard to sleep. It wasn’t until midnight that she dozed off.…Two days later, she brought Ella along to check out the location Rosemary recommended. It has everything she was looking for. With Rosemary’s help, she made a lunch appointment with Clayton, who owned Skyline Galleria.Rosemary said to her, “Clayton took his wife’s last name in order to marry her and he’s a proud man. Watch your steps and don’t trigger him. He’s very flexible and easy to talk to, aside from that.”That gave Zoe a peace of mind. She thanked Ros
Rosemary might be forty years old, but she retained her charm and her eyes were looking very seductive now.Terrence had a lover on the side recently, but it had been a long time since he was intimate with her. He was aroused by Rosemary’s suggestive eyes and walked over to wrap his arms around her waist in hopes of having sex with her.However, she thought of the affairs he had and felt sick instantly.Patting his hands lightly, she feigned anger, “It’s broad daylight. The servants are moving about in the house! They’ll see us! Moreover, I’m having a period. So, I can’t do it!”That ticked him off. Then, he quickly made up an excuse about work and left. She knew, deep down, that he was going to find his lover and sate his lust.…Zoe gave the gifts to Ella. She felt quite moved. It wasn’t so much about the gifts as it was about Rosemary showing her respect. Then, she told Zoe about the fact that Clayton had been pestering her for the past few days. He didn’t do anything too
Mason sat in his car until he could no longer see Zoe. It was dark in the car. Wearing formal attire, he leaned back on the leather seat, exuding elegance and aloofness.Luke remained quiet in the driver’s seat for a while before asking him softly, “Are we going back to the manor, Mr. Mason?” Mason was about to say something when his phone rang. It was his mother.Answering the phone with his lean fingers, he said slightly coldly, “What do you want?”Back in Lockwood Manor, Lisa was donned in an elegant sleeping gown and leaning on a luxurious couch, holding a few pictures in her hands. They were pictures from the time when Mason and Zoe were in his car with a puppy in her hands.Lisa questioned her son, “You guys are divorced. There’s no need to spend any time with her! How’s the public going to think about you two? What about the prospective wealthy families that intend to marry their daughters into our family? What will they think?”He shifted into a more comfortable posi
The night grew darker as Mason grew more disheartened……Zoe’s shop was located at a strategic location in Skyline Galleria. It was right by the entrance. It was more than two thousand square feet and had a flow to it. Just the right sort of setup for a dessert spot. It was undergoing renovation by a famously expensive contractor. Ella was inspecting the site with her. She went through the bill and gasped, “The rental costs us two million dollars per annum and the renovation alone costs us another five million. “Even with the advantage of the location, the crowd here could only bring in twenty million dollars in profit per annum. And that’s a best-case scenario. How long is it going to take before we break even?”Zoe ran her hand across the wall and said softly, “We’re not using this spot to bring in profits! We’re going to build our brand with it, so we could franchise it out. Once our brand is strong, we won’t need to splurge on a location as strategic and wide as this one is.
By the time Mason arrived at Skyline Galleria, it was half past six in the evening. Barbara was sitting on the bench in front of Zoe’s soon-to-be dessert spot, eating a hot dog Ella bought her. She saw Mason and told him that it tasted delicious and that he should set up a hot dog joint.He wasn’t sure if he should be upset or amused. Closing the car door, he walked over to his grandma, crouched, and said in a deep voice. “Do you how many doctors and nurses were searching for you because you ran away from the hospital? Yet, here you are, eating a hot dog on the curbside like a child.”Then, he took away her hot dog.Barbara was unhappy about it. So, she swiped the hot dog from him and said, “I’m here to see my grandaughter-in-law!”Zoe remained quiet.He stared at her for a second before standing up and looking at Zoe instead. They might’ve stood near to each other, but they felt awkward nonetheless. They were divorced, after all.Then, she handed him the jewelry box. “Grandma
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